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Portrait ofPatrick Sommer

Dr Patrick Sommer, H.E.E.

Partner
Co-Head of Competition

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd
Dreikönigstrasse 7
P.O. Box
8022 Zurich
Switzerland
Languages German, English, French

Patrick Sommer focuses on competition law, corporate law and M&A.

Patrick Sommer has graduated from the University of St.Gallen in 1987 and was admitted to the bar in 1989. He has written his doctoral thesis on the relationship of Switzerland to the European Union and completed postgraduate studies at the Collège d’Europe in Brugues with the H.E.E. diploma. He then worked for seven years in the legal department of a Swiss multinational group where he has been promoted to the offices of General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors.

In 2000 Patrick Sommer joined our firm and is a partner since 2002.

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"Patrick Sommer is the head of department and his areas of expertise include conducting audits and the implementation of compliance programmes. He represented Bayer in proceedings surrounding price recommendations for over-the-counter pharmaceuticals."

Chambers and Partners Europe 2016, Switzerland, Competition/Antitrust

"The ‘very professional’ team at CMS provides ‘client-focused advice in a down-to-earth-manner’. Recent work includes representing Rabobank in the Competition Commission investigation regarding alleged collusion to influence the reference rates Libor, Tibor and Euribor. Patrick Sommer heads the ‘very good’ practice."

The Legal 500, Competition, Switzerland, 2016

"Interviewees describe department head Patrick Sommer as an "absolutely excellent lawyer who is very well known in Swiss competition law," adding: "He has a great understanding of business and is known for his pragmatic approach." He recently advised on the Swiss competition authority's investigation into the pharmaceuticals market."

Chambers and Partners, Competition/Antitrust, Switzerland, 2014

Memberships & Roles

  • Zürcher und Schweizerischer Anwaltsverband
  • Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht
  • International advisory board of the “St. Galler Internationales Kartellrechtsforum”
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Awards & Rankings

  • Chambers and Partners | Competition/Antitrust, Switzerland, 2021 | Europe | Band 3
  • IFLR 1000 | M&A, Switzerland, 2021 | Notable Practitioner
  • Who's Who Legal | Competition, Switzerland, 2021 | National Leader
  • Leaders League | Dispute Resolution - Competition Law & Antitrust, Switzerland, 2021 | Excellent
  • Leaders League | Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals & Biotech | Life Sciences, Switzerland, 2021 | Leading
  • Leaders League | Competition Litigation, Switzerland, 2021 | Excellent
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Publications

  • Competition law aspects of ESG initiatives in the life sciences & healthcare sector, CMS Law-Now, 7 June 2023
  • Welche Zielsetzungen sind mit einer rechtlichen Due Diligence verbunden?, Oaklins Switzerland, M&A im Verwaltungsrat, June 2021
  • Switzerland introduces the concept of relative market power and restricts geoblocking, CMS Law-Now, 22 March 2021 (co-authors: Marquard Christen, Fabian Martens, Hadi Mirzai)
  • Mit der Technologie Schritt halten - Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Recht und Gesellschaft, 21 Oktober 2019
  • Competition Commission fines sanitary products wholesalers for price fixing, Competition & Antitrust, International Law Office, 10/2015
  • The Merger Control Review - Switzerland Chapter, sixth edition, 2015 (with Dr Pascal G. Favre)
  • Bilateral cooperation agreement with European Union takes effect, Competition & Antitrust, International Law Office, 06/2015
  • 2012 Antitrust Year in Review, Chapter Switzerland, 04/2013
  • 2011 Antitrust Year in Review, Chapter Switzerland, 04/2012
  • CMS Newsletter Internethandel, 06/2011 2010 Antitrust Year in Review, Chapter Switzerland, 04/2011
  • CMS Newsletter re Horizontals/Information Exchange, 02/2011
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Education

1989 - Bar admission
1987 - Law studies at the University of St. Gallen 

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12/05/2022
10 key aspects of the revised EU competition law in the field of distribution...
The new Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and the new accompanying Vertical Guidelines (VGL) were published on 10 May 2022. The new VBER will enter into force on 1 June 2022 and apply for the next twelve years. The new VBER/VGL introduce sev
13/02/2018
Our Swiss Competition Team – Highly recommended in the 18th edition of...
We are proud to announce that our competition team under head Patrick Sommer and partners Marquard Christen, Stefan Brunnschweiler, Pascal Favre and Alain Raemy is highly recommended by Global Competition...

