Dr. Christian Oetiker LL.M.
Attorney at Law / Partner, Managing Partner
Dr. Christian Oetiker is one of our proven specialists in litigation and arbitration. He represents companies in proceedings before state courts throughout Switzerland as well as domestic and foreign arbitral tribunals. He also sits as an arbitrator.
He regularly represents companies in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, the financial sector, international trade and the aviation industry. He also litigates claims arising out of derivative transactions subject to the ISDA Master Agreement. In addition to litigation, he advises in particular on matters of private international law, general contract law and unfair competition law. Furthermore, he supports the parties to foreign court proceedings in matters of mutual legal assistance.
Dr. Christian Oetiker is admitted to the Swiss Bar and works in Basel and Zurich. He holds degrees from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and the London School of Economics, which gives him a special understanding of economic issues. He regularly publishes and lectures on topics of litigation and arbitration law as well as selectively on other topics. He has been working as an attorney at VISCHER since 1999.
In addition to his legal practice, Dr. Christian Oetiker is active in various professional organizations. He is a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. He was a member of the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) from 2014 to 2025 and of the Arbitration Court of the Swiss Chambers' Arbitration Institution (now Swiss Arbitration Centre) from 2008 to 2019.
Dr. Christian Oetiker has been recognized by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, ILFR and Who's Who Legal in the areas of litigation and arbitration.
He is fluent in English, German, Italian and French.
Languages
German, English, Italian, French
"Christian Oetiker and his team are highly responsive, demonstrate exceptional analytical skills and consistently deliver clear, strategic advice. They are a pleasure to work with and bring a collaborative approach to complex matters."
Legal 500 - 2026
"Christian Oetiker is measured, commercial and wise."
Legal 500 - 2026
"Christian Oetiker represents clients from a range of industries in commercial disputes under ICC rules. He also sits as arbitrator and chairperson in ICC tribunals. "
Chambers and Partners - 2026
"Christian gave us advice in a professional and comprehensive manner."
Chambers and Partners - 2026
"Christian Oetiker is a very sensible and considered lawyer. He makes things easier by being responsive and productive."
Chambers and Partners - 2026
"Christian Oetiker knows what he is doing and produces solid work."
Chambers and Partners - 2026
"They are really superb - they're responsive and get to the point. They are well versed in the peculiarities of arbitration law in Switzerland and can translate these differences to clients like us."
Chambers and Partners - 2025
"Christian Oetiker is a strategic and cooperative lawyer."
Chambers and Partners - 2025
"Christian Oetiker is efficient and very responsive. Similarly, he has a good commercial approach to the issues."
Chambers and Partners - 2025
"Christian Oetiker is well known everywhere and has a fantastic performance in contentious matters."
The Legal 500 - 2025
"Recommended in Litigation"
Best Lawyers Switzerland - 2024
"Excellent in International Arbitration"
Leaders League: Switzerland - Best Law Firms - 2024
"Excellent in Commercial Litigation"
Leaders League: Switzerland - Best Law Firms - 2024
"Christian Oetiker is an outstanding arbitration practitioner – he is very bright and fast, and always produces brilliant quality."
The Legal 500 - 2024
"The people are the key. VISCHER has a strong bench of experienced arbitration experts. Christian Oetiker chiefly among them. The experience in a wide range of disputes across boarders and involving complex fact patterns and sophisticated parties makes them my go to firm for arbitration matters."
The Legal 500 - 2024
"Christian Oetiker has exceptional experience combined with his keen intellect make him a dangerous adversary; he is someone you want fighting for you."
The Legal 500 - 2024
" "
Who's Who Legal Thought Leader - 2024
"He gives great client service."
Chambers Global & Europe - 2023
"Excellent in Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration"
Leaders League: Switzerland – Best Law Firms - 2023
"‘Markus Guggenbühl, Adrian Dörig, Jana Essebier, Christian Oetiker and Thomas Weibel are just great lawyers – very accessible, highly skilled, most experienced.’"
Legal 500 - 2023
"‘Christian Oetiker and Karin Graf are well-prepared, diligent arbitrators and counsel with a good sense for productive and value-added solutions.’"
Legal 500 - 2023
"‘Christian Oetiker and Thomas Weibel form the dream team to work with.’"
Legal 500 - 2023
"Christian is extremely well connected and knowledgeable"
Who's Who Legal - 2023
"Recommended for Litigation. Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the year 2015 & 2022"
Best Lawyers Switzerland - 2022
"Excellent in Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration - 2022"
Leaders League: Switzerland – Best Law Firms - 2022
"Christian Oetiker is very responsive and can work across various time zones. His drafting is very simple and clear. He is very well connected in Swiss arbitration circles and therefore can provide great local insights – which can be very practical and client-friendly."
