Ten years. It's both a short and a long time. Short, considering the long-term nature of law and institutions. Long, when we remember where we started. A firm that launched in 2016 with a simple conviction: that business law could be practiced differently, by staying close to the economic realities of those we advise.
The initial years were dedicated to building. Building a client base, earning a reputation, learning to say no to certain cases to better focus on others. Very quickly, a choice became clear: not trying to do everything, but concentrating on areas where we could provide real value. Corporate law and transactions, taxation, then digital technologies and digital assets, at a time when few lawyers in French-speaking Switzerland took these subjects seriously. This early bet on blockchain and crypto-assets is part of what sets us apart today.
Next came the development of our Franco-Swiss practice, with a presence in Neuchâtel and Paris. Handling cross-border cases requires mastering two legal cultures, two ways of thinking, and bridging the gap between them for clients who, above all, want to move forward confidently with their projects.
It would be disingenuous to portray these ten years as a flawless trajectory. The business lawyer profession is demanding. High-stakes cases are, by definition, demanding. They involve significant economic interests, often unfold under urgent deadlines, and leave little room for error. Added to this is an ever-changing environment, evolving regulations, increasingly complex taxation, and technologies that demand continuous learning. Staying relevant requires a constant effort to update one's knowledge, and a form of humility – that of recognizing what you don't yet know and actively seeking it out.
But the most profound difficulty is also the simplest. Behind every case, there are people, businesses, sometimes a lifetime's work. The responsibility this entails does not lessen with the years. This is undoubtedly what, at its core, gives meaning to the profession.
If we are still here ten years later, it is thanks to all those who have shaped Leax. Today's team, and all those who have passed through the firm and left their mark. Our clients, who have entrusted us with important decisions and granted us a trust that we value every day. Our partners, with whom we build long-term relationships. This journey is not ours alone.
It is for them, and with them, that we embark on the decade ahead. Our new visual identity and this redesigned website are the first sign of this. The rest will unfold like the first ten years, one case at a time, with dedication and enthusiasm.
