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Nicolas Birkhäuser combines his first-rate practice in competition law with strong expertise in IP. He is distinguished as a leading lawyer by Chambers, Legal 500, Best Lawyers and other legal directories.
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Nicolas Birkhäuser has extensive experience representing companies in cartel and abuse of dominant position investigations as well as in merger control proceedings, including multijurisdictional coordination. Nicolas Birkhäuser also focuses on IP, including in particular transactions and IP related contracts.
Nicolas Birkhäuser advises companies across a broad range of industries, including the automotive sector, financial services, insurance, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, food, mechanical engineering, construction, wholesale and retail, media, telecommunications, IT and sports.
Nicolas Birkhäuser successfully represents leading companies in these industries in high-profile transactions, including, among other things, the setup and growth of their business, cooperation, distribution, sourcing, R&D, market dominance and compliance.
The following is a selection of cases in which Nicolas Birkhäuser acted as a counsel:
- Merger control proceedings, such as the acquisition of SIX Payment Services by Atos / Worldline, European leader in the payments and transactional services industry, 2018
- Cartel and abuse of dominance investigations by the Competition Commission
- Counsel to leading bank in investigation of alleged LIBOR rate manipulation, 2017-2017, partly ongoing
- Counsel to leading bank in investigation of alleged misconduct relating to FX, 2014-ongoing
- Counsel to premium car manufacturer in investigation of alleged collusion with regard to leasing conditions, 2014-ongoing
- Counsel to major construction company in investigations of alleged bid rigging, 2009-ongoing
- Counsel to BMW as defendant in a major parallel import case, 2010-2017
- High-profile transactions including competition law and IP, among others, the takeover of Actelion by Johnson & Johnson, 2017, and the cooperation between Navistar Inc. and MAN/Volkswagen, 2017
- Counsel to Procter & Gamble for competition law and IP, ongoing
- Counsel to Coop Genossenschaft, major Swiss retailer, for competition law, ongoing
- Counsel to Chr. Hansen Holding A/S on matters concerning intellectual property, including in particular technology transfer and licensing, in the context of its agreement with Lonza AG to establish a 50/50 joint venture
- Counsel to ASSA ABLOY AB on matters concerning intellectual property in the context of its acquisition of a 54% controlling stake in agta record ag
- Disputes including competition law and IP
- Relative Marktmacht im ersten Entscheid der Wettbewerbskommission (WEKO) verneint (Competition Commission (COMCO) denies relative market power in its first decision), 2024 in: CH-D Wirtschaft, Handelskammerjournal der Handelskammer Deutschland-Schweiz (2/2), 2024, p. 34-35
- Relative Marktmacht am Beispiel des ersten Falls der Wettbewerbskommission WEKO / Marktbeherrschung (Relative Market Power based on the example of the first case before the Competition Commission COMCO / Market Dominance) Presentation given at SwissHoldings Competition Law Group Meeting on 20 September 2024 (43 pages)
- Competition Law in Switzerland: Overview (Übersicht über das Schweizer Kartellrecht), 2024 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2024, Thomson Reuters, 2024
- Wann ist ein Preis ein Preis? (When is a price a price?), 2023 Presentation given at Get-together of the Verein für Wettbewerbsökonomik, jointly with co-speaker Niklaus Wallimann (chief economist of Secretariat of Swiss Competition Commission) on 16. November 2023 (11 pages)
- Roundtable – Marktmachtmissbrauch – Quo Vadis? (Roundtable – Abuse of Dominance – Quo Vadis?), 2023 Presentation (panel given) at working session (Arbeitssitzung) of Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. with the Center for the Law of Innovation and Competition (CLIC), Universität Bern, in Bern on 23 June 2023
- Kommentar zu Art. 3a des Bundesgesetzes gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb (UWG) (Commentary on Art. 3a of the Swiss Act on Unfair Competition), 2023 in: Stämpflis Handkommentar UWG, 3nd edition, Stämpfli Verlag, Bern, 2023, p. 834 – 920
- Geodiskriminierung im Lauterkeits-, Kartell- und Immaterialgüterrecht (Geo-discrimination (geo-blocking) in unfair competition law, cartel law and intellectual property law), 2022 in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht (SZK), 3/2022, p. 103 – 113
- Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation und Retention-Agreements in M&A-Transaktionen, 2022 in: Mergers & Acquisitions in Recht und Praxis, Europa Institut an der Universität Zürich | EIZ, 2022, p. 81 – 138 (57 pages, 433 KB)
- Das neue Geodiskriminierungsverbot – Der Tatbestand von Art. 3a Abs. 1 UWG (The new prohibition of geo-discrimination (geo-blocking) – Art. 3a para. 1 Unfair Competition Act), 2022 in: Aktuelle Juristische Praxis (AJP) / Pratique Juridique Actuelle (PJA), 8/2022, p. 867 – 875 (9 pages, 474 KB)
- Information Exchange and Related Risks – Switzerland Chapter, 2022 in: Information Exchange and Related Risks – Jurisdictional Guide, Concurrences (IBA Antitrust Publications & Events), New York, 2022, p. 303 – 317 (19 pages, 676 KB)
- Informationsaustausch zwischen Wettbewerbern (Information Exchange between Competitors), 2022 Presentation (speech given) at conference of Swiss Association of Competition Law (ASAS) / sgv, Unternehmen im Wettbewerb, in Zürich on 25 October 2022
- Fiction or Reality: Who cares about effects in competition law? 2022 Presentation (panel given) at the 4th European Competition Lawyers Association (ECLA) conference, in Stockholm on 20 May 2022 (12 pages, 2 MB)
- Kommentar zu Art. 1 des Schweizerischen Kartellgesetzes (Commentary on Art. 1 of the Swiss Cartel Act), 2021 in: Basler Kommentar Kartellgesetz (Basel Commentary on Swiss Cartel Act), 2nd edition, Helbing Lichtenhahn, Basel, 2021, p. 67 – 98
- Cartel leniency in Switzerland: overview (Kronzeugenregelung / Bonusprogramm in Kartellsachen in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2021 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2021 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters, 2021
- Merger control in Switzerland: overview (Fusionskontrolle in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2021 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2021 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters, 2021
- Restraints of trade and dominance in Switzerland: overview (Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen und Marktbeherrschung in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2021 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2021 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters, 2021
- The M&A Law Review – Swiss Chapter, 2021 The M&A Law Review, 2021, Edition 14 (Law Business Research Ltd.)
- Cartel leniency in Switzerland: overview (Kronzeugenregelung / Bonusprogramm in Kartellsachen in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2020 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2020 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters, 2020
- Merger control in Switzerland: overview (Fusionskontrolle in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2020 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2020 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters, 2020
- Restraints of trade and dominance in Switzerland: overview (Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen und Marktbeherrschung in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2020 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2020 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters, 2020
- Lizenzkartellrecht in der Schweiz (Technology Transfer under Swiss Competition Law) Presentation (speech given) at conference Wettbewerbsrecht und Technologietransfer (Competition Law and Technology Transfer) of ASAS in Zurich on 28 August 2019
- The M&A Law Review – Swiss Chapter, 2019 in: The M&A Law Review, 2019, Edition 13 (Law Business Research Ltd.)
- Definition der Wettbewerbsabrede und Eingrenzung der Vermutungstatbestände gemäss Art. 5 Abs. 3 und 4 KG (Definition of the agreement affecting competition and limitation of the hard-core restrictions according to Art. 5 Para. 3 and 4 Cartel Act) Presentation (speech given) at Arbeitssitzung of the Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. together with the Center for the Law of Innovation and Competition, Bern, event of 21 June 2019
- Definition und Eingrenzung der Kerntatbestände gemäss Art. 5 Abs. 3 und 4 KG – Verhältnis zu Art. 4 Abs. 1 KG (Definition and limitation of the hard-core restrictions according to Art. 5 Para. 3 and 4 Cartel Act – relationship to Art. 4 Para. 1 Cartel Act) Presentation (speech given) at Semesteraussprache of the Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. event of 17 April 2019
- Private Enforcement in Competition Law (Private Enforcement im Kartellrecht) Presentation (speech given) at 20th Debating Competition Dinner on 14 November 2018
- The M&A Law Review – Swiss Chapter, 2018 in: The M&A Law Review, 2018, Edition 12 (Law Business Research Ltd.)
