Klaus Neff LL.M.
Attorney at Law / Partner
Klaus Neff heads the competition law practice team at VISCHER. His practice focuses on all aspects of Swiss and European competition law. Klaus Neff regularly represents clients in antitrust related administrative and civil proceedings as well as in national and multinational merger control proceedings. He also advises on compliance and internal investigations, regulated markets and public procurement and has extensive experience in contract/corporate law and mergers & acquisitions. „Chambers and Partners“ und „Legal 500“ recommend Klaus Neff for his expertise in competition law (Band 2).
Languages
German, English, French
"Klaus Neff is a safe pair of hands we can trust."
Chambers and Partners - 2025
"Recommended for Antritrust/Competition Law"
Best Lawyers Switzerland - 2024
"Klaus Neff was always available or got back to me in a very short time. The substantive elaboration of the possibilities and the quick realisation of the factual situation were very impressive."
Chambers and Partners - 2024
"Excellent in Competition & Antitrust: Merger Control"
Leaders League: Switzerland - Best Law Firms - 2024
"Highly recommended in Competition Litigation"
Leaders League: Switzerland - Best Law Firms - 2024
"Responsive, competent and friendly."
The Legal 500 - 2024
"Thought Leader 2024"
Who's Who Legal - 2024
"He is experienced, fast, solution-oriented and always on my side."
Chambers Europe - 2023
"Klaus is very active in the competition space and great to work with"
Who's Who Legal - 2023
"Recommended for Antitrust/Competition Law. Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the year 2023"
Best Lawyers Switzerland - 2022
"Klaus Neff has considerable experience handling competition investigations, distribution issues and compliance matters. He offers support to clients active across a range of sectors including life sciences, technology and aviation. An interviewee describes him as "an excellent competition lawyer.""
Chambers Europe - 2022
"Klaus Neff has considerable experience handling competition investigations, distribution agreement issues and compliance matters. He offers support to clients active across a range of sectors including life sciences, technology and aviation."
Chambers Europe - 2021
"VISCHER has considerable expertise handling matters related to the TMT, automotive, and financial services industries. The team advises clients on the full range of competition and antitrust matters; it handles issues such as cartels, pricing, competition law infringements, and abuse of dominance, and is also active in related investigations and litigation. Practice head Klaus Neff is the key contact and a specialist in the competition field."
Legal 500 - 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
"Klaus Neff is frequently retained by Swiss and multinational companies from the chemical, financial and manufacturing sectors. He provides advice on merger control proceedings, complex investigations and compliance mandates."
Chambers Europe - 2020
"VISCHER's team is a popular choice for numerous national and international companies from the TMT, finance, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries as well as branded products. Practice head Klaus Neff is a specialist in acting for clients in administrative and civil proceedings related to competition, as well as in merger control proceedings. He is supported by managing associate Thomas Steiner, who is also a key name for data and technology law."
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
"Klaus Neff is applauded for his sweeping knowledge and tremendous understanding of EU and Swiss competition law."
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"Recommended for Competition"
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"Klaus Neff wins praise from clients for his "clear, responsive and very detailed" approach and "his broad knowledge of competition law: we can benefit from his practical expertise in this field." He advises clients on cartel and abuse of dominance cases, including leniency applications and appeals. He represents a number of multinational technology sector clients."
Chambers Europe - 2019
"IT, banking and finance, aviation and construction are key sector strengths for VISCHER, which routinely handles competition investigations and antitrust matters. Klaus Neff successfully represented Immer in appeal, challenging a fine imposed due to alleged participation in a cartel. Royal Bank of Scotland and Air Canada are also active clients."
Legal 500 - 2019
"Klaus Neff at Vischer leads the firm's competition group. He wins widespread praise from peers who consider him a go-to name for both Swiss and EU competition law matters."
Who's Who Legal - 2019
"Klaus Neff is lauded by clients as 'very clearly a leader in Swiss competition law matters,' and they describe him as 'a quick, very clever and absolutely down-to-earth lawyer with brilliant judgement and a wealth of experience.' His wide-reaching practice encompasses investigations, merger control and competition compliance. He advised Symetis on the merger clearance for its acquisition by Boston Scientific."
