Sandrine Giroud

LALIVE

Geneva www.lalive.law

sgiroud@lalive.law Tel: +41 58 105 2000

Biography

Sandrine specialises in domestic and international litigation. She advises and represents companies on compliance procedures and internal investigations. Her experience in the management of particularly sensitive matters allows her to tackle not only legal but also strategic aspects such as reputation and media. She is also recognised for her expertise in art law, public international law and human rights. Sandrine is a member of various professional bodies and organisations in the field of human rights and art.

A strong sense of justice and the willingness to help those in need.

What did you find most challenging about entering criminal law?

The confrontation with the judicial machinery and the weight of procedure which give a more prosaic perspective of the otherwise romantic idea of justice you have during your studies. Criminal law requires tactical skills to work out the system and ensure your client’s voice is being heard.

How has the market changed since you first started practising?

While traditionally a more domestic market, the world of investigations and criminal law is now more international than ever. Besides, the traditional issues such as antibribery and corruption, financial services misconduct and fraud or money laundering have become more sophisticated. Also, new schemes such as ESG litigation and investigation have emerged as a result of global developments and climate change.

To what extent has cryptocurrency posed new challenges for business crime defence lawyers?

Cryptocurrency has raised two sorts of issues: firstly, it requires a technical understanding of how cryptocurrencies work, thus more learning for lawyers. Secondly, the technology complicates the tracking of assets – and authorities are often behind the curve in keeping up with investigations involving cryptos. If you could implement one reform to the way business crime defence is legislated in Switzerland, what would it be and why?

Adjust corporate criminal liability sanctions to the reality of the market to really incentivise companies to anticipate and remediate potential deficiencies, which could lead to criminal offences.

How does your multilingualism strengthen your practice, especially in multijurisdictional investigations?

Being able to speak and understand other languages helps you rethink your communication, to ensure your message is well understood by all and not only by reference to your own language. This ensures that objectives are clearly identified and agreed by all, which improves efficiency.

As a partner at LALIVE, what are your main priorities for the firm’s development in the next couple of years?

My main priority is investing in our team, identifying and attracting talent, inspiring passion for our profession and providing our team with the best means – among others logistical tools and soft skills – to serve our clients and exceed their expectations.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Try and ask! You’ll be surprised how many times you’ll get a yes.

Peers and clients say: “Sandrine is an excellent adviser” “She is tough and extremely smart” “She is very shrewd at assessing legal risks and is a fantastic tactician”