• • Sandrine Giroud, President GILA; Partner, LALIVE Ltd
  • Carole-Anne Kast, State Councillor in charge of the Geneva Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs
  • Olivier Jornot, General Prosecutor Geneva 
  • Michael Schöll, Director Swiss Federal Office of Justice
  • Prof. Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler, Partner, Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler

Session: International commercial courts: bridging the gap between national jurisdictions and global disputes

This panel will discuss the advantages of establishing international commercial courts in Geneva and Zurich and their potential to rival other global jurisdictions. Speakers will explore how these courts can bridge legal traditions to resolve complex, cross-border disputes.

Moderator:

• • Grégoire Chappuis, Senior Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey Ltd

Speakers:

• • Sandrine Rohmer, President, Chamber of complex matters, Tribunal of first instance, Geneva
  • Pierre-Yves Mauron, President of the Civil Tribunal, Geneva
  • Fabienne Schaller, President, International Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal
  • Dr. Daniel Schwander, President, Commercial Court, Zurich
  • Wei Lee Lim, Partner, WongPartnership

Session:  Swiss contract law: a pillar of legal certainty in global commerce

This session will showcase the strengths of Swiss contract law, emphasizing its reliability and flexibility for international business. Participants will gain insights from experts in commercial law and learn how the Swiss legal framework contributes to global business security.

Moderator:

• • Laure Lavorel, International Legal Director, Broadcom Inc.
    Coordinator of the Romandie Chapter of the Association Suisse des Juristes d’Entreprises

Speakers:

• • Prof. Fabien Liégeois, University of Geneva; Counsel, CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd
  • Prof. Christoph Müller, University of Neuchâtel
  • Frank Spoorenberg, Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey Ltd
  • Clarisse von Wunschheim, Partner, Altenburger Ltd
  • Prof. Julia Xoudis, Of Counsel, Peter & Kim

Session: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Through practical examples drawn from construction disputes, commercial contracts, innovation and intellectual property cases, the multidisciplinary ADR Panel will explore appropriate and efficient strategies for preventing and resolving disputes, including tailored mixed-mode methods with mediation, early neutral evaluation, arbitration and dispute boards.

The discussion will be geared towards legal professionals  – lawyers, in-house counsel, judges, arbitrators, mediators, and academics – and focus on user-centric processes that prioritize cost-efficiency, speed, relationship preservation, evidence‑taking, and enforceability, especially in cross-border contexts.

The panel will include representatives from renowned organizations like WIPO, FIDIC, ASA and the Swiss Arbitration Centre, as well as top law firms, companies, and practitioners.

Moderator:

• • Birgit Sambeth, Partner Altenburger Ltd

Speakers:

• • Thorsten Bartsch, Associate General Counsel, Caterpillar Inc.
  • Prof. Jacques De Werra, University of Geneva
  • Nihan Kir, Legal case manager, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • Daduna Kokhreidze, General Counsel & Manager for FIDIC Legal and Contract Services, International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC)
  • Jeremy Lack, Partner, Etude de Me Jeremy Lack
  • Prof. Thomas Schultz, University of Geneva and Graduate Institute
  • Korinna von Trotha, Executive Director, Swiss Arbitration Centre

• • Denis Pittet, Partner, Lombard Odier; President, Fondation Genève Place Financière
  • Aurélie Conrad-Hari, Vice-President GILA; Partner, Bär Karrer Ltd

Venue: Palais Eynard

Join us for what promises to be a fantastic evening opening GILW 2025, with a keynote address from Christina Kitsos, Mayor of Geneva, in one of Geneva’s emblematic buildings.