Lawyers in Geneva and Lausanne

In Switzerland, a lawyer (avocat) advises and represents parties in judicial and extra-judicial proceedings and is bound by absolute professional secrecy (art. 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code). A notary is a public officer who authenticates legal documents — such as real estate sale contracts or wills — and confers binding evidentiary value upon them. Both professions are regulated separately at the cantonal level.

Practices vary between firms. At PBM Avocats, the first consultation of 60 minutes is billed at CHF 220.-. This transparent fee structure allows you to know the cost from the outset, with no surprises. Beyond that, fees are agreed depending on the complexity of the matter, billed hourly or on a fixed-fee basis.

The Swiss Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), in force since 2011, unifies civil procedure across Switzerland. As a general rule, a conciliation attempt is mandatory before any court action. If conciliation fails, the case is brought before the competent court. Simplified procedure applies to disputes below CHF 30,000, and ordinary procedure to disputes above that threshold.

Swiss contract law is governed by the Code of Obligations (CO). Any contract requires agreement on its essential terms — the item and the price in a sale, for example. In principle, contracts are not subject to any particular form requirement, with certain statutory exceptions (e.g. real estate purchases require a notarial deed). Good faith is a cardinal principle of Swiss law (art. 2 CC).

Professional secrecy of the lawyer is protected by art. 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code. It is absolute and perpetual: the lawyer may not disclose information entrusted by the client, even after the mandate has ended. This secrecy extends to all staff within the firm. It constitutes a fundamental guarantee of the right to a fair trial (art. 6 ECHR).

No. To plead before Swiss courts, a lawyer must hold a Swiss bar admission and be registered in the cantonal register. EU/EFTA lawyers may practise in Switzerland under certain conditions (Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons), but in all cases they must be registered with a cantonal supervisory authority. PBM Avocats is registered with the bars of Geneva and Vaud.

Contact us by telephone at +41 58 590 11 44 or via our online contact form. We offer appointments at our offices in Geneva (Boulevard Georges-Favon 26) or Lausanne (Rue de Mauborget 12), as well as by video conference. The first consultation of 60 minutes is CHF 220.-.