Dr. iur. Maria Walter Burkhardt, LL.M.

Position
Partner

Expertise
Maria Walter represents clients before state courts, arbitral tribunals and administrative bodies, focusing on corporate, commercial and banking litigation, including FINMA enforcement proceedings

Further business activities
Co-Chair of the Zurich Bar Association Banking Law Practice Group

Professional experience
Admitted to the bar since 2006; law clerk with the District Court of Zurich (2003–2005); associate with Lenz & Staehelin (2006–2007 and 2008–2011); legal counsel with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (enforcement proceedings against banks; 2012); legal counsel with Coutts & Co Ltd (2012); partner with Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG, Zurich, since 2012

Languages
German, English, French

Professional recognition
Chambers, 2023:
"She is really an excellent litigator."

Legal 500, 2022:
"We have been dealing with Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG since 2013 and was always represented in various civil litigation cases by partner Maria Walter. I am very satisfied by the work which Maria Walter has been carrying out for us in all these years. Maria Walter is a very experienced litigator with excellent analytical skills and particularly good at grasping the relevant facts of a case. Besides, her availability is exceptional."

Legal 500, 2021:
"Maria Walter: super detailed, never gives up, will do what’s necessary but not waste time and money."

"Maria Walter is a very experienced litigator. I am impressed by her ability to define the right strategy at an early stage. She has excellent analytical skills and is particularly good at grasping the relevant facts of a case. Maria Walter also successfully represents employees of banks in supervisory enforcement proceedings before FINMA."


Legal 500, 2020
: "The precise and persistent Maria Walter Burkhardt is an excellent litigator in court and regulatory proceedings."

Education

Studies at the University of Zurich (lic. iur., 1998; Dr. iur., 2005); research and teaching assistant with the chair of private and commercial law at the University of Zurich (Prof. H.C. von der Crone, 1999–2001 and 2003); post graduate studies at the Harvard Law School (LL.M., 2008)

Professional affiliations
Zurich Bar Association (ZAV), Swiss Bar Association (SAV), Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)


Publications
  • Walter, Maria: Gedanken zum einstweiligen Rechtsschutz gegen pflichtwidriges Handeln von Verwaltungsräten, SZW 90 (2018), S. 531 - 546
  • Walter, Maria: Ans Gesetz gebunden und doch frei: Wie Richter Urteile fällen, in: Zweifelsfälle, hg. v. Christine Abbt/Oliver Diggelmann, Bern 2007, S. 137 - 153.
  • Walter, Maria: Die Wissenszurechnung im schweizerischen Privatrecht, Bern 2005 (= Abhandlungen zum schweizerischen Recht, Heft 690).
  • von der Crone, Hans Caspar/Walter, Maria: Konzernerklärung und Konzernverantwortung, SZW 73 (2001), S. 53 - 68.

Speaking Engagements
  • "Aktienrechtliche Verantwortlichkeit und statutarische Schiedsklauseln", Symposium in honour of Hans Nater, 11 March 2024, Zurich