Sports law in Switzerland

Bär & Karrer Ltd.

Bär & Karrer Ltd. ‘provides excellent advice’ in all sports matters from litigation, arbitration, and mediation to drafting and implementation of regulations and negotiating international contracts. Practice head Michele Bernasconi is considered a ‘leading global experts in sports law’ with extensive expertise in CAS as well as broadcasting and sponsorship agreements, international transfers of football players, and doping matters. White-collar crime specialists Saverio Lembo and Abdul Carrupt, and media experts Emanuel Cortada and Basil Kupferschmied regularly represents clients before CAS as well as the Swiss courts. Lukas Stocker left the firm in March 2023 to join as Senior Legal Counsel at Energie 360°.

Responsables de la pratique:

Michele Bernasconi


Autres avocats clés:

Saverio Lembo; Emanuel Cortada; Basil Kupferschmied; Abdul Carrupt


Les références

‘Partner Michele Bernasconi is a fantastic sports lawyer with an exceptional knowledge and flair but also with a big legal heart.’

‘First, the quality of the work of the Bär & Karrer team is simply top. Second, they are extremely responsive and as a client you can see that they are there at your side, bringing a great added value. In addition, they have experience in all sorts of sports-related matters, and so they can always provide excellent advice.’

‘Michele Bernasconi is the Head of the Practice Group and is one of the best and most experienced sports lawyers in Europe. We had different occasions to work with him and believe that he has a unique capability to remain practical, think strategical and act efficiently. He is extremely dedicated to the needs of his clients and has a unique reputation. Finally, he is a very pleasant person to work with.’ 

Principaux clients

CONMEBOL


Union des Associations Européennes de Football


World Aquatics


European Aquatics


International Wushu Federation


Principaux dossiers


Kellerhals Carrard

Kellerhals Carrard is a ‘leading firm in sports law’ with ‘deep knowledge’ of doping-related and football disputes before CAS, regulatory and governance matters, as well as non-contentious work around event hosting, sponsorship, media, merchandising, and licensing. The team is headed by David Casserly SC, who is qualified as an Irish barrister and was appointed as a silk there in 2023, whose practice covers advising on significant commercial sports deals such as player transfers and club investments and representing international clients before CAS, and Jean-Pierre Morand, who is an anti-doping dispute specialist and has extensive expertise in the field of sports marketing and hosting contracts. Sports commercial contracts and sports arbitration are also the expertise of Luc Argand, Andrea Fioravanti , Massimiliano Maestretti, Stefano Perucchi , Henry Peter, and Jean-Philippe Rochat .

Responsables de la pratique:

David Casserly SC; Jean-Pierre Morand


Autres avocats clés:

Luc Argand; Andrea Fioravanti; Massimiliano Maestretti; Stefano Perucchi; Henry Peter; Jean-Philippe Rochat; Nicolas Zbinden; Anton Sotir; Adam Taylor


Les références

‘A leading firm in sports law matters with a wide range of knowledge in sports regulations, in particular with regard to football matters. Always up to date and with a very important network in sports related entities.’ 

‘Strongly professional, always available, and able to address all types of problems irrespective of its dimension/complexity. Client driven and with a well-prepared team with deep knowledge in different fields of specialization. A firm that you can trust and rely on, and which delivers honest results.’

‘Their sports law team had worked together for many years which makes them a value to any club especially because they can address side issues in other fields of law with their colleagues within the firm. The client can be assured that its matters will be taken care in the same place and by and by professionals of similar quality.’

Principaux clients

Comtoyou Team Audi Sport


Ducati Motor Holding SpA


Euroleague Basketball


European Bridge League


European Club Association (ECA)


FC Dallas


FC Nantes


FC Porto


FIBA / Basketball Champions League SA


Football Association of Ireland (FAI)


Global Association of International Sports Federations


Grasshopper Football Club


International Biathlon Union (IBU)


International Cheer Union


International Olympic Committee (IOC)


International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)


International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)


International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)


International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)


Leopard Racing Team Audi


Manchester City Football Club


Paris Saint-Germain


Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF)


World Air Sports Federation (FAI)


World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)


World Athletics (WA)


World Bridge Federation


World Dance Sport Federation


World Games


World Rugby


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised the European Club Association (ECA) on the creation of a new joint venture with UEFA for the exploitation of all commercial rights relating to European club football competitions (UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference etc.) from 2024 onwards.
  • Represented World Anti-Doping Agency WADA at the ad hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee’s decision to lift the suspension of figure skater Kamila Valieva.
  • Acting for Paris Saint-Germain before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a dispute with Spanish club Real Betis regarding the transfer of Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina footballer Giovani Lo Celso.

