Profile

Boris Vittoz is an expert in international arbitration, both as counsel and arbitrator, as well as commercial litigation, including debt collection and enforcement proceedings. He also advises clients in crisis management and in relation to sports as well as trust and estate disputes.

Experience

Boris has been representing clients for 20 years before international arbitral tribunals and Swiss courts in connection with commercial, sports and trust and estate disputes. He has completed two three-year terms as member of the Court of the Swiss Arbitration Centre and was an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sports during six years. Boris’s experience also includes the assistance of clients facing internal and external crises involving simultaneously multiple public and private stakeholders.

Highlights include:

  • Acting as lead counsel for a foreign real estate group in an ICC arbitration, as well as related court proceedings in Switzerland and abroad, with a value in dispute of around CHF 100 million.*
  • Acting as lead counsel for a foreign pharmaceutical company in Swiss court proceedings with a value in dispute of around CHF 60 million.*
  • Acting as counsel for an international sports federation facing simultaneously multiple legal, governance and other challenges, including investigations from foreign authorities and various sports institutions, disputes among its various bodies and with investors, debtors and employees involving arbitration, civil, disciplinary, criminal and other court proceedings in various fora.*

 

*Transactions handled before joining Niederer Kraft Frey

2005 Admitted to the Swiss Bar
2002 DEA, University of Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne)
2001 Law Degree, University of Lausanne
The Legal500 EMEA 2024 – Recommended
Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Partners 2024
Who’s Who Legal: Switzerland – Sports & Entertainment 2023
WHO’S WHO LEGAL: GLOBAL LEADERS – SPORTS 2023
Who’s Who Legal: Global Leaders – Sports 2022
Who’s Who Legal: Switzerland – Sports & Entertainment 2022
Who’s Who Legal: Future Leaders – Commercial Litigation 2021
  • Swiss Arbitration Association
  • Geneva Bar Association
  • Swiss Bar Association
2023 Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey, Geneva
2022 Partner, law firm, Geneva
2021 Member of the Ethics Commission of the International Squash Federation
2020 Arbitrator at the Qatar Sports Arbitration Tribunal
2016 Member of the Court, Swiss Arbitration Centre
2013 Arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
2013 Co-Chair ASA Vaud Group, Swiss Arbitration Association
2011 Founding Partner, law firm, Lausanne
2007 Associate, law firm, Geneva
2003 Trainee and then Associate, law firm, Geneva

French

English

Market Perception

«Frank Spoorenberg and Boris Vittoz are first-class practitioners.»
Legal 500 2024 – Dispute Resolution: Arbitration
«He thinks creatively and is able to use foreign law techniques to further his client’s case. Boris has excellent people skills. He is calm, legally strong and knows how to perform in legal hearings.»
Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Partners 2024
«Boris is incredibly skilled and meticulous in his approach. He is a very strong sports arbitrator. He is very thorough and strategic – one of the best practitioners in the jurisdiction.»
Who’s Who Legal: Switzerland – Sports & Entertainment 2023

Events

23.05.2023

Acquisitions immobilières commerciales et industrielles

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Firm News

18.01.2023

NKF continues to grow and opens new offices in Geneva

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Speaking Engagements

01.05.2022

Lois étrangères“ et arbitrage international

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01.08.2021

Some Specific Aspects of Football Arbitration in Front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

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01.11.2019

International Commercial Arbitration : Confidential or Not?

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