junod-halperin

Lionel Halpérin's litigation and arbitration practice focuses on banking and commercial disputes, as well as civil and criminal proceedings. He assists an international clientele of businessmen, high-ranking public figures, banks and multinational companies in proceedings relating to white-collar crime and international mutual assistance in criminal matters. Lionel Halpérin also regularly represents doctors and medical staff facing malpractice claims. In addition, he advises on drafting contracts, estate planning and reputation protection. Lionel Halpérin is also a member of the boards of several foundations and trusts. Drawing on his involvement in the community and his interpersonal skills, Lionel Halpérin assists his clients in their dealings with the judicial and administrative authorities and in the development of their business activities.

areas of expertise

LITIGATION & ARBITRATION

Litigation

Commercial proceedings
Criminal proceedings, notably white collar crimes and medical malpractice investigations
International mutual assistance in criminal matters
Family law proceedings
Protection of personality proceedings, including media law

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Arbitration

Advice and representation of companies and individuals in international commercial arbitration proceedings
Advice and representation of companies and individuals in local arbitration proceedings
Sole arbitrator and member of arbitral tribunals

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WHITE COLLAR CRIMES, MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS & MEDICAL CRIMINAL LAW

Offences against financial assets (fraud, misappropriation, criminal mismanagement)
Money laundering
Seizure and confiscation of assets
Corruption
Insider trading
Stock market offences
Unfair competition
International mutual assistance in criminal and administrative matters
Assisting companies in complying with their duties of diligence and transparency in the field of human rights
Criminal proceedings in the medical field (malpractice)

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PRIVATE CLIENTS, INHERITANCE & IMMIGRATION

Estate planning
Drafting wills
Inheritance agreements
Donations and prenuptial agreements
Liquidation of estates
Execution of wills
Residence and work permits in Switzerland
Creation and management of trusts, foundations and other entities
Arbitration proceedings in trust and inheritance law matters

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MEDIA LAW & PROTECTION OF PERSONALITY

Fundamental freedoms and human rights
Protection of privacy (including professional secrecy, defamation, libel, harassment, etc.)
Criminal proceedings for defamation and libel
Civil and administrative proceedings for protection of personality, including media law

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COMMERCIAL & CORPORATE LAW

Incorporation of companies
Advice on the organisation, structuring and restructuring of companies
Company administration
Drafting of contracts for companies and individuals
Drafting of shareholders' agreements
Obtaining permits for employees
Drafting employment contracts
Commercial law proceedings
Commercial arbitration

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BANKING & FINANCE

Attachment and freezing of bank assets
Banking and financial procedures
Money laundering regulations and compliance
Insider trading and market abuse
Embezzlement
International mutual assistance in criminal and administrative matters

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EMPLOYMENT & PENSIONS

Negotiating and drafting employment contracts
Protection of personality
Private placements and staff leasing
Work permits
Labour law procedures, including administrative procedures for government employees and employees of autonomous public-law institutions
Platform economy (contracts for online service platforms, administrative procedures and permits for staff leasing)
Internal investigations

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FAMILY LAW

Marriage settlements
Divorce
Adoption
Change of name

EDUCATION/CAREER

2025
Partner, Junod Halpérin

2009 – 2024
Partner, Ming Halpérin Burger Inaudi, Geneva

2013
Swiss Advanced Certificate in Trust Management

2001 – 2008
Associate, Ming Halpérin Burger Inaudi, Geneva

2001
Admission to Geneva Bar

1999 – 2000
Trainee lawyer, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva

1998
Internship, international arbitration, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, New York

1998
Admission to the New York Bar

1997 – 1998
Master of Laws (LL.M.) International legal studies, New York University

