Partner

Dr Christoph Willi, LL.M.

Languages

German
English
Italian
French

Social media

Christoph Willi's practice focuses on advising companies that provide medical services or manufacture and distribute medical products and medical devices in Switzerland. He is an elected, part-time judge at the Federal Patent Court.

Due to his long-standing experience in advising medical service providers, Christoph Willi is very familiar with the specifics of the highly regulated Swiss healthcare system. His in-depth knowledge of the industry allows him to develop tailor-made solutions for companies operating in the healthcare and medical sector, thereby giving his clients a competitive advantage.

Christoph Willi represents his clients before all authorities and courts in Switzerland. He uses the experience he gained as a part-time judge at the Federal Patent Court in his advocacy work for the companies he advises.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

Quote

Christoph Willi: Fast response times, puts the customer at the centre.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Healthcare and life sciences, 2025

Relevant experience

Representation of pharmaceutical manufacturers in appeal proceedings before the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Administrative Court concerning the inclusion of medicinal products in the list of specialities and the periodic review of the conditions for inclusion.
Representation of Teva Pharma Schweiz AG in patent infringement proceedings before the Federal Patent Court concerning the manufacture and distribution of drospirenone.
Representation of Gilead Pharmaset LLC in patent litigation before the Federal Patent Court concerning eligibility and invalidity of a combination patent for a hepatitis C compound.
Representation of manufacturers of inhalation devices in appeal proceedings before the Federal Administrative Court concerning adjustment of the list of medicinal products and medical devices (MiGeL).
Representation of a medicinal product manufacturer in proceedings before Swissmedic concerning the protection of first notifications.
Representation of medical suppliers in cantonal administrative proceedings concerning cooperation with physicians.
Representation of a mail-order pharmacy in a cantonal administrative procedure concerning the duties of care to be observed when prescriptions are issued by doctors.
Representing and advising hospital managers in criminal proceedings concerning the handling of medical devices.
Representation of out-patient clinics, home care service providers and dispensing centers of means and objects vis-à-vis cantonal health authorities regarding authorisation to operate at the expense of compulsory health insurance.
Presiding Judge at the Swiss Federal Patent Court in patent infringement proceedings between Stemcup Medical Products AG vs. Implantec GmbH and Endoprothetik Schweiz GmbH (formerly ImplanTec Schweiz GmbH) concerning the socket for an artificial hip joint. The court's decision was praised for its relevance for patent practitioners. In its ruling the court clarified the practically relevant question up to which point of the proceedings a partial waiver of the patent in suit must be taken into account as a reaction of the opinion of the judge reporter after the formal closing of the file (Judgment of 28 October 2019 in the proceedings O2016_012).
Associate Judge at the Swiss Federal Patent Court in an entitlement action. In its decision, the Federal Patent Court held that the plaintiff's request that he was solely entitled to a patent or a patent application also includes the claim that the plaintiff is entitled to the patent or application not only alone but also together with others. Nevertheless, the court dismissed the claim (decision of 21 March 2018 in the matter Marcel Riendeau vs. Zehnder Group International AG).

Publications

Publications on the patenting of the second medical indication and the treatment privilege for medical practitioners; on the performance audit of medicinal products, laboratory analyses as well as means and articles; on the authorisation of medical service providers to operate at the expense of the compulsory health insurance; on tariff issues and the billing of services to the health insurance funds; on the handling of pecuniary advantages as well as on the new medical device law and the necessary adjustments.

Memberships & Roles

Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
Swiss Bar Association (SAV)
Licensing Executive Society (LES)
Institute for the Protection of Intellectual Property (INGRES)
International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
Swiss Forum for Communications Law (SF)

Lectures list

CMS Webinar "Ambulante Leistungserbringer: Zugang von qualifizierten Fachkräften sicherstellen, aber wie?", (together with Dr Julia Haas), 22 June 2023
Compliance seminars for sales representatives of manufacturers and wholesalers of medical products and medical devices
Compliance seminars for pharmacists and doctors on dealing with pecuniary advantages
Compliance seminars for Swiss authorised representatives and importers of foreign manufacturers of medical devices and the impact of the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR)
Workshops for medical wholesalers, medical laboratories and dispensaries on the pricing of products and services

Education

1998 - Master of Laws (LL.M.), Columbia University in New York (USA)
1996 - Doctorate (Dr.iur.), University of Zurich
1993 - Admitted to the bar of the Canton of Zurich
1990 - Law degree (lic.iur.), University of Zurich

sectors

Life Sciences & Healthcare

Insights

Global Reach