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Antitrust, Competition & Trade

The Competition team of CMS Switzerland advises across the full range of Swiss and EU antitrust and competition matters. Based in Zurich and Geneva, the two main Swiss financial centres, we are part of the wider CMS Antitrust, Competition and Trade (ACT) group, one of the largest specialist competition and trade teams in the world. More than 225 CMS experts advise clients in more than 40 countries worldwide on all ACT matters.

We cover all key areas of Antitrust, Competition and Trade law – internationally and in Switzerland:

  • Competition and cartel investigations
  • Merger Control
  • Vertical agreements
  • Horizontal agreements
  • Abuse of dominance and economic dependence
  • Unfair competition
  • Compliance
  • Private enforcement
  • Trade law and sanctions
  • Foreign investment screening
  • Digital markets
  • Regulatory

We represent our clients in proceedings before competition authorities such as the Swiss Competition Commission and other regulatory authorities as well as courts. We have renowned sectoral experience, including in automotive, construction, consumer products/FMCG and retail, energy, life sciences, IT services, payments solutions, and telecommunications among other sectors.

Our clients range from large multinationals who frequently use our team as their ACT law firm of choice for the entire region, to governments and a high number of small and medium-sized companies.

Our size and very wide footprint enable us to handle all ACT matters irrespective of their geographic dimension. Where necessary we cooperate with long established contacts from our wider network of law firms across the world. 

We use the most up-to-date technical and AI tools to support our business in Switzerland and abroad.

We run frequent webinars and events on Swiss and EU competition developments and hold a renowned annual EU competition law conference, which has become a feature in the Brussels calendar.  We put out regular case law updates on competition and trade developments on our Law Now service.  Moreover, our international group is steered, not just by a management committee of partners but also by an active associates’ group that keeps us innovating to serve clients.

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Competition and cartel investigations
Companies need to be alive to the possibility of investigations and fines for anti-competitive behaviour. We defend our clients in cartel and other re
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Merger Control
We have a long and extensive track record of advising clients on merger control requirements and representing them in Swiss and multi-jurisdictional m
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Vertical agreements
We give clients confidence in their relationships with suppliers, resellers and customers, online and offline. By reviewing and assisting them in shap
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Horizontal agreements
The line between admissible conduct and infringement can be thin. We advise on the full range of horizontal cooperation or coordination between compan
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Abuse of dominance and economic dependence
Companies with strong market positions are subject to increasing scrutiny of their conduct in the market, which may lead to unwanted regulatory interv
Unfair competition
Potential civil law claims related to misconduct of competitors involve not only competition-related private enforcement resulting from anticompetitiv
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Compliance
We provide day-to-day advice in all competition law matters to help clients avoid any conflicts with competition laws. We advise clients on the set-up
Private enforcement
We act for claimants and defendants in competition-related private enforcement matters, in a jurisdiction known for its still very limited number of c
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Foreign investment screening
While, until today, there is no legal regime on foreign investment control in Switzerland, our broad footprint allows us to offer a one-stop shop solu
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Export control and sanctions
In an increasingly challenging international business world, we help companies to remain compliant and keep supply chains moving. With export control
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Digital markets
CMS is widely recognised as a leader in providing competition and other legal advice to clients from the digital and technology markets. In its 'Digit
Regulatory
Companies in regulated industries are under constant scrutiny over anti-competitive behaviour. With our in-depth sector specific competition law exper
20/08/2020
CMS Expert Guide to antitrust law and legislation during Covid-19
 Any business in the world could be affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For many, urgent measures need to be taken to avoid serious financial consequences as a result of these challenging and unprecedented times.Business models will like
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04/02/2019
CMS Dawn Raid Assistant app
CMS has launched a free mobile application that provides guidance for competition-law dawn raids in 27 countries. Dawn raids are becoming more common these days, with authorities imposing huge fines...

