Profile

Ernst F. Schmid is the former head of the Dispute Resolution group at Niederer Kraft Frey. He regularly acts as counsel in national and international litigation and arbitration cases, and as an arbitrator in ad hoc and institutional arbitration proceedings.

Experience

Ernst F. Schmid has extensive experience in all aspects of state court litigation, including administrative court proceedings, and domestic and international arbitration (ICC, Swiss Rules, etc. and ad hoc).

Recent experience includes:

  • Presiding arbitrator in a VIAC arbitration between an international bank and a software developer relating to a core bank application
  • Presiding arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between two groups of companies producing and marketing commodities
  • Presiding arbitrator in a Swiss Rules arbitration in a construction dispute relating to a hotel
  • Co-counsel in an ad hoc arbitration for a Swiss chemical company relating to remediation of a contaminated site
  • Presiding arbitrator in a Swiss Rules arbitration between a Swiss claimant and a Dubai respondent relating to consumer goods
  • Co-counsel on Swiss law in a litigation in Bermuda
  • Enforcement of a Kazakh arbitral award in Switzerland against Swiss defendant
  • Co-arbitrator in a Swiss Rules arbitration in the railways sector
  • Representing a defendant in a series of D&O claims brought by the liquidator in connection with the bankruptcy of one of the largest Swiss groups of companies
  • Advising an international bank in the context of the misappropriation of client funds by a customer relationship officer; representing the bank in criminal and civil proceedings against the CRO and clients
  • Presiding arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between two BVI companies on commodities trading
  • Presiding arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a German manufacturer and a Singaporean distributor of medical equipment
  • Co-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration between a US foundation and Austrian respondents for the restitution of art works
  • Chairman in a Swiss Rules arbitration between a Swiss and a Spanish company concerning commodities
  • Co-arbitrator in a Swiss Rules arbitration between a BVI company and a Swiss company relating to a joint venture
  • Chairman of an arbitration between US claimants and a Swiss individual for the repayment of the investment in a Swiss company
  • Sole arbitrator in a Swiss rules arbitration between a Jersey company and Austrian respondents in relation to an agency contract
  • Sole arbitrator in a Swiss Rules arbitration between a Swiss company and an Italian company regarding commodities
1984 Cambridge, England, Master of Law, LL.M.
1981 Admitted to the Bar, Rechtsanwalt
1979 University of Zurich, Doctor iuris, Dr. iur.
1975 University of Zurich, Licentiatus iuris utriusque, lic. iur.
Best Lawyers 2011 – 2025
Chambers Global 2008 – 2024
Chambers Europe 2008 – 2024
The Legal500 EMEA 2018 – 2024 – Recommended
Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Switzerland 2021 – 2023
Who’s Who Legal: Global 2019 – 2024
Who’s Who Legal: Switzerland 2016 – 2024
Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Switzerland 2019
  • Zurich, Swiss and International Bar Associations (ZAV, SAV, IBA)
  • ASA Association Suisse de l’Arbitrage
  • DIS Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit
  • Member of the Advisory Committee of the Swiss Arbitration Academy
  • Association d’études juridiques et fiscales
  • Ethics Court of the Zurich Bar Association (Standesgericht) (vice-chairman)
  • Teacher at the University of Zurich for Arbitration Law and the Rules of the Legal Profession
2021 Of Counsel, Niederer Kraft Frey
1991 Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey
1984 Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
1982 Associate with Zurich law firm
1980 Clerk with the Commercial Court of the Canton of Zurich
1978 Clerk with the District Court of Meilen
1975 Scientific Assistant to Professor Peter Forstmoser, Chair for company law at the University of Zurich

German

English

French

Italian

Market Perception

«Ernst Schmid is a highly qualified and reliable arbitrator with a sound judgement and cogent reasoning; highly recommended.»
Legal 500 2024
«Ernst Felix Schmid is lauded as “a very experienced and clever practitioner in the area of litigation”. »
Who’s Who Legal 2022
«Ernst Schmid is an experienced litigator who provides consistently insightful and practical advice.»
Legal 500 2020
«…Interviewees report that Ernst Schmid “has a good commercial understanding of the cases and is able to see potential common ground.”He chairs arbitrations under a variety of rules, including ICC, Swiss and Vienna rules as well as in ad hoc arbitrations.»
Chambers Global 2020