A boutique Swiss law firm helping international companies meet Swiss data protection requirements and govern their use of AI. Compliance, representation, and AI policy - handled directly by an IAPP-certified privacy lawyer.
Trusted by international and local companies operating in Switzerland
Companies often discover the differences only when a client asks about their Swiss representative, the Swiss authority gets in touch, or internal use of AI raises new questions around client data and governance.
The revised Federal Act on Data Protection has applied since 1 September 2023. It applies to personal data processing that has effects in Switzerland, including processing carried out abroad. It shares many principles with the GDPR, but its scope and certain compliance requirements differ.
Criminal fines under the FADP can reach CHF 250,000 and are imposed primarily on the natural person responsible for the offense. Compliance can therefore create personal exposure for those responsible, as well as risk for the business.
Employees may already be using AI tools to process contracts, client files, and personal data. In Switzerland, AI governance currently draws on data protection, sector-specific rules, and broader legal obligations rather than a direct equivalent of the EU AI Act.
Article 14 FADP requires certain private controllers based abroad to appoint a representative in Switzerland when all applicable conditions are met. Answer four questions for a first indication of whether the requirement may apply to you.
Indicative only - not legal advice.
Article 14 applies to private controllers with their registered office or domicile abroad.
The requirement concerns processing linked to offering goods or services to, or monitoring the behavior of, individuals in Switzerland.
Both the scale and the regular nature of the processing are relevant. Processing limited to isolated instances would not normally meet these conditions.
The assessment depends on the nature and extent of the processing and the risks it creates for the individuals concerned.
This check provides a first indication based on the cumulative conditions of Article 14 FADP. It does not constitute legal advice or an assessment of your specific situation.
From initial assessment to implementation, we provide focused legal support tailored to your activities in Switzerland.
We assess your activities under Swiss data protection law and put the required compliance framework in place, building on your existing GDPR program where appropriate.
We assess whether Article 14 FADP applies to your activities and, where required, act as your Swiss data protection representative.
We advise on the legal and governance issues arising from your use of AI, from internal tools and shadow AI to customer-facing systems and business use cases.
Founder of Araucaria, Anca advises on data protection, intellectual property, and related digital and AI matters. She holds the IAPP CIPP/E and CIPM certifications and is recommended in the WTR 1000 for trademarks in Switzerland. Before founding Araucaria, she was Senior IP Counsel at Novagraaf, part of the Questel Group.
She teaches intellectual property, data protection, internet law, and AI law at CREA (Omnes Education Group) and regularly delivers professional training and corporate workshops. Her work has been published in WIPO Magazine, The Licensing Journal, The Fashion Law, and other publications.
Clients work directly with Anca throughout their matters, with no layers of junior lawyers or account management.
Doing business is a bit like gambling. We help you keep the gambling to a minimum.
We discuss your activities in Switzerland, the personal data you process, and how AI is currently used across your organization, and identify the key legal and governance issues.
You receive a clear roadmap setting out the legal requirements, proposed scope of work, timeline, and fixed fees.
We prepare the necessary documents, act as your Swiss representative where required, and remain available as your data protection and AI governance needs evolve.
Tell us about your activities in Switzerland and how your organization uses AI. We will reply within 72 hours with an initial assessment of the issues that may require attention.
Your information remains strictly confidential and is processed in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.
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