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27/03/2024
CMS advised Ypsomed on the sale of its pen needle and BGM businesses to...
Zurich, March 2024 | An international CMS team under the lead of Stefan Brunnschweiler and Florian Jung provided comprehensive advice to Ypsomed (SIX: YPSN) on all legal aspects regarding the sale of its pen needle and blood glucose monitoring systems (BGMs) businesses to Medical Technology and Devices S.p.A. (MTD). Ypsomed is supporting a reliable transition to ensure the supply of pen needles to people around the globe who inject insulin and other hormones. During a transition period, Ypsomed will produce pen needles as a contract manufacturer and provide certain services to facilitate a seamless transfer. The production equipment will be gradually moved to the MTD sites by mid-2025. The business with pen needles and BGMs to be transferred to MTD accounted for sales of CHF 52 million in FY 2022/23 and CHF 18 million in the first half of FY 2023/24. The closing of the transaction and thus the transfer of the business with pen needles and blood glucose monitoring systems is expected in summer 2024, after which the transition will begin, and is subject to customary respectively regulatory conditions. Ypsomed is the leading developer and manufacturer of injection and infusion systems for self-medication and a renowned diabetes specialist. The company will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024. As a leader in innovation and technology, it is a preferred partner of pharmaceutical and biotech companies for pens, autoinjectors and pump systems for administering liquid medications. Ypsomed presents and markets its product portfolios under the umbrella brand mylife Diabetescare directly to patients, pharmacies, and hospitals as well as under Ypsomed Delivery Systems in busi­ness-to-busi­ness operations with pharmaceutical companies. Ypsomed is headquartered in Burgdorf, Switzerland. The company has a global network of production facilities, subsidiaries, and distribution partners. Ypsomed has over 2,200 employees worldwide. CMS ZurichStefan Brunnschweiler, LL.M., Managing Partner, Head Corporate/M&AFlorian Jung, LL.M., Senior Associate, Corporate/M&ASamuel Felix Gang, LL.M., Senior Associate, Corporate/M&AAnna Mast, Associate, Corporate/M&AAlexander Salamon, Attorney Trainee, Corporate/M&AMarquard Christen, LL.M., MAS, Partner, Com­pet­i­tion­Sophia Rovelli, Attorney Trainee, Com­pet­i­tion­Nad­ine Anwander, Attorney Trainee, CompetitionDr Matthias Kuert, LL.M., Partner, Capital MarketsMark Cagienard, LL.M. VAT, Partner, TaxChristian Gersbach, LL.M., Partner, EmploymentDirk Spacek, LL.M., Partner, IT/IPCMS ParisAlexandra Rohmert, Partner, Corporate/M&AVincent Desbenoit, Associate, Corporate/M&ACaroline Froger-Michon, Partner, Em­ploy­ment­Ca­mille Baumgarten, Associate, Em­ploy­ment­Aliénor Fevre, Counsel, CommercialManon Fleury, Associate, Com­mer­cialJean-Hugues de la Berge, Partner, TaxWilliam Hamon, Partner, TaxCMS FrankfurtDr Heike Wagner, Partner, Corporate/M&ADr Tobias Kilian, Of Counsel, Corporate/M&ADr Reiner Thieme, Associate, Corporate/M&ACMS HamburgDr Heike Wagner, Partner, Corporate/M&A
27/03/2024
CMS Switzerland recognised by The Legal 500 EMEA 2024
This year CMS Switzerland has been recommended by The Legal 500 in 21 categories in the European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) edi­tion. In addition, 6 of our lawyers are recognized individually for their expertise as "Leading Individuals" or "Next Generation Partner" in the areas of Competition, Insolvency & Corporate Recovery, Insurance, Public Law, Real Estate & Construction and TMT.
14/03/2024
CMS Switzerland ranked in Chambers and Partners Europe Guide 2024
Awards & Rankings
12/03/2024
After EU Commission's first decision on Carbon Contracts for Difference,...
The European Commission approved the first Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) scheme under the new Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022 (CEEAG).Fol­low­ing the...
06/02/2024
CMS advises Bruker on the agreement to acquire Chemspeed
Bruker Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed US tech company, entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Chemspeed Technologies AG, a Swiss provider of vendor-agnostic automated laboratory R&D and QC workflow solutions. Chemspeed is focused on modular automation and robotics solutions for chemical research, pharma drug formulation, materials research for cleantech and consumer applications. The Chemspeed acquisition accelerates Bruker’s entry into lab automation, digitalisation and scientific software solutions. Chemspeed offers modular automation to enhance productivity in R&D and QC departments to achieve more in less time and without additional staff. Chemspeed complements Bruker’s vendor-agnostic plat­form SciY™ for software automation and digital transformation of R&D labs in the life science, biopharma and cleantech industries. An international CMS team headed by Stefan Brunnschweiler and Andrea Relly (Switzerland), in collaboration with the US law firm Nixon Peabody LLP advised Bruker on all legal aspects of the transaction. CMS Switzer­land­Stefan Brunnschweiler, Lead Partner, Corporate / M&AAndrea Relly, Counsel, Corporate / M&ASamuel Gang, Senior Associate, Corporate / M&AAnna Mast, Associate, Corporate / M&AMarquard Christen, Partner, Competition and ComplianceJulia Haas, Senior Associate, Competition and Com­pli­ance­Bernhard Lötscher, Partner, ComplianceSophie Weber, Associate, ComplianceDr Dirk Spacek, Partner, Intellectual PropertyDr Simone Brauch­bar-Birkhäuser, Partner, Intellectual PropertyOlivia Zingg, Associate, Intellectual PropertyMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxJens Lehmann, Senior Associate, TaxMiryam Meile, Senior Associate, Em­ploy­mentSibylle Schnyder, Partner, Real EstateReto Hunsperger, Partner, Com­mer­cialAl­ex­an­der Salamon, Attorney Trainee, Corporate / M&ASophia Rovelli, Attorney Trainee, Corporate / M&AElisabeth Suter, Attorney Trainee, ComplianceCMS BelgiumKai Neuhaus, Partner, Brussel, CompetitionDavid Rappenglück, Associate, Brussel, CompetitionCMS UKRussel Hoare, Partner, Lon­don, Com­pet­i­tion­Claire Barraclough, Associate, Competition
22/01/2024
State aid: The European Commission approves an Italian aid scheme for the...
On 15 January 2024, the European Commission approved a EUR 120 mil­lion Italian aid scheme for all airlines establishing new connections between one of the three airports in Calabria, namely Tito Minniti...
22/06/2023
CMS advises Synlab on the sale of its Swiss business to Sonic Healthcare
SYNLAB and Sonic have announced the sale of SYNLAB Suisse SA to Sonic Healthcare for a purchase price of CHF 150m, having received the required approval of the Swiss antitrust authority. Closing of the transaction expected for 3 July 2023.
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...
01/06/2023
State aid: following appeals by Ryanair, the General Court of the EU annuls...
On 11 May 2023, the General Court of the EU cancelled two European Commission decisions authorizing State aid in the form of capital injections for the airlines SAS and Deutsche Lufthansa, in particular...
26/04/2023
CMS one of the "Top Law Firms" in Switzerland in 28 areas of law
The Swiss business magazine BILANZ, the Handelszeitung, and the magazine PME have awarded the "Top Law Firms" in Switzerland for the 7th time. Out of the 31 legal areas, CMS von Erlach Partners (CMS Switzerland) was ranked as one of the top 25 law firms in Switzerland in 28 areas, which is more than any other law firm in Switzerland. This confirms our position as a leading full-service law firm in the country.
12/04/2023
CMS Switzerland recommended by The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 Edition
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.