Legal 500 - 2022
"“Experienced litigator, convincing appearance, clear and structured communication.”"
IFLR 1000 - 2021
"Key practice areas for VISCHER are capital markets, M&A, healthcare, TMT and transport as well as public law, competition and litigation. Among the names to note are Klaus Neff, Stefan Kohler, Rolf Auf Der Maur, Benedict Christ, David Rosenthal and Stefan Rechsteiner as well as Christian Oetiker, Michael Waldner, and Christian Wyss."
Legal 500 - 2021
"VISCHER's client roster includes various national and international companies from the banking, insurance, construction, aviation and telecoms industries, for which the team handles a variety of commercial litigation mandates. Thomas Weibel in Basel is also well versed in disputes arising out of private equity investments and Felix Meier-Dieterle covers insolvency proceedings; they lead the team together with Gérald Virieux, who joined in 2019 from the now defunct Bugnion Ballansat Ehrler. Insurance specialist Daniele Favalli and Christian Oetiker are also noted."
Legal 500 - 2021
"VISCHER's dispute resolution team is particularly active in the banking and insurance; IT and telecoms; and transport sectors. It is a popular choice for domestic as well as cross-border commercial litigation mandates. Practice heads Felix Meier-Dieterle and Thomas Weibel are based in Zurich and Basel, respectively; the former is well versed in debt enforcement and insolvency proceedings while the latter has special expertise in the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, and disputes related to white-collar crime. Daniele Favalli in Zurich is a key contact for insurers in contentious matters. Christian Oetiker splits his time between Zurich and Basel."
Legal 500 - 2020
"VISCHER is highly regarded for its healthcare, TMT and transport practices as well as its expertise in capital markets, M&A, public law, competition and litigation matters. Key at the firm include Stefan Kohler, Rolf Auf der Maur, Benedict Christ, Stefan Rechsteiner and Christian Oetiker. Michael Waldner, Klaus Neff and Christian Wyss are other names to note."
Legal 500 - 2020
"The team at VISCHER is particularly well known for its experience in the enforcement of arbitral awards as well as asset freezing and practitioners frequently sit as arbitrators. Thomas Weibel and Christian Oetiker combine dispute resolution skills with knowledge in aviation law. Daniele Favalli is well versed in commercial disputes and Mladen Stojiljkovic joined as counsel from Homburger in November 2019."
Legal 500 - 2020
"Christian Oetiker is a 'prominent player' in arbitration. Sources note, 'When he sits as an arbitrator, he is pragmatic and passionate about making arbitration more efficient.'"
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"Christian Oetiker is 'always a go-to lawyer in the field', and has over 20 years’ experience in representing aviation and chemical clients in contentious proceedings."
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"Recommended for Litigation"
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"VISCHER's arbitration team 'provides solid, high-quality work in complex international disputes', including 'hands-on, proactive settlement strategies'. Transport, banking, nuclear power and construction form major areas of expertise, and the team is additionally experienced in representing clients in relation to Russia and the Middle East. 'Highly skilled and experienced practitioner' Thomas Weibel is recommended in Basel. Daniele Favalli and Christian Oetiker are the key partners in Zurich."
Legal 500 - 2019
"VISCHER's 'thorough' dispute resolution practice has 'in-depth knowledge and outstanding legal expertise, combined with a practical, result-oriented approach'. The main areas of focus include commercial attachment, enforcement and injunctive relief proceedings, and it also has considerable experience in the transportation, insurance, IT and telecoms sectors. The 'patient and capable' Christian Oetiker is representing Pricewaterhouse Coopers as liquidators of Lehman Brothers in proceedings against the claimant, the Italian pension fund Fondazione Enasarco. 'Excellent strategist' Daniele Favalli and 'dedicated analyst' Thomas Gelzer are also recommended. Thomas Weibel leads the team."
Legal 500 - 2019
"VISCHER has core strength in the healthcare, TMT and transport sectors and notable public law expertise, while also fielding strong capital markets, M&A, competition and litigation departments. Key partners include Stefan Kohler, Rolf Auf der Maur, Stefan Rechsteiner, Benedict Christ and Christian Oetiker. Michael Waldner and Christian Wyss are other names to note."
Legal 500 - 2019
"Vischer is known for its expertise in liquidation and bankruptcy proceedings revolving around banks. The practice successfully defended PwC in its role as liquidator of Lehman Brothers Finance in court proceedings brought by two companies of the Klaus Tschira group. Clients also include Weidenareal Metall and LoneStar. Team lead David Jenny, Markus Guggenbühl, Jana Essebier and Christian Oetiker are the key advisers."