Lenz & Staehelin

Lenz & Staehelin offers comprehensive advice to athletes and sports organisations on a wide spectrum of fields including disputes, corporate law, employment and immigration law, competition law, and IP. Xavier Favre-Bulle leads the Geneva team with his special expertise in acting as counsel before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Zurich team head Stephan Erni advises clients on domestic and international transactions and on corporate and commercial matters. Lucien Masmejan  supports sports teams and event organisations in structuring and organizing their businesses. Other key team members include Hikmat Maleh, Sevan Antreasyan, and Peter Ling.

Responsables de la pratique:

Xavier Favre-Bulle; Stephan Erni


Autres avocats clés:

Lucien Masmejan; Hikmat Maleh; Sevan Antreasyan; Peter Ling


Les références

‘A highly talented team of great people, very knowledgeable and available. ’

‘Xavier Favre-Bulle is highly experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of sports law and arbitration. Marc-Anthony de Boccard is a star, dedicated to his clients, creative and proactive.’

 

Principaux clients

Auto Sport Suisse


INEOS Group


National Hockey League


On Holding AG


Swisscom, CT Cinetrade, Teleclub


Vail Resorts


Water Sports Tribunal


World Anti-Doping Agency


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Vail Resorts as lead counsel on acquisition of a majority stake in Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG from Andermatt Swiss Alps AG (ASA).
  • Advising the National Hockey League on Swiss law matters.
  • Representing Swisscom, Cinetrade and Teleclub with respect to the foreclosure of ice hockey content in Pay TV from distribution over the TV platforms of Swisscom and other operators.

Niederer Kraft Frey AG

Niederer Kraft Frey AG handles a range of contentious and non-contentious work across the sports industry. Practice head András Gurovits covers the full spectrum of sports-related matters where he regularly acts as an advisor and advocate for governing bodies and athletes before state courts and arbitral tribunals. Offering a commercial perspective, Daniel Eisele advises a range of organisers of major events. With the opening of the firm's new Geneva office, Boris Vittoz, who joined from Valfor in January 2023, has extensive experience in crisis management where he advised clients facing simultaneous legal and governance challenges. Thomas Hochstrasser regularly represents clients in high-profile cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

András Gurovits


Autres avocats clés:

Daniel Eisele; Boris Vittoz; Thomas Hochstrasser


Les références

‘The team has been able to answer my questions very competently and have always been at my disposal and reactive.’

‘The cooperation is very pleasant, and we always receive quick feedback and support in our legal matters.’

‘Andras Gurovits has a great expertise in the field of sports and helps us a lot in our legal matters or questions. It is a very pleasant cooperation.’

Principaux clients

Junckers Industrier A/S


Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)


Ferencváros Budapest Football Club


Grasshopper Football Foundation


Grasshopper Football Ltd


Hungarian Football Federation


Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Football Club


International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)


Swiss Ice Hockey Federation


FC Basel Holding AG, FC Basel 1893 AG


FC Winterthur


SBE Management AG


Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH

Litigation and arbitration firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH represents clients in football, boxing, motorsport, tennis, cycling, equestrianism and golf among other sports. Team co-head Thomas Werlen  has a track record of representing prominent clients in major cases, such as FIFA, while Remo Decurtins, who also co-heads the team, focuses on complex, high-stakes litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations frequently involving multiple jurisdictions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Thomas Werlen; Remo Decurtins


Autres avocats clés:

Rachel Epstein


Les références

‘They know what they are talking about, smart people, very supportive. ’

‘The team is extremely approachable, proactive and solution oriented. They have the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience to deliver the best possible advice.’

‘Remo Decurtins was exceptionally responsive, professional and pleasant to work with. He was always on top of the topic discussed, and by all means it should be highlighted that the proceedings were uncommon and rare in the Sports law practice in general.’

Principaux clients

LIV Golf


Fédération Internationale de Football Association


Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)


On Running


Team Football Marketing AG


East Asia Super League


Dallas Cowboys


Fédération Internationale de Hockey


World Boxing Super Series AG


Major League Soccer


Vexavit SA


Hertha BSC


Monaco Increase Management


Seattle Seahawks


Los Angeles Rams


Washington Nationals


National Football League


Pascal Wehrlein


Nike


Highlight Communications AG


FC Basel Holding AG


Baltimore Ravens


U.S. Soccer Foundation


ESPN


Green Bay Packers


Campos Racing S.L.


