Karim Raho
Founding Partner
President of the Criminal Law Commission of the Bar Association
Lecturer at the University of Geneva
Admitted to the Bar in 2010, Karim Raho is a recognised specialist in criminal law (economic and general) and criminal procedure.
Karim Raho graduated summa cum laude from the Faculty of Law and Criminal Sciences at the University of Lausanne. He was sworn in as a lawyer in 2008 and has since specialised in litigation, with a particular focus on criminal law (economic and general) and criminal procedure. Through his practice, he has also developed solid expertise in civil liability (particularly victims of unlawful acts, complex damages) and medical liability (patient/doctor).
Since July 1st 2023, he has presided over the Criminal Law Committee of the Bar Association (which he joined as a member in 2019).
Karim Raho is a visiting lecturer at the University of Geneva (Bar School) and a trainer (for forensic experts) at the Romand University Centre for Medico-Legal Studies. He also gives an extensive number of conferences, mainly for the Geneva Bar Association, and in 2017 co-founded “Les ateliers de procédure pénale” (a monthly continuing education series for lawyers and trainee lawyers who are members of the Geneva Bar Association).
During his career, Karim Raho has also won 1st prize in the Michel A. Nançoz Concours d’Art Oratoire in Geneva and 1st place in the Prix Paris-Montréal de la Francophonie in Montreal, an international public speaking competition organised jointly by the Paris and Montreal Bar Associations.
- General criminal law
- Economic criminal law, complex cases
- Crime victim support law
- Juvenile criminal law
- Civil liability
- Medical liability (patient/doctor)
2010 – Lawyer’s Certificate
2009 – 1st prize-winner of the Prix Paris-Montreal de la Francophonie, an international public speaking competition organised by the Paris and Montreal Bars.
2009 – Michel À. Nancoz organised by the Criminal Law Commission of the Geneva Bar Association, 1st Prize
2008 – Lawyer’s oath
2008 – Master’s degree in law (commercial and litigation) (University of Lausanne, summa cum laude)
2006 – Bachelor of Law (University of Lausanne)
From 2024
LBR LEGAL
From 2023
From 2022
2021 - 2024
From 2019
From 2013
2013 - 2021
From 2011
2010 - 2012
2008 - 2010
- Geneva Bar Association
- Swiss Bar Association
- Criminal Law Commission of the Geneva Bar Association
- Swiss Society of Criminal Law
- French
- English
September 26, 2025 – Geneva Bar Association – Young Bar of the Geneva Bar Association – Athénée 4
The trial hearing (criminal)
Conference delivered by Mes Karim RAHO and Ilir CENKO alongside Mr. Antoine HAMDAN, Judge at the Criminal Court (Geneva).
September 25, 2025 – Criminal Law Commission of the Geneva Bar Association – Innocence Switzerland Project – Law Students’ Association – University of Geneva
Judicial error in Switzerland: causes and practice
Conference during which Me Karim RAHO spoke alongside Me Guglielmo PALUMBO, Mr. Vincent SPIRA, President of the Geneva Bar, Ms. Nathalie DONGOIS, Professor at the University of Lausanne, Mr. Marc THOMMEN, Professor at the University of Zurich, and Mr. David ESCHLE, Clerk at the Swiss Federal Court.
June 26, 2025 – Geneva Bar Association – Continuing Education Committee of the Geneva Bar – Athénée 4
Criminal Procedure: Judge, Lawyer, Interpreter – Who Does What?
Conference moderated by Me Ludivine DELALOYE, during which Me Karim RAHO presented the lawyer’s perspective alongside Ms. Alexandra SIGRIST, Prosecutor, and Ms. Raluca DROAHNA, Interpreter.
May 14, 2025 – Geneva Bar Association – Maison Rousseau et Littérature
Ethical Lessons from the PELICOT Case
Conference led by Bar President Sandrine GIROUD, during which Me Karim RAHO debated with Mr. Philippe CANO, President of the Avignon Bar, and Me Grégoire MANGEAT, former President of the Geneva Bar.
