Kellerhals Carrard
Kellerhals Carrard’s team provides comprehensive advice on construction-related disputes and regularly uses its experience with the federal, state, and local level governments to develop and structure its major construction projects. Team head, Bernd Hauck, focuses on private construction law, namely contractual agreements and related disputes, and often litigates in Swiss court cases governed by German law. The team benefits from the particular expertise of its members; for example, Isabelle Romy uses her extensive expertise in environmental law and ESG considerations and Christoph Jäger has a focus on public procurement and public law in the construction sector. Livio Marelli supports the team on construction matters in the education and transport sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Fabrizio Gabrielli has a profound knowledge of all legal aspects of our projects and the building industry. The combination of academic approach and pragmatic solutions is outstanding. Livio Marelli is very supportive in our projects and we like to work with him because of his hands on approach.’
‘They have a big team down there - there are over 50 lawyers doing REC, I would estimate. They also have a very international outlook, and they have a modern attitude towards ESG.’
‘I am a big fan of Bernd Hauck. His knowledge in this area is outstanding. I have known Bernd as a regular and entertaining speaker at international construction law conferences, where we often collaborate. I wouldn't think about giving anyone else my Swiss construction law work.’
‘I would strongly recommend Bernd Hauck. He is a quick thinker and very reliable. His dual qualification (Swiss and German law) is unique. If I had a construction problem, Bernd Hauck would be my first choice.’
‘Christoph Jäger is an excellent expert in all areas of real estate law. He provides timely and professional legal assessments taking into account the company's interest. He quickly recognizes the company's challenges and identifies practical solutions and options for action.’
‘The law firm is one of the top five players in Switzerland, I would say. The construction team is big (probably 60 plus lawyers) and highly reputed. Kellerhals Carrard is present in the entire country (all country languages) and is therefore aware of the various regional differences (which is key in the Swiss market). Even though the quality of the law firm services is outstanding, the requested fees are comparably fair. ’
‘I have been working with Bernd Hauck and Fabrizio Gabrielli in a complex construction project which required counsel in different areas of law (general contractor construction contracts, engineering contracts, public procurement etc.). I really appreciated Fabrizio’s and Bernd’s out of the box thinking. First and foremost, they tried to understand our needs implementing practical solutions for us. Fabrizio and Bernd have high pro-active thinking and were at our service at any time required. They provided us with answers, not with endless memos. ’
‘Christoph Jäger is an outstanding lawyer with a deep knowledge, an excellent reputation and a very good sense of our business. He communicates well and quickly and is a teamplayer and easy-to work with. High reliability and sense of duty.’
Key clients
- Implenia
- STS Group / STS Group Switzerland AG
- UBS Fund Management / UBS „Sima“
- Swiss Post
- Bricks Group AG
- EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg
- CSL Behring
- University of Basel
- Ville de Lausanne (city of Lausanne)
- Grand Cariçaie / ARSUD
- Itten+Brechbühl AG
- Public Transport Canton on Baselland (BLT Baselland Transport AG)
- Swiss Association of Consulting Engineers / usic-Stiftung
- Immobilienpartner
Work highlights
- Advising pharma company CSL Behring in the planning and construction of two major pharmaceutical plants in Switzerland.
- Advising the EuroAirport Basel. Mulhouse. Freiburg. (EAP) which is situated on French soil but has a separate Swiss part (border controls, customs, police etc.) and governed by a bilateral treaty between France and Switzerland. The EAP plans to increase its capacity, which requires major construction works of up to EUR 250 million.
- Advisising the Canton of Berne on a large and complex real estate project, including on issues of building law, tenancy law and public procurement law and conducts negotiations with tenants who have to vacate the buildings prematurely.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Bernd Hauck