Avocat-etranger (Maître Matthieu Genillod)

A multidisciplinary firm centered on immigration law and foreigners' rights

Avocat-etranger is a Lausanne-based immigration law practice (Étude ALPHALEX AVOCATS SA) founded and led by Maître Matthieu Genillod. The firm specializes in droit des étrangers (foreigners' law), addressing the complexity arrivals face in establishing themselves in Switzerland. The site frames the challenge directly: despite globalization, establishing or working in Switzerland has become increasingly complicated, and navigating an "administrative and politically restrictive environment" to assert your rights as a foreigner requires experienced counsel.

Maître Genillod studied law at universities in Lausanne, St. Gallen, and Geneva, and holds an MBA in Business Law. His background includes a role in the legal department of a major media group, giving him corporate and employment context alongside immigration expertise. He has conducted multiple cases successfully through to the federal court (Tribunal fédéral), and is a member of the Vaud bar association and the Swiss bar federation.

The firm operates as a collaborative practice. Alongside Maître Genillod, the team includes Maître Mathias Micsiz, Maître Stéphanie Zaganescu, Maître Dévi-Victoria Dupuis, Maître David Trajilovic, Maître Louis Dudenhoeffer, and Maître Maëva Jeanrenaud, all licensed to practice in the canton of Vaud and registered with both the Vaud bar (OAV) and the Swiss federation (FSA). Two additional lawyers, Maxence Bellina and Loïc Blanc, work as trainees. The firm also maintains a network of specialists (other law firms, experts, accounting firms, tax consultants, relocation services, physicians) to support complex cases.

For someone arriving to work or establish residency

Avocat-etranger positions immigration as essential for "daily life and can impact the future of individuals or businesses". For an arrival, the firm handles the core permits: B permits (temporary residence for work or other purposes), C permits (permanent settlement), and the pathways between them.

Specifically, the firm advises on "establishment in Switzerland" (question d'établissement), the foundational legal question every arrival faces. It covers the work permit framework (permis de travail) and how employment law and immigration intersect, a dimension many consultancies may not explore. The firm also handles "residence conditions" (conditions de séjour), the practical rules you must follow to keep your status.

For someone bringing family, the firm advises on "family reunification" (regroupement familial), including sponsoring a spouse, children, or dependent relatives. It also handles marriage and civil union matters when the non-Swiss spouse has immigration implications.

For an established resident, the firm handles "naturalization" (naturalisation), the pathway to Swiss citizenship. The site also references support for "special situations" without full detail, including asylum and protection questions.

How the firm works

The site emphasizes that engaging an immigration lawyer early, before a "breaking situation" or refusal, can save time and money. This implies the firm works preventatively: if you are planning to arrive or your status might be at risk, a consultation before action is the firm's recommendation.

The firm represents clients before multiple levels of authority. It advises before and negotiates with "municipal administrations, cantonal services (service of population, SPOP) and federal services" (State Secretariat for Migration, SEM). It also appears in specialized courts: the cantonal administrative court (Tribunal cantonal CDAP) and the federal courts (Tribunal administratif fédéral and Tribunal fédéral).

The firm's multidisciplinary approach is explicit. Maître Genillod has employment and business law training, and the site states the firm "advocates a personalized, global, and multidisciplinary approach" to immigration issues. This means if your residency question involves a contract dispute or a business question, the firm has tools beyond immigration law.

The firm maintains offices in Lausanne (Avenue du Tribunal-Fédéral 1), Vevey (Avenue de la Gare 23-25), and Morges (Grand-Rue 19), all in the Vaud region. Consultations take place "every day of the week" at the Lausanne office, with remote options available. Phone contact is 021 512 44 48.

What the site does not settle

The site does not publish any fees, hourly rates, or pricing structure. Understanding the cost of engaging Avocat-etranger requires a direct call or consultation request. The firm also does not indicate typical case duration, success rates, or what documents or information a client should prepare.

The site does not distinguish between immigration-only advice and multidisciplinary cases. If you are navigating both a work contract negotiation and a permit application, does the firm handle both in one engagement, or do you pay separately for each dimension? That boundary is not clarified.

The firm also does not describe its approach to urgent or time-sensitive arrivals. If you must begin work next month and your permit is not yet approved, can the firm expedite, or does it work on the authority's timeline? The site emphasizes early engagement and strategy but does not address acceleration.

The site also lists immigration as "essential" but does not explain the categories of cases the firm is most equipped to handle. A founder starting a business in Switzerland, a mid-career professional transferring into a job, and an asylum seeker have very different situations. The firm's comparative advantage in any of these categories is not stated.

Who it suits and who it does not

Avocat-etranger suits arrivals and businesses with complex immigration situations who want representation by lawyers with multidisciplinary expertise. If your residency question entangles employment law, business formation, or financial issues, the firm's broad capability is an advantage. The emphasis on representation all the way through federal appeals means if you anticipate a challenging case, this is a firm equipped to fight in court.

The firm particularly suits French-speaking arrivals (the site is in French, and the practice is based in Romandy) and those in the Vaud region or willing to work remotely with a Vaud-based firm. The stated emphasis on personalized strategy and early engagement appeals to arrivals who want a proactive legal relationship rather than paperwork filing.

Avocat-etranger may not suit arrivals looking for fixed-fee or success-based pricing. This is a traditional law firm, and hourly billing is the implied model. Cost-conscious arrivals might prefer a consultancy offering flat-fee packages.

The firm may also not suit non-French speakers for whom a Lausanne-based firm's language comfort is a question. While the site offers English, the practice is rooted in Romandy's legal culture, and a German-speaking arrival might prefer a Zurich or Basel-based firm working in their language.

The firm's strongest positioning is the multidisciplinary integration and the emphasis on early strategic engagement. An arrival with complex questions spanning immigration, employment law, and business formation finds value in one legal team that understands all dimensions simultaneously.