Archipel advises international corporations, foreign governments, and court-appointed liquidators in complex white-collar crime matters, with a particular focus on representing victims of fraud.
The firm is currently involved in several high-profile criminal proceedings in Switzerland (see work highlights below), and is particularly well-known for its successful representation of 1MDB in a landmark 2024 trial. This case resulted in the highest award ever granted by Swiss criminal or civil courts—excluding arbitral awards—marking a milestone in Swiss legal history.
Archipel is regularly instructed in international fraud and corruption cases, with specific expertise in matters involving cryptoassets. The firm frequently provides expert opinions on the criminal liability of actors in the crypto ecosystem, including issues related to centralized exchanges. Archipel also assists in the tracing and recovery of stolen or concealed digital assets and is likely the only Swiss law firm with hands-on experience in DeFi-related cryptocurrency fraud schemes.
Many of the firm’s cases regularly attract significant media attention due to their scale, cross-border nature, and impact. Archipel is known for handling cases at the intersection of financial crime, regulatory enforcement, and international asset recovery.
