The Legal 500

Homburger is ‘the strongest firm in Zurich’ for tax matters, providing standalone tax counsel as well as advising on the tax implications of corporate transactions and reorganisations, management buyouts, and private equity and venture capital investments, particularly in a cross-border context. Peter Riedweg, Eveline Saupper and Dieter Grünblatt are recommended.

Lenz & Staehelin’s tax advice is ‘appropriate, focused and practical’. Clients include Barclays Private Equity, Rothschild Group and Tetra Pak. It advised Exceet Group on tax implications of the indirect IPO of the client through its acquisition by SPAC Helikos. In Zurich, Heini Rüdisühli is recommended along with Pascal Hinny, who shows ‘excellent technical strength and good personal skills’. Jean-Blaise Eckert in Geneva and Lucien Masmejan in Lausanne are also recommended.

‘Not large but very, very good’, specialist tax boutique Oberson & Partners advises on domestic and international tax matters. Areas of strength include corporate tax, VAT, customs and inter-cantonal taxes and private client issues. Xavier Oberson is ‘very much in demand’.

Walder Wyss Ltd’s ‘very effective and commercial’ six-partner team has advised various foreign banks and broker dealers in tax litigation with the Swiss Federal Tax Administration. Team head Thomas Meister and expert tax litigator Markus Desax are recommended.

Baker & McKenzie Zurich advises on tax aspects of M&A, joint ventures, company listings and restructurings. Zurich-based Hans-Andrée Koch and Geneva-based Denis Berdoz head the practice.

Bär & Karrer AG is ‘professional, responsive’, and displays ‘very good industry knowledge’. This five-partner team assisted a client on successfully negotiating double tax treaty issues with the communal, cantonal and federal tax administrations. Robert Waldburger is ‘an outstanding tax adviser’, and practice head Raoul Stocker has ‘good technical knowledge in Swiss and international tax law, and is very successful in negotiating with tax authorities’.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG’s ‘very active’ and ‘highly regarded’ team acted for Schulthess Group on tax aspects of the voluntary public takeover offer from Sweden’s NIBE Group. Thomas Graf, Markus Kronauer and Daniela Schmucki are recommended.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s ‘highly responsive and business-minded’ team acted for Sal. Opeenheim jr. & Cie. on the Swiss tax law aspects of the sale and transfer of two of its investment banking business units to ASX-listed Macquarie Group. Geneva-based Pietro Sansonetti is recommended along with Zurich-based Michael Nordin and Harun Can.

Altenburger Ltd legal + tax is well regarded and is ‘very good for US tax matters’. The team advises on the tax implications of M&A deals, real estate transactions, reorganisations and indirect tax and private client issues. Peter Altenburger is recommended.

FBT Attorneys-at-Law demonstrates ‘a very high level of expertise and a strong commitment to the client relationship’. It has a substantial practice handling tax disclosures for French clients, and also advises on general corporate, banking or financing taxation issues. Team head Monica Favre provides ‘priceless’ advice to clients and is ably supported by Jean-Luc Bochatay and a team of ‘brilliant young lawyers’.

Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés advises corporations and high-net-worth individuals on direct and indirect tax matters and tax structuring. Pierre Gillioz is recommended for corporate tax and Nicole Fragnière Meyer for advice on VAT.

Urs Behnisch’s team at meyerlustenberger has expertise in national and international tax law, the tax implications of corporate transactions and restructuring, capital markets matters, as well as tax planning and insurance tax.

Pestalozzi’s clients appreciate its ‘professional service, short response times and profound knowledge’. It advised Glencore on the tax aspects of its $10bn IPO. Pierre-Olivier Gehriger and Maja Bauer-Balmelli are ‘very experienced on a national and international level’, and have ‘an excellent reputation and network in the tax world’.

Python & Peter has ‘a good name in the sector’ and fields recommended partners Etienne von Streng, Frédéric Gante and Stéphane Fiora. It has expertise in tax planning and negotiations in all areas of Swiss federal, cantonal, inter-cantonal and international taxation.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP’s team is led by Jonathan Ivinson and acts for clients including Super-Max, Regent Trust and Aylesford International. The group advises on inbound Swiss tax matters, tax structures and private equity.

BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC demonstrates ’a high level of commitment and a pragmatic approach’. Real estate tax, redomiciliation and international assistance and disclosures are areas of strength. Group head Dominique Christin ‘understands the client’s needs and finds the best solutions’.

Bill Isenegger Ackermann AG has an excellent client base and a strong range of capabilities in personal tax for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, corporate tax restructuring and the tax implications of M&A. Tobias Rohner and team head Walter Frei are recommended.

Borel & Barbey’s ‘strong’ tax group supports the excellent private client team.

Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob is praised for its ‘first-class advice’ and ‘in-depth legal knowledge’. Bern-based Bruno Rieder heads the team.

CMS von Erlach Henrici Ltd’s areas of specialism include international tax, information and exchange, and general corporate and commercial tax matters. Daniel Hürlimann heads the team, which also includes Hans Wille and Bernhard Lötscher.

Danielle Wenger heads Froriep Renggli’s tax group, which advises a range of corporate and private clients.

Gerhard Roth’s ‘hardworking and successful’ team at GHR Rechtsanwälte acted for Stettler Sapphire on the tax implications of its sale to private equity firm Equita. Michael Walther is recommended.

Kellerhals Attorneys at Law advises clients on national and international direct and indirect taxation. Christian Witschi, Peter Rickli and VAT expert Ivo Baumgartner are recommended.

Gerrit Straub’s team at Klein Attorneys Ltd advises on tax planning, reorganisation and tax-efficient structuring of international holding and trading companies.

Walter Boss’ team at Poledna Boss Kurer AG is recommended.

George Rosenberg’s team at Rosenberg, Keren-Polak, Epelman, Advocates aids its high-net-worth Israeli clients on tax matters with a Swiss dimension.

Nathalie Peter heads the tax team at Staiger, Schwald & Partner Ltd.

Tavernier Tschanz’s Andrio Orler advises clients on Swiss direct and indirect taxation.

Umbricht Rechtsanwälte has a wide range of tax expertise, including Daniel Holenstein’s knowledge of criminal tax matters. Robert Umbricht is noted for tax advice to high-net-worth individuals.

Christoph Niederer joined Vischer in 2010 to bolster the team following a number of departures. The new-look group advises international and domestic clients on large transactions and financing agreements.

Wenger & Vieli’s Stephan Hürlimann and Barbara Brauchli Rohrer advised Peach Property Group on the tax aspects of its CHF200m IPO.