Jonas Hertner
ATTORNEY
Jonas Hertner
Jonas Hertner is an independent lawyer based in Zurich and Basel, with more than a decade of experience guiding Swiss and international clients through high-stakes legal disputes, often across multiple jurisdictions. He advises individuals, families, foundations, and companies in navigating complex situations as they work toward achieving their goals. To his clients, he is a trusted advisor and unwavering advocate, committed to excellence in protecting and advancing their long-term interests.
Litigation and mediation
Not every legal dispute is worth taking to court. Often, parties can find a reasonable settlement out of court. To reach a favourable outcome in or out of court, or through mediation, in any legal dispute, it is important to anticipate possible consequences of any step taken as early as possible when a dispute is on the horizon. With more than a decade of top-level litigation experience, Jonas will help you consider not only your own perspective, but also those of the opposing side and any arbiter who may ultimately decide the dispute, allowing you to take the most effective action at each turn on the way to securing your interest.
Families, foundations, and individuals
Jonas has extensive experience advising Switzerland-based and international families and individual clients at the highest level on complex legal situations–including on high-stakes shareholder disputes, important financial litigation, investigations of criminal acts as well as non-litigious situations such as assisting with the building of business ventures, acquisitions of high-value assets, due diligence, good governance, and generational transitions.
Criminal law
Jonas has extensive experience in conducting criminal proceedings through all instances, in particular in the areas of corporate criminal liability, white collar/economic crime, and civil rights.
Constitutional law, civil rights and impact litigation
Jonas is collaborating with parties in Switzerland and internationally to pursue litigation to protect fundamental rights and freedoms, notably in the areas of ecology and new technologies.
Artificial intelligence and large language models
Experienced in the application of AI tools and LLMs in governance and education, Jonas regularly advises on emerging legal issues in this area, including related to technical limitations, privacy and data security, intellectual property rights, and ethical and psychological considerations as well as on their use in corporate governance and decision-making.
Philosophy
«At the heart of my practice is an unwavering dedication to my clients' long-term interests, informed by my extensive experience at the highest level of the profession. I question assumptions and consider every angle to identify the most effective approach, distilling a complex array of factors into actionable advice. Guided by curiosity, excellence, empathy, and a pursuit of fair and just outcomes, I remain focused on what truly matters. In doing so, I help clients navigate complexity, protect their rights, and achieve their goals.»
Biography
Jonas Hertner graduated with honors from the Universities of Lucerne and Geneva. His career has included roles at non-profit organizations, at the Directorate of International Law of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and at the Court of Appeal of Basel-Stadt. Later, he helped establish the Swiss office of the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. In addition to his legal practice, Jonas engages in ventures involving children's education, ecology, and the arts.