Lembo Saverio
Partner

Saverio Lembo

Mr Lembo is among the top white collar crime investigation lawyers in the space

Who's Who Legal Switzerland, Asset Recovery 2022

Saverio Lembo is known throughout Switzerland, the EU and the Americas as a go-to lawyer

Who's Who Legal 2023

He is particularly well suited to high-stakes matters representing C-suite individuals

Who's Who Legal 2023

Saverio is a very sophisticated investigations specialist

Who's Who Legal 2023

He has an excellent knowledge of the international white-collar crime market.

WWL Thought Leaders GIR 2022

Saverio is a fully committed, client-oriented lawyer who provides high-quality services and understands the exact needs of his clients.

WWL Thought Leaders GIR 2022

The best of the best, an obvious choice.

WWL Thought Leaders GIR 2022

Saverio might just be the very best investigations lawyer in Switzerland.

WWL Thought Leaders GIR 2022

Saverio Lembo is celebrated for his strong track record in advising major corporations in complex investigations and disputes

WWL Thought Leaders Global Elite 2023

Saverio is "one of the best" in the market and receives widespread plaudits for his "understanding of the clients' needs".

Peers in WWL 2022

Top-notch litigator.

Peers in WWL 2022

Excellent knowledge of the international white-collar crime market.

Source in WWL 2022

A star in Geneva.

Source in WWL Asset Recovery 2022

Very knowledgeable.

Source in WWL Asset Recovery 2022

Saverio might just be the very best investigations lawyer in Switzerland.

Peers and clients in WWL Investigations 2022

The best of the best, an obvious choice.

Peers and clients in WWL Investigations 2022

Saverio is a fully committed, client-oriented lawyer who provides high-quality services and understands the exact needs of his clients.

Peers and clients in WWL 2022

He has an excellent knowledge of the international white-collar crime market.

Peers and clients in WWL 2022

Absolute star!

Source in WWL 2021

Very committed to delivering an excellent quality of work.

Client in Legal 500 2021

A highly capable and versatile litigator.

Source in WWL 2021

He's a star individual who is renowned and respected worldwide.

Client in WWL 2021

A dynamic and knowledgeable lawyer.

Source in WWL 2021

A prominent name in the Swiss market.

Source in WWL 2021

The go-to white-collar-crime lawyer in Switzerland.

Source in WWL 2021

Phenomenal worldwide reputation.

Source in WWL 2021

Immaculate reputation!

Source in WWL 2021

Prominent figure!

Source in WWL 2021

Senior lawyer, very accessible and responsive, backed up by a very solid team of dedicated lawyers.

Client in IFLR1000 2021

He is a "prominent figure" with an "immaculate reputation" thanks to his top-notch criminal litigation and investigation expertise.

Who's Who Legal Business Crime Defence 2020

He is singled out for his “phenomenal worldwide reputation” as “the go-to white-collar-crime lawyer in Switzerland".

Who's Who Legal Business Crime Defence 2020

One of the leading Swiss practitioners, with an extensive experience in white-collar crime.

Client in Chambers Europe 2020

Great with clients and very good in court.

Source in Chambers Europe 2020

Has a broad base of experience and a good sense for multi-jurisdictional matters.

Client in Chambers Global 2020

Fantastic and well regarded for his top-tier work representing clients before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Who’s Who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2020

He leads the firm's white-collar crime group, and is experienced with commercial and financial litigation proceedings.

Who’s Who Legal Litigation 2020

Is a prominent figure in the Swiss litigation space.

Who’s Who Legal Litigation 2020

His expertise lies in white-collar criminal law, where he combines his keen legal mind and excellent management skills to assist clients in cross-border investigations.

Who’s Who Legal Investiagtions 2020

Impressing peers and clients alike with 25 years experience in the field.

Who’s Who Legal Asset Recovery 2020

An absolute goto for clients seeking someone at the top of their game intellectually and tactically.

Who’s Who Legal Business Crime Defence 2020

An outstanding lawyer on an international level.

Who’s Who Legal Business Crime Defence 2020

Saverio is one of, if not the best, lawyer in his jurisdiction

Who's Who Legal Switzerland, Asset Recovery 2022

He is a specialist in complex investigatory matters

Who's Who Legal Switzerland, Asset Recovery 2022

Mr Lembo is among the top white collar crime investigation lawyers in the space

Who's Who Legal Switzerland, Asset Recovery 2022

Saverio Lembo is known throughout Switzerland, the EU and the Americas as a go-to lawyer

Who's Who Legal 2023

About

Saverio Lembo co-heads Bär & Karrer's White Collar Crime practice group.

