Gregory Strohmeier has been promoted to Partner in our Real Estate and Construction Groups in Geneva. Gregory is a highly accomplished attorney specializing in real estate and construction law. He advises both institutional and private investors on a broad range of complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, sale-leasebacks, mortgage financings, restructurings, leasing, joint ventures, and development projects across various asset classes. Gregory also provides expert advice on real estate regulatory matters, including compliance with Lex Koller, Lex Weber, and environmental regulations.

In addition to his transactional expertise, Gregory represents contractors, developers, owners, brokers, sellers, purchasers, lenders, landlords, and tenants in high-stakes real estate disputes and related litigation. His extensive experience is further complemented by his qualification as a Certified Specialist SBA in Construction and Real Estate Law.

Fabio Elsener has been appointed Counsel in our Banking & Finance Group in Zurich. A recognized expert in capital markets, financial transactions, and financial markets regulation, Fabio specializes in innovative FinTech business models, including blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

Fabio provides strategic and transactional advice to Swiss and international financial institutions, as well as FinTech companies, assisting them with regulatory matters, the issuance of financial instruments, and structured finance transactions. With an LL.M. from Maastricht University and a Global Master in Finance from IE Business School, Fabio’s strong academic background complements his strong financial and legal expertise. Moreover, he is fluent in German, English, French, and Italian.

We are delighted to welcome Endri Gega as Counsel to our Dispute Resolution and White-Collar Crime and Compliance Groups in Geneva, effective January 1, 2025. With nearly 15 years of extensive legal experience, Endri brings exceptional expertise in criminal law, white-collar crime, and compliance.

His solid background in the Banking & Finance industry has equipped him with a profound understanding of the wealth management sector and regulatory compliance matters.

Before joining our team, Endri served as a litigator and spent nine years as a prosecutor, handling complex, high-stakes financial cases often involving international aspects. Most recently, he served as a judge, further enhancing his analytical expertise and decision-making skills.

Endri's commitment to combating economic crime is underscored by his Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) from the Neuchâtel Institute of Economic Crime Investigation (ILCE), achieved in 2021.

We are very happy to welcome Magdalena Heyder as Counsel in our Zurich office, effective November 1, 2024. Magdalena strengthens our Dispute Resolution, White-Collar Crime and Compliance, and Internal Corporate Investigations Groups. An expert for complex and high-stake domestic and cross-border corporate investigations Magdalena has extensive experience navigating internal and government-led inquiries on a broad range of topics. She advises clients on matters involving international legal assistance, money laundering, financial regulations and criminal law.  Additionally, her work extends to data, IT, employment and contractual issues, showcasing her versatile legal acumen.

Magdalena’s extensive professional experience in diverse functions (corporate, private legal practice and public sector), her interest in innovations and her expertise in dealing with technology, enables her to deliver effective, forward-thinking solutions.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Greg Lourie as Counsel to our International Arbitration Group in Zurich, effective January 1, 2025. His practice covers sectors such as pharmaceuticals, technology, heavy industries, and energy, with particular expertise in arbitrations involving sanctioned entities and intellectual property issues. He has also represented states and, state-owned entities in commercial and investor-state arbitrations, and advised governments on Public International Law matters. Prior to joining us, he served as Counsel at the ICC Court, where he oversaw the DACH, Benelux and Northern Europe regions and administered over 400 arbitration proceedings.

Greg has a PhD in International Law from the University of Frankfurt and is fluent in English, German, and Russian.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mélisande Nussbaum as Counsel in our Real Estate and Construction Groups in Geneva. With over a decade of experience at Schellenberg Wittmer, Mélisande has built a reputation as a trusted expert in the real estate sector.

She holds an LL.M. from King’s College London and a specialized degree in Real Estate, combining academic excellence with practical, hands-on expertise. Mélisande’s practice focuses on complex real estate transactions, including asset and share deals. She provides strategic advice on the legal management of commercial properties, and advises clients on real estate-related disputes, delivering tailored solutions to address intricate legal challenges.

Amalie Wijesundera has been appointed Counsel in our Competition and Antitrust Group in Zurich. A highly skilled expert in Swiss competition law, Amalie advises both domestic and international clients on a broad spectrum of matters. Her extensive experience includes multi-jurisdictional merger control, distribution law, cartel investigations, leniency procedures, and dawn raids, where her work has earned her recognition as a rising star in the field. Amalie also brings valuable expertise in ICT and data protection law, further expanding her wide-ranging legal proficiency.

Before joining Schellenberg Wittmer, Amalie to worked at the Secretariat of the Competition Commission of Switzerland (COMCO) as a Scientific Collaborator.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Gregory, Fabio, Mélisande, and Amalie on their well-deserved promotions, and warmly welcome Endri, Magdalena, and Greg to our team. We are confident these appointments will further strengthen Schellenberg Wittmer’s position as a leading law firm, and will enhance our ability to deliver unparalleled expertise and exceptional client service.