Petra Rihar
Partner, RIHAR & THOUVENIN DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Dr. Petra Rihar is a Swiss-Slovenian arbitration practitioner with a strong focus on work as an arbitrator. With over two decades of experience, Petra has acted as counsel, arbitrator and legal expert in numerous institutional and ad hoc arbitrations under various procedural rules and governing laws. Petra’s arbitration expertise covers a wide range of industries and contracts, including disputes relating to foreign investment in state-owned infrastructure. Her working languages are German, English, Slovenian, Croatian and Serbian.
Prior to founding her own law practice in 2013, Petra gained professional experience at leading international law firms in Zurich and London. Petra’s prior working experience includes: Senior Associate, Schellenberg Wittmer, Zurich, Dispute Resolution Group (2009 - 2012); Senior Associate, WilmerHale, London, International Arbitration Practice Group (2008 - 2009); Associate, Wenger Vieli, Zurich (2006 - 2008); Legal Counsel, The Thomson Corporation, Zug (now Thomson Reuters) (2004 - 2005); Law clerk, the District Court of Zurich and Teaching Assistant, corporate, banking and securities law, the University of Zurich School of Law (2001 - 2003).
Petra’s education includes: Columbia Law School, New York (LL.M. 2006); University of Lucerne School of Law (Dr. iur., magna cum laude, 2006); Bar admission (registration at all Swiss courts, 2004); University of Zurich School of Law (lic. iur., magna cum laude, 2000).
Petra has authored and co-authored various articles on arbitration topics published in the ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, the Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration, the Kluwer Arbitration Blog, LexisNexis and Practical Law Arbitration, including: Shareholder Disputes Arising From Shareholders’ Agreements, Protection of Minority Shareholders in Multiparty Proceedings Through Emergency Measures and Joinder – Case Study, Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration 2023, p. 190 et seqq., Scope and Interpretation of Arbitration Agreements under Swiss Law, ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin 2021, Issue 2 (June 2021), p. 55 et seqq., and numerous yearly reviews of the decisions of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court on the Kluwer Arbitration Blog.
Jurisdiction: Switzerland; Slovenia