Public law

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. provides market-leading public law counsel to both domestic and international clients due to its extensive team and range of expertise. The firm has a strong reputation in complex competition-related issues, representing clients before the Competition Commission through to the Federal Supreme Court. Moreover, the team specialises in procurement and white-collar crime issues, with notable activity in the field of economic sanctions due to geopolitical trends. Marquard Christen heads the public procurement and ESG group and is an expert in advising on compliance issues in these areas. Bernhard Lötscher leads on white-collar crime issues, with expertise in fraud investigations and anti-money laundering projects. Julia Haas has been noted by clients as being ‘an exceptional legal talent’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The public law team at CMS von Erlach is comprised of highly experienced practitioners with deep expertise in all areas of public and administrative law. The team includes seasoned litigators as well as specialists in areas like regulatory compliance, public procurement, and government contracts. What makes them unique is their ability to seamlessly integrate legal expertise with a nuanced understanding of the public sector landscape. They are adept at navigating the complexities of government bureaucracy and building strong relationships with key stakeholders.'
'Marquard Christen is widely regarded as one of the leading public law experts in the country. What sets him apart is his ability to distil complex regulatory and procedural issues into clear, pragmatic advice. He has an uncanny knack for identifying creative solutions that advance his clients' interests while navigating the convoluted landscape of government decision-making. Marquard's encyclopedic knowledge of case law and administrative procedures is impressive, but it is his strategic problem-solving skills and excellent client service that truly make him stand out.'
'Julia Haas has proven herself to be an exceptional legal talent and a true rising star in the field. Julia is highly adept at navigating the intricacies of government decision-making and regulatory compliance. She has a deep understanding of the public sector landscape, and she uses this knowledge to develop creative strategies that align with her clients' commercial objectives.'
‘The CMS team has provided advice to our company around various ESG/sustainability topics. All partners and associates were highly knowledgeable about legal requirements and recent regulatory changes and industry practices and offered practical, hands-on advice. They were eager to understand our industry and demonstrated process knowledge. Although we interacted with different teams, it always felt like "one team" and "one voice". Response times were quick, documents prepared were immaculate and the personal interaction was professional and always very friendly.’
‘The client is always the focus. The consulting services are well-founded, business-oriented and holistic.’
‘Marquard Christen knows how to clearly describe the opportunities and risks and propose alternative solutions. Thanks to his broad network, comprehensive advice is guaranteed at all times.’
‘Working with Marquard Christen and Julia Haas, they have shown themselves to be highly experienced in their field of expertise, enabling them to provide reliable legal guidance even in new industries. They have proven to always be available for a call when urgent matters come up and pleasant collaborators all around. These demonstrated qualities are very valuable for clients working in a face-paced environment.’
‘The team are very knowledgeable in their field of expertise, not only with regard to specific legal questions but also in relation to other business implications. That way the team is able to provide business-oriented and pragmatic advice. The working relationship with the team is very collaborative and they have proven to be always available and reliable, even on a short notice.’

Key clients

Bayer (Schweiz) AG
Back Enterprises Ltd.
Bruker BioSpin Group
Burger King Europe GmbH
Hamilton
Lilly Deutschland GmbH
LimeBike Germany GmbH
Synlab International GmbH
LivaNova Switzerland SA
Swisscard (joint venture of Credit Suisse and Amex)
Koch Group AG
Kieser Training AG
AEW Energie AG

Work highlights

Representing Rico Back, owner of Back Enterprises and former CEO of the Royal Mail, and Back Enterprises as an intervening party in the merger control proceedings regarding Swiss Post's attempt to acquire its competitor Quickmail, a Swiss provider of parcel and letter delivery services.
Advising the Hamilton Group of Companies on a variety of regulatory matters and conducting a comprehensive gap analysis and compliance assessment involving areas including ESG and sustainability regulation.
Advising Eli Lilly on the assessment of applicability and implementation of the recent Swiss ESG regulations regarding reporting obligations on non-financial matters, supply chain due diligence, and transparency obligations, with notable complexities owing to various ambiguities in the new Swiss ESG regulations.