March 2025 – Revue de l’avocat (Official Publication of the Swiss Bar Federation)
Expertise in Criminal Procedure, Revue de l’avocat, Issue No. 3/2025, Stämpfli Editions
January 31, 2025 – Geneva Bar Association – Young Bar of the Geneva Bar Association – Athénée 4
The Lawyer and the truth (Part 2)
Conference delivered by Mes Karim RAHO and Ilir CENKO, alongside Me Benoît CHAPPUIS, Professor and former President of the Geneva Bar.
November 29, 2024 – Geneva Bar Association – Young Bar of the Geneva Bar Association – Athénée 4
The Lawyer and the truth (Part 1)
Conference delivered by Mes Karim RAHO and Ilir CENKO, alongside Me Benoît CHAPPUIS, Professor and former President of the Geneva Bar.
November 7, 2024 – University of Geneva, Faculty of Law, Department of Criminal Law – Geneva Centre for Victims of Crime (LAVI)
Support and protection for victims of criminal offenses: reflections and groundbreaking initiatives to improve access to justice
Conference during which Me Karim RAHO debated with Ms. Anne-Laure HUBER, Chief Prosecutor, Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office; Mr. Gautam THIEBAUD, Group Leader, and Mr. Pascal STEFFEN, Deputy Brigade Chief, Morals Brigade, Cantonal Police; Ms. Gaelle VAN HOVE, Judge, Vice-President of the Court of Justice and Head of the Criminal Division; Dr. Emmanuelle ESCARD, Deputy Physician, Head of the Interdisciplinary Unit for the Medicine and Prevention of Violence (HUG); and Chloé, Founder of the association “Victime pas seule”.
August 2024 – Revue de l’avocat (Official Publication of the Swiss Bar Federation)
The Coercive Measures Court (TMC), Revue de l’avocat, Issue No. 8/2024, Stämpfli Editions
June 25, 2024 – Geneva Bar Association – Young Bar of the Geneva Bar Association – Criminal Law Committee of the Geneva Bar Association – Geneva Cantonal Police – Auditorium Arditi
The Lawyer at the first hour (Art. 8A LPAv)
Conference moderated by Me Marie-Laure CHEVRE, during which Me Karim RAHO debated with Mr. Richard BOLDRINI, Head of the Geneva Judicial Police
May 13, 2023 – Geneva Bar Association – Athénée 4
Plea workshop (criminal law)
Continuing education session delivered within the Geneva Bar Association for lawyers and trainee lawyers who are members of the Geneva Bar.
September, 12 2022 – University of Geneva, Faculty of Law – 4th Criminal Law Day – A Cross-Perspective on the reform of the Code of criminal procedure
Presentation by Me Karim RAHO as part of a panel discussion moderated by Professor Camille PERRIER DEPEURSINGE, with the participation of Mr Olivier JORNOT, Attorney General, Ms Gaëlle VAN HOVE, Judge at the Court of Justice, and Mr Philippe BAUER, Member of the Council of States.
Since 2017 – Geneva Bar Association
Co-founder of the monthly training series “Criminal Procedure Workshops” (continuing legal education for members of the Geneva Bar Association), covering topics such as:
Arrest: the added value of counsel during the initial stages of an investigation
The right to remain silent: a fundamental safeguard — strategic considerations, implementation, and consequences
Pre-trial detention, from arrest to expulsion: practical considerations
The role of Counsel during the investigative phase
The parties’ right to participate in the taking of evidence under Article 147 CPP: legal principles and the practice of Geneva’s criminal authorities
Special procedures: summary proceedings, penal orders, and default judgments
The trial hearing
The added value of Counsel after conviction becomes final: enforcement of custodial sentences and measures
Relations between Counsel, Magistrates, and other participants in criminal proceedings: rules, conventions, and the defendant’s interests
January 23, 2017 – Geneva Bar Association – Palais de Justice
“The parties’ right to participate in the taking of evidence under Article 147 CPP: related case law and its implementation in the practice of Geneva’s criminal authorities”