Dr. Anne-Catherine Hahn, LL.M.

Attorney at law, Partner
Dr. Anne-Catherine Hahn, LL.M.

Anne-Catherine assists companies and private clients in commercial disputes and helps them manage legal and compliance risks. She represents clients in international arbitration and state court proceedings and also regularly acts as an arbitrator. Building on many years of practice working with clients from different industries and backgrounds, Anne-Catherine routinely deals with matters concerning IT and technology, energy projects, the healthcare sector as well as the financial industry.

Education
  • Mediation training, German Lawyers Institute (2016)

  • University of Fribourg, Dr. iur., (2004) (Walter Hug Prize, Peter Jäggi Prize)

  • University of Michigan, LL.M. (2003)

  • Admitted to the Bar (2000)

  • University of Fribourg, Law degree (lic.iur), (1998)

Professional Career
  • Partner at Wartmann Merker (since 2022)

  • Partner in a law firm specialising in technology matters in Zurich (2019-2022)

  • Partner and associate in a global law firm in Zurich (2004-2019)

  • Assistant to Prof. Franz Werro, University of Fribourg (1999-2002)

  • Lecturer in Arbitration in the LL.M programme at the University of Fribourg (2009-2021)

  • Co-Director and Lecturer, CAS FH in Risk Management and Compliance, Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences Switzerland (since 2021)

  • President of the Equal Treatment Commission for the ETH Domain (since 2020)

Recent Cases
  • Representation of a pharmaceutical company in an M&A arbitration case (ICC Rules) against the seller (amount in dispute: CHF  35 million).

  • Acting as chair of an arbitral tribunal regarding claims related to the dissolution of a partnership agreement (Swiss Rules).

  • Representing a South Korean industrial plant manufacturer in arbitration proceedings with a customer (ICC Rules).

  • Successfully defended a client against claims in a cross-border, multi-party M&A arbitration (Swiss Rules; value in dispute in excess of CHF 40 million).

  • Representing a private individual in a dispute with family members and a financial institution over claims related to inheritance division.

  • Representing a litigation funder in matters concerning the recognition of orders issued by the English High Court.

  • Investigation of trade secret violations in connection with a cross-border IT development project.

  • Investigation of possible breaches of law associated with the granting of discounts for medical devices.

  • Development of pilot of training module relating to the role of compliance in public administration.

  • Acting as counsel to an executive in a compliance investigation regarding conflicts with co-workers and suppliers.

  • Advising an industrial company on questions of contract design and risk minimisation in connection with price increases, sanction regulations and delivery delays in group-wide purchasing contracts.

  • Conducting an internal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.

  • Advice on the interpretation of Anti Money Laundering (AML) regulation and related compliance measures in the banking sector.

Memberships
  • Swiss ICC Commission of Arbitration and ADR

  • ASA (Swiss Arbitration Association)

  • DIS (German Institution of Arbitration)

  • Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)

  • ECS (Ethics and Compliance Switzerland)

  • DICO (German Institute for Compliance)

  • Asia Society Switzerland

  • ZAV (Zurich Bar Association)

  • SAV (Swiss Bar Association)

Publications
  • Compliance - (not) an issue for public administration?, Legally relevant, 6/2023, p. 13 et seq. [together with Susan Stähelin]

  • Commentary to articles 62-67 CO (unjust enrichment), in: A Commentary on the Swiss Civil Law, revised and updated 4th ed., Zurich 2023.

  • ‘Liability for Products, Services and Software in the Digital Age’, in: E. M. Belser, P. Pichonnaz, H. Stöckli (eds.), Le droit sans frontières, Mélanges pour Franz Werro, Berne 2022, 307-322.

  • ‘Fate of personal data and intangible rights on the Internet and in applications’, in: P. Pichonnaz and F. Werro, Pratique contractuelle 7, Geneva/Zurich 2022, 213-259.

  • ‘Judicial scrutiny of corruption-tainted awards at the setting aside and enforcement stage’, in: Andrea Meier and Christian Oetiker (eds.), Arbitration and Corruption, ASA Special Series No. 47, Alphen aan den Rijn 2021, 71-76.

  • ‘Compliance violations as a business risk’, KMU-Magazin 1-2/2020, February 2020.

  • ‘Digital Medical Applications: Legal and Compliance Risks’, Life Science Recht 2020, 20-28.

  • ‘The new EU Whistleblower Directive – Need for Action by Swiss Companies?’, Recht relevant 2020

  • ‘Bribery Allegations in Arbitration Proceedings’, The International Arbitration Review, 10th ed., London, August 2019.

  • Country report Switzerland, in Baker McKenzie, International Agency and Distribution Handbook, 2018.

  • ‘Bribery and Corruption in Arbitration’, in: Arbitration in Switzerland - The Practitioner's Guide, 2nd ed., Alphen aan den Rijn 2018.

  • Commentary to articles 11 and 12 of the WIPO Rules, in: Arbitration in Switzerland - The Practitioner's Guide, 2nd ed., Alphen aan den Rijn 2018.

  • Country Report Switzerland, in: Compliance aktuell, 3rd ed, 2017.