- Das Gaba-Urteil des Bundesgerichts: Kritik und künftige Anwendung (the gaba-judgment of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court: Critical review and future application of the cartel act) in: Zeitschrift für Schweizerisches Recht ZSR, Band 137 (2018) I, Heft I
- Technologietransfer und Alleinbezug in der Schweiz (technology transfer and exclusive purchasing in Switzerland) Presentation (speech given) at Assemblée Générale of ASAS on 26 September 2017
- Das Urteil des Bundesgerichts in Sachen Gaba (the judgement of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in the matter of Gaba) in: Jusletter 11 September 2017
- Markenerwerbsvertrag (Trademark Purchase Agreement), 2017 in: Peter Münch / Sabina Kasper Lehne / Franz Probst (eds.): Schweizer Vertrags-Handbuch, 3rd edition, Basel 2017
- Sukzessivliefervertrag (Multiple Delivery Agreement), 2017 in: Peter Münch / Sabina Kasper Lehne / Franz Probst (eds.): Schweizer Vertrags-Handbuch, 3rd edition, Basel 2017
- Stärken und Risiken der Bekanntheit von Marken (strengths and risks of famous trademarks) Presentation (speech given) at INGRES Ittinger Workshop zum Kennzeichenrecht on 25 August 2017
- Major re-interpretation of Swiss competition law: price-fixing, quantity-limiting and market-allocating agreements are per se illegal regardless of effect and may lead to direct sanctions Online Publication, https://www.nkf.ch/wp, 2 May 2017
- Innovation lifecycle roundtable Presentation (competition law) in cooperation with King & Spalding and Deloitte held at the Innovation Lifecycle Roundtable event on 21 March 2017 in Basel
- Best practices für mündliche Selbstanzeigen (best practices for oral leniency applications), November 2016 Presentation (speech given) at Sekretariatsaussprache (discussion with the Secretariat of the Competition Commission) together with Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. event of 14 November 2016
- Digital Transformation et le droit de la concurrence (digital transformation and competition law) Presentation (speech given) at 7e journée du droit de la concurrence in Lausanne event of 3 November 2016 (18 Pages; 427
- Cross-Border Outsourcing und kartellrechtliche Fragen (cross-border outsourcing and competition law issues) Presentation (speech given) at seminar organized by EuropaInstitut of University of Zurich on 28 September 2016 (Pages 30; 279 kb)
- Competition law in times of digital transformation (Wettbewerbsrecht in Zeiten der “Digital Transformation”) Presentation (speech given) at SwissHoldings on 23 September 2016
- Cartel leniency in Switzerland: overview (Kronzeugenregelung / Bonusprogramm in Kartellsachen in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2016/17 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2016/17 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters (7 Pages; 134 kb)
- Merger control in Switzerland: overview (Fusionskontrolle in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2016/17 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2016/17 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters
- Restraints of trade and dominance in Switzerland: overview (Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen und Marktbeherrschung in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2016/17 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2016/17 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters
- Innovation, Standardisierung und Wartung – Wo steht das Schweizer Kartellrecht? (Innovation, standardization and maintenance – Where does Swiss competition law stand?) Seminar lead by Marcel Meinhardt and Nicolas Birkhäuser, organized by EuropaInstitut of University of Zurich in cooperation with Swiss Association of Competition Law on 9 June 2016
- Best practices für mündliche Selbstanzeigen (best practices for oral leniency applications), June 2016 Presentation (speech given) at Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. event of 6 June 2016
- Swiss Competition Law – Quo vadis?Requirement of significant restriction on competition: Restriction on competition by object or effect? (schweizer kartellrecht – quo vadis? erfordernis einer erheblichen Beeinträchtigung des Wettbewerbs: Beurteilen einer Wettbewerbsbeschränkung aufgrund ihres Gegenstands (zwecks) oder aufgrund ihrer Auswirkungen?) Presentation (speech given) at 23rd St. Gallen International Competition Law Forum ICF on 20 May 2016
- Cartel Leniency in Switzerland: Overview (Kronzeugenregelung / Bonusprogramm in Kartellsachen in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2015/16 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2015/16 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters
- Merger control in Switzerland: overview (Fusionskontrolle in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2015/16 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2015/16 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters
- Restraints of trade and dominance in Switzerland: Overview (Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen und Marktbeherrschung in der Schweiz: Übersicht), 2015/16 in: Practical Law Global Guides 2015/16 Competition and Cartel Leniency, Thomson Reuters
- Neue Risiken im Finanzsektor: kartellrechtliche Entwicklungen (new risks in the financial sector: Developments in competition law) Presentation (spreech given) on 26 June 2015
- The Dominance and Monopolies Review -Chapter about Switzerland, 2015 in: The Dominance and Monopolies Review 2015, 3rd edition (Law Business Research), p. 372-391
