Contact
g.couchepin(at)mcelegal.ch
MCE Avocats (Lausanne)
Rue du Grand-Chêne 1
Case postale 1106
1001 Lausanne

MCE Avocats (Martigny)
Avenue de la Gare 56
Case postale 232
1920 Martigny 1

Member of the Bar in the canton of Vaud
Valais notary
Doctorate in law University lecturer
CAS FATE in mergers, acquisitions and
transfer of companies (M&A)
Partner since 2009

After completing his university studies in Fribourg and Tübingen, Gaspard Couchepin obtained his Master of Law degree in 1999 (bilingual French/German and European law). He went on to complete a traineeship as a notary in Valais (1st French-speaking patent in his class; November 2000), before completing his traineeship as a lawyer in an international law firm in Geneva (3rd French-speaking patent in his class; November 2002). He then worked as a guest lawyer in a Boston law firm (2003). From September 2003 to December 2005, he worked as an associate at Byrne-Sutton, Bonnard, Lawson, Meakin et Associés, specialising in civil and administrative construction law. From June 2006 to April 2009, he practised as an associate with Schmidt, Jaton & Associés in Lausanne and Geneva, mainly in business law. In May 2009, he joined MCE Avocats & Notaires as a partner. After several years in this role, he will step down in June 2023 from the Board of Directors of the Swiss Chamber of M&A Experts, of which he remains an active member.

Gaspard Couchepin published a doctoral thesis in Swiss and comparative law on the penalty clause (contractual penalty) directed by Prof. Pierre Tercier (University of Fribourg, 2008; summa cum laude). He is the author of numerous publications and scientific conferences in the field of contracts and business law. He was a lecturer in private law at the University of Neuchâtel.

A former member of the Young Bar Committee of the Geneva Bar Association, Gaspard Couchepin is a member of several professional associations, including the Swiss Chamber of Company Transfer Experts, the Geneva Business Law Association and the Swiss Federation of Notaries. He is Chairman of the AVVF Appeals Commission (table tennis), Vice-Chairman of the FVS Group (organiser of events, including the Foire du Valais), and sits on the boards of several Swiss companies. In May 2016, Gaspard Couchepin was named by the magazine Hebdo / Journal le Temps (Forum des 100) as one of the 100 personalities who make up French-speaking Switzerland.

Gaspard Couchepin is active in French-speaking Switzerland, mainly in the canton of Vaud and Valais, where he advises, negotiates and litigates on behalf of his clients, where necessary before the courts and other authorities. His practice focuses mainly on commercial matters (particularly M&A) and contracts, as well as spatial planning, advising private individuals and municipalities, and economic criminal cases. He has also practised as a Valais notary since 2003 (commercial and inheritance deeds throughout Switzerland and real estate deeds in Valais).

Languages  :

• French
• English
• German

Practice areas :

• Contract law, in particular agency, corporate, leasing and employment law
• Advice to companies
• Advice to public authorities
• Company transfers, M&A (buy-side or sell-side)
• Domiciliation
• Business criminal law
• Civil, administrative and criminal proceedings and representation before the courts and other authorities
• Commercial transactions (commercial contracts, business acquisitions/transfers)
• Debt collection and other enforcement actions
• Administrative law, in particular spatial planning and public procurement law
• Media law
• Notarial activities (throughout Switzerland for commercial and inheritance deeds, in Valais only for real estate deeds)

Main professional activities  :

• Since May 2009: Partner at MCE Avocats & Notaires
• 2006-2009: Lawyer with Schmidt, Jaton & Associés SA, in Geneva and Lausanne
• 2003-2005: Associate with Benoît Carron, Byrne-Sutton, Bonnard, Lawson, Meakin & Associés, Geneva
• 2003: Guest lawyer at Aresty International Law Firm, Boston
• 2000-2002: Trainee lawyer at Byrne-Sutton, Bonnard, Lawson, Meakin & Associés, Geneva
• 1999-2000: Trainee lawyer and notary with Jean-Charles Bornet, Sion

Main Degrees  :

• 2018: certificate of advances studies (CAS FATE; (M&A; business transfers), Lausanne
• 2011: postgraduate course in business transfers at the University of Lausanne (law and economics)
• 2008: Doctor of Law utriusque juris (summa cum laude), University of Fribourg
• 2002: Geneva bar exam (3rd exam)
• 2000: Valais notary’s licence (1st French notary’s licence)
• 1997: ERASMUS diplomas in European and German law, University of Tübingen
• 1994-1999: studied Swiss and European law at the University of Fribourg 1999: bilingual degree in Swiss law utriusque juris (equivalent to Master in Law), option European law (mention magna cum laude), University of Fribourg
• 1989-1994 : maturité gymnasiale (latin-English), Collège de l’Abbaye de St-Maurice, Valais