Pierluca Degni

Pierluca Degni specialises in criminal law and commercial litigation. His practice includes private international law and international mutual assistance in criminal and administrative matters. His experience is recognised in the judicial field and he is particularly active in banking litigation, the coordination of cross-border disputes, as well as in asset recovery matters (Court ordered freezes and provisional measures).

Pierluca is an SBA (Swiss Bar Association) certified specialist barrister in criminal law. He defends his clients in complex proceedings, and also intervenes in labour disputes or in the resolution of inheritance and family disputes. He is recognized as a leading figure in judicial litigation by various specialized international journals.

A graduate of the Universities of Fribourg (bilingual French/German master’s degree) and Turin (L.L.M. International Trade Law), Pierluca is a lecturer at the University of Geneva (Bar School – Legal Practice/Public Speaking), a Deputy Judge at the Criminal Court, Member of the Bar Examination Commission, Member of the Criminal Law Commission of the Geneva Bar Association and former Chairman of the Young Bar Association.

He practices in French, English, German, Italian and Spanish.

Practice Area

  • – Criminal Law
  • – Business Crime Defence
  • – Commercial and Banking Litigation
  • – Debt Collection and Enforcement
  • – Inheritance and Family Litigation
  • – Fraud and Investigations

Recent Experience

  • – Representing several clients (individuals and companies) for the recovery of retrocessions against many banks in Geneva.
  • – Representing a foreign state before the Federal Criminal Authorities.
  • – Counsel to a Swiss asset management company in criminal proceedings for insider trading accusations before the Federal Attorney General.
  • – Execution of urgent measures against sovereign assets in Switzerland.
  • – Enforcement in Switzerland of French, Italian and English judgments.
  • – Counsel to several European and South American creditors in the bankruptcy of Banque Espirito Santo in Switzerland.
  • – Co-counsel of an American Blue Chip in a trans-European employment litigation.
  • – Counsel to a european sports federation in an anti-corruption matter.
  • – Counsel to a politically exposed person in international mutual assistance proceedings in criminal matters between Spain and Switzerland.

Awards

Pierluca Degni (whoswholegal.com)

Lexology – client’s choice litigation in Switzerland 2023

“Pierluca Degni is fast, serious, dynamic, and efficient.”

“Pierluca perfectly understands the key issues of my business and thinks out of the box, unlike most formatted lawyers or legal counsels we met. Pragmatic approach and solution oriented.”

WHO’S WHO LEGAL — ASSET RECOVERY 2017-2023
“Pierluca Degni is a standout figure in the European market for asset recovery matters. He specialises in asset recovery proceedings before civil, criminal and bankruptcy courts.”

WHO’S WHO LEGAL — BUSINESS CRIME DEFENCE 2020-2023

“Pierluca Degni distinguishes himself in the Swiss market with his expertise in international criminal proceedings, and peers praise him for his pragmatism and cool approach to matters”

“Pierluca Degni is very impressive at negotiating with prosecutors and extremely quick to provide concrete solutions to clients.”

“Pierluca Degni is applauded by sources for his deep experience of complex financial crime cases and impressive courtroom presence.”

LEGAL 500 – DISPUTE RESOLUTION : LITIGATION 2020
“Pierluca Degni is a standout figure in litigation, with extensive courtroom experience. He thinks out of the box and immediately understands which strategy needs to be applied to the case.”

 

Degni & Vecchio – Leaders League

  • COMMERCIAL LITIGATION – Highly recommended
  • WHITE-COLLAR CRIME – Highly recommended

PUBLICATIONS

  • – “Anti-corruption in Switzerland” in Market intelligence – Getting the Deal Through – Anti-corruption 2019/2020/2021
  • – “Handlungspflichten des Treuhänders bei Geldwäscherei” in Expert Focus (December 2015 and February 2017)
  • – “Free reflections on Mediation and the Bar” in Lettre du Conseil ODAGE (August 2015)
  • – “The Hacked or Defrauded Customer in Remote Banking Relationships – What duty of care for banks?” in Jusletter (May 2015)

Conferences

  • – “Matinale de déontologie – cas pratique” (ODAGE, November 2021)
  • – “Seminario Internacional de Rastreamento de Ativos” (IBRA, Brasilia, November 2019)
  • – “Challenges and Risks of Access to Independence for Lawyers” (FSA, Lucerne, 2019).
  • – Lawfully obtained evidence and its use in dispute resolution., especially in worldwide asset recovery (UIA, Zermatt, mars 2018)
  • – International legal practice in Switzerland (ODAGE, Genève, février 2018)

Associations

  • – European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA)
  • – Swiss Bar Association (FSA)
  • – Geneva Bar Association (OdA)
  • – Bar Examination Commission (ECAV)
  • – Criminal Law Commission of the Geneva Bar Association (OdA)
  • – Specialised Forum on Criminal Law (OdA)
  • – Association romande des spécialistes en droit pénal (ARPEN) (French-speaking Association of Specialists in Criminal Law)
  • – Geneva Association of Business Law (AGDA)
  • – Former Chairman of the Geneva Young Bar Association (2012-2014)