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Nicolas Gurtner

Attorney-at-law

Nicolas Gurtner specialises in litigation, for criminal and commercial disputes. He has been representing international and domestic clients before criminal authorities and civil jurisdictions for more than 15 years.

His areas of focus are criminal law (esp. white-collar crime), contractual disputes, banking law and asset recovery. His also provides advice in said matters.

Nicolas Gurtner studied in Geneva (BLaw), Basel (bilingual MLaw: summa cum laude) and at Harvard Law School. 

He is a frequent speaker on rhetoric issues and edited a collective book on said topic.

He is fluent in French and English.

Location
Geneva Rue Jacques-Balmat 5 CH-1204 Geneva T: +41 58 220 36 00
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Expertise

Languages

  • French
  • English

Experience

Since 2025 Partner, valfor
2018–2024 Partner at CANONICA & ASSOCIÉS Law Firm, Geneva
2011–2018 Associate at CANONICA & ASSOCIÉS Law Firm, Geneva
2008–2010 Lawyer Internship at the Law Firm BCCC Avocats, Geneva
2008–2011 Geneva Bar exam, ranked 3rd
2007–2008 Exchange program at the Harvard Law School
2006–2008 Geneva and Basel Law Faculties: bilingual (French & German) Master of Laws, summa cum laude
2003–2006 Geneva Law Faculty, Bachelor of Laws
  • Geneva Bar Association
  • Swiss Bar Association
  • Société de Lecture
2024 Delegate for the Geneva Bar Association to the Swiss Bar Association
2018–2020 First Secretary of the Geneva Young Bar Association
2017 Geneva Bar Association, member of the specialised forums in civil law and criminal law

Publications and Speeches

  • Stylistique et figures de rhétorique, s’exprimer avec élégance et convaincre avec éclat, Basel, Paris and Brussels (foreword by Mr Marc Bonnant and postscript by Mr Bertrand Périer)
  • Le projet de nouvel art. 147a CPP : la balance perd l’équilibre, with Mr Daniel Kinzer and Mr Miguel Oural, Anwaltsrevue 2019, pp. 415ss
  • Avocats et médias : conseils pratiques in Anwaltsrevue 2019, pp. 391ss
  • Recommandations sur le protocole épistolaire, with Messrs Hadrien Mangeat, Adrian Häusler and Guillaume Braidi
  • Défense de la défense : l’engagement de l’avocat suisse, with Ms Myriam Fehr-Alaoui and Ms Sandrine Giroud, in Anwaltsrevue 6/7/2017, pp. 267ss
  • Numerous conferences in relation to the art of rhetoric and argumentation

New partners. Enhanced expertise.

valfor is pleased to announce the addition of six new partners effective 1 January 2025.

The Lausanne-based law firm Mercuris Avocats, led by partners Olivier Cherpillod, Jean-Michel Clerc, Martine Loertscher, and Maxime Rocafort, will join valfor. Their team, specialising in commercial law, tax, and dispute resolution, will integrate valfor’s Pully/Lausanne office.

Deborah Hondius and Nicolas Gurtner will strengthen valfor’s Geneva office, bringing their expertise in litigation, particularly in white-collar crime and contractual matters.

United by a shared philosophy of delivering value beyond legal advice, they all look forward to combining their skills and resources for the benefit of valfor’s clients. This strategic growth reinforces valfor’s position as one of Switzerland’s leading business law firms, with over 80 lawyers practicing across Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Sion, Zug, Zurich, and Brussels.

With a strong international and interdisciplinary focus, valfor provides tailored legal solutions to meet the specific needs and complexities of each client’s business.

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