About

Steven Winter

Attorney with a focus on criminal law.

Attorney-at-law MLaw Steven Winter, criminal defence lawyer in Zurich

I represent accused persons, injured parties and affected third parties in criminal, civil and public-law proceedings. In doing so, I advise individuals and companies in conflict-prone situations. My aim is representation that is technically sound, strategically considered and personally conducted.

After studying law at the University of Zurich, I worked as a research assistant at the Chair of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, dealing among other things with questions of asset confiscation and private bribery. Following various internships at courts and in private practice, I worked as a public prosecutor in the Canton of Schaffhausen and conducted criminal investigations.

I then worked as an attorney at Walder Wyss, a leading business law firm in Zurich, before founding my own practice. I teach criminal law regularly at the University of Zurich and serve as an investigating magistrate in the Swiss military justice system with the rank of major. I am admitted to litigate throughout Switzerland.

My approach

For me, direct accessibility matters: I handle mandates personally, not anonymously through changing contacts. I explain legal matters in clear, understandable language and give a realistic assessment of the situation – even when it is uncomfortable. Instead of empty promises, I rely on careful analysis, a sound strategy and open communication about opportunities, risks and costs.

Professional career

2026 – Present
Founding of my own practice Winterlegal, Zurich
Independent practice as an attorney with a focus on criminal defence, white-collar crime, victim and third-party representation, internal investigations and related civil and supervisory proceedings.
2024 – 2026
Attorney at Walder Wyss, Zurich
Work at a leading business law firm focusing on white-collar crime and complex criminal proceedings with civil-law connections.
2016 – Present
Military justice
2016–2018: Court clerk at Military Court 6 (First Lieutenant) · 2018–2022: Investigating magistrate (Captain) · 2023–Present: Division head and investigating magistrate (Major).
2022 – Present
Lecturer in criminal law, University of Zurich
Tutorials in criminal law and criminal procedure.
2020 – 2024
Public prosecutor, Canton of Schaffhausen
Traffic and general division; leading criminal investigations.
2018 – 2020
Legal associate at a law firm, Zurich
Criminal, employment, tenancy, contract and liability law.
2017 – 2018
Court traineeship at the District Court of Zurich
Compulsory measures court, 10th and 1st divisions, labour court, conciliation authority in tenancy and lease matters.
2015 – 2017
Research assistant, University of Zurich
Chair of Prof. Dr. iur. Marc Thommen for criminal law and criminal procedure including business and administrative criminal law.

Education

2021
CAS Forensics, Public Prosecutors' Academy, University of Lucerne
2020
Bar admission, Canton of Zurich
2008 – 2014
Studies in law, University of Zurich (MLaw)
2004 – 2008
Gymnasium Unterstrass, Canton of Zurich

Publications and professional articles

  • Stefanie Mühlebach / Steven Winter, Schweizer Antikorruptionsstrategie 2026–2029: Korruptionsbekämpfung und Compliance-Anforderungen für Unternehmen im Fokus, in: HSLU Economic Crime, 18 May 2026. Online
  • Steven Winter, If it ain't broke, don't fix it – Kritische Gedanken zur «Lex Fifa», in: sui generis, 8 January 2016. Online

Memberships

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