The Legal 500

The ‘efficient and pragmatic’ team at Bär & Karrer AG ‘takes proactive action on behalf of its clients’. The team acts for domestic and international banks, securities dealers, insurance and reinsurance companies, and other financial institutions, and advises on all aspects of banking and finance matters, including regulatory investigations. The firm advised UBS as leader of a bank consortium entering into a CHF420m credit agreement with industrial group Georg Fischer. Eric Stupp is ‘accessible, practical and very commercial’. Ralph Malacrida and Till Spillmann are ‘creative, flexible and world class’.

Homburger recently advised Société Générale on updating its cross-border, dual-language offering and listing platform for structured products and bonds, which included a dual-language issuance programme approved by the CSSF in Luxembourg and the SIX Swiss Exchange in Switzerland. The ‘impressive and powerful’ group’s clients also include UBS, Credit Suisse and JP Morgan. René Bösch heads the team and Daniel Daeniker is also recommended.

Patrick Hünerwadel leads Lenz & Staehelin’s 33-strong banking and finance team in Zurich, which is recommended for ‘large and complex’ matters. The firm acted as Swiss counsel to the lenders in connection with a $10.2bn financing for Glencore, and is also advising export credit agencies and lenders on the €3.9bn financing of the first phase of the Nord Stream gas pipeline project. Clients also include Rabobank, Commerzbank and mondoBIOTECH.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG’s ‘top-notch’ practice provides ‘valuable advice’. The firm recently advised ING Bank NV and others on a complex CHF1.2bn refinance transaction governed by English and Swiss law involving a large domestic headquartered and listed group. Sandro Abegglen is ‘well respected and is an expert’; Thomas Graf10461 is a ‘highly regarded tax lawyer and very sought after’; and Christoph Balsiger is ‘efficient’. Urs Pulver and Philippe Webber are also recommended.

Markus Affentranger and Lukas Glanzmann co-head the team at Baker & McKenzie, which includes 14 other fee-earners. The team recently advised Zürcher Kantonalbank and a syndicate of domestic and foreign banks on a CHF400m revolving working capital facility for an international food producer, including a complex security sharing agreement with US noteholders. Clients also include UBS, Bank Sarasin & Cie, and Feintool Holding.

Christoph Heiz and Alexander Vogel are the key banking and finance partners at meyerlustenberger, which has a seven-strong team recently bolstered by the return of associate Alex Barbier, who has experience in financing transactions. The firm recently advised Piraeus Bank on an asset management joint venture with a large French bank, a deal valued at more than €100m.

Urs Klöti heads the seven-partner team at Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law Ltd. The firm recently advised Glencore on various financing transactions valued at $12.4bn, including a convertible note issue and a jumbo loan. Clients also include Credit Suisse, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HSBC and Deutsche Bank.

The team at Schellenberg Wittmer has ‘impressive general knowledge of Swiss and foreign laws and regulations’. The firm recently advised APEN in a standstill, restructuring and refinancing of bank debt involving new financing of $225m provided by Fortress Credit, an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group, and a Swiss bank. Philippe Borens is ‘effective and competent; the quality and precision of his work is excellent’. Anita Schläpfer and Olivier Favre are also recommended.

The ‘responsive and concise’ practice at Vischer ‘always maintains a strong commercial focus’. The firm is advising the liquidators of Lehman Brothers on a number of regulatory and legal issues relating to the Swiss Lehman Brothers entities. Clients also include Julius Baer Holding, Global Crossing and International Minerals Resources. Markus Guggenbühl leads the team, and Adrian Dörig is ‘experienced and always available, and provides thorough and practical advice’.

The ‘relatively small, but efficient, flexible and knowledgeable’ team at Walder Wyss & Partners Ltd recently advised UBS and Zürcher Kantonalbank in the refinancing of all facilities of Tornos Holding, a SIX-listed machine tool manufacturer. Clients also include BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Barclays Capital. The team is led by Luc Defferrard, who ‘knows the commercial and transactional aspects of a deal and is excellent’.

Andreas Hünerwadel and Georg Zondler lead the seven-partner team at Wenger & Vieli. It recently advised UBS, SIX Group, Credit Suisse, ZKB and PostFinance on the implementation of the new Federal Law on intermediated securities. The team is ‘highly recommended for syndicated loans advice’.

Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob is representing several banks and other clients in connection with the Lehman collapse and the Madoff fraud scheme, and in general debt recovery proceedings. Other work includes acting for a Swiss bank in a major liability case. Reto Arpagaus and Florian Jörg lead the eight-partner team.

Buis Bürgi AG’s expertise includes banking and finance litigation. The firm is retained in a large cross-border dispute between several banks, and is also acting in disputes with Swiss banks relating to investment fraud and asset management malpractice. Eric Buis is the key contact.

CMS von Erlach Henrici Ltd recently acted for Lloyds TBS Commercial Finance on the Swiss aspects of a $500m asset-based lending transaction, involving intercreditor issues and security taken over aeroplane spare parts. The firm also acts for Merrill Lynch, Eurohypo and BNP Paribas. Jürg Guggisberg heads the team, and Kaspar Landolt is also recommended.

Froriep Renggli recently advised Aduno Group in a substantial share capital increase and structuring of related finance. The team includes Beat Barthold, who is ‘dependable’; Catrina Luchsinger Gaehwiler, who has regulatory and investment funds expertise; and managing partner Peter Merz, who has experience in emerging market transactions. Raffaele Rossetti, who is knowledgeable on regulatory issues, recently joined the team.

GHR Rechtsanwälte advises on the full range of banking and financial matters, including debt financing and structures, repricing, and the restructuring of substantial senior term loan facilities and corresponding restatements of the security packages. Clients include Cemex, Koch Industries, Invista and Aktiv Kapital Group. Bruno Hunziker and Marc Grüninger lead the ‘practical and hands-on’ team.

Staiger, Schwald & Partner Ltd’s ‘very experienced, dedicated, business-oriented and responsive’ team advises small and mid-sized financial institutions on legal and regulatory issues. Mark-Oliver Baumgarten is the key contact.

Leonhard Toenz is the key partner at Altenburger Ltd legal + tax. The firm advises on regulatory matters, syndicated loans and project finance.

Beat Badertscher heads the four-partner team at Badertscher Rechtsanwälte AG/ Attorneys at Law, which advises clients such as Helvetia Wealth, Euler Hermes and Cardiff Insurance.

Kellerhals Attorneys at Law represents domestic and foreign banks, securities dealers, and fund and asset managers. The firm has particular expertise in advising clients on structuring funds and investment schemes to permit sale under Swiss law. Werner Schubiger and Dominik Oberholzer are active.

The four-partner team at Klein Attorneys Ltd recently advised on a $260m secured syndicated loan facility, guaranteed by an off-take for agricultural products from emerging countries. Managing partner Thomas Klein is active in the area.

Urs Suter leads the practice at Suter Howald Attorneys at Law, which provides ‘comprehensive’ regulatory advice to investment funds as well as general corporate, contractual and regulatory advice to banks and reinsurance clients.

Umbricht Rechtsanwälte advises on collective investment schemes, loan facilities and company financing. Georg Umbricht and Georg Steiger are active.

Filippo Beck is the key contact at Wenger Plattner. The team advises on matters including contracts, securities, compliance and regulations.

Wyss Wiesli Rechtsanwälte advises on the setting up of banks, including licensing, regulatory and management matters. The firm is ‘well known for supporting institutions’.