Switzerland > Banking and finance > Zurich > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings
Index of tables
Banking and finance: Zurich
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Leading individuals
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- Sandro Abegglen - Niederer Kraft & Frey AG
- René Bösch - Homburger
- Daniel Daeniker - Homburger
- Luc Defferrard - Walder Wyss Ltd
- Patrick HĂŒnerwadel - Lenz & Staehelin
- Martin Lanz - Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
- Eric Stupp - BĂ€r & Karrer Ltd.
Next generation lawyers
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- Benjamin Leisinger - Homburger
- Bertrand Schott - Niederer Kraft & Frey AG
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BĂ€r & Karrer Ltd. has âbroad experience in a wide range of litigation cases and regulatory proceedingsâ for the whole range of financial service providers; and creates âin-depth teams for various matters out of one handâ additionally the team is adept at handling debt and acquisition financings as well as derivative transactions. Notable highlights included assisting EQT Infrastructure II with the acquisition financing of CHEP Aerospace Solutions. Goldman Sachs, UBS and Valora are also clients of the practice. âConcise and pragmaticâ litigation partner Andreas LĂ€nzlinger and âoutstandingâ regulatory expert Rashid Bahar are recommended along Eric Stupp, who âbrings long standing industry expertiseâ and jointly leads the fintech practice with newly promoted partner Daniel FlĂŒhmann.
Homburger is highly recommended for its âlegal and advisory servicesâ, which cover regulatory aspects, financings and transactions. Recent highlights include the assistance provided to ChemChina regarding its $43bn acquisition of Syngenta and advising Credit Suisseâs Swiss Mortgage Fund I on sale and transfer risk advice of loans. The team also represented UBS in regulatory and FINMA enforcement proceedings related to its FX business. RenĂ© Bösch and Daniel Haeberli are recommended along counsels Lee Saladino, Eduard De Zordi and Benjamin Leisinger, who made partner in 2018.
FIRMS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

BĂ€r & Karrer
BĂ€r & Karrer has an established practice advising banks, securities dealers, insurance and reinsurance companies, and other financial institutions in Switzerland and around the world.We represent financial institutions, issuers, investors, and other market participants in enforcement proceedings of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA.
The Zurich team of Lenz & Staehelin is particularly experienced in structured, syndicated bank, project and lease finance and also handles restructurings, securitisations and derivatives. The team advised Battery Ventures on its all-shares acquisition of Rotronic and also as part of a bank syndicate on financing CVCâs acquisition of Breitling. Other active clients are Citigroup Global Markets, ISDA and ING Bank. Patrick HĂŒnerwadel leads the team, which also includes key partners Marcel Tranchet, Patrick Schleiffer and Stefan Breitenstein.
Niederer Kraft & Frey AG provides âregulatory and contractual services that are professional in every senseâ. The practice also supports clients in contentious banking matters and advises on fintech as well as financing transactions. In a recent highlight, Philippe Weber assisted EFG International with transaction financing and regulatory issues related to its acquisition of private bank BSI from BTG Pactual and Marco HĂ€usermann advised Thomson Reuters on a $2.64bn credit agreement with a number of international banks. âOutstanding, diligent and pro-activeâ practice heads Sandro Abegglen and François Bianchi as well as associate Martin Schaub are recommended.
Baker McKenzieâs âoutstanding, highly competentâ team has âexcellent industry knowledgeâ and is considered a âsafe, reliable choice of partnerâ due to their âflexible, client-oriented approachâ, especially in relation to credit transactions and financing documentation. The practice also focuses on regulatory implementations, such as the Financial Market Infrastructure Act, and securitisation work. Recent highlights include advising Walter Meier AG on the CHF118m financing of its de facto merger with Tobler Haustechnik. Markus Affentranger retired in June 2017 and handed the practice lead to âvery experienced and competentâ financing expert Lukas Glanzmann and the âhighly qualified and pragmaticâ Samuel Marbacher. Associate Philip SpoerlĂ© is âskillful and efficientâ.
Pestalozziâs âoutstandingâ team provides a âvery high overall quality level with one of the best values for money and fast response timesâ. Apart from supporting Credit Suisse as security and escrow agent during the ChemChina â Syngenta public tender offer, the team also advised VTB Bank on several financings and commodity trade transactions. Practice lead Urs Kloeti and senior associate Philipp Otto attract praise for their âsubject matter expertise and professional approachâ, while Oliver Widmer is âhighly client-oriented, practical and commercialâ. Severin Roelli and Beat Schwarz impress in banking M&A and financial transactions.
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd has a âdistinctive level of detailed, pragmatic expertise and responsivenessâ, covering regulatory and contractual matters, banking-related M&A and restructurings, investment management and syndicated lending. Philippe Borens advised Reichmuth Investment Management on structuring a locomotive portfolio. BNP Paribas, Raiffeisen and Landesbank Baden-WĂŒrttemberg are also clients. Martin Lanz heads the practice and the âskilled and business-mindedâ Olivier Favre impresses with âoutstanding derivative, regulatory EMIR/FMIA and international transaction experienceâ.
