Dr. Patrick Rohn

Patrick Rohn is a partner at Thouvenin, a boutique law firm with a particular focus on dispute resolution. He heads Thouvenin’s disputes team.

Patrick specializes in domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration (including ICC, Swiss Chambers, UNCITRAL), with a particular focus on disputes relating to distribution, licensing and general commercial matters. He frequently represents clients in complex contractual, corporate (incl. post-M&A, joint venture, directors’ liability) and insolvency related disputes, and he has considerable expertise related to cross-border asset tracing and recovery, and the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.

Patrick is recognised by Who’s Who Legal (“exceptional analytical and strategic skills”, “I would recommend him in a heartbeat”) and The Legal 500 (“brilliant mind”, “exceptional analyst and tactician”) and is listed by the International Distribution Institute and the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution as arbitrator with specific experience in the field of distribution (IDArb list of specialized arbitrators).

Professional Experience

• Since 2013 – Partner, Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte KLG, Zurich
• 2011 – 2012 – Associate, Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte KLG, Zurich
• 2008 – 2011 – Associate, Schellenberg Wittmer, Zurich
• 2007 – 2008 – Associate, Debevoise & Plimpton, London
• 2006 – 2007 – Associate, Schellenberg Wittmer, Zurich
• 2005 – Junior Associate, Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte KLG, Zurich
• 2004 – 2005 – Court clerk, District Court of Zurich
• 2001 – 2004 – Teaching assistant, University of Zurich

Practice areas

• Arbitration
• Litigation
• Corporate & Commercial
• Distribution

Languages

• German
• English
• French (read)

Memberships

• Swiss and Zurich Bar Associations
• Swiss Arbitration Association
• International Distribution Institute (IDI)
• Anwaltskooperation Wirtschafts- und Vertriebsrecht
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Vertriebsrecht

Arbitration experience includes the following:

• Serving as party-appointed arbitrator in a Swiss Rules arbitration seated in Switzerland in a supply chain dispute
• Representation of a major shareholder in a shareholder dispute under the Swiss Rules concerning the takeover of and the succession in a company
• Representation of a Kenyan agent in a Swiss Rules arbitration against a Swiss hightech company for track and trace systems concerning a dispute over commissions
• Representation of a Swiss company from the machinery industry in a Swiss Rules arbitration against a Turkish customer concerning a dispute arising out of deliveries and commissioning of machines
• Representation of a German technology company in a Swiss Rules arbitration against a
  Swiss/US multinational company concerning a dispute arising out of a framework
  supply agreement
• Serving as arbitrator in an ad-hoc arbitration (UNCITRAL) seated in Switzerland between parties from Saudi Arabia
• Representation of a seller of a Swiss SME company in an arbitration against the Italian buyer concerning a post-M&A dispute about misrepresentation, breach of warranty,
  and damages
• Representation of a major U.S. pharmaceutical company in a Swiss Rules arbitration
  against its former distributor from the Middle East concerning a dispute arising out of the termination of a drug distribution agreement
• Representation of a major pharmaceutical company in an arbitration under the WIPO Rules concerning a dispute over the scope of supplementary protection certificates for a biological product which arose in connection with the termination of a license agreement
• Representation of a U.S. pharmaceutical company in a fast track arbitration under the Swiss Rules concerning a dispute arising out of the termination of a drug distribution agreement for the U.S. market
• Representation of a German high-tech company in an ICC arbitration concerning patent infringement and recovery of royalty payments
• Representation of a major U.S. med-tech company in an ICC arbitration seated in Vienna against its distributor from the Middle East concerning a dispute arising out
  of the termination of a distribution agreement which also involved issues of illicit payments made under the UN Oil For Food Program
• Representation of a U.S. material handling company in an ICC arbitration against its
  former distributor concerning a dispute arising out of the termination of a distribution agreement
• Representation of a major German automotive supplier of high-tech components in an ICC arbitration against a South Korean car manufacturer