- The Cartels and Leniency Review – Chapter about Switzerland, 2015 in: The Cartels & Leniency Review 2015, 3rd edition (Law Business Research), p. 365
- Immaterialgüterrecht Textausgabe (Intellectual Property law statute book), 2015 in: 5th edition, Basel 2015
- Antitrust for small and middle size undertakings and image protection from non-competitors – Chapter about Switzerland in: Pranvera Këllezi / Bruce Kilpatrick / Pierre Kobel (eds.): Antitrust for Small and Middle Size Undertakings and Image Protection from Non-Competitors, Heidelberg 2014 (Springer), p. 207
- The dominance and Monopolies Review, second edition – Chapter about Switzerland, 2014 in: The Dominance and Monopolies Review 2014, Second Edition (Law Business Research), p. 315-332
- Kartellrecht und Bussenverfahren der Wettbewerbskommission im Bau (Competition law and sanction proceedings of the competition commission in the field of the building and construction industry) in: Baurecht Zeitschrift für Baurecht und Vergabewesen, 2/2014, S. 77-80
- The Cartels and Leniency Review – Chapter about Switzerland, 2014 in: The Cartels & Leniency Review 2014, 2nd edition (Law Business Research), p. 326
- LIDC – question a: Zusammenfassung des Berichts des Berichterstatters der schweizerischen Landesgruppe ASAS (summary report by the national reporter of the Swiss section ASAS): Sollten in Bezug auf kleine und mittlere Unternehmen («KMU») andere oder besondere Regeln des Wettbewerbsrechts gelten? (should small and medium enterprises [«SME’S»] be subject to other or specific competition rules?) in: sic! 1/2014, p. 38-43
- Les clauses de non-concurrence (Wettbewerbsverbote; non-compete obligations) Presentation (speech given) at 4e Journée du droit de la concurrence of 7 November 2013 organised by asas, Centre Patronal and CEDIDAC
- The Dominance and Monopolies Review – Chapter about Switzerland, 2013 in: The Dominance and Monopolies Review 2013 (Law Business Research), p. 292
- Wettbewerbsabreden im Strassen- und Tiefbau im Kanton Aargau – Aus Sicht der Unternehmen (agreements on competition in the field of road building and civil engineering – from the perspective of the companies) Presentation (speech given) at Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. event of 29 April 2013
- The Cartels and Leniency Review – Chapter about Switzerland, 2013 in: The Cartels & Leniency Review 2013 (Law Business Research), p. 270
- BYOD – bring your own device – Private Smartphones im geschäftlichen Umfeld in: SJZ 109 (2013), No. 9, p. 201-207
- Should SMES be subject to specific competition rules National Report at LIDC Congress 2012
- Immaterialgüterrecht Textausgabe (Intellectual Property law statute book), 2012 4th edition, Basel 2012
- Praxis des Immaterialgüterrechts in der Schweiz, Kennzeichenrecht (Practice of Intellectual Property law in Switzerland, Trademark and other Designations law) Presentation (speech given) at INGRES conference of 30 June 2011
- Praxis des Kennzeichenrechts (Practice of Trademark and other Designations law) Summary of case law at INGRES conference “”Praxis des Immaterialgüterrechts in der Schweiz”” (Practice of Trademark and Other Designations Law in Switzerland) of 30 June 2011
- Markenerwerbsvertrag (Trademark Purchase Agreement), 2010 in: Peter Münch / Peter Böhringer / Sabina Kasper / Franz Probst (eds.): Schweizer Vertrags-Handbuch, 2nd edition, Basel 2010
- Sukzessivliefervertrag (Multiple Delivery Agreement), 2010 in: Peter Münch / Peter Böhringer / Sabina Kasper / Franz Probst (eds.): Schweizer Vertrags-Handbuch, 2nd edition, Basel 2010
- Immaterialgüterrecht Textausgabe (Intellectual Property law statute book), 2009 3rd edition, Basel 2009
- Immaterialgüterrecht Erlass-Sammlung (Intellectual Property law statute book) 2nd edition, Norderstedt 2007
- New developments in Swiss competition law and foreign undertakings in: Centre for International Legal Studies (ed.): The Comparative Law Yearbook of International Business, vol. 26, Den Haag 2005, p. 255-284
- Major revision of the Swiss cartel act in: Antitrust & Competition Review 2004, p. 62-65
- Die Beurteilung von Vertikalabreden durch die eidgenössische Wettbewerbskommission (assessment of vertical agreements by the Swiss competition commission) in: sic! 5/2002, p. 378-384
2003
University of Cambridge, LL.M.
2000
Admitted to the Bar (Attorney-at-law)
1998
University of Basel, Master Degree
Best Lawyers 2013 – 2025
Chambers Europe 2013 – 2025
Legal500 EMEA 2021 – 2025: Leading Partner
Best Lawyers/ Handelsblatt Switzerland 2023/24 – Lawyer of the Year for Antitrust/Competition Law
Lexology Index – Thought Leaders – Switzerland 2020 – 2024
Lexology Index – Global 2020 – 2024
Lexology Index – Switzerland 2016 – 2024
IP Stars 2023 – Transaction Star – Switzerland
IP Stars 2022 – Transaction Star – Switzerland
IP Stars 2021 – Transaction Star – Switzerland
Legal500 EMEA 2020: Recommended
IP Stars 2020 – Transaction Star – Switzerland
Legal500 EMEA 2019: Recommended
Legal500 EMEA 2018: Recommended
- Committee of the Swiss Association of Competition Law (asas)
- Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V.
- LES Licensing Executives Society Switzerland
- INGRES Institute for Industrial Property Law
- AIPPI International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
- Swiss Bar Association
- Zurich Bar Association
2011
Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey
2003
Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
2000
Associate with major law firm in Zurich
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