Switzerland
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Working in Switzerland
White & Case S.A. has been present in Switzerland since 2015, advising clients on international arbitration and, more generally, dispute resolution.
Lawyers who join the Geneva team find themselves part of an open collegial culture in which innovation, teamwork and an entrepreneurial spirit are highly valued. Senior lawyers are generous with their knowledge, and new associates are encouraged to develop and learn.
Our employees have excellent academic and professional qualifications, and collectively contribute to the success of our office.
“It is the most consolidated and tight arbitration group I’ve ever seen. Their skills, knowledge and devotion is off the chart. Without any doubt, the best I've ever encountered.”
The Legal 500, 2023
Practice areas
International Arbitration
Our team has a breadth of experience in international arbitrations under all major rules, as well as ad hoc, governed by various laws, and seated in different jurisdictions. We represent clients from a wide range of industries, including construction & engineering, mining & metals, pharmaceuticals & healthcare, energy, manufacturing & industrial and consumer & retail, to name a few.
As well as advising on international arbitrations, our team also handles domestic arbitrations in Switzerland, arbitration-related court proceedings, including before the Swiss Federal Tribunal, and Swiss law advisory work. Our Geneva international arbitration lawyers come from diverse backgrounds in both civil and common law, and between them speak many languages.
Developing your written and oral advocacy skills never stops at White & Case. Doing it with experienced partners who encourage you to take on learning opportunities is what sets this Firm apart.
Associate
As a Swiss trained lawyer, the opportunity to advise on Swiss law and practice international arbitration from a truly global platform is what separates White & Case from others.
Associate
Roles
We recruit for a wide variety of positions. Find out more below.
We offer our associate lawyers exposure to international legal matters. As an associate lawyer, you will work in a team with other lawyers from various legal backgrounds. You will also be in contact with the Firm's clients. You will be encouraged to take on responsibility early in your career as you work on a range of assignments, including writing briefs, reviewing factual documents, preparing witness statements, working with technical, financial and legal experts, as well as attending hearings. We also offer our associates internal and external practical training (such as oral advocacy).
We are interested in promising associate lawyers. We look for highly motivated individuals with strong academic backgrounds (qualified in Switzerland or abroad) who are fluent in English, possess excellent drafting skills, strong commercial awareness, a high-performance mentality, significant personal achievements, and a strong commitment to the practice of law.
We offer talented Swiss law graduates the opportunity to complete a six or 12-month traineeship at our Firm, which may contribute to the "stage d'avocat" (for the time being, we do not offer the possibility to complete the full 18-month "stage d'avocat" required for the Geneva bar exam). During your internship, you will work on the Firm's matters, assisting lawyers in their day-to-day work, carrying out legal research, reviewing contracts and factual documents, drafting pleadings and legal opinions, participating in team meetings and other related activities. We are looking for highly motivated Swiss law graduates (i.e., possessing a Bachelor's degree and Master's degree. ECAV is a benefit) with strong academic backgrounds, excellent drafting skills, fluency in French and English, and advanced skills in German.
Taking part in our summer vacation scheme is the best possible way to experience what our lawyers do each day. Wherever your career takes you, the vacation scheme will expose you to international arbitration and Swiss law work, and provide an opportunity for you to develop legal skills.
These include the following:
- Undertaking client work with our partners and associates (i.e., researching areas of law, reviewing factual evidence, drafting memos, attending meetings, etc.)
- Deepening your knowledge of arbitration and learning about different practice areas
- Participating in knowledge-sharing workshops
- Attending social events and sharing an office with a trainee
- Building your network, both professionally and personally
- Receiving feedback and advice on your work and performance at the end of your vacation scheme
Dates? The four-week vacation scheme takes place every July.
Who can apply? Swiss law students with: a minimum of six semesters of law school (by the time the vacation scheme starts); excellent grades; fluent in both French and English; and with a good knowledge of German.
Open Roles
We currently have the following open positions:
We now welcome applications for August 2025 and beyond.
The applications cycle for the July 2024 vacation scheme is closed. Information on the July 2025 vacation scheme will be available in fall 2024.
Applying in Switzerland
Candidates interested in applying for positions as students, associate lawyers or administrative staff should send a cover letter, CV, certificates and transcripts with grades to [email protected]. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
46.2075389, 6.148038
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Working in Switzerland
An established presence in Switzerland since 2001, White & Case LLP is widely recognized as a leading firm in the field of international trade law and policy in Geneva. Our office is one of the world’s largest and most active practices in the law of the World Trade Organization (WTO), working closely with other White & Case offices across the globe to provide a range of services designed to match the scope of global trade regulation and to answer the needs of our clients, whenever and wherever they arise.
Members of our International Trade team have the chance to work on complex multijurisdictional trade- and customs-related projects, helping private and sovereign clients manage risks and maximize opportunities associated with the increasing regulation of international trade in goods and services. Lawyers who join our team in Switzerland find themselves part of an open collegial culture where innovation, teamwork and an entrepreneurial spirit are valued, senior lawyers are generous with their knowledge and new associates are encouraged to be forthright with their questions.
We maintain a positive and friendly work environment, which eases the demands of working for a leading global law firm. Our employees have excellent academic and professional qualifications, and all contribute to the collegial and supportive atmosphere of our office.
Practice areas
Practice Work in Geneva: International Trade
The location of our Swiss office enables us to closely monitor the work of various international organizations based in Geneva, including the WTO, through which the rules of the multilateral trading system are negotiated and enforced.
Our team provides advice to companies and sovereign governments on the full range of WTO disciplines, including trade remedies (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures), technical barriers to trade, customs, investment, agriculture and intellectual property. Our lawyers also have a deep expertise on bilateral and plurilateral trade and customs issues.
White & Case is a leader in international trade-related law, which means I'm exposed to all aspects of this highly specialized area and have gained first-class experience in a short amount of time.
Counsel
Roles
We recruit for a wide variety of positions. Find out more about each one.
Highly qualified and motivated administrative staff are key to the success of our work. We offer the opportunity to work in a truly international environment, with colleagues and clients across the world. We are always interested in candidacy from qualified people to join our administrative team. Successful candidates must have the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment, work effectively with others, exercise good judgment and have high ethical standards.
We offer our associate lawyers exposure to complex and high profile international trade matters. As an associate lawyer, you will work in a team with other lawyers coming from various legal backgrounds and will be in contact with clients. We are looking for highly motivated individuals with strong academic background, fluent in English, with excellent drafting skills, strong commercial awareness, significant personal achievements and a strong commitment to the practice of law.
We offer graduate students the possibility to gain practical experience during internships (generally for a three- to six-month period). During your internship, you will work on the Firm’s cases, assisting lawyers in their day-to-day work, carrying out research, participating in team meetings discussing strategy and other related activities.
Applying in Switzerland
For our International Trade practice, we seek lawyers who have an excellent command of English, both written and oral, since English is the working language of the practice. Any additional languages, in particular French and Spanish as these are the two other WTO languages, are an advantage. We also prefer either a postgraduate qualification in international trade law or experience working on international trade matters.
For professional services, we are looking for talented individuals who must have the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment, work effectively with others, exercise good judgment and have high ethical standards. Previous experience in an international law firm is an advantage.
Only applications sent through the career page will be reviewed. Make sure to attach your CV and cover letter to your application.
Please note that although the recruitment process may take some time, you can always expect an answer.