Lucien W. Valloni is a highly experienced litigator in international and domestic commercial disputes and arbitration proceedings. He is one of the most successful sports lawyers in Switzerland, with extensive experience in sports arbitration matters before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as well as before all the federation bodies of the most important sports federations.
Lucien is also known for his great expertise in challenging arbitral awards before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. He has won several high-profile sports cases both before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
In addition, Lucien assists private plaintiffs and companies in criminal proceedings and acts in connection with the enforcement of foreign judgments as well as in large complex cross-border litigations. Lucien also has significant experience in real estate transactions.
Lucien is a founder and partner of our firm. In addition, he regularly publishes and lectures on litigation and sports law. He is, inter alia, a permanent guest lecturer at the Paris-Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi.
Curriculum Vitae
- Founder and Managing Partner VALLONI Attorneys at Law (since 2021)
- Partner FRORIEP (1997-2021)
- Lecturer at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (2015-today)
- Lecturer at Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS) (2021-today)
- University of Zurich: Dr. iur. (summa cum laude and Prof. Walther Hug-Price) (1997)
- Court of Cassation of the Canton of Zurich (1994-1996)
- Court of Appeal of the Canton of Zurich (1994)
- Admitted to the bar of the Canton of Zurich (1993)
- District Court of Dielsdorf (1990-1991)
- University of Zurich: lic.iur. (1990)
Memberships
- Swiss Bar Association (SAV)
- Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
- Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)
- Association Internationale des Avocats de Football (AIAF)
- Board member FIFPRO (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels)
- Board member FIFPRO Division Europe
- President SAFP (Swiss Association of Football Players)
- President WAIPU (World Association of Icehockey Players’ Union)
- Associazione Internazionale Giuristi di Lingua Italiana (AIGLI)
- Swiss Italian Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio Italiana per la Svizzera)
Languages
German, English, French, Italian
Admission
Admitted to all Swiss Courts
Rankings
- Who’ Who Legal Thought Leaders Switzerland (2021)
- Chambers Europe (Sport) 2021
- Legal 500 EMEA (Dispute Resolution – Litigation)
- Legal 500 EMEA (Sports Law)
- Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders Switzerland
- Who’s Who Legal Global Leader (Entertainment)
- Who’s Who Legal Global Leader (Sports)
- Who’s Who Legal National Leader Switzerland (Sports & Entertainment)
- Leaders League (Litigation & Arbitration – International Arbitration)
- Leaders League (Media & Entertainment – Sports Law)
- Best Lawyers in Switzerland 2019
- Chambers Europe (Sport) 2019
Publications
The case of Christiano Ronaldo, Image rights and the taxation of their exploitation in the Italian legal system, in Sports Law & Taxation, September 2023
New Publication conerning the new FIFA Football Agent Regulations, March 2023
The Coronavirus Pandemic: Its Economic Impact on Sport in Switzerland, Sports & Taxation (PDF)
Sports law in Switzerland, Third Edition, Stämpfli Publishersv (PDF)
CAS Update: Spanish Adopted as Third Official Language and Other Amendments to the Code of Sports-Related Arbitration, Blog article, September 2020
Important Victory for Footballers in Turkey before the European Court of Human Rights | Arbitration Committee of the Turkish Football Federation considered not independent and impartial, Blog article, January 2020
CAS decision overturned by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, Blog article, February 2018
Q&A: 52 Years of Condominium Ownership in the Swiss Civil Code | 52 Questions & Answers, Blog article, December 2017
Extremely important victory for a football player against former club for wrongful termination achieved, Blog article, May 2017