1997
Internship, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Bank, Germany

1996
Law degree (lic. iur.), University of Geneva

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Member of the Geneva Bar Association (member of the Bord, March 2012 to March 2024)
President of the Geneva Bar Association, 2018 to 2020
Swiss Bar Association
Geneva International Legal Association (committee member)
Swiss Arbitration Association
International Bar Association (IBA)
Geneva Business Law Association
Member of the Board of Directors of the FER (Fédération des Entreprises Romandes) Geneva, since 2020
Member of the Parliament of the Republic and Canton of Geneva (2013 – 2018), where he served on committees responsible for taxation (which he chaired), housing and human rights
Constituent Assembly of the Canton of Geneva (2008 – 2012), where he chaired the commission in charge of institutions and served as leader of the “Libéraux et indépendants” group
Member of the Board of Directors of the Official Youth Foundation (FOJ) since 2024

Publications

Attorney-client privilege

2022

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Secret professionnel de l’avocat : garantie intangible dans un état démocratique in Semaine Judiciaire No. 7 of 31 July 2022

Legal profession

2020

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Interview of Lionel Halpérin (Lionel Halpérin in Le Temps, 14 April 2020)

Criminal procedure

2020

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Révision du Code de procédure pénale : un déséquilibre dangereux (Lionel Halpérin and Daniel Maritz Opinion in Le Temps and NZZ newspaper, 4 March 2020)

Human Rights

2018

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Quels juges étrangers ? Yves Nidegger face à Lionel Halpérin : Démocratie directe ou libertés faut-il choisir ? (Lionel Halpérin in Tribune de Genève, 7 November 2018)

Legal profession

2018

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Le Bâtonnier Halpérin : “notre métier doit évoluer avec la numérisation” - Interview of Lionel Halpérin with la Tribune de Genève

Spatial planning

2014

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Affection du sol et plans directeurs (Lionel Halpérin in Leonard Properties Publications) Analysis of cantonal master plans 2015 and 2030

Mutual administrative assistance

2013

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Pour éviter la liste noire, le Conseil fédéral n’en finit pas de s’aplatir (Lionel Halpérin Opinion in Journal Le Temps, 21 August 2013)

Lump-sum taxation

2013

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Le forfait fiscal, son fonctionnement, son avenir (Lionel Halpérin in Leonard Properties Publications)

Money laundering

2013

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Communication en matière de blanchiment d’argent : Le Temps du Refus (Lionel Halpérin in La Lettre du Conseil no, 57, p. 11 et seq.)

Money laundering

2012

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Blanchiment d’argent : jusqu’où ira la Suisse ? (Opinion in Journal Le Temps, 20 December 2012)

Banking secrecy

2009

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

Le secret bancaire, élément du contrat social suisse (Lionel Halpérin in Transparence et secret dans l’ordre juridique, Liber Amicorum pour Me Vincent Jeanneret)

Legal profession

2008

LIONEL HALPÉRIN

De la Théorie du Droit au Métier d’Avocat – Réflexions sur la formation (Lionel Halpérin and Sébastien Desfayes in Défis de l’avocat au XXIe siècle : Mélanges en l’honneur de Madame le Bâtonnier Dominique Burger, éditions Slatkine)

Legal profession

2019

President Halpérin's lecture of 22 January 2019 on the draft directive on intermediation platforms; legaltech's challenges and conflicts with rules of ethics (part of the “l’électrochoc numérique” conference, The Graduate Institute Geneva)

Asset forfeiture/Banking law

2017

Loi sur la valeur patrimoniale d’origine illicite ; pavée de bonnes intentions ? Presentation to banking institutions (Pictet on 24 February 2017, Mirabaud & Cie S.A. on 13 November 2017, J Safra Sarasin on 15 November 2017) Presentation of the new law, discussion of initial implementation.

Banking secrecy

2015

Le secret bancaire, élément du contrat social suisse, 13 November 2015 (Tribune de Genève)

areas of expertise

EDUCATION/CAREER

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Publications

Attorney-client privilege

Legal profession

Criminal procedure

Human Rights

Legal profession

Spatial planning

Mutual administrative assistance

Lump-sum taxation

Money laundering

Money laundering

Banking secrecy

Legal profession

Conferences

Legal profession

Asset forfeiture/Banking law

Banking secrecy