Rising Stars

Leading firms: Italian-speaking Switzerland in Switzerland

Bär & Karrer Ltd.

Bär & Karrer Ltd.‘s Lugano office is poised to assist its high calibre clients with transactions, dispute resolution, tax, and private client mandates. Paolo Bottini, who is significantly experienced in providing legal and tax advice to multinational corporations and banks as well as financial institutions, and Cesare Jermini, who notably specialises in international and domestic arbitration, spearhead the group. Other key contacts include Massimo Vanotti, who principally focuses on corporate and commercial law matters extending across a diverse array of sectors, and tax expert Matthias Bizzarro, who was promoted to partner in January 2023.

Practice head(s):

Paolo Bottini; Cesare Jermini


Other key lawyers:

Massimo Vanotti; Matthias Bizzarro


Key clients

Consulcesi Group


xFarm SA


Helsinn SA


Investindustrial Services SA


Humabs BioMed SA


Gi Group S.p.A.


Work highlights


Kellerhals Carrard

Kellerhals Carrard‘s Lugano team demonstrates proficiency across a multitude of areas, from arbitration and mediation to IP and TMT related mandates. Ivan Paparelli helms the practice with his extensive experience in domestic and international litigation, with an established presence in corporate, commercial and banking law areas. Tax and commercial law expert Giovanni Stucchi and sport and M&A expert Massimiliano Maestretti are additional names of note. Other key contacts include Andrea Fioravanti, Stefano Perucchi and Jonathan Bernasconi. Lars Schlichting departed in March 2023 to set up his own firm, Lexify.

Practice head(s):

Ivan Paparelli


Other key lawyers:

Giovanni Stucchi; Massimiliano Maestretti; Andrea Fioravanti; Stefano Perucchi; Jonathan Bernasconi; Lorenza Ferro


Key clients

AiliA


Bürgschaftsgenossenschaft Ost-Süd, Bürgschaftsgenossenschaft Mitte, Cautionnement Romand, Bürgschaftsgenossenschaft SAFFA


Ehpelia Group SA|Ephelia Capital Sagl


Euroleague Basketball


Fondo Edifici di Culto


GSA Gestion Sportive Automobiles, Geneva


Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli


Municipality of Lugano


Parmalat Group


Qui CH AG; Quid Global Ltd


Undo Studio SA


Zegna Group


Work highlights


  • Advising Parmalat in the context of criminal proceedings conducted by the Office of the attorney General of Switzerland in front of the Federal Criminal Court and the Federal Court in particular for money laundering in connection with the bankruptcy of the Parmalat Group in the contest of which have been seized and confiscated also in view of the award to the person harmed.
  • Delivering legal advice to the Swiss entity of l’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics company on different matters, including labour law, in particular civil proceedings against employees.
  • Providing general assistance to the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team, which is preparing to compete in the XXXVII America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024.

Walder Wyss Ltd.

Led by Davide Jermini and Stefano Codoni, Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s Lugano office is capable of advising on a comprehensive range of issues, encompassing corporate and commercial mandates, M&A litigation and a full suite of IP, IT and family law matters. Its ‘dedication to efficiency, clarity, and effective support sets them apart in the legal industry’. Codoni specialises in IP, life sciences and technology transactions and litigation, while Jermini fields a strong practice across corporate and commerical matters, M&A and banking and finance issues. Arbitration expert Stefano Fornara routinely represents a significant spread of clients situated within the commercial and employment fields.

Practice head(s):

Davide Jermini; Stefano Codoni


Other key lawyers:

Stefano Fornara; Marco Galli


Testimonials

‘For many years, the team in Lugano has supported us as the “extended arm” of our internal legal service in complex legal issues, litigation cases and wherever reliable expertise needs to be obtained quickly. The team knows our institute, our processes, the services and products we provide and all the important SMEs and decision-makers, which makes the cooperation all the more valuable.’

‘The lawyers at Walder Wyss are distinguished by their absolutely outstanding knowledge in their respective areas of specialisation. They understand how to grasp even extraordinarily complex issues in a sometimes “uncertain” regulatory environment, assess risks and propose workable solutions.’

‘The firm’s professionalism was immediately perceived.’

‘Good partners with great social competences and excellent skills.’

‘The firm enjoys the expertise of a multi-disciplinary team of highly skilled partners and associates from a broad range of disciplines covering all main areas of law. This allows the client to always find the ideal partner with the right expertise for the topic of interest within the same firm, which is crucial when you have established a relationship of trust.’

‘I always found the individuals I have dealt with extremely approachable, friendly yet serious, easy to reach and swift in their competent responses.’

‘The small yet highly responsive and competent team located in the Italian-speaking part in Switzerland left a lasting impression. Their support in handling local claims and litigation matters was prompt and invaluable. Overall, this law firm’s dedication to efficiency, clarity, and effective support sets them apart in the legal industry.’

‘Davide Jermini is a very good lawyer. His proactive approach and unwavering commitment to staying on top of every case make him a standout professional. His pleasant demeanour and his profound knowledge of procedural law are relevant for us. He navigates the intricate maze of legal proceedings with ease, offering insightful solutions at every turn.’

Key clients

Actial Farmaceutica Srl, Rome, Italy


Jetpharma SA


Artisa Group


Akara Funds AG


Lifeware SA


Atnahs Pharma UK Ltd


Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale


RSI – Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana


Work highlights


  • Acting as part of a team of lawyers entrusted by the Canton of Ticino with a politically-sensitive internal investigation at UNITAS, a large non-profit organisation that receives substantial public funding for its activity in favour of blind people, regarding alleged workplace harassment of various kinds.
  • Assisted the shareholders of Assetmax AG in their exit from the company through a sale of all shares to Infront.
  • Obtained a landmark decision from the Swiss Supreme in the long standing litigation his client lastminute.com against Ryanair. The Supreme Court confirmed that lastminute.com has been always acting lawfully and can continue to offer all its customers the possibility of comparing and booking Ryanair tickets through the lastminute.com’s websites.