Dr. Simon Vorburger

Dr. Simon Vorburger is a partner based in Quinn Emanuel’s Zurich office. He is a Swiss and New York qualified attorney.

Simon’s practice focuses on both international commercial and investment treaty arbitration. He also represents parties in domestic and international litigation and advises clients in cross-border multi-jurisdictional disputes as well as pre-litigation strategy. Moreover, Simon sits as an arbitrator.

His areas of specialization include energy and infrastructure projects, construction and engineering, manufacturing, disputes involving the financial industry, and long-term delivery and sales contracts. He also has extensive experience in insolvency-related issues, in particular, the interplay between international disputes and cross-border insolvency proceedings.

Simon holds a law degree as well as a PhD from the University of Zurich and an LLM from New York University (NYU) School of Law. He was a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School and a visiting scholar at the Columbia University Law School Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration (CICIA), where he also contributed to the drafting of the American Law Institute's (ALI) US Restatement on International Commercial Arbitration. Simon was also a Fellow at the Pollack Center for Law and Business at New York University (NYU) Stern Business School.

Simon is a lecturer in law at the University of Zurich School of Law. He regularly speaks at international conferences on topics related to arbitration and litigation. He frequently publishes in the field, notably, he has authored the book “International Arbitration and Cross-Border Insolvency” as well as the legal commentary on energy disputes in the leading treatise “Arbitration in Switzerland: The Practitioner's Guide”.

The Legal 500 ranked Simon among the “Next Generation Partners” in arbitration and describes him as “extremely smart”, “outstandingly knowledgeable and perfectly organized” and points out his “broad international experience”. He has been identified among the “Thought Leaders Global Elite” and a “National Leader” in Commercial Litigation. He was also named a “Future Leader in Litigation” and “Future Leader in Arbitration” by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review who note that he “excels at resolving complex issues” and that respondents praised his “astute legal mind” and consider him an “incredibly sharp counsel when it comes to complex commercial arbitration.” Further, Simon has been recognized as “Rising Star” in Commercial Arbitration by Euromoney’s Expert Guides and was in November 2019 the recipient of the “Rising Star in Commercial Arbitration” Award by Euromoney Legal Media Group, one of only three arbitration practitioners to be so honored.

Notable Representations

Representing a contractor in a dispute against a multi-national commodity trading company in a dispute related to commodity purchases and sales;
Representing an international organization in an appeal of an arbitral award to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in a high-stake dispute with a marketing company;
Representing a textile technology company in a contractual dispute concerning the unauthorized use and disclosure of its IP rights;
Representing a manufacturing company in an international arbitration against a supplier in the cement industry in a dispute related to a delivery contract of equipment and machinery;
Representing a chemical company against a supplier with respect to damages incurred by the supply of flawed material;
Advising an electrical energy company with respect to potential claims against a major international buyer of electricity under the Energy Charter Treaty;
Representing a Middle-Eastern cement producer in proceedings against a supplier concerning defective machinery;
Representing a financial institution in connection with investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Swiss Financial Supervisory Authority and the Swiss Department of Justice as well as Financial Supervisory Authorities in Asia with respect to a corruption scandal;
Representing a European cement producer in a dispute against a manufacturer of scaling systems;
Representing a software company in a dispute against a supplier with respect to damages caused by a hacking of the software system;
Representing an technology company in legal assistance and enforcement proceedings against a Swiss entity with respect to claims in connection with a delivery contract;
Representing an international luxury goods conglomerate against a licensee in a dispute concerning the fabrication and distribution of licensed goods;
Representing a multi-national technology company in attachment and debt-enforcement proceedings against a former contractor in Switzerland;
Representing a multi-national real estate investment company in a dispute with its shareholders.

Practice Areas

Education

University of Zurich School of Law
(Dr.iur. (Ph.D. in Law), summa cum laude, 2014)
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government
(Certificate in Human Rights Policy, 2012)
Harvard University Law School
(Visiting Researcher, 2012-2013)
Columbia University School of Law
(Visiting Scholar, 2011-2013)
New York University (NYU) Stern Business School
(Fellow, 2011-2012)
New York University School of Law
(LL.M., Dean’s Award, 2011)
University of Zurich School of Law
(Lic.iur., magna cum laude, 2007)

Admissions

The State Bar of New York
All Courts of Switzerland

Languages

German
English
Spanish
French

Prior Associations

University of Zurich School of Law:
- Lecturer in Law, since 2022
Homburger, International Arbitration and Litigation Practice Group:
- Senior Associate 2013-2018
American Law Institute:
- Associate of Chief Reporter for Restatement Third, 2012-2013
Rapperswil Business School BWZ:
- Lecturer in Law, 2003-2010
Walder Wyss Ltd.:
- Junior Associate, 2008-2009

