German, English, French
Partner
Attorney-at-law, LL.M.
Jürg Wernli has been a self-employed lawyer for 30 years. He advises companies as well as private individuals mainly in the fields of economic criminal law as well as debt collection and bankruptcy law, and he represents them before authorities and courts in Switzerland.
With his many years of professional experience, Jürg Wernli also supports clients in the negotiation and drafting of contracts, especially in the areas of the sale of goods law, the landlord and tenant law and labour law, as well as with debt collection and the compulsory enforcement of judgments.
He is responsible for the contents of the “Law” education and training course for aspiring tax experts and tax experts at the EXPERTsuisse.
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2018 - current |
Fraud, Bribery Criminal investigation by the Zurich Public Prosecutor's Office against several Swiss entrepreneurs; allegations of fraud and bribery in the process of acquisition and sale of companies. Representation of a defendant. The Zurich District Court handed down partial guilty verdicts and partial acquittals. The judgment is not final. |
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2016 - current |
Corporate Criminal Liability/Bribery Criminal investigation by, inter alia, the Office of the Attorney General against a multinational company based in Switzerland, allegations of the company's criminal liability due to bribery of foreign public officials. Representation of the accused company. |
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2013 - current |
Tax Evasion (VAT) Investigation by the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security against a Swiss art-gallery; allegations of importation of works of art and evasion of VAT (import tax) in the amount of approximately CHF 10 Mio., misuse of transfer procedure. Representation of the accused company. |
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2019 – 2021 |
Money Laundering, Participation in a Criminal Organisation Criminal investigation by, intern alia, the Office of the Attorney General against a bank, former employees, and clients of the bank; allegations of money laundering and participation in a Bulgarian criminal organisation in connection with the trafficking of cocaine between South America and Europe. Representation of one of the accused. Conclusion of the criminal investigation with a Summary Penalty Order. Partial asset forfeiture. |
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2018 - 2020 |
Corporate Criminal Liability/Bribery Preliminary investigation by the Office of the Attorney General against a multinational company based in the United States to determine whether there was ground for suspicion for corporate criminal liability due to bribery of foreign public officials. Representation of the company. |
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2016 - 2020 |
Corporate Criminal Liability/Bribery/Money Laundering “Odebrecht/Petrobras, Brazil” Criminal investigation by the Office of the Attorney General against employees of a Brazilian construction group; allegations of money laundering etc. Representation of an accused employee and of two companies, the latter affected by asset forfeiture. The criminal investigation against the employee was discontinued in February 2020. The assets of the companies were partially confiscated. |
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2013 - 2019 |
Fraud, Criminal Mismanagement, Money Laundering «Parmalat, Italy» Criminal investigation by the Office of the Attorney General against a former employee of a bank; allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, and money laundering in connection with the bankruptcy of Parmalat S.p.A. Co-representation of the defendant, advice on procedural matters and concerning statute of limitations. |
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2017 – 2018 |
Money Laundering, Bribery Criminal investigation by the Geneva Public Prosecutor's Office; allegations of money laundering and bribery of foreign public officials in connection with the procurement process of Swiss technology. Representation of the non-accused Swiss company in the legal assistance procedure. |
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2011 – 2016 |
Abuse of Public Office, Bribery Criminal investigation by the Office of the Attorney General against former public officials and against employees of subcontracting companies; allegations of abuse of public office, bribery, and forgery of documents in connection with the procurement of IT systems. Representation of one of the accused. The Federal Criminal Court found the accused guilty of aiding and abetting to the abuse of public office in one case. The accused was sentenced with a monetary penalty. |
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2004 – 2012 |
Corporate Criminal Liability/Bribery Criminal investigation by the Office of the Attorney General against Alstom Ltd. and Alstom Network (Schweiz) Ltd.; allegations of corporate criminal liability due to bribery of foreign public officials. Representation of the accused companies. The criminal investigation was concluded in November 2011. A Summary Penalty Order was issued against Alstom Network (Schweiz) Ltd. (fine of CHF 2.5 Mio., compensation claim of CHF 36.4 Mio.). The criminal investigation against Alstom Ltd. was discontinued with a compensation payment of 1 Mio. to the International Committee of the Red Cross). |
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2001 – 2009 |
Support of a Criminal Organisation Criminal investigation by the Office of the Attorney General against Mr. Youssef Nada; allegations of participation in and/or support of a criminal organisation being responsible for the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the USA. Representation of the accused. The criminal investigation was discontinued in November 2005 following an appeal by the accused to the Federal Criminal Court (BK.2005.2005.4). Proceedings for removal from the national and international sanctions lists followed (BGE 133 II 450). Delisting from the sanctions list in 2009. |
