Michel José Reymond

Dr. Michel José Reymond is a lawyer at the firm Byrne-Sutton Bollen Kern. He specializes in international commercial law, covering both non-litigious matters (such as contract drafting and Swiss company law) and litigation before Swiss courts and arbitral tribunals. He is also experienced in labor disputes involving international civil servants, having worked with clients in the UN and WHO.

Dr. Michel José Reymond obtained his PhD from the University of Geneva in 2014 (summa cum laude), following a dissertation on the jurisdiction of state courts over online defamation. As a scholar, his research is focused on digital law and, in particular, on the extraterritorial reach of state regulations relating to online activities. More recently, he has been active in the field of blockchains and cryptocurrencies, and teaches these subjects at the University of Geneva.

The limits of unilateral choice of forum clauses

A forum selection clause unilaterally inserted by a party into an email or invoice is ineffective if there is no express acceptance by the other party.

Conflicting choice of forum clauses contained in a contract and its general terms and conditions: which clause prevails?

A choice of forum clause contained in the contract itself prevails over conflicting clauses contained in the parties’ general terms and conditions.

Arbitration or state courts? The material limits of an arbitration clause that concerns the interpretation and application of a contract

Legal proceedings initiated in order to enforce a loan contract fell outside the (narrow) scope of an arbitration clause that was limited to the interpretation and application of the relevant agreement.