Awards

2025: Recognized by Lexology Index: Arbitration, Recommended
2025: Named as Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders Global Elite, Commercial Litigation – Under 45 – Partners
2025: Recognized by Best Lawyer in Arbitration and Mediation & International Arbitration
2024: Named as “Leading Global Leaders” by Lawdragon 500
2024: Named as Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders Global Elite, Commercial Litigation – Under 45 – Partners
2024: Named as “Future Leader” in Commercial Litigation by Who’s Who Legal
2024: Recognized by Best Lawyer in Arbitration and Mediation & International Arbitration
2023: Named as “Leading Global Leaders” by Lawdragon 500
2023: Named as “Next Generation Partner” in Arbitration by Legal 500
2023: Named as “Future Leader” in Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal Switzerland
2023: Recognized in the “Arbitration Powerlist – Dach Region” by Legal 500
2023: Recognized as “Thought Leader Global Elite” in Commercial Litigation by Who’s Who Legal
2023: Named as “Future Leader” in International Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review
2023: Named as “National Leader” in Commercial Litigation by Who’s Who Legal
2023: Named as “Future Leader” in Litigation by Who’s Who Legal
2023: Recognized as “Rising Star” in Commercial Arbitration by Euromoney’s Expert Guide
2022: Named as “Next Generation Partners” in Arbitration by Legal 500
2022: Named as “Future Leader” in Litigation by Who’s Who Legal
2022: Named as “Future Leader” in International Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review
2022: Recognized as “Rising Star” in Commercial Arbitration by Euromoney’s Expert Guide
2021: Named as “Future Leader” in Litigation by Who’s Who Legal
2021: Named as “Future Leader” in International Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review
2021: Recognized as “Rising Star” in Commercial Arbitration by Euromoney’s Expert Guide
2020: Named as “Future Leader” in Litigation by Who’s Who Legal
2020: Named as “Future Leader” in International Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review
2020: Recognized as “Rising Star” in Commercial Arbitration by Euromoney’s Expert Guide
2019: Recipient of the “Rising Star in Commercial Arbitration” Award by Euromoney Legal Media Group
2019: Named as “Future Leader” in International Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review
2018: Named as “Future Leader” in International Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review
2018: Recognized as “Rising Star” in Commercial Arbitration by Euromoney’s Expert Guide
2017: Named as “Future Leader” in International Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and Global Arbitration Review

Publications & Lectures

Books:

Pro-Arbitration Revisited: A Tribute to Professor George Bermann from His Students Over the Years, Chapter 100 - Selected Pro-Arbitration Features of the Swiss Lex Arbitri, Arbitrationlaw.com, 2023
Climate Disputes – as a Type of “ESG” Disputes (together with Olivier Buff), in: Reutter/Werlen (eds.), Capital Markets – Law and Transactions XVII, forthcoming
Arbitrating Energy Disputes (together with Angelina Petti), in: Arroyo (ed.), Arbitration in Switzerland: The Practitioner's Guide, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2018
Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration in Switzerland (together with Kirstin Dodge), in: Pitkowitz (ed.), Handbook on Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration, Juris 2018
International Arbitration and Cross-Border Insolvency: Comparative Perspectives, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business 2014

Articles:

Investment Treaty Arbitration 2018: Switzerland (together with Kirstin Dodge and Gabrielle Nater-Bass), in: Jagusch/Triantafilou (eds.), Getting The Deal Through: Investment Treaty Arbitration 2018
ICCA-Queen Mary Task Force on Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (together with Kirstin Dodge and Sabine Neuhaus), in: The ICCA Report No. 4 on Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration, 2018, pp. 84 – 93
Investment Treaty Arbitration 2017: Switzerland (together with Kirstin Dodge and Gabrielle Nater-Bass), in: Jagusch/Triantafilou (eds.), Getting The Deal Through: Investment Treaty Arbitration 2017
When a Party to an International Arbitration Goes Bankrupt: A Swiss Perspective (together with Georg Naegeli), in: Klausegger et al (eds.), Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration 2016, pp. 143 – 170
Investment Treaty Arbitration 2016: Switzerland (together with Kirstin Dodge and Gabrielle Nater-Bass), in: Jagusch/Triantafilou (eds.), Getting The Deal Through: Investment Treaty Arbitration 2016, pp. 87 – 90
Investment Treaty Arbitration 2015: Switzerland (together with Kirstin Dodge and Gabrielle Nater-Bass), in: Jagusch/Triantafilou (eds.), Getting The Deal Through: Investment Treaty Arbitration 2015, pp. 85 – 88
Investment Protection – Swiss Style (together with Kirstin Dodge and Gabrielle Nater-Bass), in: Kluwer Arbitration Blog, September 25, 2014, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business
Investment Treaty Arbitration 2014: Switzerland (together with Kirstin Dodge and Gabrielle Nater-Bass), in: Jagusch/Triantafilou (eds.), Getting The Deal Through: Investment Treaty Arbitration 2014, pp. 73 – 76

Selected Presentations:

University of Zurich, Europa Institute, Disputes involving topics of “Environmental, Social and Governance” (ESG), November 2021
27th Croatian Arbitration Days: Effects of Cross-Border Insolvency on Arbitration, December 2019
Young ICCA, Cross-Examination in International Arbitration, May 2019
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) Roadshow – Tribunal Secretaries: An insight behind the curtain, September 2018
Harvard Law School, Five years out: A discussion with Harvard Law School Class 2013 – International Arbitration in Practice, April 2018
YIAG Conference, Practical Aspects of Confidentiality in International Arbitration, September 2017
ASA Below 40 Spring Conference, How to Authentically Present the Witness’ Story in a Legally Favorable Way, June 2015

Professional Activities

Member, ABA Working Group on Investment Treaty Arbitration
Member, Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) and ASA Below 40
Member, ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
Member, ICDR Young and International
Member, Young ICCA
Member, LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
Member, Swiss Bar Association and Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
Member American Bar Association (ABA)

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