Privacy Policy
Effective date: 1 January 2026
Your privacy matters to us
The protection of the personal data of our clients, as well as the protection of the privacy of users of our website, is important to us. The personal data that we collect or receive in the course of our activities is treated confidentially and protected by appropriate technical and organisational measures against unauthorised access.
Most of the content on our website can be accessed freely. However, we use certain standard technologies to measure and improve the performance of our website, which may involve the collection of data. In some cases, we also work with external service providers.
To the extent that we collect and process personal data, we comply with the requirements of Swiss data protection legislation, in particular the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), as well as, where applicable, the relevant provisions of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes how L’Etude & Fabbro (“we”, “us” or “our”) collects and processes personal data and the rights you have in this respect.
Introduction
By using our services or our website, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you provide us with personal data relating to third parties, you must ensure that those persons are aware of this Privacy Policy and that you are authorised to disclose their personal data to us.
L’Etude & Fabbro comprises the law firms located at the offices listed in section 11 below. These are companies and branches organised under Swiss law and subject to Swiss data protection legislation, including the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP). As they operate at both national and international levels, our firms also take into account, where applicable, the requirements of the GDPR.
When you instruct one of our lawyers, the firm responsible for managing the mandate acts as the data controller within the meaning of the FADP and, where applicable, the GDPR. In certain cases, in particular where conflict-of-interest checks are carried out or where several firms collaborate on the same matter, the firms concerned may act as joint controllers.
If a client uses our services and a separate agreement exists between that client and a third party regarding the processing of personal data, the client’s privacy policy shall prevail with respect to that third party.
If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please refrain from using our services. Should you have any questions regarding data protection, you may contact us using the details set out in section 11 below.
1. What personal data do we process?
Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. Anonymous data is not considered personal data.
In the course of our activities as lawyers, we primarily process personal data that we receive from our clients, business partners, authorities, courts or other involved third parties.
In particular, we may process the following categories of personal data:
a. identification data (surname, first name, date of birth, title, gender);
b. contact data (postal address, email address, telephone number) and financial data (bank details, billing information);
c. data relating to services provided and payments;
d. identification and background information collected in the course of accepting mandates;
e. information relating to your professional roles and activities;
f. data contained in documents, correspondence or public registers;
g. information provided by our clients or generated in the course of performing our mandates;
h. information relating to participation in events, seminars or meetings;
i. communication and marketing data;
j. any other information you voluntarily provide to us.
We may also be required to process sensitive personal data, in particular where this is necessary for the performance of a mandate or required by law.
2. How do we collect your personal data?
We collect personal data in particular when:
- you communicate with us;
- you enter into a mandate with us;
- you participate in an event or subscribe to communications;
- you visit our website.
We may also collect data from third parties (clients, authorities, public registers, courts, media), where this is necessary and lawful.
When you visit our website, certain technical data may be automatically recorded (e.g. date and time of access, browser type, language, domain name).
3. For what purposes do we process personal data?
Personal data is processed in particular for the following purposes:
a. the conclusion and performance of mandates and contractual relationships;
b. compliance with legal and regulatory obligations applicable to lawyers;
c. administrative, accounting and organisational management;
d. communication and marketing (to the extent permitted);
e. development of our services and our website;
f. protection of our rights and management of disputes;
g. IT security and protection of infrastructure;
h. restructuring or internal management operations.
All of these purposes are pursued in strict compliance with lawyers’ professional secrecy.
4. Legal bases for processing
The processing of personal data is based in particular on:
- the performance or preparation of a contract;
- compliance with legal obligations;
- our legitimate interests;
- your consent, where required.
5. Disclosure of data to third parties
Subject to professional secrecy, we may disclose personal data:
- within our firms;
- to authorities and courts, where required by law;
- to service providers acting on our behalf (IT, hosting, insurance, banks, experts).
Where data is transferred abroad, we ensure an adequate level of protection in accordance with applicable legislation.
6. Data retention
Personal data is retained for as long as necessary for the purposes pursued, or for as long as required by law.
7. Cookies
Our website does not use cookies that collect personal data for tracking purposes.
8. Links to third-party websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We assume no responsibility for their data protection practices.
9. Data security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data.
10. Your rights
You have in particular the following rights:
- right of access;
- right to rectification;
- right to object to or restrict processing;
- right to erasure;
- right to data portability, to the extent provided by law.
The exercise of these rights may be subject to certain legal restrictions.
11. Contact details of the firms
L’Etude Swiss Lawyers SA
Boulevard de Pérolles 21
P.O. Box
CH – 1701 Fribourg
Tel. +41 (0)58 123 08 00
fribourg@letude-fabbro.ch
Fabbro & Partners SA
Lausanne
Avenue du Théâtre 14
P.O. Box 595
CH – 1001 Lausanne
Tel. +41 (0)21 313 40 80
lausanne@letude-fabbro.ch
Geneva
Quai Gustave-Ador 18
P.O. Box 1470
CH – 1211 Geneva 1
Tel. +41 (0)22 321 62 33
geneve@letude-fabbro.ch
Lugano
Via Adriana Ramelli 5
CH – 6900 Lugano
Tel. +41 (0)91 921 20 66
lugano@letude-fabbro.ch
Riviera (Montreux)
Rue du Bourg 40
CH – 1816 Chailly-sur-Montreux
Tel. +41 (0)21 313 40 80
riviera@letude-fabbro.ch
12. Amendments
This Privacy Policy may be amended at any time. The version published on our website shall prevail.