We assist and advise individuals, companies and institutions.

Individually or as a team, we provide legal services based on tradition, ethics and independence, under a personal relationship with our clients. Our practice is focused on criminal, civil and administrative litigation, in both national and international contexts. Having trained in a leading Swiss law firm, our partners have solid expertise in commercial matters, advising companies and institutions.

Team

Ilir Cenko

Partner
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Ilir Cenko

Partner
Admitted 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) Eloquence contest of the International Bars Conference (CIB), Brazzaville 1st laureate - winner of the Francophony award
2007	Eloquence contest Michel Nançoz, organised by the Criminal Committee of the Geneva Bar Association Winner of the second prize
2006/07	Legal trainee, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva
2005/06	Legal trainee, Court of first instance, Geneva
2005	Sworn in as a lawyer Licence en droit (english equivalent MA), University of Geneva
2004/05	Exchange program Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
2003	Certificate in Transnational law, Duke Geneva Institute

Languages

French, English, Albanian, German

Associations

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 Cenko

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

Jonathan Cohen

Partner
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Jonathan Cohen

Partner
Admitted 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, Spanish

Associations

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 Cohen

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

Gilbert Deschamps

Partner
Admitted to the Geneva bar

Gilbert Deschamps

Partner
Admitted 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, English

Associations

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 Deschamps

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

Boris Lachat

Partner
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Boris Lachat

Partner
Admitted 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 CAS in legal professions, University of Geneva (ECAV)
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 Diplôme d’études approfondies (english equivalent CAS) in History, Economics and Society, 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 Lachat

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

Karim Raho

Partner
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Karim Raho

Partner
Admitted 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 1st laureate - winner of the Francophony award Eloquence contest Michel Nançoz, organised by the Criminal Committee of the Geneva Bar Association 1st laureate
2008/10	Legal trainee, Lenz & Staehelin, Geneva
2008	Sworn in as a lawyer Master of Laws (business and litigation), University of Lausanne, Summa cum laude
2006	Bachelor of Laws, University of Lausanne

Languages

French, English

Associations

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

Contact

Karim Raho

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

David Lachat

Counsel
Attorney-at-law

David Lachat

Counsel
Attorney-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 Lachat

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

Laura Frija

Attorney-at-law
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Laura Frija

Attorney-at-law
Admitted 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, Spanish

Associations

Member of the Geneva Bar Association
Member of the Swiss Bar Association

Contact

Laura Frija

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

Charlotte Zihlmann

Attorney-at-law
Admitted to the Geneva Bar

Charlotte Zihlmann

Attorney-at-law
Admitted 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, Spanish

Associations

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 Zihlmann

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

Juliana Ramirez Moya

Legal trainee

Juliana Ramirez Moya

Legal trainee
ramirezmoya@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, Spanish

Associations

Member of the Geneva Bar Association
Member of the Swiss Bar Association

Contact

Juliana Ramirez Moya

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

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

Contact

CDLR Avocats
Rue Saint-Ours 5
CH – 1205 Geneva

+41 22 807 31 10

etude@cdlr.ch