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Hong Kong-based Asia League Ltd. related to the “East Asia Super League” project, the first integrated international basketball “Champions League” across Asia.
  • Settled for World Boxing Super Series a complex dispute with a former joint venture partner.

TIMES Attorneys

With sports law as a primary focus of boutique firm TIMES Attorneys, the team advises top clients on corporate governance and compliance, contractual issues and on disciplinary matters, including eligibility and doping issues as well as representing clients before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Team co-head and former international rower Stephan Netzle has ‘unique’ experience representing and advising international sports organisations, event organizers, athletes, marketing agencies and other stakeholders in commercial and disciplinary matters. Olivier Ducrey, who has a special focus on drafting and negotiating commercial and sport related agreements, also co-heads the team. Mirjam Koller-Trunz practice covers the support of clients before sports arbitration tribunals and the advice of sport federations, clubs, players, and sponsors on sponsorship, media rights, licence and labour agreements.

Responsables de la pratique:

Stephan Netzle; Olivier Ducrey


Autres avocats clés:

Mirjam Koller-Trunz


Les références

‘Stephan Netzle, is a very unique expert. On the one hand, his experience as a former top-athlete, on the other hand, his professional expertise as lawyer and experience working at CAS. It is important that his mission is to protect fair sport in really Olympic Spirit.’

‘Times Attorneys are a strong practice with a vast experience in sports law and the resolution of sport litigation. My experience covers disputes and challenges before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.’

‘I have worked with Dr Stephan Netzel. I was very impressed by his knowledge in arbitration, his commitment and deep insight into the CAS in particular. He is very approachable and responsive.’

Principaux clients

International Ski and Snowboard Federation


Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique


Gymnastics Ethics Foundation


International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation


Swiss Olympic


UEFA


International Weightlifting Federation


Felix Auger Aliassime


Basketball Champions League


World Baseball Softball Confederation


World Taekwondo


Estonian Center for Integrity in Sports


World Rowing


European Athletics


International Hockey Federation


Principaux dossiers


  • Drafted and implemented the new regulatory framework (Statutes, Ethics Committee) and the Terms of Reference for various committees and establishing procedural rules for the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
  • Successfully represented the Estonian Center for Integrity in Sports in a doping case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
  • Assisted Nico Hischier on sponsorship deals and other ice hockey players in connection with contract, disciplinary cases and anti-doping matters.

VISCHER

VISCHER provides clients with a full sports law service including broadcasting rights, betting, marketing and merchandising, sponsor agreements, infrastructure, and transfer agreements. Former Switzerland beach soccer international Moritz Jäggy and Robert Bernet. Jaggy has a particular focus on football, investments, sporting venues, sponsoring, and e-sports whilst Bernet has extensive corporate law experience. Rolf Auf Der Maur has particular experience marketing of TV and media rights matters for sporting events.

Responsables de la pratique:

Moritz Jäggy; Robert Bernet


Autres avocats clés:

Rolf Auf de Maur; Christian Oetiker; Nadia Tarolli Schmidt; Pauline Pfirter


Principaux clients

Decathlon Sports Switzerland SA


Supponor Ltd.


PUMA Retail AG, PUMA SE (Swiss Branch) and Mount PUMA AG


SWISSLOS Interkantonale Landeslotterie


Swiss Football Association


Swiss Beach Soccer GmbH


Football Association of the region Northwestern Switzerland


Athletes Network & Athletes Academy AG


DAZN


Swiss Olympic


Tennis Club Old Boys Basel


Bodyclub24 GmbH


Dosenbach-Ochsner AG Schuhe und Sport


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised the Athletes Network on all legal aspects of its business. The Athletes Network supports active athletes in the transition from the sporting career to the post-sports career.
  • Advised Supponor, in the negotiations of agreements for the implementation of virtual advertising with UEFA and Infront.
  • Advised DAZN on the Swiss legal aspects of its business, including the acquisition of media rights from Swiss based media rights holders.

Bonnard Lawson

Bonnard Lawson represents athletes, clubs and sports federations in sports disputes before CAS, as well as in proceedings before the adjudicatory bodies of various international sports federations. The team also supports clients with the drafting and negotiation of sports contracts, governance and regulatory issues, and enforcement proceedings. Practice head Fabrice Robert-Tissot has extensive experience in sports disputes. Sumin Jo  has a special focus on cross-border litigation whilst Patrick Pithon has extensive expertise in the e-sports sector.