Legal 500 - 2018
"Vischer’s ‘reliable and trustworthy’ team consists of ‘highly skilled and dynamic attorneys’ who are ‘very knowledgeable in arbitration’ and have ‘a remarkable, solution-oriented approach’. Key sources of work include the freight forwarding, timber and wood, shipping and financial industries. Christian Oetiker acted as sole arbitrator in an ICC proceeding between a US company and a European manufacturer concerning the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicle systems (drones). The ‘clear, convincing and experienced’ Thomas Weibel, ‘skilled and dedicated’ senior associate Claudia Walz and the ‘responsive and tactically considerate’ Daniele Favalli are recommended."
Legal 500 - 2018
"Vischer has an ‘excellent in-depth litigation team’, which ‘acts quickly through collaboration’ and focuses on the transport and freight forwarding industries, as well as the financial services, insurance and TMT sectors. In a recent highlight, the group advised Pirelli Tyre and Banque Cantonale Vaudoise on the enforcement of a judgement against a former board member of a debtor company. ‘Strategic thinker’ Christian Oetiker is recommended for his ‘strength in banking, finance and bankruptcy litigation’, while Thomas Weibel is ‘a very reputed and successful estate and succession litigator’."
Legal 500 - 2018
"Vischer has 'a very strong financing practice' that is 'pro-active, forward-looking and creative in generating solutions'. The team advised an international bank who acted as a lender in relation to a credit facility granted to an oil and gas company. Practice head Markus Guggenbühl is an 'outstanding strategic thinker', while insolvency expert Jana Essebier is also recommended. The 'service-oriented' Benedict Christ and Christian Oetiker are the key contacts for banking M&A and litigation."
Legal 500 - 2018
"Daniel Favalli is 'very well known within the market' for his work on commercial litigation before both the Swiss and international courts. He frequently represents insurance companies, an area in which he is praised for his breadth of experience. Christian Oetiker is a top name in commercial litigation who receives plaudits for his work representing companies in the aviation and chemical industries."
Who's Who Legal - 2018
"The ‘excellent’ team at Vischer continues to advise PwC as liquidator of the Swiss Lehman Brothers entities and acts for the liquidator of Heinrich Maria Schulte. David Jenny and Christian Oetiker are recommended."
Legal 500 - 2016
"Vischer has experience in commercial disputes before international arbitration tribunals, where its lawyers act as arbitrators and counsel. Daniele Favalli and Christian Oetiker are recommended."
Legal 500 - 2016
"The ‘very good team’ at Vischer has particular expertise in litigation regarding insurance coverage and financial services. Thomas Weibel is ‘an outstanding litigator’, Daniele Favalli is ‘very good in understanding the needs of the client’ and Christian Oetiker is ‘very bright and always well prepared’."
Legal 500 - 2016
"The ‘excellent’ team at Vischer continues to advise PwC as liquidator of the Swiss Lehman Brothers entities and assisted Cytos Biotechnology during negotiations with creditors as part of the winding down of key operational activities. David Jenny and Christian Oetiker are recommended."
Legal 500 - 2015
"Vischer recently won an arbitration defending a German solar module respondent against a Chinese claimant. Daniele Favalli and Christian Oetiker are recommended."
Legal 500 - 2015
"Vischer’s ‘excellent team’ has been handling litigation work for the liquidator of Lehman Brothers. Thomas Weibel is ‘a brilliant lawyer and very strong in court’, and Christian Oetiker is ‘a very hard and efficient worker, who is able to deliver results of high quality even under time pressure’."
Legal 500 - 2015
"Dispute Resolution is a core area of practice for Vischer and the firm takes pride in having a team of leading lawyers who are experienced before the national courts. Christian Oetiker is a 'definite inclusion' for his 'vast experience' and 'comprehensive knowledge' across a broad range of commercial and corporate law. The 'outstanding' Daniele Favalli is often present before domestic and international courts and tribunals. His knowledge of the insurence sector is particularly noteworthy. Thomas Weibel is a 'superb talent' and a 'strong negotiator' in proceedings that include Commercial disputes, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, injunctive relief and white-collar crime."
Who's Who Legal - 2015
"The team at Vischer ‘gives good advice on strategy, solves complex questions of international litigation, and always acts in a client-minded way’. Thomas Weibel is ‘a brilliant lawyer for complex commercial cases’, Christian Oetiker has ‘excellent knowledge of Swiss law and of international rules’, and Christoph Pestalozzi is ‘a very good team leader’ who ‘defines an overall strategy and creates a good relationship with the client’."
Legal 500 - 2014