National rules of professional conduct (SSR)

Swiss Code of Deontology (SCD)

Schweizerische Standesregeln (SSR)

A new Swiss Code of Deontology (SCD) was adopted at the Assembly of Delegates of the Swiss Bar Association on 9 June 2023 and will enter into force on 1 July 2023. The new SCD is based on a preliminary draft that was prepared, in numerous meetings, by an expert group appointed by the Swiss Bar Association. Such expert group includes Georg Rauber, Zurich (chair); François Bohnet, Neuchâtel (co-chair); Vincenzo Amberg, Bern; Christian Reiser, Geneva; Ernst Staehelin, Basel; Patrick Sutter, Schwyz. The preliminary draft was presented to, and discussed at, the Conference of Presidents of the cantonal bar associations on 5 April 2022. Subsequently, it was submitted to the cantonal bar associations for consultation. The results of the consultation were discussed at the Conference of Presidents on 11 November 2022. Based on the the inputs received, an amended draft SCD was presented to the Conference of Presidents on 28 March 2023. Such amended draft received the unanimous approval of the cantonal bar associations at this meeting.

The pertinent text in German, French and Italian languages will be available in English translation. An accompanying publication (practitioner commentary) commenting the provisions of the new SCD, including also references to the pertinent case law primarily of the Federal Supreme Court and legal literature, is in progress, so that practitioners will have access to the essential legal sources. Such work will be completed in the course of next year and published in an appropriate form.