id est avocats
id est avocats is a B Corp-certified boutique Swiss law firm in Lausanne advising startups, scale-ups, venture capital and private equity funds, and mid-market companies on M&A, venture capital, technology law, data protection, and ESG matters through a partner-led, AI-enabled practice.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What id est avocats does
id est avocats is a boutique Swiss law firm founded in 2012 by Michel Jaccard in Lausanne, operating as a Sàrl with approximately 14 team members including four partners, a counsel, an advisor, associates, trainees, and administrative staff. The firm provides corporate, commercial, technology, and sustainability-related legal services organized around three core offerings: deal making (M&A, venture capital, and complex transactions), business support (contracts, data protection, HR, and advisory), and dispute resolution (litigation and mediation). Specialized practice areas span venture capital and private equity, data protection and cybersecurity, intellectual property, employment, banking and fintech, IT and outsourcing, life sciences, art and media, and ESG/sustainability.
The firm differentiates through B Corp certification (June 2022), an EcoVadis Platinum rating (top 1% of certified companies for CSR), and integration of legal technology tools including DocuSign (since 2016) for electronic signatures, Luminance for AI-assisted due diligence, HotDocs for document automation, and a Legora-powered "Manju" AI trainee introduced in 2025 for document review and legal research. Revenue is generated through a hybrid pricing model combining fixed-price packages (corporate transactions, HR, online services, data protection), subscription-based retainers, traditional hourly billing, and preferred rates for B Corp community members and ESG-focused matters. Client segments include startups and scale-ups (often in cleantech, medtech, biotech, and cybersecurity), mid-market and enterprise companies, VC and PE funds (including Swisscom Ventures, VI Partners, Hi Inov, BMW i Ventures, and Porsche Ventures-adjacent deals), and purpose-driven organizations. Distribution is primarily direct and senior-led, supplemented by a network of trusted international law firms for cross-border matters and B Corp community referrals.
id est avocats firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- id est avocats
- Legal name
- id est avocats Sàrl
- Website
- https://idest.pro
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- id est avocats is a B Corp-certified boutique Swiss law firm in Lausanne advising startups, scale-ups, venture capital and private equity funds, and mid-market companies on M&A, venture capital, technology law, data protection, and ESG matters through a partner-led, AI-enabled practice.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
id est avocats industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate and Technology Legal Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory) (BPAHAOAL), ESG/Sustainable Investment Advisory (FSAEAAAJ)
Keywords
Where id est avocats is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
id est avocats business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Legal Services: Primary revenue from providing legal services including corporate/M&A, venture capital, technology law, data protection, employment law, dispute resolution, and ESG advisory. Services billed through fixed costs on agreed deliverables, subscription-based retainer arrangements, and traditional hourly fee arrangements for complex matters.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Transactions and Financing Rounds |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Human Resources Services |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Online Services |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Data Protection and Compliance |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription-Based Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
id est avocats product offering
Product offeringCore offering
id est avocats is a boutique Swiss corporate and technology law firm providing legal counsel across three core activities: Deal Making (M&A, venture capital, financing rounds, and complex commercial transactions), Business Support (contracts, data protection, HR, governance, ESG advisory), and Dispute Resolution (litigation and mediation). The firm serves startups, scale-ups, mid-market and enterprise companies, VC/PE funds, and purpose-driven organizations through senior-partner engagement, supported by legal technology tools and offered on fixed-fee, subscription, or hourly billing models.
Product overview
id est avocats is a B Corp certified Swiss law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services organized around three core offerings: Deal Making (M&A, corporate finance, and complex transactions), Business Support (daily advisory, contracts, HR, data protection), and Dispute Resolution (litigation and mediation). The firm provides both ad-hoc legal counsel and structured service packages including fixed-price document templates for corporate transactions, HR matters, online services, and data protection compliance. Additional specialized practice areas span venture capital, intellectual property, fintech, life sciences, and sustainability. Services are delivered through a combination of traditional legal expertise and technology-enabled tools including AI-powered due diligence and document automation, with pricing models that include fixed deliverables, subscriptions, and preferred rates for B Corp community members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Deal Making (Transactions) Legal counsel for structuring, negotiating, and closing business-critical transactions including M&A, corporate finance, and complex commercial deals for startups, mid-market and enterprise companies, and VC/PE funds.
