Board of Trustees

Expertise

Dr. Favre-Bulle has 30 years of experience in dispute resolution (arbitration as counsel or arbitrator, ADR, court litigation). He has been involved in some 260 arbitrations (e.g. sales agreements, agency & distribution, licences, joint ventures, shareholders agreements, post-M&A disputes, etc., in various business industries such as energy, construction, luxury goods, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, banking, aerospace, sports, investment protection, etc.). At Lenz & Staehelin in Geneva, Dr. Favre- Bulle leads the Arbitration group and the Sports law sector. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and the author of some 80 books and articles.

Education and Professional Experience

• 1988:  Licence en droit (LLB), Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
• 1988-1994:  Research assistant, Commercial Law Department, University of Geneva
• 1991:  Diplôme d’études supérieures en droit (LL.M.), Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
• 1992:  Academy of European Law, European University Institute, Florence (Italy)
• 1994:  Joined Lenz & Staehelin
• 1996:  Bar exam, Geneva (admitted to the Geneva Bar in 1997)
• 1998:  Ph.D., Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
• 1999:
  College of Law, London (UK)
  Visiting foreign lawyer, Herbert Smith, London
• 2000:  Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales
• 2003:  Partner at Lenz & Staehelin

Other Activities

• President, Arbitration Court of the Swiss Arbitration Centre.
• Co-Chair, Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA); former Senior Vice- Chair, Sport Law Committee.
• Academic Council Member of the Swiss Arbitration Academy.
• Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.
• Member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law.

Past activities include:

• Member of the ADR Commission of the Geneva Bar Association.
• Member of the Arbitration Committee of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2002-2012) as well as the Arbitration Committee and Special Committee of the Swiss Chambers of Commerce (2004-2012).
• President of the International Arbitration Commission, of the Sports Law Commission and member of the Governing Board of Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA).
• Lecturer in law at the University of Versailles (Master “Arbitration and International Business Law”); University of Zurich (LL.M. “International Sports Law”); University of Geneva (various fields in contract law); Swiss Arbitration Academy.

Memberships

Panels of Arbitrators of ICC Switzerland, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), Du- bai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Ar- bitration (CRCICA), Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre (TRAC), Russian Arbitration Association (RAA), Arbitration Centre at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and Rus- sian Arbitration Center (RAC) at the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration (RIMA).

Member of, among others, Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), SIAC Users’ Council, Comité français de l’arbitrage (CFA), Associazione Italiana per l’Arbitrato (AIA), International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), International Arbitration Institute (IAI), International Bar Association (IBA), Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), The Law Society of England & Wales, Geneva Bar and Swiss Bar Associations, Société suisse des Juristes, Association of International Business Lawyers (AIBL), Association suisse de droit du sport (ASDS) etc.

Professional Awards & Recommendations (selection)

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2022 (Switzerland: Band 1 Arbitration Counsel, Band 3 Arbi- trator): Xavier Favre-Bulle has a broad arbitration practice both as counsel and arbitrator; clients laud his skills: “He is very smart, responsive, fully committed to the cases and provides excellent advice” and another source enthuses: “He is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an experienced arbi- trator with a Swiss law background”.

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2022 (Europe-wide: Band 3 Most In Demand Arbitrators, Band 4 International Arbitration): Xavier Favre-Bulle is a key contributor to Lenz & Staehelin’s su- perb reputation as a leading firm for Swiss-seated international arbitration. Clients report “He is per- fect from a technical point of view and always provides strategic advice”, “He is a fast thinker and is very precise in his analysis”.

Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2022: Xavier Favre-Bulle is “an excellent arbitration practitioner” with “strong skills in cross-examination”.

Who’s Who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2022: Xavier Favre-Bulle is recognized as “a star in the field and has vast experience in high-profile sports arbitration matters”; other sources state “He is a great CAS strategist”, “Xavier Favre-Bulle is singled out among peers for his extensive experience providing strategic advice to clients in complex sports disputes”.

Legal 500 2022: Xavier Favre-Bulle, described as a “really outstanding arbitrator” also “knowledge- able in sports arbitration matters”.

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2021 (Switzerland: Band 1 Arbitration Counsel, Band 2 Arbi- trator): Xavier Favre-Bulle is recognised for his experience both as counsel and arbitrator; clients praise his presence in the courtroom: “His cross-examination of witnesses at the arbitration proceed- ings was particularly impressive”.

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2021 (Europe-wide: Band 3 International Arbitration and Most In Demand Arbitrators): Xavier Favre-Bulle “provides strategic advice and is always thinking one step ahead” and sources state that they “would recommend him without any doubt”.

Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2021: Xavier Favre-Bulle “produces top-quality work as arbitrator and counsel” and distinguishes himself as a “top practitioner in Switzerland”.

Who’s Who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2021: Xavier Favre-Bulle’s “reputation speaks for itself” remark impressed sources, adding he is “great on sports arbitration”, “act[ing] for a number of inter- national federations”.

