The Canton of Zurich is set to establish an International Commercial Court. On October 19, 2026, the Cantonal Parliament voted 122 to 45 in favour of the proposal. The bill requires a final vote, which is expected within weeks and is anticipated to be a formality given the clear majority in the Cantonal Parliament.

Key Facts

The Zurich International Commercial Court will form part of the existing Commercial Court (Handelsgericht) at the Zurich Court of Appeal (Obergericht). Proceedings will be conducted in English, making the court directly accessible to international parties without the need for translation.

Legal Background

Zurich first pursued this idea in 2019, but the necessary federal legal basis was then lacking. Following the revision of the Swiss Civil Procedure Code, in force since 1 January 2025, cantons may now designate their commercial courts as competent for international disputes. The International Commercial Court will therefore form part of the existing Commercial Court, which, pursuant to the Swiss Civil Procedure Code, sits as the sole cantonal instance for commercial disputes involving business activities with a value in dispute of at least CHF 100,000.

Practical Implications

The Zurich International Commercial Court may be of interest when negotiating governing law and dispute resolution clauses in international contracts. It will be available for international commercial disputes where all parties agree to the jurisdiction of the International Commercial Court and to English-language proceedings. The Zurich Commercial Court is widely known for conducting its proceedings very efficiently; it typically holds settlement hearings about six months after a lawsuit is filed and is able to settle approximately 70% of cases amicably in this manner. This could also make the court an attractive venue for international parties.