Cross-cultural dialogue
Exchange perspectives across legal systems and build relationships grounded in respect.
Connecting Cultures. Creating Value. Advancing Peace Through Law.
SCLA is a Geneva-based nonprofit organisation connecting people across legal traditions and cultures. Through dialogue, education and public-interest cooperation, we help make law more accessible and strengthen the understanding on which fair and peaceful societies depend.
EstablishedFounded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019
United NationsECOSOC special consultative status since 2026
Latest
SwitzerlandFINMA Announces Updated UN Sanctions against ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda
Cross-BorderMauritius Ratifies and Uzbekistan Accedes to the Singapore Convention on Mediation
European UnionESMA Consults on Disclosure Requirements and Updates Prospectus Guidance Following EU Listing Act Reforms
European UnionIrish Data Protection Commission Fines Health Service Executive €645,000 Over Paper Record Security Failings
European UnionCNIL Fines IT Consultancy EXTIA EUR 300,000 for GDPR Erasure Rights Breaches
SwitzerlandSwiss FDPIC Summary: Enforcement Actions, Judicial Rulings, and Legislative Consultations (2025–2026)
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Aligns Belarus Sanctions with EU Measures, Targeting Crypto Assets and Service Providers
Cross-BorderMOFCOM Rejects Reported EU Demand for Voluntary Restrictions on Hybrid Vehicle Exports
ChinaMOFCOM Opposes US Act Authorizing Secondary Tariffs on Third-Country Energy Imports
SwitzerlandFINMA Concludes Enforcement Proceedings Against Julius Bär Over Risk Management and AML Breaches
European UnionESMA Recommends Revisions to MiCA Framework to Enhance Investor Protection and Address Emerging Crypto Services
European UnionEuropean Union Approves the Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships
Law serves people when understanding becomes action
Understanding the law helps people protect their rights, work across borders and find constructive ways through disagreement. We bring legal knowledge and different perspectives together so that cooperation can create lasting public value.
Law connects cultures
Legal traditions reflect different histories, values and ways of life. By learning from one another, legal communities can bridge misunderstandings and build cooperation founded on mutual respect.
Law creates shared value
Fair rules and accessible knowledge help people protect their rights, pursue opportunities and build responsible organisations. We connect professional expertise with the wider needs of society.
Law advances peace
Peace grows through the ability to address differences fairly. We encourage dialogue, mediation and dispute prevention as practical ways to preserve relationships and build trust across borders.
About SCLA
Rooted in Geneva. Open to the world.
Founded in 2019, SCLA grew from legal exchange between Switzerland and China. Today, our purpose connects that foundation with a wider international conversation about access to law, cross-cultural cooperation and the public good.
The Swiss Chinese Law Association is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organisation bringing legal professionals, researchers and civil society into dialogue about law’s role in public life.
Read about SCLA
Our work
Putting knowledge into action
Our work brings legal expertise into conversation with the needs of people, communities and organisations.
Open legal knowledge
Help more people understand changing rules and the questions that affect their rights.
Public-interest collaboration
Connect professional expertise with education, capacity building and community needs.
Mediation and dispute prevention
Explore practical ways to address differences and preserve cooperation.
SCLA Legal Observatory
Understand what is changing and why it matters
Explore legal and policy developments in China, Switzerland and the European Union, with clear explanations, source links and cross-border context.
FINMA Announces Updated UN Sanctions against ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda
Mauritius Ratifies and Uzbekistan Accedes to the Singapore Convention on Mediation
ESMA Consults on Disclosure Requirements and Updates Prospectus Guidance Following EU Listing Act Reforms
Irish Data Protection Commission Fines Health Service Executive €645,000 Over Paper Record Security Failings
CNIL Fines IT Consultancy EXTIA EUR 300,000 for GDPR Erasure Rights Breaches
Swiss FDPIC Summary: Enforcement Actions, Judicial Rulings, and Legislative Consultations (2025–2026)
Switzerland Aligns Belarus Sanctions with EU Measures, Targeting Crypto Assets and Service Providers
MOFCOM Rejects Reported EU Demand for Voluntary Restrictions on Hybrid Vehicle Exports
MOFCOM Opposes US Act Authorizing Secondary Tariffs on Third-Country Energy Imports
FINMA Concludes Enforcement Proceedings Against Julius Bär Over Risk Management and AML Breaches
ESMA Recommends Revisions to MiCA Framework to Enhance Investor Protection and Address Emerging Crypto Services
European Union Approves the Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships
Investment and Business
Market access, bilateral investment, company governance and cross-border transactions.
Trade and Customs
Imports, exports, tariffs, product rules and the movement of goods.
Finance and Payments
Financial regulation, payment systems and the protection of financial consumers.
AI and Data
Artificial intelligence, privacy, data transfers and digital responsibility.
Sustainability and Responsibility
Environmental rules, supply chains and the social responsibilities of business.
Intellectual Property and Culture
Creative work, brands, geographical indications and cultural knowledge.
Dispute Resolution
Mediation, arbitration, court processes and the prevention of disputes.
Everyday Rights
Work, consumer protection and legal questions in daily and cross-border life.
China and Switzerland
Comparative analysis of parallel developments in both jurisdictions.
China and the European Union
Where EU and Chinese rules meet, diverge or create compliance questions.
Switzerland and the European Union
Bilateral arrangements, equivalence and market access questions.
Comparisons
Side-by-side readings of how different systems approach the same problem.
Clarity begins with the source
We identify the jurisdiction, publication date and legal status of the developments we cover. Articles distinguish between proposals, adopted measures and rules in force. Where information changes, we update the article and record material corrections.
What changedWho may be affectedCross-border contextKey datesOfficial sources
Events and dialogue
Different perspectives. A shared space for dialogue.
Join discussions on law, culture and public responsibility. Find opportunities to learn from different experiences and contribute your own.
19Jan 2026
UNCITRAL Colloquium on Digital Payments and Paperless Trade
19 January 2026 – 22 January 2026
25Jun 2026
The CAS in Arbitration Course 2026
25 June 2026 – 12 April 2027
29Sep 2026
Istanbul Arbitration Days 2026
29 September 2026 – 2 October 2026
05Oct 2026
WIPO-IPOM IP Meister Training Program for the Digital Economy
5 October 2026 – 8 October 2026
Public lectures
Accessible introductions to legal questions and their wider social implications.
Professional roundtables
Focused exchanges on cross-border practice, policy and legal developments.
Youth and academic exchange
Conversations that connect emerging professionals, students and researchers.
Public-interest workshops
Practical learning on legal knowledge, organisational responsibility and community needs.
News and impact
The public value of legal expertise
Discover the people, conversations and collaborative efforts that make legal knowledge useful beyond professional circles.
Stay connected to law and its wider impact
Receive selected legal updates, public-interest stories and opportunities to participate in SCLA activities.
Put your knowledge to work for others
Contribute your experience to a discussion, a research project or a public-interest initiative. Help make legal understanding available to more people.