- Business Support / Advisory Ongoing legal assistance for daily operations including contract drafting, data privacy advice, HR support, governance guidance, and strategic decision support for growing businesses.
- Dispute Resolution Representation in complex commercial disputes before administrative, civil, and criminal courts, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as commercial mediation (CEDR).
- Corporate and Commercial Law Advisory on corporate governance, commercial contracts, business combinations, and regulatory compliance for companies of all sizes.
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Legal support for startups and investors including financing rounds, term sheets, shareholders agreements, convertible loan agreements, and investment documentation.
- Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity Advisory on Swiss and EU data protection laws, GDPR compliance, privacy policies, data processing agreements, and cybersecurity matters.
- Intellectual Property Protection and licensing of IP assets including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
- Employment Law and HR Employment documentation, work permits, labor law compliance, and incentive plan structuring.
- Banking, Finance and Fintech Regulatory advisory for financial services, fintech companies, banking institutions, and the insurance sector.
- IT, Outsourcing and XaaS Solutions Legal counsel for software development, outsourcing, cloud computing, and XaaS arrangements.
- Life Sciences and Health Advisory for biotech, medtech, healthtech, and pharmaceutical companies on R&D agreements, regulatory compliance, and commercialization.
- CSR, ESG and Sustainability Advisory on ESG compliance, impact investing, sustainability reporting, and responsible business practices, including the co-created Impact Term Sheet for European ESG investments.
- Art, Media and Digital Marketing Entertainment law, sponsorship agreements, and legal support for digital content and media operations.
- Fixed-Price Service Packages - Corporate Transactions Standardized legal document packages for corporate transactions including term sheets, shareholders agreements, and convertible loan templates at fixed pricing.
- Fixed-Price Service Packages - Human Resources Employment documentation, work permit applications, and incentive plan templates available at fixed pricing.
- Fixed-Price Service Packages - Online Services Standard terms and conditions and privacy notices for online services at fixed pricing.
- Fixed-Price Service Packages - Data Protection Data protection preliminary assessments, standard documentation, and staff training packages at fixed pricing.
- Subscription-Based Legal Services Ongoing legal support services provided on a monthly subscription basis for predictable cost management, with preferred rates for B Corp community members.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 1% ranking among EcoVadis certified companies for CSR performance
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use id est avocats
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
id est avocats technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
id est avocats partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Alexandre JotterandminorAlexandre Jotterand appointed to the European Data Protection Board (EDPB)'s Support Pool of Experts, contributing to the development of the first General-Purpose AI Code of Practice under the EU AI Act.
- Alexandre JotterandminorAlexandre Jotterand appointed board member of ASDPO (Swiss Association of Data Protection Officers), the leading professional body for DPOs in Switzerland.
- Net Zero Lawyers AllianceminorInternational alliance mobilizing commercial lawyers and law firms to accelerate transition to net zero emissions. id est avocats is a member contributing to climate action initiatives.
- United Nations Global CompactminorWorld's largest sustainability initiative. id est avocats joined in 2023, aligning strategies with ten universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
- Legal Innovation for Sustainable Investments (LISI)coreInitiative co-founded by Michel Jaccard to make impact investing more accessible. id est avocats co-created the Impact Term Sheet, a European standardization effort for ESG investment documentation.
- Open Chain InitiativeminorLegal industry initiative for sustainable and responsible business practices. id est avocats supports and partners with this initiative.
- Accord ProjectminorLegal technology organization developing smart contract standards. id est avocats partners with this initiative for legal innovation.
- TrustlawminorThomson Reuters Foundation's legal pro bono network connecting law firms with NGOs and social enterprises. id est avocats is a partner providing legal support.
