Christian Girod

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution; Private Wealth; Trade and Transport

Career

Member of the Management Committee at Schellenberg Wittmer (2000-2001); Partner at Schellenberg Wittmer (1994); Associate at Schellenberg Wittmer (1986)

Professional Memberships

Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law, Trust and Estate Practitioner (STEP); member of professional associations, such as: Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA) and the Société Romande des Avocats Spécialistes en Droit des Successions.

Publications

Letters rogatory as a proper means for the heir in a foreign succession to obtain information about bank accounts of the deceased with Swiss banks.

Industry Sector Expertise

Commercial Litigation; Banking Litigation; Estate and Trust Disputes.

Languages Spoken

Languages: French, English, German.

Experience

- His practice is almost exclusively devoted to international matters and covers a broad range of issues which include: pre-litigation strategic advice; representation of parties in cases related, inter alia, to estate and trusts, private banking disputes, international commodity sales, manufacturing contracts, partnerships, charter parties, insurance; and the securing and freezing of assets in aid of domestic and international proceedings

- Representation of a Swiss Foundation as defendant in relation to estates opened in 1928 and 1968 which involve artworks and other assets confiscated by the Nazis in the 1930's and are governed by the laws of different states

- Representation of a bank sued by a former client in relation to investment proposals made by the bank, their implementation and subsequent investments (claims totaling several tens of millions Swiss francs)

- Representation of a refinery of precious metals in proceedings against a customer, a watchmaker, to recover quantities of precious metals such as gold and palladium owed by the latter

- Representation in several proceedings for provisional measures and on the merits related to the disputed ownership of a Gerhard Richter painting

- Representation of a Lloyd's syndicate in proceedings brought against it in relation to the alleged robbery of a diamond and jewels. Fraudulent insurance claim

- Representation of an alleged debtor opposing to an attachment order obtained by a creditor on more than two dozens of accounts (claims totaling several hundreds of millions Swiss francs)