The Zurich team of Walder Wyss Ltd focuses on lending and other financial transactions, securitisation and regulatory matters, such as obtaining FINMA licences, and representing clients in fund authorisation processes. The group advised J.P. Morgan and a syndicate of banks on the CHF1.4bn financing of EQTâs public tender offer to acquire all shares of Kuoni Travel, and further supported Helvetica Property in their application to become a licensed fund manager according to the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act. UBS, ZĂŒrcher Kantonalbank and Leonteq Securities are longstanding clients of the team, which is led by Francis Nordmann and Lukas Wyss. Luc Defferrard, Theodor HĂ€rtsch and Thomas MĂŒller are other names to note.
CMS handles financing, corporate lending and regulatory matters, which include licence applications, FINMA rulings, as well as securities, insurance, anti-money laundering and derivatives trading issues. A major highlight for the three-partner team was the $1.8bn loan refinancing advice provided to Novelis. Other refinancing clients are Claireâs Accessories UK and synlab. Team head JĂŒrg Guggisberg, Kaspar Landolt and AndrĂ© Lebrecht are the names to note.
Meyerlustenberger Lachenal Ltd (MLL) âimpresses with broad knowledge on banking issues and technical strength in finance transactions, especially in the Islamic marketâ, as well as âa cooperative, team-oriented working mannerâ; syndicated lending, banking litigation, M&A and fintech are other mainstays of the practice. Notably, the âhelpful and solution-orientedâ Daniel Schoch advised Meyer Burger Technology on a CHF354.5m financial recapitalisation program, while âcompetent, reliable and commercialâ team lead Alexander Vogel assisted digital asset manager Move Wealth Management with its strategic investments from Credit Suisse and Falcon Private Banking. Further recommended are the âknowledgeable and attentiveâ Samuel Ljubicic and Karin Oberlin, who âhas a good understanding of both legal and commercial aspectsâ.
Vischer has âa very strong financing practiceâ that is âpro-active, forward-looking and creative in generating solutionsâ. The team advised an international bank who acted as a lender in relation to a credit facility granted to an oil and gas company. Practice head Markus GuggenbĂŒhl is an âoutstanding strategic thinkerâ, while insolvency expert Jana Essebier is also recommended. The âservice-orientedâ Benedict Christ and Christian Oetiker are the key contacts for banking M&A and litigation.
Wenger & Vieli focuses on drafting legal opinions on regulatory topics, such as the Financial Market Infrastructure Act, and product issuances. Other areas of expertise are fintech, syndicated loans, lending structures and claims prevention. The team assisted block-chain company Lykke with the establishment of an organised trading facility. The client base also includes Interhoerbiger Finance, Falcon Bank and SIX Group. Bignia Vieli, Martin Hess and Andreas HĂŒnerwadel are the key partners.
Bratschi Ltdâs âhighly available and pragmaticâ banking and finance practice consists of regulatory, financing, litigation and asset management teams which offer âpartner attention at reasonable ratesâ. Active clients include St Galler Kantonalbank, Raiffeisen, DZ Privatbank and Humboldt Re. Reto Arpagaus, Hannes Glaus and Barbara Jecklin are the main advisers.
Buis BĂŒrgi AG handles both non-contentious and contentious banking matters, with particular expertise in representing clients against Swiss banks. The main focuses are private equity transactions, white-collar crime matters, loan restructuring and regulatory issues. Banking and finance partner Eric Buis and litigator Paul BĂŒrgi are supported by seven associates.
Froriep âprovides clear, succinct advice in a format which is easy for clients to digest and also offers a transparent fee systemâ. The practiceâs activities cover banking M&A and regulatory advice as well as cross-border financing, while special expertise exists in relation to real estate investment vehicles. Recent highlights include advising Oaktree Capital Management on the refinancing of Adent Cliniques Dentaires. Team lead Catrina Luchsinger is recommended for her âclient orientationâ, as are âintelligentâ counsel Mark Montanari and senior associate JĂ©rĂŽme Pidoux.
Kellerhals Carrard has experience in advising on asset management services, leasing transactions, fintech, white-collar crime and general regulatory banking law. In a notable highlight, the team advised UBS on regulatory matters regarding their exchange traded funds platforms. Man Group is another active client. Dominik Oberholzer, Daniel Staehelin and Armin KĂŒhne are the key lawyers; Cornelia Stengel made partner in July 2017.
The Zurich team of Lalive âhas strong capabilities and is extremely knowledgeableâ, offering expertise in regulatory, compliance, litigation and investigation matters. The group advised Thurgauer Kantonalbank on a cross-border investigation concerning alleged assistance with tax avoidance. The âwell-organised, forward-planning, practical and effectiveâ Daniel Lucien BĂŒhr is recommended and Simone Nadelhofer is another name to note. Matthias Gstoehl joined from Nater Dallafior RechtsanwĂ€lte AG in April 2017.
Prager Dreifuss AG is especially known for its cross-border project financing, transactional and syndicated loan work. Team lead Daniel Hayek is supported by corporate finance expert Andreas Moll, regulatory adviser Urs Bertschinger and Matthias BĂŒrge, who has deep transactional experience.
Staiger Attorneys at Law Ltd is active in both public and private banking, especially in relation to regulatory compliance, finance transactions and white-collar crime. The team advises Bank Hapoalim on an ongoing basis and also represented the cleint in a US tax investigation. Désirée Wiesendanger and Philipp KÀnzig are the names to note.