The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie Zurich’s five-partner team recently advised AE&E Holdings on insolvency proceedings and the subsequent sale of companies, and continues to advise OC Oerlikon Corporation on comprehensive financial restructuring. Urs Schenker, Florian Bommer and ‘very good attorney’ Richard Gassmann are all recommended.

Bär & Karrer AG’s ‘very good-quality’ team provides ‘excellent’ advice. It advised Renova as the largest shareholder in OC Oerlikon Corporation’s complex restructuring, and also represents Venetos Management. ‘Outstanding young lawyer’ Thomas Rohde leads the group, which also includes the well-respected Corrado Rampini.

Homburger advised a bank as lead manager and bondholders’ representative on a CHF40m Swiss high-yield bond default, and assisted Citibank International, as agent for the syndicate of financial institutions, on the CHF2.5bn comprehensive financial restructuring of OC Oerlikon Corporation. Ueli Huber leads the four-partner team.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s ‘excellent, reliable and responsive’ team is led by Vincent Jeanneret, who is ‘a great specialist in the field’. It has been appointed by FINMA as liquidator of Kaupthing Bank Luxembourg’s Geneva branch, and also of ACH Securities. It also advised a foreign energy company on a complex cross-border Swiss bankruptcy. Other clients include UBS and Ernst & Young.

Wenger Plattner’s team includes Bern-based Fritz Rothenbühler and Zurich partners Brigitte Umbach-Spahn and Karl Wüthrich. It advises creditors and debtors in restructuring; handles insolvency and bankruptcy cases including related litigation; and advises on administration.

Froriep Renggli provides ‘great value for money’ and ‘sound business judgement’ in representing companies, individuals and state agencies in a range of complex bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings. The team includes Geneva-based Roland Kaufmann and Zurich-based Felix Mathis.

Lenz & Staehelin’s ‘service-minded, available, responsive and knowledgeable’ team has expertise in representing creditors in insolvency proceedings. It has been advising on the insolvency of Lehman Brothers in Switzerland and assisted Monarch Alternative Capital (UK) in a due diligence review of the SAir insolvency. ‘Outstanding professional’ Tania Luginbühl in Zurich and Daniel Tunik in Geneva and Lausanne are ‘proactive and meet deadlines’.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG’s ‘excellent’ team has advised several creditors on the complex Zeromax liquidation, and acted for the liquidator in the CHF900m ISMM/ISL Worldwide insolvency. Urs Pulver and Thomas Sprecher head the team, and Marco Häusermann was made up to partner in 2011.

Staiger, Schwald & Partner Ltd’s lawyers have longstanding expertise acting as receivers and administrators in insolvency proceedings, as well as representing creditors. Another specialism is insolvency disputes, particularly regarding D&O liability. Marc Bernheim and Philipp Känzig are recommended.

Vischer has advised the liquidators of Lehman Brothers on a number of regulatory issues. Menag Energie’s creditors also appointed the firm as liquidator of the insolvent company. David Jenny heads the three-partner team.

Christoph Stäubli leads the team at Walder Wyss Ltd, which acts for clients including Citibank, UniCredit and Chemtura. It represented a consortium of banks against a clawback action by the liquidator of the Swissair estate, and acted for Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander on the collection of Swiss assets.

Altenburger Ltd legal + tax’s team includes Rolf Schuler in Zurich and Birgit Sambeth Glasner in Geneva. It advises on bankruptcy and administrative proceedings and on debt enforcement matters.

BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC represents insolvent companies and creditors in liquidations and restructuring. It has been appointed as receiver in a number of proceedings. Yves de Coulon heads the team, and Thierry Amy is ‘realistic and practical’ and has ‘excellent strategic vision’.

Markus Bill is Bill Isenegger Ackermann AG’s key insolvency lawyer.

Bürgi Nägeli Lawyers advises energy and medical technology sector clients on insolvency and restructuring, for which its lawyers are deemed to be ‘very skilled practitioners’.

Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob advises creditors in asset recovery, asset seizure and insolvency matters. Peter Volkart and Jürgen Brönnimann are recommended.

CMS von Erlach Henrici Ltd specialises in corporate restructuring and recovery. Jürg Guggisberg heads the group.

Gerhard Roth is GHR Rechtsanwälte’s key lawyer for insolvency matters including debt collection, litigation and restructuring.

Corporate and commercial boutique Holenstein Attorneys-at-Law Ltd’s Franco Lorandi is ‘very active in the market’, and the firm’s bankruptcy and insolvency practice is highly regarded.

Kellerhals Attorneys at Law has a strong team that is appreciated for its ‘very efficient and competent service, and good knowledge’. Team head Daniel Staehelin has advised clients on the Kaupthing and Swissair matters. Highly recommended attorney Ines Pöschel represented Lehman Brothers Holdings against Lehman Brothers’ Swiss entity.

meyerlustenberger has assisted clients on a number of corporate restructurings and downsizing exercises. Practice head Marcel Lustenberger is ‘highly experienced and provides practical and very sound legal advice’, and Alexander Vogel is appreciated for his ‘very thorough knowledge and expertise’.

Pestalozzi’s Christophe Emonet is expert in asset tracing, insolvency and corporate recovery.

Python & Peter’s Beat Mumenthaler is the key contact in insolvency matters and he advises on bankruptcy, asset tracing and restructuring.