Wolfgang Peter is recognized by clients and his peers as one of the most in-demand counsels and arbitrators in the world, having been engaged in over 300 arbitrations as counsel and arbitrator.
Dr. Peter is particularly active in cases involving complex issues of valuations, including post-M&A disputes, joint ventures and projects stemming from the heavy industry. He has decades of expertise in cases involving gas & oil contracts, including upstream and downstream projects, as well as price reviews under long-term gas supply agreements.
Dr. Peter regularly advises third-party funding companies in evaluating the merits of the Claimant(s)’ cases, especially with regard to the damages.
An active speaker and contributor to the arbitration community at large, he is a member of the LCIA Board of Directors and of the ASA Board.
Prior to starting his independent arbitration practice, he headed the arbitration group of Python & Peter, one of the largest Swiss firms, which he also co-founded. Before engaging in arbitration practice full time, Dr. Peter led a successful M&A and corporate practice for 14 years, completing over 40 transactions and IPOs, including such well-known brands and companies as Gucci, Chaumet, Breguet, Tag Heuer, Ebel and Leica.
While practicing M&A, he managed two luxury watch-making companies, for 12 years.
- Founding Partner of Peter & Kim, Geneva (2020-present)
- Founding Partner of Peter & Partners, Geneva (2016-2019)
- Founding Partner of Python & Peter, Geneva (1981-2015)
- CEO of Breguet and Managing Director of Jaquet Droz (1987-2001)
- Adviser to the Federal Minister of Justice and Police (1980-1982)
- Secretary of the Federal Expert Commission on Swiss Company Law (1979-1980)
- University of Frankfurt (Doctorate in Law, 1986)
- Harvard Law School (Visiting Scholar, 1982-1983)
- University of Lausanne (Bachelor of Law, 1977)
- University of Lausanne (Doctorate in Economics, 1975)
- Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva (Degree in Political Science, 1974)
- University of Lausanne, Business School (M.B.A., 1972)
- Lead counsel in an ad hoc arbitration between a state-owned enterprise and a sovereign state, involving aspects of public international law, with an amount in dispute of USD several billion.
- Lead counsel in a case involving two state-owned entities in a highly complex ad hoc arbitration involving aspects of public international law stemming from oil production and delivery agreements, securing an award of more than a billion USD for our clients.
- Co-counsel in two PCA arbitrations involving a state-owned entity and private companies in a dispute concerning gas deliveries, with more than 15 billion USD in dispute.
- Counsel to a major energy conglomerate in its price adjustment disputes against another European major relating to long-term gas supply agreements subject to ICC Rules.
- Co-counsel in an arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules arising out of a dispute between a Canadian company and two mainland Chinese companies in relation to an unconventional gas project in China.
- Lead counsel in an ICC arbitration for a major mining and metallurgy consortium with more than USD 500 million in dispute, under Swiss law.
- Chairman of an Arbitral Tribunal in an ICC arbitration arising out of nuclear power plant construction (more than USD 1.5 billion in dispute).
- Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal in the Vivendi v Elektrim arbitration, an important decision on the interrelation between arbitral proceedings and bankruptcy, confirmed by two instances of the English courts.
- Co-counsel in an ICC arbitration concerning the break-up of Arthur Andersen, resulting in a seminal decision of the Swiss Supreme Court on the joinder of the arbitration agreements.
- Member of the Board of Directors of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)
- International Bar Association
- Geneva Arbitration Association
- Geneva Association of Business Law
- Material Adverse Change Clauses: Some Practical Thoughts, in Contemporary Issues in International Arbitration and Mediation – The Fordham Papers 2015, Edited by Arthur W. Rovine, 2017, p. 203-213
- Witness ‘Conferencing’, Arbitration International, Volume 18, Issue 1, 1 March 2002, Pages 47–58; A seminal article introducing the practice of witness conferencing
- Arbitration & Renegotiation of International Investment Agreements, Editions, Kluwer Law Publications, 1986 and 1995
- Various articles on business law and international commercial arbitration – see website for more details
- Lexology Index: Arbitration 2025
- Lexology: Energy – Oil & Gas 2024
- Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Thought Leaders 2019-2020; Arbitration Switzerland 2010-2020, National Leader
- Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Energy, Construction 2019-2020 Global Leader
- Chambers Global and Europe: Most in Demand Arbitrators and Counsel (2016-2020)