Profile
Elena’s practice focuses on internal and regulatory investigations, white-collar investigations, and civil litigation in international matters. She advises financial services firms and their management on corporate governance and regulatory matters, and represents them in investigations and proceedings before regulatory authorities and courts. Elena is recognised by Legal 500 as “Recommended Lawyer” in regulatory, investigations and compliance.
Experience
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The following is a selection of matters in which Elena Rodriguez acted:
- Counsel to a Swiss bank in preliminary enforcement proceedings by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) relating to the bank’s reporting of suspicions of money laundering
- Counsel to a global steel producer in a cross-border investigation regarding global sanctions compliance (Iran) triggered by a whistleblower
- Representing a Swiss bank in court proceedings regarding complex international financial investments
- Representing the world’s largest wealth management bank in highly complex cross-border proceedings relating to the repatriation of a fortune, involving sophisticated questions and solutions on mutual and judicial assistance
- Defending a leading European car manufacturer regarding investigations and court proceedings initiated by the Swiss Competition Commission regarding alleged prevention of parallel imports of vehicles to Switzerland (landmark case)
- Representing Swiss entities involved in foreign governmental investigations in connection with cross-border administrative and judicial assistance requests in connection with foreign investigations in stock exchange and/or tax matters
- Do I have to prove it all? Standards of Evidence Speaker at the AIJA Conference organized by the Energy and Environmental Law, Real Estate and Litigation Commissions, Vienna, 14-16 October 2021
- Virtual Hearings in Civil Trials and FINMA Proceedings in: Jusletter, 12 April 2021
2016
Admitted to the Bar, Rechtsanwältin
2011
Maastricht University, the Netherlands, LL.M., with distinction
2011
University of Zurich, Master of Law, magna cum laude, distinguished with the Orelli-Award
2009
University of Zurich, Bachelor of Law
Legal500 EMEA 2025: Recommended
- Swiss Bar Association (SAV)
- Zurich Bar Associations (ZAV)
- International Bar Association (IBA)
2021
Senior Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
2019
Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
2018
Foreign Associate, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LL.P., Washington, D.C.
2016
Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
2013
Law clerk with the District Court of Meilen, Canton of Zürich
2011
Junior Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
2009
Trainee, litigation law firm in Zurich
2009
Legal intern with the Prosecutor’s Office (Staatsanwaltschaft) Zurich-Sihl
German
English
Spanish
French