Responsables de la pratique:

Fabrice Robert-Tissot


Autres avocats clés:

Sumin Jo; Patrick Pithin


CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.

The sports practice at CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. is regularly instructed on sports litigation matters within ice hockey and football. The practice draws from the expertise of specialists from other practice areas as well as relying on its global network to support in complex mandates. Practice heads Pierre Ducret and Philipp Dickenmann both  represent clients in arbitration proceedings before CAS. Alongside being a CAS arbitrator, Olivier Carrard assists many young athletes and clubs pro bono.

Responsables de la pratique:

Pierre Ducret; Philipp J. Dickenmann


Autres avocats clés:

Olivier Carrard


Les références

‘CMS Switzerland has a strong and competent team of lawyers with recognised exerience in sports law, in particular in litgation before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, both as arbitrators and counsels. ’

‘Olivier Carrard, Olivier Ducrey and Phlipp Dickenmann are fine lawyers and arbitrators, with a strong knowledge and experience in sports law, in arbitration in particular. ’

 

Principaux dossiers


  • Representing Mohamed Talaat, a world-class horse rider, in an anti-doping appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
  • Representing an international football player in an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport concerning the breach of pre-contractual duties.
  • Successfully representing the Egyptian football player Abdallah El Said in proceedings against the Al Ahly football club before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.

MLL Legal

MLL Legal represents team owners, individual athletes, and sports organisations in both contentious and non-contentious matters including drafting of employment, service and agreements, athlete transfers, litigation, and disciplinary proceedings. In Geneva, the team is headed by Jean Marguerat whose practice involves representing clients before CAS. Zurich team head Peter Schramm has extensive expertise in matters concerning ambush marketing.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jean Marguerat; Peter Schramm


Autres avocats clés:

Dmitry A. Pentsov; Urs Boller; Tomás Navarro Blakemore; Yannik Hässig


Les références

‘I had the chance to work with Jean Marguerat. Although the issue was hard to understand due to volume of files including thousands of pages of legal opinion and annexes; Jean developed a unique understanding of the matter within a very short period of time. He was always prompt and ready to answer our questions.’

 

Principaux clients

FIFA


Trabzonspor


P.R.O. International AG


Curaçao CSOF


Alexander Povetkin & Universe of Sport LLC (formerly, World of Boxing LLC)


BWF (Badminton World Federation)


Watford Association Football Club Limited


Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd offers ‘high-quality legal services covering a broad spectrum of legal issues’ including non-contentious matters such as sponsoring and marketing agreements and broadcasting rights as well as disputes work. Philippe Bärtsch , who has extensive experience handling complex international commercial and sports arbitrations, co-heads the team with Christopher Boog , who represents clients in disputes before adjudicatory boards of federations, the Court of Arbitration for Sports and other arbitral institutions as well as the Swiss Supreme Court. The team benefits from Anna Kozmenko ‘s expertise in high profile and complex disputes.

Responsables de la pratique:

Philippe Bärtsch ; Christopher Boog 


Autres avocats clés:

Anna Kozmenko ; Louis Burrus ; Daniil Vlasenko;


Les références

‘Great lawyer, with outstanding lawyers. Philippe Bärtsch, Christopher Boog, Anna Kozmenko and Anya George are excellent.’

‘Great advocacy skills. Great success obtained in several cases.’

‘Extremely strong team, precise 360-degree approach.’

Principaux clients

Saoud Al-Mohannadi, Vice-President of the Qatar Football Association


Sun Yang, a Chinese Olympic and world-record-holding competitive swimmer


International Boxing Federation (AIBA)


Kujtesa Net


Archipel

Archipel ‘s ‘excellent team’ handles a wide range of sports-related disputes including disciplinary proceedings, arbitration, compliance with anti-doping rules, and matters concerning player transfers or nationality changes. Practice head Giulio Palermo, who regularly acts as arbitrator at the CAS, is also a member of the Sport Resolutions’ International Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators and an arbitrator of the European Handball Court of Arbitration. As UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector, he represents UEFA in proceedings before the latter’s internal disciplinary and appeal bodies. Panagiotis Kyriakou regularly works alongside Palermo in advising clients in sports-related commercial matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Giulio Palermo


Autres avocats clés:

Panagiotis Kyriakou


Les références

‘Excellent team, responsive.’

‘Strong presence on the market knowledgable’

‘Giulio Palermo is a very good arbitrator’

Principaux clients

UEFA


Fédération Comorienne de football


Football Federation of Albania


International Tennis Federation and Kosmos Global Tennis S.L.


