Renato Bucher, LL.M.

Partner, Zurich

Schiffbaustrasse 2 | P.O. Box | CH-8031 Zurich | Switzerland

Schiffbaustrasse 2 | P.O. Box | CH-8031 Zurich | Switzerland
T +41 58 552 07 42
renato.bucher@mll-legal.com

Profile

Renato Bucher specialises in competition and commercial law.

He represents undertakings in proceedings before the Swiss competition authorities and private antitrust litigation, coordinates multi-jurisdictional merger filings, conducts trainings and advises on the implementation of antitrust compliance programs. He is also experienced in unfair competition related matters, in particular regarding price indications, and regularly deals with public procurement related matters.

Renato Bucher further possesses specialist knowledge and experience in all areas of commercial law. His main focus is on distribution related matters (franchising, agency, selective distribution etc.), but he is also an expert in variety of other commercial agreements, such as licensing, R&D, manufacturing and supply agreements. He frequently represents undertakings in contentious matters, for example regarding goodwill indemnity claims, extraordinary terminations of distribution relationships etc. He also has extensive experience in employment-related matters.

Within his practice areas, Renato Bucher frequently represents clients in domestic and cross-border litigation as well as in administrative (court) proceedings before all Swiss courts.

Practice Areas

Industry Groups

Rankings & Awards

Legal 500 Comparative Guide Contribution 2022

Who's Who Legal Thought Leader Switzerland 2021

Legal 500 Switzerland: Merger Control Country Comparative Guide, Renato Bucher

“Renato Bucher is extremely dedicated and an excellent expert” – Legal 500 EMEA, Competition, 2024
“Renato Bucher is very responsive to our needs” – Client Choice, Competition, 2024
“Mr Bucher is an expert lawyer, specifically in matters of competition law” – Client Choice, Competition, 2024
“Renato Bucher is a pleasure to work with; very smart, supportive and always swift” – Legal 500 EMEA, Competition, 2023
“Renato has a vast antitrust knowledge and experience in covering proceedings before the Competition authorities and private antitrust litigation” – Client Choice, Competition, 2022
“Renato has a wealth of antitrust experience, from proceedings before the competition authorities to private litigation” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Competition, 2022
“He combines great knowledge with his vast experience in commercial and distribution law” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Competition, 2022
“Renato Bucher earns widespread plaudits for his swift and practical approach to franchise matters and deep knowledge of the subject area” – Who’s Who Legal, National Leader Franchise, 2022
“Renato Bucher is very responsive, works in an efficient and pragmatic manner and is always ready to provide concrete advice and guidance combined with concise risk assessments” – Legal 500 EMEA, Competition, 2022
“Sources praise Renato Bucher for his excellent knowledge of the franchising space and for understanding the big picture issues. They further commend his “great skill in complicated matters” – Who’s Who Legal, Thought Leaders Franchise, 2021
“He is very fast, always direct and helpful, with the ability to put himself in his client’s shoes” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Competition, 2021
“Renato is a responsive lawyer who provides practical application of recent court decisions” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Competition, 2021
“He offers thorough advice with detailed descriptions of possible scenarios and recommended actions” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Competition, 2021
Renato Bucher won the award in the category “Franchise” – Client Choice Awards, 2021
“Renato Bucher has a pro-active attitude and great international connections” – Legal 500 EMEA, Competition, 2021

Deals & Cases

Advised and represented Arçelik A.Ş. (IST: ARCLK) on all Swiss merger control aspects of the creation of Beko Europe B.V., a joint venture with Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) for the European major domestic appliances business with an expected joint turnover of approx. EUR 6 billion
Regularly advises Mövenpick Holding AG (Mövenpick Fine Food) on a global level in competition, distribution and licensing matters
Coordinated global merger filings in connection with the acquisition of a majority stake in Braingroup AG by Netcetera Group AG, member of G+D group
Successfully represented Allianz in proceedings before the Commercial Court of the Canton of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Supreme Court against two former general agents who asserted claims for goodwill indemnity
Representation of Burkhalter Holding AG (SIX: BRKN) and poenina holding AG (SIX: PNHO) in the merger control proceedings before the Swiss Competition Commission COMCO in connection with the merger of both undertakings that created a leading full-service provider of interdisciplinary building technologies with approximately 4,600 employees across 150 locations
Advised Swiss chocolate producer Favarger regarding the sale of the assets and trademarks related to the Avelines business to competitor Maestrani as well as regarding the establishment of a license, manufacturing and distribution relationship for chocolate products
Advised TVS Motor Company, a global automotive manufacturer company, in the acquisition of a majority stake in the Swiss company the GO corporation and its e-bike brand EGO Movement
Advised the Dutch private equity firm Nimbus in the acquisition of the Swiss based Stratex SA
Successfully represented Cocoa Luxury, a Swiss chocolate company based in Zug, in PI proceedings against Kraft Foods’ 3D TOBLERONE trademark and claims under the Unfair Competition Act
Successfully enforced claims for payment for and defended a global leading FMCG company against counterclaims raised by a former wholesaler in a cross-border dispute in relation to the termination of the business relationship
Represented a world leading multinational conglomerate against a former agent in settlement discussions regarding claims for a compensation for clientele following the termination of a long-lasting cross-border agency relationship
Advised a renowned luxury jewelry manufacturer on the implementation of an omni-channel distribution system and on the launch of a new online store, covering several European jurisdictions
Successfully obtained an ex-parte preliminary injunction on behalf of a world leading industrial company on the basis of threats made by a former distributor following an extraordinary termination of the exclusive distribution relationship
Successfully obtained a landmark ruling of the Swiss Supreme Court on behalf of a Swiss private bank in connection with bonus claims unsuccessfully asserted by a former Senior Private Banker

Education & Admission

University College Dublin, Sutherland School of Law, Sutherland Fellow (2019)
University of Lucerne (Prosecutors‘ Academy), Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Forensics (2016)
Admitted to the bar in Switzerland (2015)
Maastricht University, LL.M. Globalisation and Law / Corporate and Commercial Law (2012)
University of Zurich, MLaw (2012)