Legal 500 2021: Xavier Favre-Bulle, described as a “leading arbitrator having brought to sport arbi- tration his perfect command of commercial arbitration”, “is highly knowledgeable, experienced, en- gaged and supportive. He sur-rounded himself with an A-team of lawyers”. Other sources add he is “very competent and reactive”, “dynamic, reliable and easy to deal with counsel” and recommend him “for a high-profile case”.

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2020 (Switzerland: Band 1 Arbitration Counsel, Band 2 Arbi- trator): Xavier Favre-Bulle is “very reliable and a pleasure to work with”.

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2020 (Europe-wide: Band 3 International Arbitration and Most In Demand Arbitrators): Xavier Favre-Bulle is “very active and someone who really follows the file”; “excellent both as an arbitrator and as counsel”.

Who’s Who Legal Switzerland 2020: Xavier Favre-Bulle is a “powerful counsel who will leave no stone unturned” with a “strong arbitration experience”.

Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2020: Xavier Favre-Bulle is “a top-notch arbitrator and advocate” who is distinguished by market commentators as “a go-to person for arbitration matters in Geneva” and “one of Switzerland’s best arbitrators”.

Who’s Who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2020: Xavier Favre-Bulle is “very highly regarded as both counsel and arbitrator” and a “top star in the field” who “has vast experience in high-profile sports arbitration matters”.

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2019: Xavier Favre-Bulle is a “sharp-minded and brilliant lawyer” who “considers every matter in a smart way that is in the best interest of the client”.

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2019: Xavier Favre-Bulle is“one of the most experienced, diligent and practiced Swiss arbitration lawyers; one of the brilliant brains in Swiss arbitration”.

Who’s Who Legal Switzerland 2019: “Xavier Favre-Bulle is a top name in the Swiss arbitration space who is recognised by sources for ‘his excellent arguments, and meticulous organisation and preparation ́”.

Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2019: Xavier Favre-Bulle is “a widely respected figure in the Swiss market, recognised by peers for his exceptional work with an extensive experience in the field”.

Who’s Who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2019: Xavier Favre-Bulle “stands out in the market for his excellent sports law practice and is recognised for his top-class work handling related disputes in both international and domestic arbitration proceedings”.

Publications (selection)

[co-author: Wehland H.] Swiss Arbitration Centre, in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Zivilprozess- und Zwangsvollstreckungsrecht (ZZZ), 60/2022, 429-431.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2021], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 2022, 675-701.

[co-authors: Frey H., Rötheli A., Riz à Porta G.] Switzerland, in: The Mergers and Acquisitions Liti- gation Review, Law Business Research, 2022, 141-149.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2020], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 2021, 793-822.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2019], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 2020, 757-784.

[co-author: Neidhart E.] Why Arbitration in Switzerland Becomes Even More Attractive?, in: Arbitra- tion.ru, Conflict of Interest in Arbitration, Russian Arbitration Association, 8/2020, 10-14.

[co-authors: Frey H., Rötheli A., Riz à Porta G.] Switzerland, in: The Mergers and Acquisitions Liti- gation Review, Law Business Research, 2020, 120-128.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2018], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 4/2019, 659-689.

[co-author: Frey H.] Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2019, Law Business Re- search.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2017], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 3/2018, 425-453.

[editor] Natural Resources Exploitation: Business and Human Rights, UIA-LexisNexis Publications Collection, Paris 2018, 116 pages.

[co-author: Neidhart E.] Yukos Arbitration Saga: The Swiss Part, in: Arbitration.ru, Arbitration Re- form, Russian Arbitration Association, 2/2018, 22-24.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2016], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 3/2017, 447-474.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2015], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 4/2016, 673-700.

[co-authors: Frey H., Aebi M.] Arbitration procedures and practice in Switzerland, in: Practical Law Multi-Jurisdictional Guide to Arbitration, 2015/2016.

[co-author: Llewellyn G.] The UIA in Valencia, The Commoditisation of Sport Through Trade Marks, in: Juriste International, No 2015-3, 13.

Pechstein v. Court of Arbitration for Sport: How Can We Break the Ice?, in: Müller C./Besson S./Rigozzi A. (ed.), New Developments in International Commercial Arbitration 2015, Zurich, 2015, p. 315-355.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2014], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 2/2015, 287-331.

[co-author: Durante D.] CAS Arbitration Proceedings: Is Sports Arbitration so Different?, in: Journal of International Trade and Arbitration Law (JITAL), Vol. 4, Issue 2, 2015, 123-163.

Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2012-2013], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 2/2014, 297-336.

[co-author: Patocchi P.M.] Case Notes on International Arbitration (II) [Switzerland, 2013], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 3/2013, 541-560.

[co-author: Patocchi P.M.] Case Notes on International Arbitration (I) [Switzerland, 2013], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 2/2013, 305-334.

[co-author: Muñoz E.] Monismo y dualismo de las leyes de arbitraje: ¿Son todas ellas dualistas?, in : Arbitraje Internacional Pasado, Presente Y Futuro, Libro Homenaje a Bernardo Cremades e Yves De- rains, Vol. 2, Lima, 2013, 1437-1454.

