Patrick Stach
Senior Partner | Dr. iur HSG | attorney-at-law, notary public
Profile
Patrick Stach studied law at the University of St.Gallen and graduated in 1987. He was admitted to the bar in 1989 and in 1991 he received his doctor’s degree.
He is a member of several boards of directors of national and international companies and foundations. Furthermore, he is a member of the management committee of the Euro-American Lawyers Group and former inter alia member of the Board of Governors of the University of St.Gallen (highest body at the University), therein he was inter alia responsible for the Swiss Business Institute of Small Business and Enterpreneurship and the Center for Family Business. Furthermore he was a member of the Board of Directors of Bank ODDO BHF (Schweiz) AG for several years until 2018.
Dr. Stach is the author of several publications on law-related topics in prestigious journals, i.a. Ärztezeitung and Finanz- und Wirtschaft. He further is the author of publications of Art. 707 – Art. 715a Code of Obligations (Board of Directors) in a substantial comment of the Code of Obligations. He also gives regular lectures on corporate, family, and inheritance law.
Practice areas
Patrick Stach acts as a consultant and as a counsel before all state courts an in (international) arbitration proceedings. His key business activities are corporate, commercial, contract law, banking and capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, labour law, construction law and inheritance law. As a notary public, he makes certifications and notarizations on the territory of the Canton of St.Gallen. He is also active as an executor of wills.
Since March 2015, due to his expertise and experience, the SIX Exchange Regulation has recognized Patrick Stach as a qualified representative under Article 43 Listing Rules in the areas equities (including participation certificates and dividend rights certificates), certificates of deposit and collective investments schemes.
Languages
- German
- English
- French
- Italian
- Spanish
Education
- Dr.iur. HSG, University of St.Gallen (1991)
- Bar admission as attorney-at-law and notary public (1989)
- lic.iur. HSG, University of St.Gallen (1987)
Other activities
- Euro-American Lawyers Group (EALG, member of the board)
- Doctoral Alumni Club (DAC) HSG (member of the board)
- Club 2000 – patronage association of TSV St.Otmar men’s Handball
- Member of the University Council of the University of St.Gallen (2014-2020)
- Member of the Board of Directors of Bank ODDO BHF (Switzerland) AG (2013-2018)
Presentations
- Lecture about networking (March 2026, Rotary-Club-Rheintal)
- Lecture about obstacles in startups and afterwards (September 2023, Startup@HSG)
- Lecture about data protection (June 2023, Ärzteverein)
- Lecture about the medicolegal aspect (September 2016, Symposium)
- Lecture on the legal stumbling blocks for physicians (March 2016, Ärzteverein).
- Pleading in court from the lawyer’s perspective (November 20, 2015, University of St. Gallen)
- Domicile Switzerland – Location Advantages for Companies and Individuals (October 18, 2007, Schloss Freudenfels)
- Lecture on the new product liability law (April 11, 1996, Swiss Marketing Club)
- The responsibility of the board of directors under public law
- Succession planning and succession regulation
- The construction lien
- Wills and executors: the testator’s manager?
- Legal Forms of Legal Entities in Switzerland & Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners
- The liability of the teacher
Memberships
- Swiss Lawyers Association
- Chamber of Industry and Commerce St.Gallen Appenzell (IHK)
- Economic Region of St.Gallen (wisg)
- Trade Association of the city of St.Gallen
- HSG Alumni
- HSG Law Alumni
- Club Baur au Lac Zürich
Competences
Contact
Focus
When Employees Want to Join a Competitor: The Non-Compete Covenant
An employee’s move to a competitor can be delicate for a company, particularly where long-standing client relationships, confidential information or specialised know-how are involved. Legally, however, a clear principle applies: after the employment relationship has ended, former employees are in principle free to compete with their former employer. Restrictions are permissible only under certain conditions.
Lugano Convention or PILA: which Law applies to international disputes?
Anyone who enters into a contract with a party domiciled abroad, seeks to enforce a claim, or wishes to enforce a foreign judgment in Switzerland will quickly encounter two sets of rules: the Lugano Convention (LugÜ) and the Swiss Federal Act on Private International Law (PILA).
Both sets of rules address similar questions, but they must be clearly distinguished from one another. Which set of rules applies depends on the specific question at issue and the foreign state with which the matter is connected.
Renewal of Residence and Cross-Border Commuter Permits for Third-Country Nationals
In Switzerland, there is no single, uniform residence permit; rather, there are a number of different permits, each with its own legal basis, period of validity and legal effects. Third-country nationals, i.e. nationals of countries outside the EU/EFTA, who wish to live and work in Switzerland face significantly higher hurdles than citizens of EU/EFTA Member States, who benefit, for example, from facilitated access under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. Since the relevant permits are always issued for a limited period, the question of whether and under what conditions a permit can be renewed inevitably arises.
