Programme
9:30 AM | Welcome coffee
10:00 AM | GILW 2025 Kick-off and Keynote addresses
- 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
11:00 AM | 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
12:30 PM | Networking lunch
2 PM | 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
3:30 PM | 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
5-5.30 PM | Closing remarks and keynote addresses
- Denis Pittet
Partner, Lombard Odier; President, Fondation Genève Place Financière - Aurélie Conrad-Hari
Vice-President GILA; Partner, Bär Karrer Ltd
6:30-8:00 PM | Welcome reception & cocktail
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.