Dr. Thomas Legler, FCIArb

Dr. Thomas Legler has served as an arbitrator and counsel in over 100 international arbitration cases under various institutional rules, including ICC, SIAC, DIS and Swiss Rules as well as in ad hoc cases. He also advised and represented clients in arbitration-related state court proceedings, such as setting-aside proceedings before the Swiss Federal Tribunal, particularly in intellectual property (trademarks, patents, copyright) and new technology matters. Additionally, Thomas serves as a deputy judge at the Swiss Federal Patent Court.

Thomas is the author of several publications, particularly in the fields of arbitration, intellectual property and emerging technologies. He is also a frequent speaker at national and international conferences.

He graduated from the University of Berne and was admitted to the Swiss bar in 1988. In 1993, he earned an LLM from the University of Geneva (Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures en droit) and, in 1997, obtained his Juris Doctor degree.

Lexology/WWL (2023 and 2024) describes Thomas as being “held in high regard by peers and clients alike for his excellent patent arbitration practice.”

GAR100 2023 highlights that “he was featured by the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center on a list of leading arbitrators who get technology and the unique demands of the tech business world.”

Chambers Europe 2022 notes that “Thomas Legler frequently acts for clients on patent licence agreement arbitrations” and praises him for “his very good analytic skills.”

Thomas is also ranked in IAM1000 (2023) noting that "With over 20 years of experience and serving as a deputy judge of the Federal Patent Court, Legler is immensely skilled in IP arbitration, litigation and transactional disputes. He also draws on his expertise to contribute to the Swiss IP landscape through various publications."

WTR 1000 (2023) recognizes that "Legler is prized for his arbitration expertise and his know-how regarding matters at the intersection of IP, T, media, internet and privacy law."

The Best Lawyers Switzerland 2024 acknowledges him for excellence in Arbitration and Mediation, Information Technology Law, Intellectual Property Law, Media Law and Telecommunications Law.

Managing Intellectual Property (MP) 2024: Named as "Patent Star" and "Trademark Star".

Leaders’ League 2023: rated as "excellent" (2^nd tier) in the arbitration category.

Thomas recently sat as arbitrator in the following representative disputes:

Chairman of an ICC arbitral tribunal with seat in Zurich relating to a tunnel construction joint venture; Austrian and Swiss law applicable;

Chairman of a DIS arbitral tribunal with seat in Frankfurt relating to a dispute concerning a license agreement in the automobile industry; German law applicable;

Chairman of an ICC arbitral Tribunal with seat in London regarding a license agreement in the dairy product industry; Danish law applicable;

Chairman of an ICC arbitral tribunal with seat in Zurich relating to a patent license dispute in the health industry (dental implants);

Chairman of an ICC arbitral tribunal with seat in Lugano related to a dispute regarding a complex IT contract;

Chairman of an ICC arbitral tribunal with seat in Zurich relating to a patent license dispute in the pharmaceutical industry;

Chairman of an arbitral tribunal under the Swiss Rules with seat in Lausanne concerning a dispute related to sports/broadcasting rights.

Chairman of an ICC arbitral tribunal with seat in Paris deciding a dispute concerning an important IT project;

Sole Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration concerning a dispute regarding a development agreement related to a pharmaceutical product, seat in Zurich;

Sole Arbitrator (ICC) in a dispute between a bank and one of its IT suppliers, seat in Geneva;

Sole Arbitrator (ICC) in a dispute relating to a license agreement in the health industry, seat in Geneva;

Sole Arbitrator (ICC) in a dispute relating to an exclusive licensing, manufacturing, services and distribution agreement, seat in Geneva.

Sole Arbitrator (ICC) in a dispute concerning a patent infringement, seat in Zurich;

Party-appointed arbitrator in a Swiss Centre arbitration in Zurich related to a cooperation and license agreement;

Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC arbitration with seat in Stockholm relating to a license agreement in the wind turbine machine industry;

Party-appointed arbitrator in a Swiss Rules arbitration in Zurich relating to the design industry;

Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in Zurich relating to a patent license dispute between two companies engaged in mobile telecommunication business;

Thomas recently represented parties as counsel in the following arbitration matters:

Representing, as co-counsel, a foreign electronics group against a major telecom company in ICC arbitration proceedings in Geneva dealing with an indemnity clause of a development agreement in the area of mobile communication.

Representing, as co-counsel, foreign clients in a SIAC arbitration (seat in Singapore) against a Swiss company regarding the distribution of dental products in China.

Representing one of the Swiss tech universities in a WIPO arbitration sued by a major French group related to robotics in the oil and gas field. Successfully representing the same client also in setting aside proceedings before the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

Representing, as co-counsel, a foreign state who filed a motion to the Swiss Federal Tribunal to set aside an Interim award on jurisdiction in favor of a telecom company in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration proceeding. The main issue in the case was whether indirect investments fall under the scope of the bilateral investment treaty in question. The Swiss Federal Tribunal deliberated this landmark case in a public hearing.

Representing, as co-counsel, a foreign consortium organizing sports and cultural events in a dispute before the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (TAS) in Lausanne against an important foreign national sport organization related to a financial claim of approx. EUR 10 million.