Catherine Anne Kunz

Partner, Geneva

+41 58 105 2000

ckunz@lalive.law

Catherine Anne Kunz

Catherine specialises in international commercial arbitration and other forms of international dispute resolution. Dual-qualified in both civil and common law jurisdictions, she acts as counsel and serves as arbitrator in both ad hoc and institutional arbitration proceedings, with a focus on the energy, construction and technology sectors.

Her experience spans commercial disputes arising out of construction and engineering contracts, M&A, shareholder and joint venture agreements, as well as sales and distribution contracts. In addition, she regularly advises international organisations on immunities and privileges, internal dispute resolution mechanisms, regulatory and compliance issues.

Ranked as a Global Elite Thought Leader – under 45 and quoted as “one of the best cross examiners of her age”, Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration 2023, Catherine also represents parties in arbitration-related court proceedings, especially in the challenge of arbitral awards before the Swiss Supreme Court, including investment treaty awards. In parallel, she routinely assists clients with dispute prevention and settlement, including in negotiations and mediation proceedings.

Recognition

Ranked as one of the “Most highly regarded individuals” EMEA
Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration, Future Leaders – Partners, 2023

Ranked as Global Elite Thought Leader
Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration, Thought Leaders Global Elite, Under 45, 2023

Catherine Anne Kunz is “an incredibly talented and inspiring arbitration lawyer” with “amazing advocacy skills.”
Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration, Future Leaders – Partners, 2022

Recent publications

International Arbitration: Switzerland chapter
CATHERINE A. KUNZ, COURTNEY FURNER
In: Global Legal Insights, International Arbitration, 2024

New Developments in International Commercial Arbitration
CATHERINE A. KUNZ
In: Christoph Müller, Sébastien Besson, Antonio Rigozzi (Eds), New Developments in International Commercial Arbitration, Stämpfli Editions Bern, pp. 131-165, 2020

Revision of Arbitral Awards in Switzerland: An Extraordinary Tool or Simply a Popular Chimera?
CATHERINE A. KUNZ
In: Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) Bulletin Vol 38, pp. 6-31, 2020

Recent conferences

GAR Live Vienna: What would you do? Do we need a uniform standard for independence and impartiality for experts in international arbitration? How diverging is the approach and how dangerous is it to the integrity of the proceedings?
CATHERINE A KUNZ, Panellist
Vienna, 13 October 2023

DIS40 Spring Conference: Is this the end?! – Arbitration in the post-award stage, Setting aside of arbitral awards
CATHERINE A KUNZ, Panellist
Munich, 4 May 2023

Juris Leading Arbitrators Symposium – Next Generation Leading Arbitrators
CATHERINE A KUNZ, Panellist
Vienna, 3 April 2023

Current professional memberships

  • Member of the editorial board of the ASA Bulletin, the journal of the Swiss Arbitration Association
  • Member of the ICC Swiss Commission of Arbitration and ADR
  • Co-chair of the ASA/Swiss Arbitration Marketing Committee
  • Member of the ERA Young Practitioners Subcommittee
  • Member of the ADR Commission of the Geneva Bar Association
  • Co-founder of Mute Off Thursdays, a virtual knowledge-sharing platform for senior female arbitration practitioners (GAR Award for Best Diversity Initiative, 2020)

Career history

  • Partner, LALIVE, 2020 – present
  • Counsel, LALIVE, 2018 – 2019
  • Associate, LALIVE, 2016 – 2017
  • Associate, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, London, 2014 – 2015
  • Associate, LALIVE, Geneva, 2010 – 2014

Academic qualifications

  • QLTS – Solicitors Qualifying Examination, London, 2015
  • Bilingual French-German Bachelor & Master of Law, with major in European Law, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, 2007
  • Certificate of International Business Transactions with Chinese Characteristics, Cornell-Bucerius Summer Law Institute, Suzhou, China 2007
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Practices

  • Arbitration - International Commercial
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Public International Law

Sectors

  • Construction & Infrastructure
  • Energy
  • Technology

Languages

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish

Nationality

  • British
  • Swiss

Admission

  • England & Wales, 2016
  • Switzerland, 2010
“A future star in commercial and investment disputes” Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration, Future Leaders - Partners, 2022