Christoph
Brunner

Prof., Dr. iur., LL.M.
Partner

cbrunner@peterandkim.com +41 58 317 70 50
Download vCard Download CV (English)
Bar admission
Bern Bar, 1994
Nationalities
Swiss
Languages
German, English, French
Location
Bern

PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE

Christoph Brunner has been practising dispute resolution for over 20 years. He has acted as counsel, presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and legal expert in more than 100 international commercial arbitrations governed by various institutional and ad hoc rules. He has acted as arbitrator under the substantive laws of Switzerland, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, California (among others), and the CISG. His range of expertise covers in particular M&A, joint ventures, construction/infrastructure projects, sales, distribution / agency and licensing contracts, enforcement of arbitral awards and international legal assistance. He is recommended for arbitration in Chambers, Global Guide and Europe, and in Who’s Who Legal, including "Thought Leaders".
He is considered by clients and his peers as an «excellent, knowledgeable and fair» lawyer (WWL, 2017).

Dr. Brunner also regularly acts as counsel in procedures before state courts in Switzerland, especially in international and complex cases, including procedures before the Swiss Supreme Court. He is a member of the ICC Swiss Commission of Arbitration and the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. He is a titular professor of law at the University of Bern.

Areas of
Expertise

  • Arbitration / Litigation
  • Commercial Contracts
  • Distribution / Agency
  • General Civil Law
  • International Sales / Construction
  • Joint Ventures / Consortia
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private International Law

Industry
Sector

  • Construction & Engineering Icon Construction & Engineering
  • Commodities Trading Icon Commodities Trading
  • High-tech Products Icon High-tech Products
  • Fashion & Luxury Goods Icon Fashion & Luxury Goods
  • Electricity Supply Icon Electricity Supply
  • Pharmaceutical & Biotech Icon Pharmaceutical & Biotech

Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Thought Leaders – Arbitration 2022 (since 2018) – Thought Leader Q&A: see https://whoswholegal.com/christoph-brunner

WWL (Arbitration 2022): “Peers and clients say: ‘Christoph is a very well-respected practitioner” Excellent as counsel and arbitrator in commercial disputes’.”

WWL (Switzerland – Arbitration 2021) says: “The ‘very experienced’ Christoph Brunner is ‘an excellent practitioner’ and a ‘first-rate arbitrator and counsel’.”

WWL (Arbitration, 2020) says: ”Christoph Brunner is endorsed by peers as ‘an excellent and no-nonsense practitioner’ who is ‘highly qualified, reliable, and brings excellent knowledge on Swiss law and experience in arbitration’.”

WWL (Arbitration, 2019) says: “Christoph Brunner is recognized for his ‘very balanced approach as arbitrator’, stands out for his ‘very profound knowledge’ when it comes to disputes across the construction sector.”

WWL (Arbitration, 2018) says: “The ‘outstanding’ Christoph Brunner … is widely considered ‘a brilliant lawyer and advocate’.”

WWL (Litigation, 2021) says: “Christoph Brunner is both ‘calm and experienced’ with extensive experience acting on disputes arising out of M&A transactions, construction projects and contractual issues.”

Chambers, Europe and Global, 2021, Arbitration Counsel – Switzerland: “Christoph Brunner is well versed in handling construction cases and disputes arising out of joint ventures. Clients praise his practical approach, with one going on to explain: “He is very realistic and straightforward. He doesn’t give unnecessary hopes on any situation, and what he says and advises we fully trust.”

Chambers, Arbitration, Global Guide 2019: “Sources report that he has a ‘profound knowledge of Swiss law and is calm and well prepared’.”

“Nominated as Arbitrator of the Week by Jus Mundi (13 August 2021)”

  • Lead-partner in an ICC arbitration relating to a major joint venture infrastructure project.
  • Co-lead partner in two related arbitrations, under the ICC Rules and Swiss Rules, respectively, representing a major Turkish building contractor against an Eastern European state entity.
  • Swiss co-counsel in an ICC arbitration relating to an electricity supply agreement involving anti-suit injunctions and issues of force majeure and hardship.
  • Lead partner in setting aside proceedings against the ICC Award and securing a win for the client at the Swiss Supreme Court level, resulting in a seminal decision on aspects of res judicata under Swiss law.
  • Counsel for a UAE Claimant against multiple Respondents in attachment and enforcement proceedings of a DIAC award in Switzerland.
  • President in an ICC arbitration involving a M&A / purchase price adjustment dispute.
  • President in a VIAC arbitration involving a Turkish Claimant against a German Respondent concerning the construction and supply of clinics in Russia.
  • Sole Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration concerning a sale of commodities.
  • Sole Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration relating to the supply and installation of high-tech machinery and equipment.
  • Co-arbitrator in SAC arbitration in a major M&A dispute in the pharmaceutical & biotech industry.
  • Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration appointed by one of the largest global energy players in a dispute involving the gas sector.
  • Partner and Counsel, Python & Peter (2001-2015)
  • Associate at two major Swiss law firms based in Geneva (1997-2001)
  • Lecturer for commercial law and international arbitration, University of Bern (since 2006)
  • Doctorate in Law (Dr. iur.), University of Bern (1996)
  • Master of Laws (LL.M.), University of California at Berkeley (1996 – 1997)
  • ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
  • ICC Swiss Commission of Arbitration
  • LCIA European Users’ Council
  • German Institution of Arbitration (DIS)
  • International Arbitration Institute (IAI) Paris
  • Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)
  • List of arbitrators of Alternative Dispute Resolution for Commodity Trading, Shipping and Finance (ACT)
  • ELArb
  • Swiss and International Bar Association
  • International Association of Boalt Alumni
Download List of Publications

  • Christoph Brunner has published several books and numerous articles on commercial law and international arbitration. In particular, he is the author of the well-known treatise “Force Majeure and Hardship under General Contract Principles” (Kluwer, 2009) and author and editor of a Commentary on the CISG (2nd German edition 2014; English edition Kluwer 2019).