Melissa specialises in international arbitration. She has experience in both common and civil law jurisdictions, holds legal degrees in US and Swiss law, and advises and represents clients in ad hoc and institutional arbitration proceedings under all major rules of arbitration.
Melissa also acts as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and chair of arbitral tribunals and advises on other forms of dispute resolution and related proceedings, such as mediation and international legal assistance. She “boils complex matters down into manageable, bite-sized pieces and gives clear and rational argumentation”, Chambers Global, Arbitration Counsel, 2023.
Her expertise spans different industry sectors with a particular focus on highly complex construction and engineering disputes as well as shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes arising in a post-M&A context.
Recognition
“She is an eloquent speaker and presenter who presents persuasive arguments.”
Chambers Global, Arbitration Counsel, 2023
Ranked Band 3
Chambers Europe, Arbitration Counsel, 2023
Ranked as “Next Generation Partner”
Legal 500 EMEA, Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, 2023
Recent publications
Dispensing with written consent – or consent altogether – in third party extensions under the New York Convention: A critical examination of the recent Swiss and U.S. Supreme Court decisions in B. Suisse and GE Energy
MELISSA MAGLIANA, PHILIPPE HOVAGUIMIAN,
In: b-Arbitra, Belgian Review of Arbitration, February 2021
Commentary of Articles 188-189 PILA
MELISSA MAGLIANA, MARKUS WIRTH
In: Basler Kommentar (Honsell et al. eds.), 2021
Arbitration in Switzerland
MELISSA MAGLIANA, ROMAN RICHERS
In: International Commercial Arbitration: Practitioner’s Guide (Balthasar, 2d Ed.), 2020
Recent conferences
ASA Annual Conference
Laureate Panel: Excellence in Advocacy, today and beyond
MELISSA MAGLIANA, Speaker
Geneva, 2 February 2024
Belgian Economic Mission to Switzerland
Arbitrator Panel: Hot Topics in International Arbitration
MELISSA MAGLIANA, Speaker
Geneva, 22 November 2023
ICC YAF: Workshop for In-House Counsel
Drafting Arbitration Clauses
MELISSA MAGLIANA, Speaker
Basel, 31 October 2023
Current professional memberships
- Member of the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)
- Representative of Switzerland in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) working group dedicated to dispute settlement (Working Group II)
- Co-chair of the CPR Task Force on the Arbitration of Life Sciences Disputes
Career history
- Partner, LALIVE, 2018 – present
- Counsel, Homburger, 2012 – 2018
- Associate, Homburger, 2005 – 2011
Academic qualifications
- MLaw, University of Lucerne School of Law (magna cum laude), 2014
- Juris Doctor (JD), Columbia University School of Law (James Kent Scholar), 2004
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), Princeton University (magna cum laude), 1999
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