Swiss Civil Procedure Law in a Nutshell (Volume 9 of 12)
This blog series provides litigators and corporate counsel from other jurisdictions with a practical understanding of the mechanics, advantages, and limits of litigation before State Courts in Switzerland.
No Class Actions
Starting point
On 16 March 2018, the Swiss Parliament adopted the revision of the international insolvency provisions of the Swiss Private International Law Act ("PILA"). Such revision particularly aims at simplifying the recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings in Switzerland which shall lead to a reduction of costs and improved efficiency. The revised PILA is now subject to an optional referendum.
Zu Unrecht erhobene Betreibungen können für Privatpersonen und Gesellschaften zu schweren Konsequenzen führen: Banken z.B. können aufgrund eines Eintrags im Betreibungsregister eine Finanzierung verweigern und Vermieter Personen als potentielle Mieter ablehnen. Mit der geplanten Änderung gewisser Bestimmungen des SchKG will der Bund die Situation für den unrechtmässig Betriebenen endlich erleichtern.
Avoidance Actions – What are they?
Debtors may be tempted to protect assets from access by a possible foreclosure. The avoidance action (also called "Pauliana") gives the bankruptcy administration, and under certain conditions the creditors, the opportunity to challenge such legal acts of the debtor. Upon approval of the actions, the assets will be foreclosed.
Der Basler ZPO-Tag 2017 vom 3. November 2017 (Programm) befasste sich mit aktuellen praktischen Fragen und Neuerungen rund um die verschiedenen zivil-prozessrechtlichen Verfahren und die Vollstreckung. Für Gläubiger wie auch Schuldner sind insbesondere der Wegfall des Gefährdungserfordernisses beim Arrest gestützt auf Urteile sowie neue Tendenzen bei der Verjährungsunterbrechung durch Betreibung von Bedeutung.
The Swiss government presented a draft bill in May 2017 which was approved by the Swiss Council of States in December 2017 with very few amendments. The revised law could be effective as from 1 January 2019 if the Swiss National Council approves the revision this year.
Key changes include:
1. Applicable Law
1.1.1 On 1 January 2011 Switzerland faced the dawn of a new era in litigation. Due to its federal state structure, until this date civil procedural law was regulated on a cantonal level with 26 civil procedure codes. Since 1 January 2011, the Swiss Civil Procedure Code (CPC) replaces the cantonal codes.
1.1.2 Interim measures are mainly governed by the CPC. In order to determine whether provisions other than the CPC are (also) applicable to an interim measure, the applicant has to check two issues: