A team that is especially recommended for its ‘efficiency, drafting ability and industry know-how’, Homburger‘s ‘pre-eminent’ position in this field is demonstrated by its diverse client roster of blue-chip companies and its regular involvement in high-profile and complex mandates. The practice is jointly spearheaded by Gregor Bühler, Andri Hess, Georg Rauber and Luca Dal Molin. ‘Highly analytical’ Bühler possesses a strong grounding in the enforcement of trade marks, while ‘excellent’ patent litigation leader Hess’s arsenal of skills prominently includes international scale IP disputes as well as the negotiation and drafting of IP rights related contracts. Rauber’s extensive transactional and arbitration experience further enhances the practice, and Dal Molin enjoys a strong reputation in the handling of IP-related matters attached to transactions and outsourcing projects.

Enjoying a strong reputation across the pharma, medical device and retail industries, Lenz & Staehelin advises notable clients across the full gamut of IP issues with demonstrable prowess in patent and licensing litigation as well as trade mark and design portfolio management. The department of ‘proactive, strategic thinkers and born litigators’, is reputed for its ability to handle landmark and complex issues for a consortium of established global clients. Joint practice head Thierry Calame utilises his longstanding experience in IP to assist with patents mandates and a broad range of arbitration, while fellow co-lead Jürg Simon is well-positioned to advise on significant patent litigation in the food and IT industry. Rounding out the team’s leadership is Sevan Antreasyan, who fields a considerable workload comprised of licensing and transactions related matters. ‘Outstanding’ Peter Ling further bolsters the team’s strength with his notable proficiency in litigation.

Possessing a ‘profound knowledge of IP law’, MLL Legal’s IP offering encompasses the full scope of litigation, arbitration and strategic advice within the sphere of IP. While esteemed for its considerable expertise in patent litigation and counterfeit cases, the team is also noted for its operations in precedent-setting blockchain matters. Michael Ritscher, Simon Holzer and Peter Schramm spearhead the IP practice, with Holzer thriving in complex patent litigation and transactional work and Schramm being an established presence within the trade mark and design world. Louisa Galbraith is also recommended.

With a strong presence at the forefront of a variety of fields, including consumer goods, media and cosmetics, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s multifaceted strengths range from the litigation of IP rights in relation to the counterfeiting of branded products to the management of IP portfolios and R&D. The team is praised by clients for its ‘high-quality work, creative solutions, and excellent client service’. Steering the practice is Philipp Groz, who is especially knowledgeable in handling litigation and arbitration for multinational clients. Another key name to note in the practice is ‘outstanding’ and ‘great communicator’ Lorenza Ferrari Hofer, who is well versed in patent and trade mark infringement and injunction proceedings. Adrienne Henneman is also recommended. Stéphanie Chuffart-Finsterwald joined the team from Sigma Legal in September 2024.

‘One of the best group of IP experts in Switzerland’, Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s IP practice possesses vast experience representing clients before the Swiss Supreme Court, as well as advising clients on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious IP rights. The group has undertaken an extensive range of work that encompasses R&D and licensing contracts, with a prominent focus on fashion, luxury, IT and life sciences sectors, to name a few. The practice is led by Markus Frick, who is recommended for his ‘great strategic foresight and expertise’, and Roger Staub, who is ‘one of the best IP attorneys’. Frick demonstrates significant prowess in handling complex cross-border litigations and Staub’s wide-ranging experience includes the negotiation of IP and technology-related contracts as well as the development of IP strategies.

While it provides a particularly strong offering in the copyrights and digital media area, ‘pragmatic’ Baker McKenzie maintains a balanced practice that encompasses the entire life cycle of IP rights and significant transactional mandates in this space. Alongside this, the team is noted for its strength in IP litigation, handling trade mark enforcement and a variety of disputes for blue-chip clients. ‘Dedicated’ Eva-Maria Strobel heads up the department with her considerable expertise in drafting and negotiating a diverse array of IP agreements. Michael Treis leverages his 30 years of experience to assist clients with the full gamut of IP protection issues.

Capitalising on its significant experience in the Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court, Bär & Karrer Ltd. is able to represent Novartis, Sandoz and a variety of other clients in high-stakes mandates. Operating across technology, life sciences and consumer goods industries among others, the experienced team is routinely entrusted with significant transactional work as well as specialised IP transactions. The practice is led by Markus Wang, who is especially noted for his extensive capabilities across a range of contentious and non-contentious work, and he is particularly active in the pharma, biotech and IT sector.

