Effective enforcement of your rights within Swiss jurisdiction
Obtaining a foreign court judgment or arbitral award is not sufficient to enforce it in Switzerland.
Swiss law requires a separate recognition and enforcement procedure (exequatur) — even if the decision is final and binding in the country of origin.
When Is Recognition Required?
Recognition and enforcement are generally required in the following cases:
- Debt recovery based on a foreign court judgment or arbitral award
- Asset seizure involving a debtor’s property located in Switzerland
- Recognition of corporate actions, including board resolutions, contract terminations, and obligations to perform
- Enforcement of any other binding decisions on Swiss territory
What We Offer
- Assessment of enforceability under Swiss law (including PILA and applicable treaties)
- Preparation and submission of all required documents for recognition and enforcement proceedings
- Legal representation before the competent cantonal court at the debtor’s domicile or location of assets
- Application of interim measures, if appropriate, and full support in debt enforcement proceedings (Betreibung)
Types of Decisions We Work With
- Final and binding foreign court judgments
- International arbitral awards (including those under the New York Convention)
Why Jost & Partners Swiss Law Firm?
✔ Top-tier legal expertise
Over 15 years of experience in international private law, arbitration, and litigation. Our team includes practising arbitrators recognised by the MCIArb (London) and listed by leading arbitral institutions across Europe and the CIS.
✔ Comprehensive knowledge of applicable law
Expertise in the Federal Act on Private International Law (PILA), the New York Convention, the Lugano Convention, and cantonal procedural rules.
✔ Direct court representation
We handle the entire exequatur process — from initial filing to final enforcement, including interaction with debt enforcement offices and asset tracing.
✔ Proven success in cross-border enforcement
We have extensive experience locating, securing, and enforcing against assets in Switzerland.
✔ Multilingual legal support
We work fluently in English, German, French, Russian, and Ukrainian. All court filings are prepared in accordance with Swiss procedural and linguistic standards.