The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie recently advised Fundamenta Group on the establishment of an investment foundation and the refinancing of its listed investment vehicle. It also advised Sunnegga Investments and General Oriental Investment on their investments into a retail centre development. The practice co-heads are transactional specialists Martin Furrer and Alexander Wyss in Zurich, along with Geneva-based Daniel Peregrina, who handles real estate investment and litigation.

Bär & Karrer AG’s ‘excellent team’ has a strong transactional bent and acts across a broad range of structured finance, capital markets and development work. It advised Mobimo Holding and the banks on Mobimo’s CHF200m rights offering. Practice head Corrado Rampini is ‘a leading choice for complex real estate investments’ and Ralph Malacrida is ‘a hands-on, no-nonsense capital markets specialist’.

CMS’ group is ‘quick and supportive, and goes to great length to protect the client’s interests’. Stefan Gerster heads the practice, which acts on property financing, real estate sales and purchases, and investment work. The practice has been busy with tourism industry instructions recently, including advising an investor on the CHF180m acquisition of two hotels. Associate Sibylle Schnyder is also recommended.

Considered by some to be ‘the most commercial practice in the market’, Lenz & Staehelin has ‘top-notch response times and an in-depth knowledge of the area’. It acts for institutional investors, funds, banks, rating agencies, and private clients, and is equally well respected for both transactional and contentious matters. The practice, which is jointly led by Zurich-based Beat Kühni and Geneva-based Andreas Rötheli, acted for Fides Properties on the CHF43m sale of a property in Geneva during 2012.

Real estate and construction specialist Baur Hürlimann AG is ‘a recognised leader in real estate issues and all supplementary areas’. The firm has a strong record in construction disputes, as well as solid transactional capability, and it advises across all the relevant niche areas including planning, environment and contracts. Roland Hürlimann is the key contact.

Meyerlustenberger Lachenal’s real estate group handles the full range of finance, tax and transactional work for real estate companies and investors. Wolfgang Müller is ‘pragmatic and co-operative’, and Thomas Lustenberger is also highly regarded.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s ‘very responsive, knowledgeable and commercial’ practice has expertise in transactional real estate and contentious construction matters. Geneva-based Yves Jeanrenaud, who heads the practice nationally, led advice to Züblin Immobilien on its CHF73.4m sale of a building to Swiss Life. Zurich head of real estate Josef Caleff and Zurich head of construction Nathalie Voser are also recommended, and the team also includes newly promoted arbitration and construction partner Christopher Boog.

Walder Wyss Ltd’s Johannes Bürgi is recommended for his ‘robust technical knowledge’ and led advice to Citigroup and a syndicate of international lenders on a private equity investor’s CHF350m sale of a group of hotels to a real estate fund. Bürgi co-heads the team with Francis Nordmann and Marco Strahm.

BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC’s practice continues to gain profile under the leadership of Yves de Coulon. It advises on transactions, construction and zoning issues, and acts for real estate investment companies, property management firms and private clients.

Homburger strikes a good balance between transactional, construction and contentious matters, and recently advised Alpiq on the planning and construction of a new nuclear power plant. Other clients include Fairmont Hotels.

Lalive’s strength in dispute resolution translates into real estate and construction litigation, but it also has experience in transactional matters. It recently advised a Saudi-based conglomerate on the structuring of its Swiss operations and the acquisition of commercial real estate. Michael Schneider has the ‘perfect combination of great experience, maximum pragmatism and deep knowledge’.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG has a strong record in corporate real estate and, in 2012, the firm advised DAL Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing on the sale of several real estate properties to transGourmet Schweiz. Practice head Andreas Vögeli is ‘excellent’.

Pestalozzi’s ‘extremely professional’ practice is recommended for its ‘comprehensive support and skills and superior business acumen’. Anne-C Imhoff and Michael Lips jointly head the group, which recently advised Johnson & Johnson on real estate matters pertaining to the divestiture of its trauma business.

Staiger, Schwald & Partner recently advised a global insurance company on its Swiss real estate portfolio including construction contracts, tenancy law and construction projects.

BMG Avocats advises on construction matters, lease and rental agreements, and property transactions. Nicolas Wisard and Isabelle Salomé Daïna are the main contacts.

During 2012, Badertscher Rechtsanwälte AG/ Attorneys at Law advised on road construction projects, real estate investments and tenancy issues.

Construction is a growing area for Bill Isenegger Ackermann AG, which is advising a consortium of several large energy suppliers in a major European energy infrastructure project.

Borel & Barbey has a good track record in real estate finance but also advises owners and developers on property transactions.

Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob ‘understands the client’s business and particular needs’, and ‘always finds the appropriate expert for any specialist area’. The practice is particularly expert in construction matters.

Bürgi Nägeli Lawyers advises businesses, public authorities and private clients on real estate transactions, construction and property litigation.

Boutique firm Eulau Recher Oppliger & Glauser specialises in advising on construction law and property transactions, as well as energy and environmental law.

Python & Peter’s construction practice successfully obtained a building permit for the Montana Aminona Mirax resort project before the Supreme Court.

Suter Howald Attorneys at Law acts on residential and commercial property matters, and recently advised a foreign retail company on real estate issues associated with its entry into Switzerland.

Tavernier Tschanz provides ongoing advice to a leading US real estate fund, and has experience in corporate and finance matters.

Vischer provides ongoing advice to IBO Management, Zug and Zwimpfer Partner Architects on public and private construction law and planning issues. Practice head Michael Pfeifer is ‘effective and efficient’.

Wenger Plattner advises on real estate transactions and building permits, as well as contentious and non-contentions construction matters. Thomas Wetzel is recommended.