Chambers Europe - 2018
"Vischer handles cartel, abuse of dominance and antitrust investigations, as well as related leniency applications, non-contentious merger notifications and compliance programs. Team lead Klaus Neff is representing Immer AG in its appeal before the Federal Administrative Court related to a sanction imposed on the client for participating in a cartel in the door component sector. Another highlight was the merger control advice provided to Bâloise and Basler Leben related to its acquisition of a majority shareholding in Pax Anlage."
Legal 500 - 2018
"Vischer's Klaus Neff is 'a very good lawyer' whose legal advice is of 'permanent value in competition law'. He is a wealth of experience in the field, and is known for his excellent work on civil proceedings, multinational merger control issues and compliance investigations."
Who's Who Legal - 2018
"Klaus Neff is praised by one client for 'always looking for creative solutions,' while another source enthuses that 'he is smart, direct, friendly and easy to work with.' His expertise covers cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, and he also deals with leniency applications."
Chambers Europe - 2017
"Vischer’s ‘very good’ practice has been representing a company in an appeal against a fine imposed by the Competition Commission regarding horizontal practices in the door hardware market. Other clients include RBS and Swisscom. Practice head Klaus Neff is recommended."
Legal 500 - 2017
"Klaus Neff, at VISCHER, advises and litigates on behalf of Clients in both domestic and international proceedings. Impressed Peers describe him as 'someone I would trust to turn to if I had a conflict'."
Who's Who Legal - 2017
""Klaus Neff heads the firm's competition team and enjoys a solid reputation in the field. He is especially active in merger control and cartel cases. Sources describe him as 'an exceptional lawyer' with a clear focus on competition law."
Chambers Europe - 2016
"Vischer’s handling of competition matters allows its clients to ‘feel in safe hands’. The firm has notable industry expertise in the energy, life sciences and financial services sectors. Clients include RBS and Swiss International Airlines. ‘Pragmatic and personable’ practice head Klaus Neff shows ‘good lateral thinking’."
Legal 500 - 2016
"Klaus Neff heads the competition law practice at VISCHER. He advises on the full range of Swiss and EU competition law, and is very active in competition law matters in the regulated industries. According to one client, 'he really knows his stuff and turns over high-quality work in short periods.'"
Who's Who Legal - 2016
"Department head Klaus Neff advises on the full range of Swiss and EU competition matters, including internal compliance and merger control. Clients say he is 'approachable, quick and good at lateral thinking,' and peers add: 'He is a brilliant mind: pragmatic and result-oriented.' His recent highlights include leniency applications, dawn raids, compliance and M&A-related matters."
Chambers Europe - 2015
"Vischer has particular expertise in competition issues in the energy, life sciences and financial services sectors. Clients include EOS-Holding and RBS. The ‘smart and quick’ Klaus Neff shows ‘good lateral thinking’."
Legal 500 - 2015
"Klaus Neff is head of the competition practice team at Vischer and has a 'strong reputation' in antitrust-related administrative and civil proceedings."
Who's Who Legal - 2015
"Klaus Neff heads the competition law practice team at Vischer and Comes 'highly recommended' for his knowledge of the interaction between public procurement and competition law."
Who's Who Legal - 2015
"Klaus Neff leads the competition group. His 'bright and dedicated' handling of competition mandates is praised by interviewees."
Chambers Europe - 2014
"Vischer’s team is headed by Klaus Neff. It has recently acted for an energy company contemplating collaborations with its competitors, life sciences companies undergoing SCC investigations, and a TV channel in relation to the investigation of a market-dominant advertising company."
Legal 500 - 2014
"At Vischer, Klaus Neff is praised for his 'profound understanding of the industry and Client needs'."
Who's Who Legal - 2014
"Vischer is represented by head of the competition team Klaus Neff. Described as 'reliable and robust', he is a 'prominent figure' in antitrust-related administrative and civil proceedings."
Who's Who Legal - 2014