  • Compliance in Switzerland, in: Compliance aktuell, November 2016.

  • Administrative assistance in competition law: disclosure of data for the purpose of claiming damages, in: Compliance aktuell, November 2016

  • Vertical agreements in Swiss competition law: stricter practice, in: Compliance aktuell, November 2016 (with R. Thomi)

  • ‘The Law of the OHADA’, Baker McKenzie Publication 2015.

  • Res judicata as a challenge for arbitral tribunals, Austrian Handbook on International Arbitration 2014, Vienna 2014, Manz Verlag, 329-341.

  • ‘Dealing with Sovereigns: Enforcement Risks and Planning Tools’, SZIER 2013, 225-241.

  • ‘Choice of Court and Applicable Law in Cross-Border Banking Transactions with Private Clients’, recht 2012, 157-167.

  • ‘State Immunity and Veil Piercing in the Age of Sovereign Wealth Funds’, SZW 2012, 103-118.

  • ‘Bribery and Corruption before Swiss Arbitral Tribunals’, Construction Law Journal 2010, 425-438.

  • ‘Swiss Arbitration Tribunals and the International Fight Against Corruption’, SZW 2010, 382-395.

  • Commentary to articles 70-82 and 89 to the Swiss Civil Procedure Act (provisions on joinder of parties and group actions), in Baker McKenzie Commentary the Swiss Civil Procedure Act, Berne 2010.

  • ‘The Law of Restitution – a (Western) European Perspective’, in: Mauro Bussani and Franz Werro (ed.), European Private Law, Durham 2009.

  • ‘Civil liability: a general introduction’, Swiss Construction Law Days, Institute for Swiss and International Construction Law, Fribourg 2009.

  • ‘Product safety and product liability in an international context’, Aktuelle Juristische Praxis 2008, 1007-1020.

  • Commentary to articles 12, 13 und 17 Cartel Act (private enforcement) in: Baker McKenzie (ed.), Commentary on the Cartel Act, Bern 2007.

  • ‘Remuneration claims for services in the absence of a contractual basis. A survey of four European legal systems’, Berne 2004 (doctoral thesis Freiburg 2004).

  • ‘The Revision of the US Sales Law’ (with Mathias Reimann), IPrax 2004, 146 ff.

  • "Strict Liability in European Tort Law: Is There A Common Core? ’ with Franz Werro and Vernon Valentine Palmer in: Franz Werro and Vernon Valentine Palmer (eds.), The Boundaries of Strict Liability in European Tort Law, Durham/Bern 2004, 3-35 and 387-458.

  • ‘The revision of the law on insurance contracts: some selected problemss’ (with Franz Werro), Haftung und Versicherung (HAVE) 2003, 91-100.

  • ‘The Harmonisation of European Private Law Systems and the Role of Comparative Law’, International Journal of Legal Information 2002, 265-287.

  • ‘The refund of failed transfers – aspects of contract law and unjust enrichment’, in: Bénédict Foex (ed.), La défaillance de paiement, Freiburg 2002, 53-93.

  • Book Review, Principles of Liability Law by G. Brüggemeier (with Franz Werro), Europäische Zeitschrift für Privatrecht 2001, 473-480.

  • ‘Concluding contracts on the internet: selected questions’, in: Thomas Hoeren/Robert Queck (ed.), Rechtsfragen der Informationsgesellschaft, Berlin 1999, 146-166.

  • ‘The outline of a European law of civil liability’, in: Franz Werro (ed.), L'européanisation du droit privé, Enseignements du 3è cycle de droit 1997, Fribourg 1998, 397-419.

  • Legal risks in the use of artificial intelligence in the financial industry’, inventx blog, April 2022 (https://inventx.ch/blog/rechtliche-risiken-beim-einsatz-kuenstlicher-intelligenz-in-der-finanzindustrie/)

  • “The Evolving Regulation of AI Systems“, IPrime blog, https://www.iprime.law/downloadbereich/dateien/Evolving-Regulation-of-AI-Systems_1.pdf, June 2021.

  • “Conflict vs. cooperation: The lessons drawn from the Corona pandemic”, https://www.kalaidos-fh.ch/de-CH/Blog/Posts/2020/06/Recht-1001-Konflikt-versus-Koorperation, 8 June 2020

  • “How to Handle Supply Chain Disruptions and Force Majeure - COVID-19“, https://www.avantra.com/blog, 4 January 2020

  • “M&A Disputes: Recurring Issues, New Trends and Practical Considerations”, in Med-Mid Arbitration and Mediation Reports Issue no. 1 March 2018

  • “Three’s a crowd—arbitration and the Swiss Supreme Court”, LexisNexis, 29 January 2018

Presentations
  • “Post-transaction, pre-dispute: Avoiding and Resolving M&A Disputes”, Zurich, September 2024 (with A. Roth, D. Raun and A. Hinsen).

  • “Sustainability and responsible corporate governance: what duties, what liability?”, Financial Market Regulation Forum, University of Zurich, December 2023.

  • “Liability Risks for Executive Board and BoD Members, SAMBA Legal and Compliance Roundtable, 30 August 2023”.

  • “The long-term implications of regulatory failures: liability risks, stakeholder trust and loss of reputation”, Life Sciences Senior Counsel Network, 11 May 2023.

  • “M&A Transactions in Dispute – Disappointed Expectations and Unfulfilled Representations", lecture at Wartmann Merker, with Julia Heidelbach and Ruben Poggensee, 20 April 2023

  • “Conflict Avoidance and Resolution in the Business Environment. Insights from a Lawyer's and an Arbitrator's Perspective", Legal Lounge HütteLAW, 31 August 2022.

  • “Legal and Compliance Challenges when Collaborating to Offer Digital Medical Applications”, Ethics and Compliance Switzerland, 20 May 2022.

  • “Liability for products, services and software in the digital age”, Life Sciences Senior Counsel Network 12 May 2022.

  • “Legal Update: What should trustees watch out for?”, Swiss and Liechtenstein STEP Federation Alpine Conference, 5 May 2022.

  • “The fate of personal data and intangible rights on the Internet and in applications”, contract law symposium, 10 November 2021.

  • “Challenges of digitization in arbitration”, Participation in panel discussion, ZAV/ASA Arbitration Section, 30 October 2021.

  • “Zurich: Cloud Hotspot of the Future? Legal Framework from a User's Perspective”, ZHK Lunch Talk, October 26, 2021.

  • “Legal and Compliance Challenges when Collaborating to Offer Digital Medical Applications”, Life Sciences Senior Counsel Network Meeting, May 18, 2021.

  • “Swiss-UK Bilateral Relations outside EU Membership”; participation in a panel discussion organized by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, 28 April 2021.

  • “Contract management, dispute resolution and new business models in the wake of the Corona crisis”, Kalaidos Digital Academy, 24 April 2021.

  • “Arbitration and Competition Law in the DACH Countries”, Swiss Association for Compliance and Competition Law, Zurich, 22 October 2020.

  • “Supply chain disruptions, force majeure defenses and mitigation duties - tips for potential litigation and for new contractual arrangements made in the crisis situation”, Life Sciences Senior Counsel Network event, Zurich, 14 May 2020.

  • “Settlement negotiations by the arbitral tribunal – guidelines, pitfalls and tips”, presentation and panel moderation, 4. Tagung zur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit: Hot Topics, Zurich, 29 August 2019.

  • “Digital Healthcare Projects: Understanding and Mitigating Legal and Compliance Risks”, Life Sciences Senior Counsel Network event, Zurich, 23 May 2019.

  • “Judicial Scrutiny of Corruption-Tainted Arbitral Awards: a Comparative View”, speaker and panelist at ASA Annual Conference 2019, 1 February 2019.

  • “Corporate and individual liability for compliance failures”, presentation to the life sciences working group of Ethics and Compliance Switzerland (ECS), Zurich, 8 June 2018.

  • “Resolving commercial disputes in the life sciences sector”, presenter at Baker McKenzie Seminar on Dispute Avoidance and Management in the Life Science Sector, Zurich, 4 June 2018.

  • “When compliance systems fail: practical insights into dealing with incidents of bribery and internal fraud”, presentation, Zurich Life Sciences Senior Counsel Network, Zurich, 29 May 2018.

  • “Compliance risks in the area of data privacy and cyber security”, presenter at Baker McKenzie 2018 Zurich Office Seminar, Zurich, 14 May 2018.

  • “M&A Disputes - War Stories and Practical Issues”, MedMid XI Annual Mediterranean and Middle East Conference, Milan, 6 November 2017.

  • “International arbitration - why it matters (or should matter) to banking & finance lawyers”, Baker McKenzie EMEA Banking & Finance Practice Group Meeting, January 2016.

  • “Challenges and Pitfalls in Conducing Internal Investigations”, Baker McKenzie Client Seminar, November 2015.

  • “Foreign exchange transactions in troubled times – risk of loss and liability”, Bank law conference at the HSG, May 2015.

Languages

German
English
French

Contact

P+41 44 212 10 11 F+41 44 212 15 11

ac.hahn@wartmann-merker.ch

  • "With over two decades of experience, Anne Catherine Hahn is considered by market sources as 'an excellent lawyer' who is 'tenacious, results-oriented and very dedicated'."
    Lexology Index Commercial Litigation 2024
  • "Anne Catherine Hahn excels in arbitration, where she is described as 'very knowledgeable on the legal issues and very thorough in her factual analysis'."
    Lexology Index Switzerland 2024 (Arbitration)
  • "The 'intelligent and dynamic' Anne Catherine Hahn is adept at helping firms with investigations and compliance issues."
    Lexology Index Switzerland 2024 (Investigations)
  • "The team gives excellent legal advice, is extremely reliable and is always coming up with the most pragmatic solutions".
    Chambers Global 2024
  • "The firm has an exceptionally prompt, pragmatic, precise and clear approach to explaining its strategy and shows great creativity in its proposed solutions."
    Chambers Global 2023
  • "Personable, commercially minded lawyers who are goal-focused."
    Legal 500 2024