Zoe De Santis, LL.M.

Counsel

Zoe De Santis advises and represents clients in proceedings before state courts, arbitral tribunals and administrative bodies, focusing on corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration as well as media, copyright and trademark matters. She also serves as (sole) arbitrator in international and domestic arbitration proceedings.

Recognitions

  • Ranked in Leaders League (Litigation: “excellent”; International Arbitration: "highly recommended")

  • Recommended in Legal500 for Litigation and Intellectual Property

Professional Experience

  • Associate and Counsel with Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG, Zurich, since 2011

  • Admitted to the bar since 2011

  • Junior associate with Baker & McKenzie Zurich (2007–2008 and 2010)

  • Law clerk with the District Court of Horgen (2008–2009)

Education

  • Postgraduate studies at UCL University College of London (LL.M. in dispute resolution, 2014)

  • Studies at the University of Freiburg i. Ue. (MLaw, 2007)

Publications

  • Benjamin Schumacher/Zoe De Santis, Klagen gegen einfache Streitgenossen: Handelsgericht, Bezirksgericht oder beide? – Eine kritische Betrachtung der Praxis im Kanton Zürich, Allgemeine Juristische Praxis (AJP/PJA) 26 (2017) No. 7, p. 863 et seqq.

  • Besonderheiten beim Export von Gütern und Dienstleistungen, in: Vertriebsverträge II, Bern 2011 (together with Markus Berni)

  • Die unmittelbare Drittwirkung der Grundfreiheiten, in: ius.full 6/2005, p. 254-263

Recent Cases

  • Representation of a real estate investment firm in a post-signing dispute, including ex parte interim measures aimed at enforcing a reduction of the purchase price due to the opponent's failure to disclose relevant information

  • Representation of a former employee against a Swiss insurance company's subsidiary running a substantial private equity programme to enforce his rights for carried interest

  • Representing a recognized founder and executive in the crypto industry in a dispute against a co-founder and advising her on strategic issues relating to the client's function as chairwoman of a foundation council

  • Advising and representing several multinational companies in the agrochemical industry in a dispute regarding the withdrawal from / the termination of a Task Force Agreement

  • Representation of investors and Credit Suisse employees against FINMA/UBS in administrative proceedings to reverse the write down of AT 1 bonds and Contingent Capital Awards (CCAs)

  • Regularly advising a Swiss bank on issues relating to the Swiss Federal Law on Consumer Credit

  • Representation of a Swiss bank against FINMA in appeal proceedings before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court concerning the distribution of dividends

  • Representation of a director of a multinational advertising company in employment litigation against the former employer

  • Representation of a Swiss media group in a complaint for defamation and violation of his personality by a Swedish ultra-high net worth individual. The entrepreneur claimed to be a victim of a media campaign and sought the removal of more than 40 press articles, the publication of the judgment and monetary compensation.

  • Representation of an international music company in ad hoc arbitration proceedings regarding the payment of royalties under license agreements in the music industry

  • Representing a multinational producer of beauty products in multiple trademark / unfair competition cases against IP infringements by competitors

  • Sole arbitrator in arbitration proceedings under the Swiss Rules of Arbitration concerning a dispute between shareholders on the interpretation of multiple pooling and shareholders' agreements (amount in dispute of CHF 1,400,000)

  • Representation of a multinational company in the chemical industry in arbitration proceedings under the ICC Rules against a Swiss listed company regarding the enforcement of a call option in a joint venture agreement (amount in dispute of USD 140 million)

  • Representation of several National Sports Associations in arbitration proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an International Sports Federation regarding the annulment of a resolution of the members' meeting

  • Representation of a formula 1 driver against his racing team in arbitration proceedings under the Swiss Rules to enforce contractual claims (amount in dispute of CHF 10 million)

  • Representation of several entities of an Austrian media group in a number of arbitration proceedings under the Swiss Rules of Arbitration concerning a dispute amongst their shareholders

  • Representation of various multinational companies and foreign insolvency administrators/liquidators/trustees in recognition and enforcement proceedings regarding foreign judgments, arbitral awards and bankruptcy/insolvency orders

  • Representation of a Latin American company that became a victim of fraud in criminal proceedings aimed at restitution of the fraudulently obtained assets

  • Advising a Swiss company in a dispute against its Kuwaiti distributor and on its voluntary liquidation following the sale of major business units

Expertise

International Arbitration

Commercial & Corporate Litigation

Banking & Finance Disputes

Insolvency Disputes & Asset Recovery

Sports Disputes

IP / IT / Media Disputes