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Framework Conditions & Business Law

A reliable legal framework is a key foundation for business activity and investment in Switzerland. SwissHoldings focuses in particular on issues related to corporate and business law, corporate governance, as well as competition law and compliance. The emphasis is on coherent, proportionate, and practical rules that provide companies with legal certainty and sufficient room for entrepreneurial activity. At the same time, SwissHoldings advocates for efficient procedures and the systematic reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens.

Key Issues

09/17/2026

Reducing Administrative Burdens & Digitalization

Administrative burdens and complex regulatory processes tie up significant resources within companies and undermine Switzerland’s competitiveness. Digitalization and artificial intelligence offer significant potential to make administrative procedures more efficient. However, this requires first streamlining existing processes and improving coordination across the different levels of government.

SwissHoldings' Position

SwissHoldings advocates for the systematic reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens and the simplification of regulatory processes for companies.
Processes should first be simplified and then digitized. Simply digitizing existing complex processes creates digital bureaucracy rather than providing genuine relief.
The federal government, cantons, and administrative authorities should better coordinate procedures and responsibilities and develop digital solutions that are as standardized as possible. Digitalization and AI should be used to improve efficiency, not to create new regulatory requirements or additional complexity.

Topics: Framework Conditions and Business Law

09/17/2026

Collective Redress

Switzerland has various judicial and extrajudicial mechanisms for enforcing civil claims. Parliament rejected the introduction of new collective redress mechanisms, such as broad-based class actions. The focus is now on how existing mediation and ombudsman procedures can be further strengthened.

SwissHoldings' Position

SwissHoldings welcomes the decision not to introduce new collective redress mechanisms, such as class actions, which would have created significant additional legal and financial risks for companies.
In many cases, out-of-court dispute resolution, including mediation and ombudsman services, can provide faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective solutions than collective court proceedings.
SwissHoldings therefore supports strengthening and further developing proven out-of-court mechanisms as a proportionate alternative to expanding collective redress.

Topics: Framework Conditions and Business Law

09/17/2026

Competition Law

Effective competition law protects competition while providing legal certainty for businesses. The ongoing reform of the Cartel Act is further developing both the substantive competition rules and the institutional framework of the competition authorities.

SwissHoldings' Position

SwissHoldings advocates for assessing agreements between competitors on the basis of clear and appropriate criteria and for giving due consideration to their actual effects on competition.
There should be a clearer institutional separation between investigation and decision-making. This would strengthen the independence of decision-making and help ensure proceedings that meet the requirements of the rule of law.
Competition law proceedings should become more efficient and timely. From SwissHoldings’ perspective, this also requires effective and specialized judicial review by the Federal Administrative Court.

Topics: Framework Conditions and Business Law

Publications on Framework Conditions & Business Law All posts

Reducing Bureaucracy Through Digitalization – Potential and Requirements

03/30/2026

Digital technologies offer significant opportunities to make government services more efficient and simplify administrative processes. With the increasing use of artificial intelligence, additional potential is opening up to rethink and accelerate processes – including in Switzerland. At the same time, it is becoming clear that the success of digital transformation depends not only on technological solutions, but also significantly on whether they are accepted in practice and supported by the stakeholders involved. This was discussed during the panel on reducing bureaucracy and digitalization at the first “SwissHoldings Legal Talks.”

SwissHoldings Legal Talks: Legal Certainty as a Key Factor for Switzerland as a Business Location

03/26/2026

In an increasingly uncertain international environment, the question of how to create a reliable and innovation-friendly regulatory framework is gaining importance. The first edition of the SwissHoldings Legal Talks, held on March 26, 2026, in Bern, focused on the topic “The Legal Environment as a Location Factor: Targeted Reforms for a Competitive Switzerland.” Legal certainty is a central prerequisite for investment, innovation, and long-term location decisions.

Modern Cartel Act to Strengthen a Dynamic Economy

12/04/2025

The Council of States today resolved the last outstanding difference regarding the partial revision of the Cartel Act. It has adopted the balanced compromise proposal put forward by the National Council. SwissHoldings expressly welcomes this decision. Going forward, the Competition Commission must base its assessments consistently on the actual impact of a case. This strengthens legal certainty and creates the basis for dynamic and strong competition. The matter will now go to a final vote. As we look ahead to the coming year, the institutional reform is now taking center stage.

No class actions for Switzerland: Council of States clearly rejects the bill

09/16/2025

The introduction of class actions has been discussed in Switzerland for over ten years. Yesterday’s decision by the Council of States to vote against the proposal means it is now off the table. Among other things, this was due to fears of high risks of abuse, a possible overloading of the courts and negative effects on the established culture of litigation. SwissHoldings welcomes this decision, which ensures legal certainty and continuity.

No Class Action Lawsuits: Council of States Committee Opts for Mediation and Ombudsman Procedures

08/18/2025

The Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of States voted against introducing class action lawsuits into Swiss law last week. SwissHoldings welcomes this clear decision. Instead of a risky system change, the focus should be placed on proven instruments such as mediation and ombudsman procedures. To achieve this, the committee has adopted a corresponding postulate.