We assist and advise individuals, companies and institutions.
Team

Ilir Cenko
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Ilir Cenko
PartnerAdmitted to the Geneva Bar
cenko@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2019 |
Member of the Criminal Committee of the Geneva Bar association |
---|---|
Since 2012 |
Partner, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
Since 2011 |
Teaching assistant, University of Geneva (CAS in legal professions ECAV) |
2008/11 |
Attorney-at-law, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva |
2008 |
Admission to the bar (2nd laureate ex æquo at the bar exam) |
2007 |
Eloquence contest Michel Nançoz, organised by the Criminal Committee of the Geneva Bar Association |
2006/07 |
Legal trainee, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva |
2005/06 |
Legal trainee, Court of first instance, Geneva |
2005 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2004/05 |
Exchange program Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin |
2003 |
Certificate in Transnational law, Duke Geneva Institute |
Languages
French, English, Albanian, GermanAssociations
- Member of the Geneva Bar association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
Areas of practice
Advising, legal representation and defense in the following areas of law:
- Criminal and white collar crime
- Construction
- Contracts (tenancy, work and services, mandate, employment, etc.)
- Banking litigation
- Debt collection and insolvency
Publications
- Le projet d’art. 147a CPP: vers une érosion inadmissible du droit de se défendre, Revue de l’avocat 2020, p. 323ss (co-author)
Speaking engagements
31 October 2020 - Geneva Bar Association
“Continuing education marathon: Topic nr 32 - Criminal Law”
9 November 2019 - Geneva Bar Association
“Continuing education marathon: Topic nr 32 - Criminal Law”
10 November 2018 - Geneva Bar Association
“Continuing education marathon: Topic nr 32 - Criminal Law”
Since 2017 - Geneva Bar Association
Co-founder of the monthly “Workshops in criminal proceedings” (continuing education for the members of the Geneva Bar Association):
- The arrest: The defense lawyer’s added value during the first steps of the investigation
- The right to remain silent: Fundamental guarantee, advisability, use and consequences
- The detention before trial, from arrest to deportation: practical thoughts
- The defense lawyer’s role during the preliminary proceedings
- The parties’ right to participate in the taking of evidence according the section 147 SCPC: Legal principles and practice of the Geneva criminal authorities
- The special proceedings: Simplified proceedings, penal order and proceedings in the absence of the accused
- The trial hearing
- The defense lawyer’s added value after the sentence enters into force: The enforcement of custodial sentences and measures
- The relationship between defense lawyer and magistrates and other participants in the criminal proceedings: Rules, usances and the interests of the accused
23 January 2017 - Geneva Bar Association
“The parties right to participate in the taking of evidence pursuant to section 147 SCPC: The related case law and its reception in the practice of the Geneva criminal authorities”
Contact
Ilir CenkoCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

Jonathan Cohen
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Jonathan Cohen
PartnerAdmitted to the Geneva Bar
Deputy Judge at the Juvenile Court of Geneva
cohen@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2020 |
Deputy Judge, Juvenile Court, Geneva |
---|---|
Since 2016 |
Partner, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
2016 |
Admission to the bar (2nd laureate ex æquo at the bar exam) |
2014/15 |
Legal trainee, CDL Avocats, Geneva |
2014 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2014 |
Paralegal, Patocchi & Marzolini, Geneva |
2013 |
CAS in legal professions, University of Geneva (ECAV) |
2012/13 |
Paralegal, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva |
2011/12 |
LL.M., King’s College, London |
2010/12 |
Master of Laws (with a focus on sports law), University of Neuchâtel |
2007/10 |
Bachelor of Laws, University of Geneva |
Languages
French, English, German, SpanishAssociations
- Member of the Geneva Bar Association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
Areas of practice
Advising, legal representation and defense in the following areas of law:
- Criminal and white collar crime
- Juvenile criminal
- Contract (tenancy, work and services, mandate, employment, etc.)
- Family and adult protection
- Sports
- Road traffic
- Debt collection and insolvency
- Administrative litigation
Publications
- Le caractère impératif de l’art. 87 al. 3 CPP et ses implications pratiques dans la procédure de l’ordonnance pénale, Revue de l’avocat 2018, p. 349 (co-author)
- The Swiss International Arbitration Law Reports 2010 (Vol. 4), Juris, 2013 (assistant editor)
Speaking engagements
31 October 2020 - Geneva Bar Association
“Continuing education marathon: Topic nr. 35 – Juvenile criminal Law”
Contact
Jonathan CohenCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

