Nicole Cleis advises and represents clients in international commercial and investment arbitration proceedings under various arbitration rules (including ICSID, ICC, Swiss Rules), as well as in proceedings before state courts. She specializes in resolving disputes in complex construction and infrastructure projects, and in the life sciences and consumer goods sectors (esp. food). In addition to her work as counsel, she also acts as an arbitrator.

Nicole Cleis holds a certificate of transnational law from the University of Geneva (2005), a law degree (lic. iur., summa cum laude, 2007) and a PhD (Dr. iur., summa cum laude, 2016) from the University of Basel, and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School (2014). During her PhD studies on the subject of the independence and impartiality of ICSID arbitrators, she was a visiting researcher at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law. She regularly publishes and speaks at international conferences on topics related to arbitration.

Prior to joining Walder Wyss, Nicole Cleis worked as an associate in leading Swiss law firms, and as an adjunct lecturer for international investment law at the University of Neuchâtel.

Nicole Cleis practices in German and English and also speaks Czech, French, Italian and Spanish. She is registered with the Zurich Bar Registry and admitted to practice in all Swiss courts.

Significant Accomplishments

WWL ranking - Arbitration Switzerland 2023

Chambers and Partners has moved Walder Wyss’s Arbitration Team up to Band 2 in its 2023 Global Ranking

Promotions at Walder Wyss

The End of a Saga: Swiss Federal Supreme Court Upholds Clorox v. Venezuela Final Award
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Commentary on Article 190a PILA (review)
Commentary on Article 43 Swiss Rules (Emergency Relief)
Liquidated Damages and Penalties in International Construction Agreements
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Ad-hoc-Schiedsverfahren
Investitionsschutzabkommen 2020: Schweiz
Investitionsschutzabkommen 2019: Schweiz
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Die gleichgeschlechtliche Partnerschaft im Rechtsvergleich