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented Football Association of Albania and Nedim Bajrami in a CAS dispute over the player’s change of nationality from Switzerland.
  • Represented International Tennis Federation and Kosmos Global Tennis S.L. in connection with a request for provisional measures before the CAS in connection with the hosting of the Davis Cup.

Charles Russell Speechlys AG

Charles Russell Speechlys AG offers a full sports law service, covering contentious work as well as handling transactional work concerning sponsorships, events organisation, and media rights. The team is co-headed by Pierre Bydzovsky, who has expertise in advising governing bodies, and new hire Benoît Pasquier, who handles a range of disciplinary work as well as acting as an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The team is supported by Serge Vittoz, who joined in May 2023.

Responsables de la pratique:

Benoit Pasquier; Pierre Bydzovsky


Autres avocats clés:

Serge Vittoz


Principaux clients

International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF)


Swiss Basketball Federation


Saudi Arabian Football Federation


UAE Pro League


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) on the relocation of its headquarters from Spain to Switzerland and becoming legally compliant to Swiss law, as well as, advising on data-protection related aspects of their registration platform for members and national federations.
  • Representing the Swiss Basketball Federation and its president Giancarlo Sergi in a criminal prosecution for allegedly defamatory publications on the internet that were published in August 2022.

Homburger

Homburger provides ‘valuable assistance’ to its high-profile clients on traditional sports-related matters as well as having a special focus advising on the exploitation of media rights.  Practice head Gregor Bühler has extensive knowledge of advertising law and IP related sports matters. Georg Rauber advises sports marketing companies and organisations on various contractual issues. Stefan Blunschi has expertise handling transactional, governance, and compliance matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gregor Bühler


Autres avocats clés:

Georg Rauber; Stefan Blunschi


Les références

‘Deep knowlegde about our company, our business and our needs with experts for any area – one central go to contact.’

‘Georg Rauber has outstanding experience about our general business. He has deep knowledge about our company’s business, strategy, targets and needs, has a longterm relationship to the management  and a razor-sharp mind. Joel Fink has an analytic mind and is high quality in assessing a situation’

‘Profound knowledge of the law, but also of the business. very business-minded approach. Just top notch. Extremely responsive – not afraid of making the last mile, the extra effort.’

Valfor Attorneys-at-law

Valfor Attorneys-at-law advises local, national, and international sports governing bodies, athletes and officials in specific governance matters, board and congress operations, disputes, election processes, disciplinary and ethics proceedings, anti-doping and competition management. The team is headed by Philippe Vladimir Boss, who has a special focus on integrity issues such as match-fixing and anti-doping, and Despina Mavromati, who has among other work sits as an arbitrator at CAS.

Responsables de la pratique:

Philippe Vladimir Boss; Despina Mavromati


Les références

‘Exceptional commitment to us as a client and a strong focus on finding constructive solutions. Good understanding of complex situations.’

‘The experienced Philippe Vladimir Boss is available, always very calm and reassuring. He is very competent, responsive and has a very caring and empathetic nature.’

‘Access to their pro-bono service is crucial to the success of our organisation aa a client.’

Principaux clients

International Weightlifting Federation


International Wheelchair Rugby Federation


White & Case S.A.

White & Case S.A. represents sporting federations, leagues, and individuals in a wide range of sport-related matters, both contentious and non-contentious. Team head Jasper Wauters has extensive expertise acting as a CAS arbitrator and advising clients on regulatory and sports policy issues, including disputes with competition law elements. Alexandre Mazuranic advises clients on contractual, regulatory, and commercial activities within the area of sports law.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jasper Wauters


Autres avocats clés:

Alexandre Mazuranic


Les références

‘Competence in sport. Decency in human relations. Focus on the essentials of a controversy. Neither hungry for victory nor craven in negotiations. Really good. ’

‘Extraordinary relationships with the client and dedication. Encyclopedic knowledge and understanding of the issues dealth with.’

‘Jasper Wauters is not only a great professional, but also a person full of empathy and attentive to the client’s need. When you leave him after a talk, you have the feeling he really understood the matter in all details. ’

Principaux clients

Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and His Excellency Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund


US Soccer Foundation


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented PIF, the majority owner of the LIV Tour, in a high-profile competition case brought by professional golfers and the LIV golf tour against the PGA Tour in US federal court.
  • Representing the US Soccer Foundation in connection with the management, maintenance, and defense of its intellectual property portfolio, including possible issues under FIFA rules.