Gilbert Deschamps
Admitted to the Geneva bar

Gilbert Deschamps
PartnerAdmitted to the Geneva bar
deschamps@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2012 |
Partner, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
---|---|
2011 |
Self-employed attorney-at-law, Geneva |
2009/10 |
Attorney-at-law, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva |
2006/08 |
Legal trainee, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva |
2006 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2002/06 |
Licence en droit (english equivalent MA), University of Geneva |
Languages
French, EnglishAssociations
- Member of the Geneva bar association
- Member of the Swiss bar association
Areas of practice
Advising, legal representation and defense in the following areas of law:
- Criminal
- Persons and family
- Inheritance
- Contract (tenancy, employment, work and services, mandate, etc.)
- Debt collection
- Immigration
- Social insurances
- Administrative
Contact
Gilbert DeschampsCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

Boris Lachat
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Boris Lachat
PartnerAdmitted to the Geneva Bar
Deputy Judge at the Criminal Court of Geneva
lachat@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2015 |
Deputy Judge, Criminal Court, Geneva |
---|---|
2013-2015 |
Assessor Judge, Tenancy Court of first instance, Geneva |
Since 2013 |
Partner, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
2012/13 |
Judge’s assistant, Labour Court of first instance, Geneva |
2011/12 |
Lawyer, Chirazi & Corminboeuf Harari Law firm, Geneva |
2011 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2009/10 |
Legal trainee, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva |
2009 |
Master of Laws, University of Geneva |
2008/09 |
Legal trainee, Court of appeal, Geneva |
2007/08 |
Assistant with the Department of History, Economics and Society, University of Geneva |
2005/08 |
Bachelor of laws, University of Geneva |
2000/04 |
Licence (english equivalent MA) in History, Economics and Society with minor in Political science, University of Geneva |
Associations
- Member of the Progressive Lawyers Association (former member of the Committee)
- Member of the Geneva Bar Association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
- Active member of several political, social and sports associations
Areas of practice
Advising, legal representation and defense in the following areas of law:
- Tenancy, real estate and construction
- Contract
- Criminal (including white collar crime and juvenile)
- Persons
Publications
- Procédure civile en matière de baux et loyers, édition 2019 (co-author with David Lachat)
Speaking engagements
2/16 October 2020
La restitution des locaux et le locataire absent, in 21e Séminaire sur le droit du bail de Neuchâtel
10 November 2018 - Geneva Bar Association
“Continuing education marathon: Topic nr. 35 – Juvenile criminal Law”
Contact
Boris LachatCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

Karim Raho
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Karim Raho
PartnerAdmitted to the Geneva Bar
Lecturer at the University of Geneva
Member of the Criminal Committee of the Geneva Bar association
raho@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2021 |
Partner, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
---|---|
Since 2019 |
Member of the Criminal Committee of the Geneva Bar association |
Since 2013 |
Lecturer, University of Geneva (CAS in legal professions ECAV) |
2013/21 |
Founding partner, O&R Avocats, Geneva |
Since 2011 |
Law teacher, Capacity in Laws Association, Geneva |
2010/12 |
Attorney-at-law, Raho Avocats, Geneva |
2010 |
Admission to the bar |
2009 |
Paris-Montreal Francophony award, eloquence contest organised by the Paris bar and the Montreal bar associations |
2008/10 |
Legal trainee, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva |
2008 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2006 |
Bachelor of Laws, University of Lausanne |
Languages
French, EnglishAssociations
- Member of the Geneva Bar association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
- Member of the Swiss Society of Criminal Law
Areas of practice
Advising, legal representation and defense in the following areas of law:
- White collar crime and complex matters
- Criminal, criminal juvenile and support to victims of crime
- Commercial and civil litigation
- Contract (labour, construction, services, etc.)
- Civil liability (tort)
Speaking engagements
Since 2017 - Geneva Bar Association
Co-founder of the monthly “Workshops in criminal proceedings” (continuing education for the members of the Geneva Bar Association):
- The arrest: The defense lawyer’s added value during the first steps of the investigation
- The right to remain silent: Fundamental guarantee, advisability, use and consequences
- The detention before trial, from arrest to deportation: practical thoughts
- The defense lawyer’s role during the preliminary proceedings
- The parties’ right to participate in the taking of evidence according the section 147 SCPC: Legal principles and practice of the Geneva criminal authorities
- The special proceedings: Simplified proceedings, penal order and proceedings in the absence of the accused
- The trial hearing
- The defense lawyer’s added value after the sentence enters into force: The enforcement of custodial sentences and measures
- The relationship between defense lawyer and magistrates and other participants in the criminal proceedings: Rules, usances and the interests of the accused
23 January 2017 - Geneva Bar Association
“The parties right to participate in the taking of evidence pursuant to section 147 SCPC: The related case law and its reception in the practice of the Geneva criminal authorities”
Contact
Karim RahoCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

