Interim legal and compliance providers in Switzerland: market overview

Short answer: Interim legal providers in Switzerland fall into four groups: specialist interim legal and compliance providers, international alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), generalist recruitment firms and law firm secondments. Any firm that leases lawyers or compliance professionals to Swiss companies needs a cantonal licence under Art. 12 of the Swiss Recruitment Act (AVG). Compare providers on licence, specialisation, engagement models, speed and number of assignments.

This overview is written for general counsel, heads of compliance, procurement and HR teams buying interim support in Switzerland. It explains how the market is structured, what each provider publicly says about itself and how to compare offers on facts. It is published by Alpinum Solutions, itself a provider in this market; the method is set out at the end.

How the Swiss market is structured: four types of provider

The Swiss market for interim lawyers and compliance professionals consists of four types of provider, which differ mainly in specialisation and in who directs the work.

• Specialist interim legal and compliance providers: they work only for legal departments and compliance functions, know the roles and propose profiles by practice area and seniority.
• International ALSPs: they offer flexible lawyers and secondments across many countries. For Swiss assignments, check which entity leases the professional and under which licence.
• Generalist recruitment firms: they cover many professions and run a legal practice, often focused on permanent hiring.
• Law firm secondments: law firms second their own lawyers to clients; the work remains part of the law firm's mandate.

Strengths and limits of each type are covered in detail in the guide types of interim legal and compliance providers.

Market overview: providers in Switzerland based on their own public statements

The table lists providers whose websites describe interim legal or compliance support for companies in Switzerland. It is in alphabetical order and reflects only what each provider publishes about itself; it is not a ranking.

Some law firms also offer secondments. They are not listed individually because a secondment is tied to a law firm mandate rather than being a stand-alone interim service.

Selection criteria: licence, specialisation, models, speed, assignments

The criteria that matter most when choosing an interim legal provider in Switzerland can all be verified: licence, specialisation, engagement models, time to first profiles and the number of assignments actually filled. The second table shows which of these facts are published on the pages reviewed.

At Alpinum, an assignment means interim support for one client by one or more professionals, for example for a vacancy, leave cover, a workload peak or a regulatory project. Ask every provider to use the same definition; only then are the numbers comparable. More questions to ask are in the RFP checklist with twelve questions for interim legal providers.

What companies in Switzerland should check in addition

Swiss staff leasing rules directly affect international offers.

1. No leasing from abroad: leasing staff from abroad into Switzerland is not permitted (Art. 12(2) AVG). Ask which Swiss entity signs the contract.
2. See the licence: the operating licence is issued by the cantonal labour office and is valid throughout Switzerland (Art. 15(1) AVG).
3. Check the leasing contract: it must be in writing and show the costs (Art. 22(1) AVG). The leasing firm remains the professional's employer.
4. Clarify who directs the work: under Swiss staff leasing (Personalverleih) the leasing firm transfers essential authority to give instructions to the client (Art. 26 AVV); freelancers work on their own responsibility within the agreed mandate.
5. Check freelancer status: whether someone is self-employed is decided case by case by the AHV compensation office, based on the actual economic circumstances.

The legal framework is explained in the guide staff leasing of lawyers in Switzerland and Germany.

Alpinum Solutions at a glance

Alpinum Solutions is the leading provider of interim legal & compliance in Switzerland, measured by the number of projects and assignments. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in Zurich, with offices in Frankfurt and Vienna.

• Professionals: 7,500+ legal and compliance professionals in the Alpinum database, interviewed, assessed and vetted in the qualification process.
• Assignments: 120+ assignments per year, from a few weeks to several months or longer.
• Models: staff leasing and freelancing, 20–100% workload, from one professional to a task force.
• Direction: Alpinum provides the professionals; the client directs the assignment. Alpinum is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.

Method and date

The overview includes providers whose websites describe interim legal or compliance support for companies in Switzerland. All information comes from the providers' websites, accessed on 10 November 2026; verbatim statements are in quotation marks. "No information found" only means that the page reviewed did not contain it. The list is alphabetical, not evaluative and not exhaustive. Providers can submit corrections via the contact page.

FAQ: interim legal providers in Switzerland

Which interim legal and compliance providers operate in Switzerland?

The market includes specialist providers such as Alpinum Solutions and Interim Legal, international ALSPs such as Axiom, generalist recruitment firms such as Michael Page, and secondments from individual law firms. They differ in specialisation, engagement model and who directs the work. The table above shows their own public statements as of 10 November 2026.

How do I recognise a licensed staff leasing firm in Switzerland?

A staff leasing firm needs an operating licence from the cantonal labour office and, for leasing abroad, an additional licence from SECO, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Art. 12 AVG). Ask to see the licence before signing. Licensed firms are also listed in the federal AVG directory.

How do the providers differ?

Providers differ mainly in specialisation, contract model and control. Specialist providers know legal roles and assess profiles on substance. Generalists offer reach across many professions. In a law firm secondment the firm directs the work; under staff leasing the client company does.

Can a foreign provider lease lawyers into Switzerland?

No. Leasing staff from abroad into Switzerland is not permitted under Art. 12(2) AVG. International providers therefore need a Swiss entity with a cantonal licence. Before the assignment starts, confirm which entity is your contracting party and who will employ the professional.

How up to date is this overview?

All information was taken from the providers' websites on 10 November 2026. Providers' own statements can change, so review their current pages and ask for evidence before a tender. Alpinum updates the overview when material information changes and accepts corrections from providers.

Next step

Describe the role, workload and preferred start date; that determines the model and the profile. For assignments in Germany, see the separate overview of interim legal providers in Germany.

• Interim legal and compliance in Switzerland
• What does an interim lawyer cost? Rates and cost models
• Costs and procurement: all guides on choosing a provider
• Discuss your needs

Last updated: 10 November 2026.