Your Attorneys for
Criminal Law & Cybercrime in Zurich.

An Attorney for Criminal Law will either support you as injured party representative or as representative for your private claim.

As soon as criminal accusations have been raised regarding you, meaning that you have been summond for questioning (Subpoena) or that you have even been arrested, you should retain a Criminal Defence Attorney immediately.

Your first step in retaining us as your legal counsel is usually by seeking a free initial assessment via telephone or email.

If you then decide to enter into a mandate, we will ask you to sign a Power of Attorney, pay a retainer and sign a contract.

Then, we will analyze your case together with you and determine your tailored defense-strategy.

The term public defender means the following situation: If someone is arrested who does not request a specific lawyer, often - at least in cases of necessary defense - the police or the public prosecutor's office appoints a criminal defense lawyer for the arrested person. Lawyers who make themselves available as so-called first-hour lawyers (on-call lawyers) are called up at short notice on the basis of cantonal lists.

In the course of the first interrogation, the on-call lawyer usually applies to be appointed as official defense counsel. An official defense counsel then usually accompanies the accused person throughout the entire criminal proceedings, which may be many months or even years.

There are many very committed and competent lawyers on the cantonal on-call lists. However, we also hear time and again that this is how lawyers come to criminal law mandates who otherwise focus on other areas of law, may have other priorities, limied expertise and therefore cannot always offer the ideal defense.

The lawyers at Bächtold Gallarotti specialize in criminal law. We deal daily and almost exclusively with criminal law, regularly undergo further training and discuss cases internally. We have extensive experience and a corresponding network of specialized lawyers and public prosecutors.

Absolutely. From the very first contact by phone or email.

The attorney-client privilege is protected by law and applies to everyone and for an unlimited period of time. Only you (or our supervisory authority) can release us from this obligation. Even then, we cannot be forced to disclose anything. Please note that correspondence with us (e.g. e-mail) may not be confiscated (sealing), but that e-mail, SMS and telephone are by no means tap-proof.

Most clients don't tell us right from the start what really happened. This is understandable and often not even necessary. We deal with it. We defend you regardless of whether the accusations against you are true or not.

Even and especially those who have committed a criminal offense are entitled to effective defense. This is also provided for by law (see Art. 130 StPO, necessary defense).

Yes, the fact that innocent people are also convicted is the sober reality. Even if you are innocent, a good criminal defense is worthwhile. This can ensure that the criminal proceedings end as quickly as possible with an acquittal or a dismissal of the case and that the inconvenience of the criminal proceedings remain relatively minor. If you are acquitted, you are are entitled to compensation for your defense costs.

Our specialty is Criminal Law and Cybercrime as well as linked areas of law such as insurance law, data protection law and right to protection of personality.

However, our Attorneys also have experience in contract law, tenancy law, labour law and inheritance law. If an issue in one of those areas requires special expertise, we can recommend you to a colleague we trust or sees for specific advice.

Real simple: Just use our free online form to file your appeal.

Further informatioin regarding Penalty Orders and how to appeal them you can find on the following site: "Appeal against a Swiss Penalty Order".

Our standard hourly rate is CHF 300. In very urgent cases or cases with a large sums in disupte, we may adjust our rates accordingly.

We also retain public mandates according to the statutory rates.

Those clients with a thight budget, we support in filing for a public defense counsel or we agree on special reates and installement payments.