Le Règlement Suisse d’Arbitrage International (« Swiss Rules ») : de 2004 à la révision (légère) de 2012, Revue de Droit des Affaires Internationales (RDAI) 2013, 21-39.

[co-author: Babel C.] Contrat de Transaction, in: Marchand S./Chappuis C./Hirsch L. (ed), Recueil de contrats commerciaux, Modèles commentés selon le droit suisse, Basel 2013, 1281-1298.

L’effet cassatoire des décisions du Tribunal fédéral suisse et les pouvoirs (circonscrits) des arbitres de restatuer, in: Les Cahiers de l’Arbitrage/The Paris Journal of International Arbitration, 2013-2, 417- 438.

[co-author: Viret M.] First Arbitral Award Set Aside for Breach of Substantive Public Policy in Swit- zerland (the “Matuzalém saga”), in: Revista de Mediação e de Arbitragem (Brésil), Vol. 35, 2012, 393-408.

[co-author: Nessi S.] The 2012 Swiss Rules of International Arbitration: an Overview, in: Arbitration News – Newsletter of the International Bar Association Legal Practice Division, Vol. 17, No 2, Sep- tember 2012, 68-71.

Recent amendments to the CAS Code (2010-2012), in: GSLTR (Global Sports Law and Taxation Re- ports), 2012/2, 46-50.

[co-authors: Frey H., Lengenhagger F., Nessi S.] 2012 Revisions to the ICC and Swiss Rules on Arbi- tration: the Codification of New Trends in International Arbitration, in: Practical Law Multi- Jurisdictional Guide 2012/2013, Dispute Resolution, Vol. 2: Arbitration (6th ed.), 25-30.

[co-author: Patocchi P.M.] Case Notes on International Arbitration [Switzerland, 2010], in: Swiss Review of International and European Law (SRIEL), 2012, 365-408.

[co-author: Viret M.] Les arbitres siégeant en Suisse sont bien égaux devant l’exigence d’indépendance et d’impartialité, in: Petites Affiches – Chronique Arbitrage 22.02.2011, No 37.

Les mesures provisionnelles, in: Bochatay D./Bonomi A. (ed.), Arbitrage interne et international, Ge- neva 2010, 83-107.

[co-author: Nessi S.] Frégates de Taïwan: Comment une procédure pénale française peut conduire à la révision d’une sentence arbitrale rendue en Suisse, in: Les Cahiers de l’Arbitrage/The Paris Journal of International Arbitration, 2010-3, 897-914.

Arbitrage, cocaïne et Tour de France, in: Petites Affiches – Chronique Arbitrage 12.10.2010, No 203.

50 Years of the New York Convention on Enforcement of Awards: Conventional Wisdom and Recent Developments, in: Müller C./Rigozzi A. (ed.), New Developments in International Commercial Arbi- tration 2008, Zurich [etc.] 2008, 61-79.

[co-author: Viret M.] L’intérêt de la lutte contre le dopage confirmé par le Tribunal fédéral, in: Juslet- ter 19.05.2008.

Intervention of Third Parties and Amicus Curiae: Whose Amicus?, in: Mantilla-Serrano F. (ed.), Ar- bitraje internacional : Tensiones actuales, Bogotá 2007, 303-326.

[co-authors: Vermeil G./Viret M.] Droit du sport et arbitrage international: les récents enseignements du Tribunal fédéral, in: Jusletter 20.11.2006.

Arbitrage et règlement alternatif des litiges (ADR) : Une autre justice pour les consommateurs ?, in: Droit de la consommation, Liber amicorum Bernd Stauder, Geneva – Zurich – Basel 2006, 95-121.

Are Arbitration Proceedings Still Exclusively Reserved for the Parties?, in : Towards a Uniform Inter- national Arbitration Law ? New York – Bern 2005, 203-245.

Le contrat électronique, in: Le contrat dans tous ses états, Berne 2004, 175-206.

La vente internationale d’un produit défectueux selon la Convention de Vienne, in: Chappuis C./Winiger B. (ed.), Responsabilités objectives, Journée de la responsabilité civile 2002, Geneva – Zurich – Basel 2003, 105-144.

Les conséquences du non-paiement de la provision pour frais de l’arbitrage par une partie. Un tribunal arbitral peut-il condamner un défendeur au paiement de sa part de l’avance de frais?, in: ASA Bulletin 2001, 227-245.

Les paiements transfrontières dans un espace financier européen, Basel/Frankfort/ Brussels 1998, 575 pages.

[co-author: Patocchi P.M.] Les Principes UNIDROIT relatifs aux contrats du commerce international – Une introduction, in: Semaine Judiciaire 1998, 569-616.

Le droit communautaire du paiement électronique, Zurich 1992, 246 pages.

L’évolution du droit des contrats de prestation de service, in: Revue de droit suisse 1991, 351-380.