Switzerland Advances Comprehensive Reform of Competition Law
Switzerland is in the final phase of a partial revision of the Cartel Act, expected to be adopted in December 2025 and to enter into force in early 2027. The reform introduces focused changes to substantive antitrust law, merger control, procedure, and civil enforcement, with the aim of strengthening effects based analysis and modernising enforcement. […]
Switzerland Introduces a Targeted Foreign Direct Investment Screening Regime
Switzerland plans to introduce a foreign direct investment screening regime with effect from 1 January 2027. The regime is intentionally narrow and applies only to acquisitions of control by foreign state investors in Swiss entities active in designated critical sectors. Private investors are excluded, reflecting a clear policy choice to address security concerns without restricting […]
Speaking Engagement – Geneva International Legal Week – Termination and Repudiation in Commodity and Shipping Contracts
10 March 2026, 14:30 – 16:00 Geneva SMBC Law will host a side event during Geneva International Legal Week where partner Cyrus Siassi and associate Amanda Andrade will explore one of the most delicate issues in commodity and shipping contracts: when commercial pressure crosses the line into repudiation. In a practical and engaging discussion titled […]
Court of Appeal Affirms Liability of Foreign Assistors for Assisting Breach of Freezing Orders in Lakatamia Shipping Co Ltd v Su
The UK Court of Appeal unanimously held in Lakatamia Shipping Co Ltd v Su [2025] EWCA Civ 1389 that a person located outside England can be held liable for unlawful means conspiracy if they knowingly assist in the breach of a freezing order, even when acting entirely abroad. The case arose from efforts to enforce […]
English Court of Appeal Upholds Validity of “Pay First” Clauses in Marine Insurance: Lessons from MS Amlin Marine NV v King Trader Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1387
A recent decision by the English Court of Appeal reaffirmed the enforceability of “pay first” clauses in charterers’ liability insurance policies. The judgment in MS Amlin Marine NV v King Trader Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1387 offers valuable guidance not only for the marine insurance market but also for the broader interpretation of contractual provisions […]
Jurisdictional Challenges and Arbitration: Insights from Orange v Shein [2025] EWHC 2966 (KB)
In the sphere of cross-border commercial dispute resolution, the interplay between court proceedings and arbitration is often delicate. When parties dispute whether an arbitration agreement is valid – for instance, because the signatory lacked authority – that challenge will inevitably raise procedural and strategic questions. The recent ruling in Orange v Shein [2025] EWHC 2966 […]
Pricing Disputes and Arbitral Awards: The English High Court’s Lessons from Aston Martin MENA Limited v Aston Martin Lagonda Limited [2025] EWHC 2531 (Comm)
Disagreements over pricing are among the most common sources of conflict in cross-border distribution agreements. The case of Aston Martin MENA Limited v Aston Martin Lagonda Limited [2025] EWHC 2531 (Comm) illustrates how the English High Court approaches such disputes, balancing respect for arbitral autonomy with a clear, commercially oriented view of contract interpretation. By […]
Speaking Engagement – International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators (ICMA XXIII)
22 to 27 March 2026 Singapore Our partner, Cyrus Siassi, will speak at the International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators (ICMA XXIII), one of the most respected global forums for maritime arbitration. He will present his paper titled Anchored in Two Harbours: Managing Concurrent Jurisdiction and Interim Measures in Maritime Disputes, addressing the complex interface between […]
Speaking Engagement – MIDS/CIDS – Commodities and Maritime Arbitration: An Insider’s View from Geneva’s Trading and Dispute Hubs
12 February 2026 Geneva We are pleased to participate in the upcoming session on Commodities and Maritime Arbitration: An Insider’s View from Geneva Trading and Dispute Hubs, organized by CIDS and the MIDS. Our partner, Cyrus Siassi, will join leading practitioners and academics to share practical insights from Geneva’s position as a strategic global center […]
Modernized Framework for Cross-Border Civil Proceedings in Switzerland Taking Effect on 1 January 2026
Switzerland has just taken a meaningful step toward simplifying cross-border evidence taking in civil and commercial matters. With the amendments to its declaration under the 1970 Hague Evidence Convention and the corresponding changes to the PILA entering into force on 1 January 2026, the country moves toward a more practical and modern cooperation framework, reflecting […]