Jacques Johner

About The LawyerJacques Johner is a Partner at MLL Legal Ltd, based in Geneva and Lausanne, and is recognised as a leading real-estate lawyer in Switzerland. He advises on the full spectrum of real-estate matters — acquisitions, sales, leasing, development and construction projects, sale & leaseback structures, public procurement and land-use planning — for corporates, institutional investors, asset managers and financial institutions. His multilingual practice (French, English, Italian & German) supports cross-border and cantonal matters across Switzerland. Jacques Johner’s cross-border practice ensures seamless navigation of Swiss cantonal variances.Experience & Career MilestonesJacques was admitted to the Swiss bar in 2016 and joined MLL Legal as a junior associate in 2015. He progressed through the firm as Associate and Senior Associate before being promoted to Partner effective 1 January 2024. At MLL he is an integral member of both the Real Estate & Construction and the Dispute Resolution teams, working across Geneva and Lausanne on complex transactional and regulatory matters. These career milestones and his role within the firm are documented by MLL Legal and independent legal directories.Specialty Areas & What Sets Him ApartJacques’s core specialty is construction and real-estate law, with specific strength in projects touching public law, procurement procedures and infrastructure mandates. He routinely structures and negotiates: asset and share acquisitions, leasing frameworks (residential and commercial), phased development contracts, contractor agreements, warranty and defects regimes, and public procurement for built projects. His prior in‑house experience with the City of Lausanne’s energy & telecommunications department gives him practical insight into regulatory interfaces that commonly affect real-estate projects. This background enhances his ability to align project timelines with regulatory requirements and financing structures across Switzerland.Recent Work, Publications & Speaking EngagementsOver the past year Jacques has continued to build his profile as a practitioner and commentator on Swiss real estate law. He contributed to the country chapter on real estate for an authoritative comparative guide and co-authored firm guidance on topical market issues, reflecting his hands-on involvement in high-level market analysis and regulatory commentary. In 2025–2026, Jacques published client-focused updates on energy-focused renovation programmes and tenancy regulation changes, translating complex developments into practical guidance for owners and developers. In 2026, he also represented MLL Legal as a speaker and panellist at industry forums, including expert sessions co-organised with private-bank real-estate groups and events hosted by market participants. These engagements illustrate his active involvement in bridging legal advice with investor and trustee audiences.The Swiss Real‑Estate Landscape & Why Specialist Advice MattersSwitzerland’s real-estate market is shaped by a multi-layered legal framework: federal statutes, cantonal planning systems and local permitting regimes, all of which interact with sectoral tax and financing rules. Recent years have seen increased regulatory focus on tenancy law, energy-efficient renovation incentives and changes to construction-defects rules — developments that materially affect timing, risk allocation and valuation in transactions and projects. Specialist legal advice is essential to manage cantonal differences, preserve warranties, align procurement procedures and secure financing conditions. Jacques Johner supplies such guidance across Switzerland, integrating real-estate law with construction and regulatory insight.Education & Professional MembershipsJacques holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Law (MLaw) from the University of Lausanne (magna cum laude) and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Legal Professions (ECAV) from the University of Geneva. He completed training in Collaborative Law in 2022 and was admitted to the Swiss Bar in 2016. He is a member of the Geneva Bar Association, the Swiss Bar Association and Global Law Experts. He also engages with international real estate networks to share insights on Swiss regulatory practice.Positioning & Client FocusClients instruct Jacques for high-value acquisitions, portfolio transactions, complex developments and disputes arising from construction defects or planning constraints. He combines practical project management with rigorous contract drafting and dispute-resolution preparedness, making him a pragmatic adviser for institutional and corporate clients seeking to execute and protect real-estate investments across Switzerland. He tailors strategies to minimize risk, optimize financing and align cross-border and cantonal requirements. His guidance supports clients from initial due diligence through long-term asset management across the Swiss real-estate market.SummaryWith a blend of in-house public sector experience and private practice across transactional, regulatory and contentious work, Jacques Johner is established as a go-to real-estate lawyer in Switzerland for clients confronting the technical, regulatory and commercial challenges of today’s property market. His recent publications, market commentary, speaking engagements and independent recognitions further strengthen his profile as a leading authority in Swiss real estate and construction law. He consistently delivers practical, results-driven guidance to clients navigating procurement, zoning and financing. Jacques Johner's ongoing work demonstrates a deep understanding of the real-estate landscape in Switzerland.