CAS structure and procedure – it is now time for a change!, Football Legal, 2016
Is a jurisdiction clause of a Swiss bank for foreign consumers valid?, Blog article, March 2016
Switzerland as a leader in the fight against corruption in sports?, Blog article, February 2016
The role of Switzerland as host: moves to hold sports organisations more accountable, and wider implications – Transparency International, 2015, 426 ff. (PDF)
The Pechstein decision – The end of sports jurisdiction as we know it?, FRORIEP Sports Briefing, March 2015 (PDF)
Employment relationships at national level: Switzerland, in: European and Sports Law and Policy Bulletin, Issue 1-2014, Regulating employment relationships in professional football, Eds. Michele Colucci and Frank Hendrickx, Brussels 2014 (PDF)
Recognition and Enforcement of an English Freezing Order in Switzerland under the revised Lugano Convention and the Swiss Civil Procedure Code, FRORIEP Litigation Briefing, 29 September 2014 (PDF)
Litigation Briefing, FRORIEP (PDF)
Notes on the Groundbreaking Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Proceedings Howald Moor et al. against Switzerland dated 11 March 2014, FRORIEP Litigation Briefing, 16 June 2014 (PDF)
Sports Law in Switzerland, in: Kluwer Law International, 2014 (PDF)
FIFA transfer regluations from the player’s perspective, in: Legal problems of football sport, Adrzey J. Szwarc, Poznan, 2013, p. 399 et seq. (German), p. 410 et seq. (English) and 387 et seq. (Polish) (PDF)
Notes on the Swiss Federal Court’s practice regarding the admissibility of sports law-related matters, FRORIEP Sports Briefing, February 2014 (PDF)
FIFA transfer regluations from the player’s perspective, in: Legal problems of football sport, Adrzey J. Szwarc, Poznan, 2013, p. 399 et seq. (German), p. 410 et seq. (English) and 387 et seq. (Polish) (PDF)
Sports Justice in Switzerland, in: European and Sports Law Bulletin, Issue 1-2013, International and Comperative Sports Justice, Eds. Michele Colucci and Karen L. Jones, Brussels – The Hague 2013 (PDF)
Court rules on journalists‘ access to FIFA decision, in:ILO, International Law Office, October 2012 (PDF)
Right of reply and its relation to a correction by the media, in: ILO, International Law Office – Newsletter, 12. July 2012 (PDF)
Olympic games, ambush marketing and athletes‘ rights, in: Newsletter Froriep Renggli, July 2012 (PDF)
The role of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in sporting disputes, in: GSLTR; Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, June 2012 (PDF)
The landmark matuzalem case and its consequences on the FIFA regulations, Froriep Renggli Newsletter, April 2012 (PDF)
Preventive Taking of Evidence to Assess Risks and Chances of Litigation, Froriep Renggli Newsletter, March 2012 (PDF)
Sportrecht (in a nutshell), Zürich 2012 (PDF)
NZZ Interview, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 30. September 2011 (PDF)
Compensation in case of breach of contractaccording to Swiss Law, in: European Sports Law and Policy Bulletin, Issue 1-2011 (PDF)
Sports Law in Switzerland, in: Kluwer Law International, 2011 (PDF)
Swiss Civil Procedure Code (CPC). English Translation of the new Swiss Civil Procedure Code, with an overview of its main features, Zurich/St. Gallen 2010 (PDF)
Fairness over fame, in: The EUROPEAN LAWYER November/December 2009 (PDF)
Sanctions for Anti-Doping Rule Violations in the Revised Version of the World Anti-Doping Code, in: The International Sports Law Journal, 2008/3-4 (PDF)
Swiss Association of Football Players (SAFP), in: SpuRt 3/2003, p. 129 et seq. (PDF)
A Summary of the Pensions Regime in Switzerland and its Interaction with Insolvency, in: Pension Regimes and their Interaction with Insolvency, An International Review, Ed. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, London 2003, p. 34 et seq.
Bundesgesetz über die Freizügigkeit der Anwältinnen und Anwälte, Zürich 2002, Schulthess Polygraphischer Verlag
Dopingfälle – Auswirkungen auf den Arbeitsvertrag, in: Sport und Recht, Oliver Arter/Margareta Baddeley (editors), S. 203-237 (PDF)
Der Gerichtsstand des Erfüllungsortes nach Lugano- und Brüsseler-Übereinkommen, Zürcher Studien zum Verfahrensrecht Band 107, Zürich 1998 (PDF)