The Legal 500

Geneva-based Stephanie Jarrett and Zurich-based Marnin Michaels are the key contacts for private banking at Baker & McKenzie. Recent work includes advising on tax and anti-money laundering investigations, international securities law issues, and tax regularisation, as well as advising various governments on OECD issues and treaty negotiations.

Bär & Karrer AG’s ‘responsive practice provides an overall very good level of service’, and is ‘well connected in the Swiss private banking market’. The nine-partner practice includes Nedim Peter Vogt, who has ‘excellent knowledge’. Highlights included advising on Swiss law in a high-end multi-jurisdictional matrimonial property dispute, which resulted in the actions in all Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions being dismissed.

Lenz & Staehelin ‘provides good-quality services’ and advises private clients and private banks including longstanding family offices and trust companies. It recently represented Commerzbank on its sale of Dresdner Bank to LGT Bank, and also advises Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, RBS Coutts, and Rothschild Bank. Geneva-based Mark Barmes and Zurich-based Stefan Breitenstein co-head the team.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG is a ‘top-tier firm for private client, wealth management and contentious trusts and estates’. Clients ‘highly recommend’ the 11-strong team, which is co-headed by Edgar Paltzer and Markus Frey. The firm is currently acting for various art dealers on issues relating to the international sale and purchase of valuable works of art.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s ‘excellent’ team is ‘professional, accurate and user friendly’. It advises international private clients and closely held business families as well as Swiss private banking institutions and trust companies; clients include National Bank of Kuwait, American Express Services Europe and Standard Chartered Bank. Bernard Vischer, who has a ‘wealth of experience’, and Manuel Liatowitsch, who is ‘extremely approachable and academically astute’, co-head the team.

Borel & Barbey’s ‘super’ team provides ‘a very good level of service’ to private banks and high-net-worth individuals, and is ‘especially active in tax planning’.

Homburger’s private banking group has particular strength in estate planning, litigation avoidance and tax matters. It recently acted for an individual with an estimated wealth of over $1bn on the setting-up of an asset protection structure for their entire worldwide wealth. Harold Grüninger leads the team.

Oliver Widmer leads Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law Ltd’s private banking group in Zurich, which advises on tax, matrimonial property law and succession law. Bernard Lachenal, the key partner in the Geneva office, has left the firm.

Poncet Turrettini Amaudruz Neyroud & Partners has an impressive track record advising private clients. The firm is experienced in international matters and has advised high-net-worth individuals residing in Geneva and Vaud.

The team at Python & Peter includes Thomas Steinmann, Nicolas Hoffmann, Philippe Kenel, Jean-Christophe Hocke and Philippe Ciocca. The firm advises on tax, asset protection, succession, inheritance law and private investment matters.

Michael Hamm is the key contact at Staiger, Schwald & Partner Ltd, which also includes Natalie Peter, who specialises in domestic and international tax law. The firm represents institutional and private clients in major acquisitions, and also real esate transactions involving property in Switzerland.

Edmond Tavernier and Marie-Noëlle Zen-Ruffinen are the key partners at Tavernier Tschanz. The team advises Swiss and international clients on estate and tax planning, and also handles complex succession cases. Clients include private individuals, families, family offices, family trusts and foundations, banks, independent portfolio managers, art dealers and philanthropic organisations.

Altenburger Ltd legal + tax advises on international estate planning and inheritance law, foundations and trusts. Peter Altenburger is the key contact.

BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC recently advised a high-net-worth individual on the acquisition and construction of an estate in a prime Geneva location. Dominique Christin and Thierry Amy are the key contacts.

Tobias Somary, who is ‘dedicated and extremely competent’, heads the team at CMS von Erlach Henrici Ltd, which advises entrepreneurs, private clients, banks and financial advisers on matters including wealth planning, estate and succession planning, and private banking.

Charles Russell LLP is a ‘strong player’ in private banking. The team is led by Henry Fea and also includes Catriona Syed, who is ‘sensible and straight talking yet always personable’. The firm advises high-net-worth individuals who are considering moving from the UK to Switzerland.

FBT Attorneys-at-Law’s practice advises Swiss and international clients on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm recently advised a foreign high-net-worth individual on a CHF30m purchase of real estate in Switzerland.

Geneva-based partner Philippe Pulfer is the key contact at Froriep Renggli, which has experience advising clients on relocation options and planning opportunities.

Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés advises on asset restructuring and inheritance law, for high-net-worth clients including Swiss nationals or people looking to move to Switzerland. Pierre Gillioz and Christian Valentini are the key contacts.

Carl Stadelhofer leads the four-partner team at Klein Attorneys Ltd. Highlights included advising on various large aircraft sales and purchases with an aggregate value of over $700m.

Patricia Guerra heads the team at meyerlustenberger, which advises private clients on estate planning and wealth transfer, and on relocation to Switzerland and abroad. It also represents clients in cross-border disputes over estates.

Rosenberg, Keren-Polak, Epelman, Advocates advises private clients on inheritance law, tax planning, trusts, banking and international transactions for Israeli clients with interests in Switzerland and other parts of Europe.

Umbricht Rechtsanwälte advises private banks and private clients on disputes and estate planning matters. Robert Umbricht is an expert in inheritance planning, and Vera Schmidt is also active.

Jürg Plattner leads the team at Wenger Plattner, which also includes Filippo Beck. The team advises high-net-worth Swiss and foreign individuals, including sports personalities.