Topics: Lawyer, IT Law, Technology Law, Contract Law, Data Protection Law, University of Zurich, Bär & Karrer, epartners.
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Good day Mr. Vischer, we are delighted that you have made yourself available for an interview. You are a partner at epartners and an expert in IT and Technology Law. Could you please share with us your educational path to becoming a lawyer?
After completing my studies at the University of Zurich , I pursued internships at the Competition Commission in Bern, the law firm VISCHER in Zurich, and the District Court of Uster. I deliberately chose to gain insights into various organizations through different internships rather than rushing through the bar exam, even though I always knew that I wanted to work as a lawyer eventually. I would recommend this approach to everyone. I continue to benefit from the diverse experiences I gained during that time in my daily work.
Following the bar exam, I initially worked at Bär & Karrer , where I primarily focused on competition law and had a very rewarding experience, before joining epartners Attorneys-at-Law.
The legal profession is, for better or worse, a classic office job. Within that context, my daily work is relatively diverse. - Marius Vischer
You are a partner at epartners. Can you describe your typical workday?
The legal profession is, for better or worse, a classic office job. However, within this framework, my daily routine is quite diverse.
Almost every day, I work on drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts. Behind each contract is a business case that needs to be molded into the structure of a contract, which can be quite challenging depending on its complexity and sometimes requires creativity. Because I work both in advisory and litigation roles, I regularly prepare legal documents and participate in court proceedings. Currently, I also conduct regular training sessions and lead workshops related to the revised data protection law.
I spend a significant amount of time in telephone and video conferences. I highly value the close interaction with our clients, some of whom I have been working with since my early days at epartners, and from which friendships have also developed.
The charismatic CEO of my client appeared at the main hearing with a pair of skis under his arm to demonstrate to the court what the parties were actually arguing about. - Marius Vischer
Is there a particular case that stands out in your memory?
At the beginning of my time at epartners Attorneys-at-Law, I had the opportunity to represent a ski brand in an arbitration case. A supplier had made claims against them. The charismatic CEO of my client showed up at the main hearing with a pair of skis under his arm to demonstrate to the court what the parties were actually disputing. After the opposing party's lawyer had initially rejected any settlement discussions before the hearing, the parties were fortunately able to reach an agreement during the main hearing.
However, this case will always be memorable to me not only because of the legal aspect but also because I now have the privilege of skiing on a pair of those skis.
At the moment, the new data protection law and, of course, AI are the major topics of discussion. - Marius Vischer
You are an expert in IT law. What do you particularly appreciate about working in IT and Technology Law?
On the one hand, I certainly appreciate the diversity of legal topics involved. IT and Technology Law is not really a single legal discipline; it intersects with contract law, data protection law, intellectual property law, unfair competition law, telecommunications law, and many others.
On the other hand, I value the fact that it is a field that operates at the cutting edge of time. What was unthinkable a few years ago, such as government agencies and professionals like lawyers and doctors moving their data to the cloud, is now commonplace. Currently, the new data protection law and, of course, AI are the big topics. It remains to be seen where this path will lead.
What motivated you to continue your career at epartners?
I had known about the firm for some time due to its focus on various industries – the firm specializes in the sectors of "IT, Data & Technology," "Industry & Plant Construction," and "Construction & Real Estate." The ambition of epartners is to support our clients in addressing their challenges beyond traditional legal services, leveraging our industry knowledge. epartners deliberately doesn't refer to itself as a boutique because we also handle cross-cutting areas such as employment law and corporate/M&A for our clients.
After my time at the large law firm Bär & Karrer, I was looking for a transition to a smaller business law firm that could offer me opportunities and the chance to continuously specialize.
epartners showed great interest in me at the time – I received a response to my application late in the evening, and by the next morning, just before 7 a.m., I received a phone call to arrange an interview. The interviews went very well, and my instincts felt right.
Suits and ties were abolished long before my time. There are no fixed working hours or requirements for physical presence; everyone decides freely when and from where they work. - Marius Vischer
How does epartners as an employer differ from other law firms?
I would argue that we distinguish ourselves in our values from many other law firms. We are free from any lawyerly arrogance. Suits and ties were abolished long before my time. There are no fixed working hours or requirements for physical presence; everyone decides freely when and from where they work – and this applies not only to the partners.
At the same time, we all have very high performance expectations. We are accessible, responsive, and straightforward. In our core disciplines, we aim to be among the best in Switzerland.
Personally, I also greatly appreciated that from the very first day, my colleagues treated me like an independent lawyer – even though I wasn't one. I was given a tremendous amount of trust and responsibility. This allowed me to handle cases on my own early on, have constant client contact, and gradually take on more and more responsibility.
What advice would you give to young lawyers aspiring to become partners or specialize in IT law?
They should get in touch with me or my partner Alexander Schmid so that we can have discussions about potential positions at epartners. We are always on the lookout for young talents.
Thank you for sharing these insightful perspectives. We wish you continued success!