Dr. Nicolas Curchod

Nicolas Curchod is an associate in Quinn Emanuel’s Zurich office. He is an attorney-at-law admitted to practice law before all Swiss courts, whose practice focuses on commercial and financial litigation, regulatory matters, and sanctions.

Nicolas has built a reputation for excellence in high-profile business and financial matters. His exceptional grasp of complex financial structures and regulatory frameworks, combined with sharp business acumen, allows him to cut through the most intricate disputes with strategic precision. Nicolas’ recent matters include the representation of: (i) a high net worth individual in a CHF 50+ sanctions-related dispute in Switzerland and the United States, (ii) a former leading Swiss online bank in proceedings before the Swiss Federal Administrative Court, (iii) a heir in a cross-jurisdictional USD 10+ billion inheritance dispute, (iv) a major international energy company in a USD 14 billion arbitration, (v) a Swiss bank in enforcement proceedings conducted by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), (vi) multiple investors in criminal and civil proceedings following the collapse of USD 10 billion supply-chain finance funds and (vi) a venture capital fund and a family office in a high-stake corporate battle. 

Prior to joining the firm, Nicolas worked for the Supreme Court of Switzerland. As a law clerk to Justice Kathrin Klett and Chief Justice Martha Niquille, he drafted over 120 decisions of the Court in the fields of, inter alia, (international) arbitration, corporate law, IP, contract law, and international private law. He worked on some of the Court’s highest-profile cases, including high-stake cross-border disputes. In particular, he drafted the first decision in the history of the Court setting aside an award rendered in an investment treaty arbitration. Before his time at the Supreme Court, Nicolas was a Junior associate in the Corporate/M&A and Litigation/Arbitration teams of Homburger, a leading Swiss law firm.

Nicolas holds law degrees from the University of Zurich and St. Gallen as well as an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School. In addition, he obtained a B.A. in business administration from the University of St. Gallen. In the course of his studies, he spent semesters abroad at the Singapore Management University and the University of São Paulo. He was also a visiting researcher at Sciences Po Paris.

Nicolas maintains an active presence in academia. He wrote a PhD (summa cum laude) on the topic of judicial involvement in arbitration. He is the author of several articles on topics related to his practice areas. He teaches private law at UniDistance, a university institute recognized by the Swiss Confederation, and is a former editor of the Harvard International Law Journal.

Nicolas speaks English, French, German and Portuguese.