Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Bär & Karrer Ltd. is one of the best known firms for transactions in the Swiss pharmaceutical market, while also providing regulatory, distribution, advertising, intellectual property and general contractual expertise. IP specialist Markus Wang worked on the sale of interests in client Humabs BioMed to Vir Biotechnology, while Markus Schott assisted Vyaire Medical with the regulatory aspects of its acquisition of the entirety of shares in Acutronic Medical Systems.

'Due to very good networking', CMS 'can provide know-how in a variety of matters', especially at a multi-jurisdictional level. Regulatory, compliance, financial benefits and pricing advice, as well as the negotiation of agreements and representation in court form the main areas of expertise. Team lead Patrick Sommer is representing the Swiss branch of German pharmaceuticals manufacturer Bayer in price recommendation proceedings concerning prescription-based erectile dysfunction medication, while Alain Raemy assisted Synlab International with the drafting and roll-out of a Swiss compliance programme. 'Competent and quick' associate Marion Wyler is also recommended. Felix Kesselring joined from VISCHER in October 2017.

Homburger handles a range of matters for clients in the healthcare and life sciences industry, including intellectual property, M&A, regulatory advice and dispute resolution. IP partner Andri Hess is representing Novartis in the enforcement of several blockbuster drug patents in court and is also defending the client against nullity actions brought by competitors. Another recent highlight was Dieter Gericke's advice to ChemChina on its $43bn acquisition of Syngenta via a public tender offer. Marcel Dietrich and Franz Hoffet are the key contacts for regulatory and competition law matters.

VISCHER is renowned for its expertise in corporate, commercial, transactional, regulatory and patent-related healthcare and biotech matters. Matthias Staehelin assisted Medartis with its initial public offering on the SIX Swiss Exchange, while Stefan Kohler acted for Novo Nordisk Pharma in its appeal against a pricing decision made by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health concerning the client's type-two diabetes product. Christian Wyss advised Lundbeck on its €905m acquisition of Prexton Therapeutics.

Best known for cross-border transactions and compliance work, Baker McKenzie also handles employment, corporate, intellectual property, tax and real estate matters for a broad spectrum of private and public healthcare and pharmaceutical clients, as well as sector-related tech companies and insurers. Peter Reinert acted as regulatory adviser to Servier during its acquisition of Shire's oncology business, while Anne-Catherine Hahn assisted a Swiss pharmaceutical company with the implementation of its global anti-bribery programme in more than 20 jurisdictions. The team advises Abbott on the management and enforcement of its trade marks in Switzerland.

The practice at BianchiSchwald LLC specialises in healthcare-related real estate, financing, transactional and public procurement advice. Its client base consists of facility management companies, tech start-ups and clinics. Marc Metzger is advising Vamed and project company Rehaklinik Dussnang on the construction of a rehabilitation clinic, and Geneva-based Thomas Goossens serves as corporate counsel to Prexton Therapeutics.

A popular choice for industry-related litigation, regulatory and financing advice, Kellerhals Carrard is recommended for its 'high levels of responsiveness and knowledge'. In a recent highlight, Thomas Eichenberger is representing Roche Pharma in an administrative appeal proceeding against regulatory authority Swissmedic concerning its decision to prohibit certain phrases included in the summary of product characteristics for Herceptin.

Core areas of expertise at Lenz & Staehelin include intellectual property and commercial disputes, regulatory advice, M&A and licensing transactions, as well as product liability, competition and outsourcing matters. Thierry Calame represents Mepha as the claimant in several patent nullity proceedings concerning breast cancer treatment, while Stephan Erni assisted Coltene with the acquisitions of SciClan and MicroMega. Counsel Lara Dorigo is another key practitioner.

'Seasoned in the complex licensing process prevalent in the healthcare sector', Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC fields 'a solid team of lawyers', who stand out for their 'unique industry knowledge coupled with a thorough understanding of business implications and technological development'. For commercial contract and licence agreements, Fabien Aepli and 'exceptionally reactive, efficient and detail-oriented' senior associate Nurith Cohen are recommended, while senior associate Sara Dousset focuses on disciplinary, civil and criminal disputes involving healthcare and pharmaceutical clients.

Meyerlustenberger Lachenal Ltd (MLL) provides a 'user-friendly' service, covering the drafting of agreements for pharmaceutical companies and research organisations, as well as dispute resolution, pricing negotiation, product liability issues, transactions and regulatory matters under the Therapeutic Product Act. Together with Michael Ritscher, the 'responsive, knowledgeable and easy-to-work-with' Simon Holzer is representing Gilead Sciences in multiple Swiss patent disputes related to Tenofovir and supplementary protection certificates.

Pestalozzi is best known for its M&A, financing, intellectual property, competition, regulatory and compliance work in the healthcare and life sciences sector. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer and Christian Roos are defending Zimmer against product liability claims concerning the client's metal-on-metal hip implants.

With a specialism in cross-border matters, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is most experienced in regulatory matters and dispute resolution regarding patents, licensing, technology transfer, research and commercial agreements. In recent work, the 'prompt and to-the-point' Philipp Groz led advice to Iovance Biotherapeutics on the import and export of human biological materials between the EU and third countries, and assisted with the negotiation and drafting of a licence and development agreement concerning rare disease treatments for Santhera Pharmaceuticals. Andrea Mondini left for TIMES Attorneys in 2017.

The majority of Walder Wyss Ltd 's work in the healthcare and life sciences sector involves financial investments, M&A transactions, intellectual property and regulatory matters. Industry specialist Andreas Wildi and Basel-based corporate partner Alexander Gutmans are the key contacts.

Wenger & Vieli LTD acts for clients including pharmaceutical and medical device companies, hospitals and telemedicine businesses, which it frequently advises on pricing and reimbursement, data protection, intellectual property, advertising, competition and product liability, transactions, and corporate and commercial matters. Frank Scherrer represented several pharmaceutical companies in appeal proceedings challenging price decrease decisions made by the Federal Office of Public Health. Corporate lawyer Beat Speck regularly acts for private equity funds on transactions in the life sciences space.