Construction

Legal 500

“Knowledgeable and commercial practice has expertise in transactional real estate and contentious construction matters”

Legal 500

“Outstanding work”

Who's Who Legal

“Highly proficient, praised for speed and diligence and thorough understanding of the sector”

Legal 500

“Highly rated and appreciated”

Legal 500

“Considerable experience in construction disputes and real estate contracts”

Legal 500

“Partners and associates are readily available and provide excellent advice and case management”

Legal 500

“Smart and insightful feedback and orientation geared towards getting things done”

Legal 500

“Smart, very responsive, and very solutions oriented”

Practice Group

Schellenberg Wittmer's Construction Group features a large team of lawyers from multidisciplinary practice areas. Our team is composed of lawyers from both civil and common law jurisdictions. With these diverse backgrounds, training and practices, we offer our clients a wide combination of skills and resources.

Expertise

Experience

Schellenberg Wittmer's construction team has strong expertise in all sectors of the construction industry, including infrastructure, (renewable) energy and real estate. Its reach extends to every type of construction project and delivery method. The service includes advice on construction finance, insolvencies, insurance contracts and claims analysis and negotiation.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s construction team regularly advises domestic and international clients on a wide array of non-contentious construction matters, including:

  • Negotiation and drafting of total and general work contracts, and architect, engineering and project management contracts
  • PFI/PPP support for hospitals, schools, roads, railways, airports, bridges, and tunnels;
  • Construction contract management
  • Construction planning and development for commercial offices, residential and industrial premises, shopping centres and other projects
  • Digital Construction (BIM) and real estate / facility management (IoT / connected buildings)

We also advise clients and act as counsel in disputes involving parties from around the world in a variety of matters related to mid-scale to major international infrastructure, construction and engineering projects, including:

  • Adjudication, conciliation, mediation and dispute board proceedings
  • Domestic and international litigation
  • Domestic and international arbitration
  • Plant engineering and construction disputes
  • PFI/PPP disputes in various sectors, such as hospitals, schools, roads, railways, airports, bridges and tunnels
  • Litigation of planning and building permit disputes
  • Litigation of contractor liens
  • Members of our team also regularly serve as arbitrators

Our Construction Group has experience in matters governed by a wide range of national laws, including Swiss, Austrian, French, German, English, Italian, Dubai, Qatari, UAE, Turkish, Hungarian and Swedish. We also provide expertise on standard contract forms and international principles of construction and engineering law, including SIA or FIDIC contracts.

Non-contentious:

  • Counsel to the International Labour Organisation for the negotiation and the sale of a plot of land of 40'500 m2 to be constructed in accordance with a localized neighborhood plan to be adopted, to the Steiner Investment Foundation at a price of CHF 150 million
  • Counsel to Bouygues Construction for the acquisition of Alpiq Engineering Services,  a leading Swiss player in energy, industrial services and real infrastructure, for a purchase price of CHF 850 million
  • Counsel for the negotiation and signing of the architect agreement, interior design agreement, work contracts and the loan agreement for the addition of one floor (24 rooms), the renovation of the existing rooms and the construction of a landmark rooftop bar and lounge at Hotel Beaulac in Neuchâtel
  • Counsel for the negotiation, drafting and signing of an architect agreement and a general works contract for the construction of a major industrial high-tech development in Geneva

 

Contentious:

  • Representation of a large Middle Eastern construction company in an ICC arbitration relating to the termination of a sub-contract for works in the construction of an international airport in the Middle East
  • Representation of one of the leading general contractors in Switzerland in front of the competent state court in Switzerland against a subcontractor for the execution of all necessary repair works to remedy façade defects of a landmark building built by one of the world's largest tobacco companies, for its headquarters in Geneva
  • Representation of an Israeli company (and its international parent company) as EPC contractor of a large-scale solar thermal power station in an ICC arbitration in a dispute against one of its sub-contractors concerning mechanical, electrical and piping erection work
  • Assistance and representation of one of the leading general contractors in Switzerland for the management of a total work contract for the construction of a new office building for the United Nations in Geneva (UNOG), including claims management, variations and adjustment management, as well as advising on issues of delay and suspension, including because of COVID-19
  • Representation of a German company in ICC arbitration against a Kazakh company in a dispute under a series of supply and engineering contracts related to the design, delivery of equipment and ancillary services concerning a ferrochrome smelting facility
  • Representation of a Swiss company in ICC arbitration against a Mexican and Brazilian company in a dispute concerning the construction of a steel plant in Brazil
  • Representation of a UAE-based joint venture against a UAE entity in a construction arbitration under the arbitration rules of the Dubai Municipality
  • Representation of a German company in a USD 500 million construction dispute in the mining sector

Contact

Partners

Full Team

Awards & Recognitions

The group and leading practitioners are well recognised among leading law firms across international directories and publications:

  • Chambers Europe in Real Estate
  • Legal 500 in Real Estate & Construction
  • WWL Switzerland and across WWL Construction International Guides
  • WWL Switzerland Firm of the Year Construction & Real Estate

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Monthly selected key topics from our practice areas, sectors and industries, plus newsflashes on recent developments.

Publications

Monthly email with the latest updates and summaries of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court's case law in arbitration matters.
Regular insights into Swiss and international trends and legal developments in the construction industry.
Regular insights and updates on key developments in the rapidly changing landscape of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance disputes.
Concise analysis of key trends in the fast-moving world of corporate governance for board members of Swiss companies.
A regular look from a unique M&A perspective at legal changes, economic developments and societal trends in Switzerland.

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