Swiss legal French: particular features

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The legal French of Switzerland has particular features that Geneva practitioners know and that their foreign counterparts must learn. Some concern terminology: Swiss law speaks of “prévoyance professionnelle” (occupational pension provision) where France speaks of supplementary retirement schemes, of “raison sociale” for a company’s name, of “registre du commerce” for what France calls the registre du commerce et des sociétés, and of “ayant droit économique” for the beneficial owner. Others concern the structure of institutions: federalism, direct democracy, the division of powers between the Confederation and the cantons, the role of the Federal Supreme Court.

These features reflect the coexistence of three languages in Swiss law and the influence of German-language scholarship. Swiss legal French has often translated concepts first formulated in German, which sometimes gives it a different cast from the legal French of France. Geneva practitioners, who read the texts in both languages, are attentive to these nuances and know how to explain to their French, Belgian or African clients the differences between the legal systems.

This knowledge is a skill specific to the financial centre. A Geneva lawyer is, by training and by practice, a comparatist between Swiss law, French law and the French-speaking legal systems, and often between civil law and the common law. Sought after by clients whose affairs extend across several legal systems, this skill forms part of the linguistic and legal infrastructure that this Part describes.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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Swiss legal French: particular features

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