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Pierre Ducret
Managing Partner

Pierre Ducret, LL.M.

Head of the Private Clients and Sports Law practice | Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law

Languages
  • French
  • English
  • Italian
Social media

Pierre Ducret is the Managing Partner of CMS Geneva and Head of the Private Clients and Sports Law practice.

He advises and represents clients in complex litigation, primarily in civil and commercial matters, often involving international dimensions. He has extensive experience in inheritance law and frequently acts as counsel or arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings.

Beyond his dispute resolution practice, Pierre Ducret provides strategic advice on wealth and estate planning. He is also widely recognized for his expertise in sports law, advising athletes, clubs, and governing bodies on regulatory, contractual, and disciplinary matters.

Admitted to the Geneva Bar, Pierre Ducret is also a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales. He holds the title of Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Olivier Carrard, Pierre Ducret and Philipp Dickenmann are fine lawyers and arbitrators, with a strong knowledge and experience in sports law, in arbitration in particular.
    The Legal 500, Switzerland, Sports Law, 2024
  • Quote
    Pierre Ducret is a brilliant lawyer, who frequently issues publications on civil law and frequently makes presentations.
    The Legal 500 Private Client, Switzerland, 2021
  • Quote
    Pierre Ducret and Philipp Dickenmann are experienced in dispute resolution and frequently act for corporate and individual clients in litigation and international arbitration matters.
    Pierre Ducret, The Legal 500, Sports Law, Switzerland, 2021
  • Quote
    Pierre Ducret is very responsive and client-friendly.
    Pierre Ducret, The Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Litigation, Switzerland, 2020

Relevant experience

Litigation
  • Representation of an executor in urgent proceedings aiming at freezing estate assets.
  • Representation of Italian heirs in an inheritance distribution procedure.
  • Representation of a Swiss bank in legal proceedings concerning the execution of personal securities.
  • Representation of a French industrial group in international mutual assistance proceedings. 
  • Representation of a Luxembourg bank in legal proceedings concerning the recovery of credits in the trading sector.
  • Representation of a Chinese bank in bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Representation of a cooperative company in a shareholders' dispute.
Arbitration
  • Representation of an executor in arbitration proceedings conducted under the auspices of the Swiss Arbitration Centre.
  • Representation of a national sports federation in arbitration proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
  • Representation of a Singaporean company in arbitration proceedings conducted under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce.
  • Sole arbitrator in arbitration proceedings conducted under the auspices of the Swiss Arbitration Centre.
  • Representation of a professional football player in arbitration proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
 Sports law 
  • Expert appointed in the context of an internal investigation conducted by a leading international organization in the sports sector.
  • Advising and representing a professional football club in various pre-litigation and litigation matters (contract law, employment law, construction law, civil liability).
  • Advising and representing a sports management agency in view of obtaining a practice permit.
  • Representation of a professional football player in FIFA proceedings.

Publications

Arbitration
  • No set-aside for ICC award on public policy ground (A SpA v B SpA), in: LexisPSL, 2022
  • No set-aside for CAS award on legal aid grounds (A v Union Cycliste Internationale), in: LexisPSL, 2021
  • Tweeting CAS arbitrator removed from arbitral tribunal (Sun Yang v WADA & FINA), in:  LexisPSL, 2021
  • Swiss Supreme Court annuls CAS award in Sun Yang case on discovery of circumstances justifying the removal of an arbitrator, in: Lexology, 2021
  • The modification of Switzerland’s international arbitration law, in: International Disputes Digest, 2020
  • The Arbitral Procedure, in: International Arbitration in Switzerland: A Handbook for Practitioners, 2nd Ed. (éd. Geisinger/Voser/Petti), Kluwer Law International, 2013 (co-author : Elliott Geisinger)
  • The Uncomfortable Truth : Once Discovered, What to Do with It?, in: ASA Special Series No. 35, 2011 (co-author : Elliott Geisinger)
  • Swiss Federal Tribunal rejects multiple standards of independence and impartiality among arbitrators, in: Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 2011 (co-author : Georg von Segesser)
 Private Clients 
  • Le concubinage, un statut précaire, in : Bilan, novembre 2019 (co-author : Nicolas Uster)
  • La Suisse a une carte à jouer en matière de trust, in : Le Temps, décembre 2018
Sports Law
  • Une commission de la FIFA recommande un plafonnement des commissions d’agent et une limitation des prêts internationaux, in : CMS Law Now, 2019
  • Consécration du principe d’intégrité des compétitions sportives par le Tribunal arbitral du sport, in : Intégrité des compétitions sportives, Charles Dudogon et al. (eds.), Jurisédition, Dalloz, 2014 (co-author : Olivier Carrard)

Memberships & Roles

  • Société Romande des Avocats spécialistes en Successions
  • Geneva Bar Association
  • Swiss Bar Association
  • Swiss Arbitration Association
  • Law Society of England & Wales
  • Swiss Sports Law Association

Lectures list

  • Arbitration & Inheritance, Annual seminar of the Société Romande des Avocats spécialistes en Successions, November 2024
  • University of Geneva, Guest speaker in the master program of estate planning, May 2020
  • CMS Talks, Droit des successions : food for thought, November 2019
  • University of Geneva, Guest speaker in the master program of estate planning, May 2019
  • CMS Talks, 5 perspectives sur le trust, November 2018
  • Geneva Bar Association, Le Code de procédure civile – questions choisies, May 2016 (with David Hofmann)

Education

  • 2024 – Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law
  • 2010 – Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales (not practicing)
  • 2009 – LL.M. in international commercial law, King’s College London
  • 2005 – Law Degree, University of Geneva