Intérieur du bureau

Deborah Lechtman

Partner

Deborah Lechtman is a founding partner of STUDIO LEGAL. Her core areas are banking and finance law, data protection, commercial and corporate law. She advises Swiss and international individuals and entities, including financial institutions, start-ups, SMEs, holding companies, international groups, foundations, and associations.

She assists and advises on the incorporation of commercial companies and philanthropic entities, as well as all challenges related to entity management and development, corporate governance, and legal and regulatory compliance.

Deborah provides expert advice on data protection (FADP / GDPR) and cybersecurity, guiding companies through (re)compliance processes.

She has solid experience in drafting and reviewing commercial contracts and assists clients in diverse and cross-border commercial transactions. Her advice also extends to intellectual property matters (especially licensing and copyright).

Thanks to her deep expertise in FinTech, blockchain / DLT, cryptocurrencies / digital assets, IT solutions, and AI, she advises innovative projects on legal and regulatory implications and the implementation of business models in a fast-evolving environment.

Deborah regularly speaks at trainings and conferences. She is Moderator of the Data Protection Forum of the Geneva Bar Association (OdA).

Languages
  • French
  • English
  • Hebrew
Education
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP-E) (2021)
  • Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) (2021)
  • Cas Finance and Regulations (CAS FinReg), Universities of Berne and Geneva (2019)
  • Admitted to the Geneva Bar (2014)
  • Certificate of advanced studies in legal professions (ECAV), University of Geneva (2012)
  • Mediation certification (basic), Gome Israeli Center for Mediation (2012)
  • Master of Commercial Law, University of Geneva (2012)
  • Willem C. Cis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (2011-2012)
  • Duke Geneva Institution in Transnational Law (2011)
  • Bachelor of Law, University of Geneva (2010)
Career
  • STUDIO LEGAL, partner (2024)
  • OA LEGAL (formerly OCHSNER & Associés), Partner (2017-2023)
  • LALIVE, lawyer (2014-2017)
  • FRORIEP, trainee lawyer (2012-2013)
Affiliations
  • Geneva Bar Association (OdA)
  • Swiss Bar Association (FSA)
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
  • Crypto Valley Association (CVA)
  • Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Israel
  • Women Jurists Switzerland
  • The French Bar Association’s Data Protection Forum
  • Forum specialized in banking and financial law of the French Bar Association
Publications
  • Le piège de l’écoblanchiment, Point de mire – La Tribune Indépendante des Entrepreneurs de la Finance, co-author, 2022.
  • Digital onboarding of customers – Practical legal issues regarding form requirements, Point de mire – La Tribune Indépendante des Entrepreneurs de la Finance, 2021.
  • L’utilisation de solutions digitales par les GFI – Questions juridiques pratiques, Point de mire – La Tribune Indépendante des Entrepreneurs de la Finance, 2021.
  • IT governance and customer risk management – Practical legal issues, Point de mire – La Tribune Indépendante des Entrepreneurs de la Finance, 2021.
  • L’obligation de “Privacy by design” en Suisse et son implémentation dans les études d’avocats, Revue de l’avocat, FSA, Stämpfli, 10/2020, p. 403.
  • First “Distributed Ledger Technology Guide” on Mondaq, Swiss Chapter, co-author, 2020.
  • White Paper on Security Token Offerings (STO) of the Swiss Crowdfunding Association (SCA), co-author, 2019.
  • Comment sélectionner ses solutions cloud pour la finance, Journal Le Temps, co-author, 2019.
  • Collect and Protect, STEP Journal, vol. 24, n°7, p. 52-54, co-author, 2016.
  • The Art of Lending against Work of Art, Family Office Elite, co-author, 2016.
  • Internet: Laws and Regulatory Regimes, Swiss chapter, 2nd ed, Dennis Cambelle, Juris Publishing, co-author, 2016.
  • The art world must apply itself to the fight against money laundering, tax fraud and terrorism, Notalex – Revue de droit privé et fiscal du patrimoine, series 3, co-author, 2015.
  • Creating a single European database of orphan works, Art Law Foundation Newsletter, n°29, 2015.
Deborah Lechtman