Stefan Mbiyavanga, Ph.D. in Law, Attorney at Law
I am an attorney at LENLAW in Bern, where I advise, represent, and defend individuals, companies, and institutions in criminal proceedings and in matters of international mutual legal assistance in criminal cases.
My areas of special expertise include white-collar crime, cross-border criminal proceedings, administrative criminal law, and representing victims. In addition to my work as an attorney, I work part-time as an investigating officer for a criminal justice agency within the federal administration. As a result, I am familiar with criminal proceedings from both a legal and an administrative perspective.
Key Areas
White-Collar Crime Cases and Representation of Victims
A key focus of my legal practice is complex white-collar crime cases. In particular, I represent individuals and institutions that have suffered harm as a result of white-collar crimes, and I assist them in exercising their procedural rights and enforcing their claims.
International Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
I have been involved in international mutual legal assistance for many years, both in practice and in academic research. After completing my studies, I worked for two years in Peru for the Basel Institute on Governance, where I assisted criminal justice and law enforcement authorities with issues related to international white-collar crime law and mutual legal assistance.
In 2022, I obtained a Doctorate in Law (Dr. iur.) from the University of Basel with a dissertation on international mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
Today, I advise and represent clients in cross-border criminal and mutual legal assistance proceedings involving Switzerland.
International and Academic Background
I studied law and international business law at the University of Basel and at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. During my studies, I worked for several years at the Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure under Prof. Mark Pieth.
From 2019 to 2021, I worked as a Legal Specialist for Latin America at the Basel Institute on Governance in Lima, Peru. This was followed by internships at the Federal Criminal Court, the Bern Cantonal Administration, and a law firm in Bern.
In 2025, I was admitted to the Bern Bar and have been practicing law at LENLAW ever since.
Publications and Research
My legal practice is complemented by scholarly work in white-collar crime law, international legal assistance, asset recovery, and money laundering law. A selection of recent publications:
- Capus/Mbiyavanga (2026): The Restitution of Illicitly Acquired Assets: An Analysis of the Swiss Approach —on the Repatriation of Illicitly Acquired Assets and the Possibilities for Asset Recovery Under Swiss Law.
- Capus/Mbiyavanga (2026): The Organizational Deficiency under Art. 102(2) of the Swiss Criminal Code —On Swiss Corporate Criminal Law.
- Capus/Mbiyavanga (2026): The Confiscation of Assets in Cases of Transnational Corporate Bribery —On Confiscation and Restitution in Cross-Border Corruption Cases.
- Capus/Mbiyavanga (2025): Shortcomings in the Supervision of the Swiss Bar Association with Regard to Money Laundering—On Current Issues in Money Laundering Law and Supervision.
A Selection of My Publications
Expert analysis in the media
As part of the undercover investigation “Door Openers to Corruption” by the investigative media outlet REFLEKT, Stefan Mbiyavanga was consulted as an external expert to assess the criminal law implications of selected consulting scenarios. The investigation focused on how Swiss attorneys, trustees, and asset managers handle suspected proceeds of corruption and potential money-laundering schemes.
CV Stefan Mbiyavanga, Dr. iur., Attorney at Law
- 2013–2019: Law studies at the University of Basel and the Chinese University of Hong Kong
- 2015–2019: Assistant, Chair for Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure of Mark Pieth, University of Basel
- 2019–2021: Legal Specialist for Latin America, Basel Institute on Governance
- 2022 Doctorate (Dr. iur.), University of Basel
- 2022–2024: Internships at the Federal Criminal Court, the Bern Cantonal Administration, and a medium-sized Bern law firm
- 2025 Admission as an attorney at law in Bern
- since 2025 Inquiry Officer at a criminal law service within the Federal Administration (part-time)
- since 2025 Attorney-at-Law at LENLAW
Languages
German, English, Spanish, French, Chinese (Basics)