Katherine Bell

Partner, Schellenberg Wittmer

Katherine Bell is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's dispute resolution group and heads the construction practice in Zurich. Her main areas of practice are domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration. She specialises in the resolution of disputes arising out of complex construction, engineering and infrastructure projects across a variety of industries. She acts as counsel and arbitrator in arbitral proceedings, represents parties in litigation proceedings before Swiss courts, and assists clients in the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts.

Examples of Katherine's expertise in construction matters include: representing a German party in ICC arbitration proceedings against an Eastern European party in a dispute under a series of supply and engineering contracts related to a metals processing plant; representing a multinational company in an ICC arbitration against a shipyard operator in a dispute over a contract regarding the delivery of technical equipment; acting as sole arbitrator in an arbitration under the Swiss Rules between an Austrian and a Turkish company in the field of hydropower technologies in a dispute related to the supply of electromechanical equipment; representing the Swiss subsidiary of an Austrian construction company in litigation proceedings before Swiss courts against a Swiss property developer in a dispute related to a turnkey contract for the construction of a business hotel.

Since 2019, Katherine has been recognised by Who's Who Legal as a Future Leader in Construction as well as in Arbitration, highlighting her "skillful handling of complex construction disputes" and describing her as "brilliant counsel in the field of construction arbitration". In 2021, Katherine was recognised as a Rising Star in Commercial Arbitration by LMG Expert Guides.

Katherine is a lecturer on construction law at the Swiss Educational Centre for Construction (Campus Sursee). She is a member of the editorial board of Construction Law International and regularly publishes in her areas of expertise. She is a member of several professional institutions, including ASA Below 40, YConstruction, IBA International Construction Projects, the Society of Construction Law and ArbitralWomen.