He has extensive experience in white collar crime, commercial and financial litigation, international judicial assistance (civil and criminal), arbitration and insolvency. During recent years, he has been involved in a number of complex commercial litigation proceedings, has served as a party representative or arbitrator in various domestic and international commercial arbitrations and has assisted clients in Swiss and foreign criminal proceedings. He regularly represents clients before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Saverio Lembo's practice also extends to pharmaceutical litigation, inheritance law, employment matters and enforcement of foreign judgments and awards.

Saverio Lembo is ranked in tier 1 of the leading lawyers in White-Collar Crime Switzerland by Chambers & Partners. He was awarded "Lawyer of the Year for Switzerland" in the categories "Business Crime Defence" and "Investigations" at the Who's Who Legal Awards in 2020 as well as "Lawyer of the Year 2016" in the categories Criminal Defence and Litigation in the Geneva area by Best Lawyers. Since 2012, the International Who's Who lists him among the world's leading practitioners in the areas of Business Crime Defence, Asset Recovery Lawyers and Commercial Litigation. In The Legal 500, Saverio Lembo has been listed among the leading individuals in Switzerland in Dispute Resolution since 2010.

Recent Work Highlights
  • Defense of a high profile banker in a criminal investigation led by the OAG for bribery of public agents, aggravated money laundering and forgery in relation to alleged kickbacks received by the former director of a foreign public institution.
  • Representing Sotheby's in a significative dispute between Dimitri Rybolovlev and Yves Bouvier.
  • Saverio Lembo was confirmed by the US Department of Justice and the Swiss government as member of the monitorship team.
  • Conducted a major internal investigation for a globally active, publicly traded company.
  • Successful defense of a company active in the commodities trade sector in criminal proceedings opened by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General.
  • Defense of the UBO of an international group of companies active in the commodities trade sector in criminal tax proceedings.
  • Representing a state entity targeted in a cross-border civil litigation involving cultural heritage-related measures.
  • Representing of a sport governing body as harmed party in criminal proceedings in relation to the fight against the grey ticketing market.
  • Successful defense of a foreign investment company defrauded by some of its former managers in a 10-years criminal investigation. Managers are sent to trial in spring 2020.
  • Representation of an international sport organization in bribery and criminal mismanagement investigations conducted by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General.
  • Successful representation of a sport organization as harmed party in criminal proceedings opened against its former managers; recovery of more than CHF 15 million to date.
  • Successful defense of a non-Swiss individual in criminal proceedings led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General, including the release of CHF 10+ million in retained assets.
LanguagesFrench, Italian, English, German
Curriculum
  • Partner of Bär & Karrer (since 2003)
  • Associate at Bär & Karrer (2000)
  • Secondment at Slaughter and May, London (1997)
  • Associate at a Swiss law firm (1995)
  • Admitted to the Geneva Bar (Ranked 1st, 1995)
  • University of Geneva: lic. iur. (1992)
  • University of Geneva: lic. oec. (1989)
Memberships and Public Offices
  • Member of the Council of the Geneva Bar Association (2022)
  • Member of The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators (since 2019)
  • Regional Representative Europe of the IBA Criminal Law Committee (since 2019)
  • Co-Chair of the International Anti-Money Laundering Committee, American Bar Association SIL (since 2017)
  • Vice-Chair of the International Arbitration Committee, American Bar Association SIL (2014-2016)
  • Co-Chair of the International Criminal Law Committee, American Bar Association SIL (2012-2014)
  • Co-Chair of AIJA Human Rights Committee (2011)
  • Lecturer at the "Ecole d'Avocature", University of Geneva, Criminal Law Proceedings (since 2011)
  • President of the Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (AIJA) (2009-2010)
  • President of the Commercial Fraud Commission of AIJA (2006-2008)
  • Member of the Executive Committee of the Associazione Internazionale dei Giuristi di Lingua Italiana (AIGLI) (1998-2008)
  • International Bar Association (IBA)
  • Member of (ASA) Association Suisse de l'Arbitrage
  • Geneva Bar Association (OdA)
  • Association Genevoise du Droit des Affaires (AGDA)
  • Société Suisse de droit pénal
  • Member of the Committee of the Geneva Young Lawyers Bar (1994-1995)
AdmissionAll Swiss Courts

Saverio Lembo's Deals, Cases & News

Ranked as "Recommended"

by Who's Who Legal Switzerland 2023

Recognized as a "leading lawyer" in the Legal 500 "Hall of Fame"

by Legal 500 2023

Ranked Band 1 in White-Collar Crime

by Chambers Europe 2023

Ranked as "Recommended"

by Who's Who Legal Switzerland 2023

Recognized as a "leading lawyer" in the Legal 500 "Hall of Fame"

by Legal 500 2023

Contact

Bär & Karrer Ltd.
12, quai de la Poste
CH-1211 Geneva 3
Switzerland

Assistant

Saverio Lembo's latest Publications

Saverio Lembo's latest Speaking Engagements