Noted for its vast technology and science expertise, boutique firm IPrime is comprised of seasoned litigators who regularly handle cross-border and high-stakes mandates covering patent, trade mark, copyright and design issues. Its in-depth expertise leads to the team being routinely entrusted by SMEs, universities and start-ups alongside global high-tech companies with a series of contentious and non-contentious IP issues. The practice is led by Rudolf A. Rentsch, who is pre-eminent in the sphere of complex patent litigation, and Moritz Kälin, who is particularly well versed in handling technology related mandates.

Accomplished in a broad array of industries that includes life sciences, beverages and cosmetics, Pestalozzi‘s expansive practice encompasses the enforcement of IP rights, technology transfer agreements and portfolio management, alongside a host of other issues. The team is noted for being ‘adept at understanding client needs and delivering targeted solutions that exceed expectations’. ‘Exceptional’ and ‘client driven’ practice head Lara Dorigo is well regarded for her skills in advising clients on pharma, biologics and med tech patent litigation. IP arbitration expert Thomas Legler and Michèle Burnier are also recommended.

The ‘experienced’ team at boutique firm TIMES Attorneys is best known for litigation and arbitration of patent, trade mark, copyright and licensing disputes as well as trade mark prosecution. Andrea Mondini has a particular focus on patent disputes within the pharmaceutical field whilst Michael Noth advises clients on IP-related contractual matters such as licensing, R&D and distribution agreements. Markus Kaiser‘s practice covers litigation, strategy, and prosecution of trade marks and Simone Huser regularly advises galleries and artists in matters of art law, including copyright and contract law.

‘A fantastic IP department with full client focus’, Valfor Attorneys-at-law frequently handles matters pertaining to the enforcement of trade marks, copyright and domain name issues, among others, with an established presence across a diverse array of industries, including mechanical, pharma and telecoms, as well as social media and advertising fields. ‘Outstanding’ and ‘extremely professional’ Christoph Gasser helms the practice with his notable knowledge of trade mark prosecution arising from medical devices, railway and fashion sectors, to name a few. Thierry Burnens is another key contact in the practice, contributing his considerable expertise in digital economy related matters.

Stefan Kohler and Lorenz Ehrler jointly spearhead VISCHER‘s ‘proactive and client-oriented’ intellectual property practice, which possesses significant experience in undertaking patent and trade mark litigation. Kohler is well-versed in the pharma, biotech and medical tech sectors, handling a diverse range of issues from technology transfer and licensing to R&D co-operations, while Ehrler contributes his expertise in brand protection and trade mark matters to the practice. Rolf Auf Der Maur is particularly prominent in the media sector, being regularly entrusted by clients to assist with copyright and trade mark issues.

The IP practice at BMG Avocats is co-headed by Sylvie Gurry-Veit, whose practice covers the full range of domestic and international IP and commercial transactions, and ‘exceptional’ Anne-Virginie La Spada, who has extensive expertise in trade mark, design, and copyright issues. The team has particular strengths in Swiss and global acquisition, exploitation and enforcement of IP of big and medium size brands, whom they advise on IP and commercial undertakings in Switzerland and internationally. The team, alongside the litigation department, represents clients involved in IP related arbitration proceedings.

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. uses its ‘excellent knowledge of IP and trade mark law’ to support Swiss-based and global clients with international IP transactions and litigations with particular strengths in the IP development and transfer agreements, pharma patent litigation, trade mark protection, and corporate IP transactions. Practice co-head Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser has expertise drafting and enforcement of contracts for the transfer of intellectual property rights, especially license and R&D agreements. Dirk Spacek, who co-heads the team alongside Birkhäuser, handles technical IP matters such as patent law as well as software- and media-copyright matters.