- Enterprise for Society Center (E4S)minorJoint center of University of Lausanne, IMD, and EPFL. Michel Jaccard lectures in the Master in Sustainable Management and Technology (SMT) program.
- MassChallenge SwitzerlandminorGlobal startup accelerator. Michel Jaccard delivers lectures on venture capital term sheet negotiation to accelerator participants.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
id est avocats competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Walder Wyss: Major Swiss law firm with one of the country's strongest technology, IP, and corporate/M&A practices and a long-standing focus on venture capital. Competes for the same startup, growth-stage, and investor clients across Switzerland, with deeper bench and broader international reach.
- VISCHER: Zurich-based Swiss boutique law firm with a comparable tech, IP, life sciences, and corporate/M&A practice and a similar mid-size partner-led model. Direct competitor for Swiss VC, growth, and tech mandates, and the closest analogue in terms of boutique positioning and ESG orientation.
- Pestalozzi: Zurich-based Swiss law firm with strong technology, IP, and corporate practices and a significant startup/VC client base. Directly comparable to id est avocats in serving Swiss and international tech companies on financing rounds, commercial contracts, and tech-law matters.
- Schellenberg Wittmer: Zurich/Geneva-based Swiss law firm with strong corporate/M&A, technology, and dispute resolution practices and a sizable partner-led model. Directly comparable to id est avocats on tech transactions, complex commercial matters, and dispute work for Swiss and international clients.
- Meyerlustenberger Lachenal: Swiss law firm with a strong technology, data, IP, and corporate practice and active startup/VC involvement. Overlaps with id est avocats in advising Swiss tech and growth companies on financing, data protection, and commercial matters.
Broad incumbents
- Bär & Karrer: One of Switzerland's largest and most established full-service law firms, with significant corporate/M&A, banking/finance, and technology practices. Competes with id est avocats on larger Swiss M&A, financing, and regulatory matters but at a different scale and with a broader service portfolio.
- Lenz & Staehelin: One of the largest Swiss law firms with offices in Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne, and broad corporate, finance, and technology practices. Overlaps with id est avocats in Lausanne-based corporate, M&A, and tech-law mandates but at materially larger scale.
- Homburger: Leading Swiss law firm with deep corporate/M&A, capital markets, and technology practices. Competes for larger Swiss tech and growth-stage transactions and serves as a reference point for what id est avocats could grow into.
Regional players
- Taylor Wessing: International law firm with a strong focus on technology, life sciences, and venture capital across Europe and Asia. Competes for cross-border mandates involving Swiss tech and growth companies but operates primarily outside Switzerland.
Others
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
id est avocats social profiles
Digital presenceid est avocats compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
id est avocats financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
id est avocats leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
id est avocats funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
id est avocats M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about id est avocats
What does id est avocats do?
id est avocats is a boutique Swiss corporate and technology law firm providing legal counsel across three core activities: Deal Making (M&A, venture capital, financing rounds, and complex commercial transactions), Business Support (contracts, data protection, HR, governance, ESG advisory), and Dispute Resolution (litigation and mediation). The firm serves startups, scale-ups, mid-market and enterprise companies, VC/PE funds, and purpose-driven organizations through senior-partner engagement, supported by legal technology tools and offered on fixed-fee, subscription, or hourly billing models.
Is id est avocats a public or private company?
id est avocats is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was id est avocats founded?
id est avocats was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is id est avocats based?
id est avocats is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does id est avocats make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Legal Services.
Who are id est avocats's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Walder Wyss, VISCHER, Pestalozzi, Schellenberg Wittmer and Meyerlustenberger Lachenal. Broad incumbents are Bär & Karrer, Lenz & Staehelin and Homburger. Taylor Wessing is listed as a regional player. Niederer Kraft Frey is listed as an others.
Does id est avocats have an API?
No public API is recorded for id est avocats.
What industry is id est avocats in?
id est avocats's product category is Corporate and Technology Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAOAA, M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side), with a secondary code of BPAHAOAL, Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory). Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.