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14/03/2024
CMS Switzerland ranked in Chambers and Partners Europe Guide 2024
Awards & Rankings
05/03/2024
Plastics and packaging laws in Switzerland
1. What is the general legislative framework regulating packaging and plastic waste in your jurisdiction? Particularly when compared to the regulations within the European Union, plastic waste and packaging...
Comparable
07/06/2023
Competition law aspects of ESG initiatives in the life sciences & healthcare...
I. In­tro­duc­tion­G­lob­ally and in the EU, the initiatives to promote ESG developments are increasing. However, companies are still required to comply with competition law regulations and need more clarity...
12/04/2023
CMS Switzerland recommended by The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 Edition
23/03/2023
On the Pulse webinar series 2023 - Spring
Welcome to the launch of the On the Pulse webinar series
19/03/2023
CMS Switzerland recommended in the Chambers Europe Guide 2023
Chambers and Partners has pub­lished its rankings of Europe's lead­ing law firms and lawyers in the Europe Guide 2023. Our firm and our lawyers are listed in both rankings for Switzerland.
28/10/2022
CMS advises on joint venture between Voigt Holding AG and PHOENIX Pharma...
Zurich, 28 October 2022The Voigt Group and PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland have agreed to merge their subsidiaries, each active in pharmaceutical logistics and pharmaceutical wholesale sectors respectively, into a 50/50 joint venture. The two long-established and financially sound companies are an ideal fit with complementary offerings and competencies in the supply chain. Subject to approval by the Swiss Competition Commission, this joint venture will create a new, competent and sustainable player in the supply chain of the Swiss healthcare market.A CMS Switzerland team led by Dr Patrick Sommer provided comprehensive legal advice to Voigt Group on this joint venture. CMS Switzerland: Dr. Patrick Sommer, Partner, Lead, Corporate / M&A, Competition & EUAlain Raemy, Partner, Corporate / M&AMarquard Christen, Partner, Competition & EUDirk Spacek, Partner, Intellectual PropertyDr Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser, Counsel, Intellectual PropertyHadi Mirzai, Associate, Life Sciences, Competition & EUAlexandra Stocker, Associate, Corporate / M&AAnna Mast, Associate, Corporate / M&ADr. Matthias Kuert, Associate, Banking & FinanceThomas Zweifel, Associate, Real EstateChristina Winter, Associate, Employment
15/09/2022
Pharmaceutical advertising regulation and medical device advertising in...
1. Which laws are applicable regarding advertising of medicines and medical devices? 1.1 Medicines The key statutes regulating advertising and promotion of medicinal products are:The Federal Act on...
07/06/2022
Adverse effects of drugs and vaccines in Switzerland
1. Drug adverse effects: kinds of responsibility 1.1 Which are the main kinds of responsibility (contractual, in tort, criminal) of the following subjects with respect to adverse drugs reactions? A...
Comparable
11/04/2022
CMS Switzerland recognised by The Legal 500
Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 edition
17/03/2022
CMS Switzerland recommended in the Chambers Europe Guide 2022
Chambers and Partners has pub­lished its rankings of Europe's lead­ing law firms and lawyers in the Europe Guide 2022. Our firm and our lawyers are listed in both rankings for Switzerland.
27/04/2021
The Federal Supreme Court's judgment in the matter "Hors-Liste Medikamente...
On 21 April 2021, the Federal Supreme Court published a judgment against Pfizer regarding the sanction order of the Competition Commission (COMCO) in the matter Hors-Liste Medikamente (Pre­isem­p­fehlun­gen)...