Representing and advising luxury clients active in the retail, media, and automotive industries, HOUSE attorneys has considerable experience in handling issues concerning the exploitation and enforcement of IP rights. The team is headed by litigation expert Frédéric Serra who handles both contentious and non-contentious IP matters with a special focus on the luxury goods and fashion industry. Melina Haralabopoulos has extensive experience in advising clients on licensing, branding strategies and complex R&D agreements. Cindy Zaher left the team in April 2023 to join GROS & WALTENSPÜHL.

id est avocats sàrl‘s intellectual property practice, which is co-led by Juliette Ancelle and Michel Jaccard, advises and represents clients active in a wide range of industries, from traditional banking and luxury industries, to innovative MedTech, fintech, or biotech companies. The team utilises its interdisciplinary expertise by often advising clients on employment matters with IP elements such as protection of newly IP developed brands or disputes over ownership within the employment contract. Other key team members include Alexandre Jotterand and Stéphanie Junod.

Specialising in commercial contracts and solutions within the IP domain, Kellerhals Carrard advises clients within the sports, life sciences, financial services, and transport sectors on distribution strategies, development and manufacturing agreements, sale agreements, privacy policies, and product liability strategies. The team is headed by Daniel Alder, Daniel Emch, Nicolas Mosimann, and Stefano Perucchi. Alder has broad experience in the protection, enforcement, and exploitation of IP rights whilst Perucchi’s practice covers commercial aspects such as negotiation and drafting of contracts and Mosimann's profound expertise in advising technology and life sciences start-ups on licensing, distribution, and R&D agreements. Ralph Gramigna, who has extensive IP experience, and Christophe Rapin, who has a special focus on EU trade mark law, support the team.

LALIVE‘s intellectual property practice represents corporates, NGOs, and individuals on a broad range of IP matters, including trademarks, designs, domain names, copyright, and unfair competition. The team is particularly active in IP-related arbitration proceedings. Practice head Thomas Widmer handles the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters relating to IP law.

With ‘profound knowledge on IP issues’, Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG supports clients with the enforcement of IP rights, litigation and arbitration of licensing agreements, unfair competition matters, and representation before domestic and foreign authorities, such as the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. Team lead Mathis Berger has a special focus on litigation and arbitration of licensing agreements, patents, copyrights and trade marks, information and biotechnology issues. Zoe De Santis-Honegger focuses on corporate and commercial litigation.

Recommended for its ‘solution-oriented’ nature, Niederer Kraft Frey AG‘s diverse range of capabilities across strategic litigation, commercial contracts and brand protection strategies enables it to operate for multinational companies and organisations. The team enjoys a strong presence across a multitude of sectors, from manufacturing and electronics to life sciences and IT. ‘Super responsive’ practice head Nicolas Birkhäuser possesses a wealth of experience in commercial contracts as well as managing domestic and international IP strategies. ‘Highly motivated’ Janine Reudt-Demont demonstrates prowess in the life sciences sector and other regulated industries.

Noted for its ‘high client focus’, IP boutique Rentsch Partner AG is regularly entrusted by tech start-ups for assistance with the establishment of their IP portfolio, as well as demonstrating strengths in life sciences, software IP and a diverse scope of IP litigation. Maria Iskic leads the team with her capabilities in managing trade mark portfolios and advising on multijurisdictional disputes. Former practice head Demian Stauber departed in August 2023 and is no longer in private practice.

Sanding out with their ‘pragmatic, attentive and skillful approach’, the IP team at Sigma Legal, which is co-headed by Alain Alberini and Stéphanie Chuffart-Finsterwald, advises all type of companies, from start-ups to multinationals, as well as non-profit entities and internal organisations on a wide range of IP related activities, including IP portfolio strategy, trade mark and design registration and prosecution, unfair competition matters, and drafting of agreements. The team also offers dispute resolution services. Adrien Alberini, who specialises in commercial and technology law, is a notable team member.

Boutique firm WEINMANN ZIMMERLI specialises in Swiss and international trade mark, patent, copyright and design law as well as licensing, unfair competition and antitrust law. The firm also has strengths handling IP prosecutions and litigations. The team, which is headed by Madeleine Schim Van Der Loeff and Marco Handle, includes Alban Shabani, who focuses on cross-border litigation, trade mark specialist Stefan Keehnen, and Fabian Wigger, who has ‘exceptional knowledge, particularly in litigation matters and copyright law.’

The IP practice at Wenger Vieli Ltd has particular strengths advising IP matters relating to ICT, digitalisation, AI, and blockchain, with a focus on start-ups. The team employs an interdisciplinary approach with special expertise in brand management and information privacy management. Claudia Keller heads the practice and has extensive experience in trade mark disputes.