David Lachat
Attorney-at-law

David Lachat
CounselAttorney-at-law
david@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2015 |
Counsel, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
---|---|
Between 1975 and 2014 |
David Lachat practiced in various law firms and courts, among which LHA Avocats or the Geneva Court of Appeal. He is the author of many benchmark scholars or scholarly publications, mainly in tenancy law. He has held several political positions, one of which was with the Parliament (Grand Conseil) of Geneva. |
Associations
- Member of the Geneva Bar Association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
- Active member of several cultural and social associations and institutions
Areas of practice
Advising in the following areas of law:
- Tenancy and real estate
- Contract
- Administrative
Publications
- Le bail à loyer, in Commentaire romand CO I, 3e éd. 2021 (co-author)
- Le bail au temps du Coronavirus, in SJ II 2020 p. 111ss et in MP 2 2020 p. 99ss (co-author)
- Le bail à loyer, édition 2019 (co-author)
- Procédure civile en matière de baux et loyers, édition 2019 (co-author)
Contact
David LachatCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

Laura Frija
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Laura Frija
Attorney-at-lawAdmitted to the Geneva Bar
frija@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2020 |
Associate, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
---|---|
2019 |
Admission to the bar (1st laureate ex æquo at the bar exam) |
2018/19 |
Legal trainee, CDL Avocats, Geneva |
2018 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2017 |
CAS in legal professions, University of Geneva (ECAV) |
2016 |
René Cassin Moot Court Competition (half-finalist) |
2015/16 |
Bilingual Master of Laws (civil and penal law), Universities of Basel and Geneva |
2012/15 |
Bachelor of Laws, University of Geneva |
Languages
French, English, SpanishAssociations
- Member of the Geneva Bar Association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
Contact
Laura FrijaCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

Charlotte Zihlmann
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Charlotte Zihlmann
Attorney-at-lawAdmitted to the Geneva Bar
zihlmann@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Dès 2021 |
Associate, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
---|---|
2021 |
Law Clerk, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Geneva |
2020 |
Admission to the bar |
2019/20 |
Legal trainee, Keppeler Avocats, Geneva |
2018/19 |
Legal trainee, Criminal Court, Geneva |
2018 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2017/18 |
Teaching and research assistant, Department of Public Law, University of Geneva |
2017 |
CAS in legal professions, University of Geneva (ECAV) |
2015/18 |
Assessor Judge, Tenancy Court, Geneva |
2014/17 |
Lawyer, Centre social protestant, Geneva |
2013/15 |
Substitute Law Teacher, Nicolas-Bouvier Business School, Geneva |
2012/14 |
Master in International and European Law, University of Geneva |
2009/12 |
Bachelor of Laws, University of Geneva |
Languages
French, English, SpanishAssociations
- Member of the Geneva Bar Association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
Publications
Asile: lacunes dans la protection des victimes de traite des êtres humains, Plaidoyer 05/2018, pp. 22-27 (author)
Contact
Charlotte ZihlmannCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

Juliana Ramirez Moya

Juliana Ramirez Moya
Legal traineeramirezmoya@cdlr.ch
Education and professional experience
Since 2021 |
Legal trainee, CDLR Avocats, Geneva |
---|---|
Since 2020 |
Legal trainee, O&R Avocats, Geneva |
2020 |
Sworn in as a lawyer |
2019 |
File Manager, Public Prosecutor’s Office of the district of La Côte |
2018/20 |
Master of Laws (legal professions), University of Lausanne |
2018 |
CAS in legal professions, University of Geneva (ECAV) |
2013/17 |
Bachelor of Laws, University of Geneva |
Languages
French, English, SpanishAssociations
- Member of the Geneva Bar Association
- Member of the Swiss Bar Association
Contact
Juliana Ramirez MoyaCDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva
Areas of practice
Founded in 2012, CDLR Avocats has developed widely recognised expertise in many areas of practice, such as criminal defense, administrative and civil litigation, including real estate, employment and family matters, as well as advising companies and public institutions.
- Contract law (tenancy, labour, real estate, construction, etc.) and civil liability (tort)
- Criminal law and white collar crime
- Civil law (family law, guardianship)
- Administrative law
- Banking law
- Road traffic law
- Immigration law
- Debt Collection law
- Insurance law