The Legal 500

Bär & Karrer AG’s broad-based TMT practice advised Apax Partners on its CHF2bn acquisition of Orange Communications, and successfully represented UEFA in a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport relating to sanctions against FC Sion. Michele Bernasconi heads the department.

According to clients, Homburger is ‘the only choice if you need the best legal specialists and support in important projects’. Practice co-head Georg Rauber is recommended, particularly for his ability ‘to speak on clear and even terms with management’, and fellow co-head David Rosenthal is ‘simply the best data privacy lawyer in Switzerland’. Among its recent highlights, the firm successfully represented Google in landmark data protection litigation relating to its Street View service.

Lenz & Staehelin’s TMT practice advises on transactions, regulations and litigation including issues relating to outsourcing, public procurement, software development, and ICT contracts. In 2012, Lukas Morscher led advice to Panalpina World Transport on the global rollout of its SAP software. Other clients include Singtel, Sunrise Communications and Tata Communications.

Walder Wyss Ltd’s clients rate it as ‘the best in the IT industry and especially in Swiss procurement law’, and ‘by far the best law firm in Switzerland for outsourcing projects’. The team is jointly led by Mark Reutter, who clients recommend for ‘combining in-depth academic knowledge with the practical drive to get results’, and Hans Rudolf Trüeb, who has ‘a quick mind and excellent knowledge of the IT industry’. The firm successfully assisted moneyhouse.ch in lifting a provisional ban requested by the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (EDÖB), which temporarily forbade the company to carry out its person search service.

In 2012, BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC suffered a blow with the departure of former team head Michel Jaccard, who left to found id est avocats sàrl, but it still has an active practice in regulatory and corporate TMT matters.

Baker & McKenzie advises across the full spread of corporate and finance-related areas but particularly shines in regulatory and contentious work, and recently represented a major media client in an abuse of dominance case.

New boutique id est avocats sàrl has ‘excellent knowledge of new technologies’, and clients appreciate the team for being ‘genuinely interested in what we do’. Michel Jaccard is ‘an uncontested specialist for IT and internet-related Swiss legal matters’. Clients include internet providers and technology companies, as well as institutional and corporate end users.

Lalive’s lawyers show ‘excellent responsiveness and attention to detail’, as well as ‘problem-solving attitudes’. Technology, media publishing and telecoms are all strong areas for the team, which advised a Middle Eastern publishing house on establishing a joint venture with Bloomsbury Publishing.

Meyerlustenberger Lachenal advises telecoms companies, service providers and end users on regulatory, developmental and transactional issues. Reinhard Oertli is ‘an industry leader in IT matters’.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG has ‘excellent command of both technical legal issues and the telecoms industry’. The firm advised Orange Communications on its CHF2bn sale to Apax Partners. Key contacts András Gurovits and Daniel Eisele are ‘precise, professional and experienced’.

Pestalozzi provides ongoing advice to Infor Global Solutions on outsourcing agreements for IT services. Other clients include Microsoft, Groupon Group and Johnson & Johnson. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer and Clara-Ann Gordon are the names to note.

Python & Peter has a good track record in litigation relating to telecoms and media clients, and also advises on transactions. It recently assisted Zong during its $240m acquisition by eBay. Pierre-Yves Gunter and Thomas Legler are the key contacts.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s strong telecoms practice acts for clients such as Orange, Cablecom and Dutch telecoms provider KPN International. Andrea Mondini and Jürg Borer are the practice co-heads.

Jacques Bonvin heads Tavernier Tschanz’s practice, which advises on software development, systems integration and outsourcing issues. Recent clients include several Swiss and foreign start-up companies in the software, internet and biotech fields.

Vischer has recently advised telecoms operators and digital media companies on issues relating to online distribution, licensing matters and M&A. Rolf Auf der Maur is recommended.

Wenger Plattner has a strong presence in IT matters, and is advising a major Swiss bank on the implementation of a significant outsourcing project and services agreement with a global provider. Basel-based Roland Mathys heads the practice.

Altenburger Ltd legal + tax is recommended for its broad entertainment practice. Clients include publishing and distributing companies in the film, music and TV industries.

BMG Avocats has a strong presence in the sports and entertainment sectors, and also advises on technology transfers and IT law. Sylvie Gurry-Veit is the main contact.

Badertscher Rechtsanwälte AG/ Attorneys at Law acts for clients in the software, media publishing and technology industries. Markus Doerig is the key contact.

Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob’s media, entertainment and sports group covers a wide range of television rights, advertising issues and rights marketing. The firm also has an active telecoms practice.

CMS’ Robert Briner advised several user groups in the banking sector during a competition case concerning ISIN (international securities identification number) usage.

Froriep Renggli is strong in the media, sports and communications sectors. Clients include Swiss media monitoring service, Argus der Presse, as well as football teams and individual athletes.

GHR Rechtsanwälte advised a global provider of telephone directory assistance services on telecoms deregulation in Switzerland.

Kellerhals Attorneys at Law has strong capability in the TV, new technology and outsourcing sectors. IT and IP specialist Daniel Alder is recommended.

MME Partners handles IT projects and also has expertise in gaming, live entertainment and ticketing laws.

Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG’s Mathis Berger represented a software developer in the litigious dissolution of a development agreement.

Prager Dreifuss AG advises listed and private companies on media and IP law. The firm also has strong experience in outsourcing and technology transfers.

Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte is ‘a small firm but in the telecoms field it is top in quality, price and timing’. David Känzig is recommended for his ‘excellent knowledge of the telecoms industry and outstanding background as a transactional lawyer’.

Technology law is a mainstay practice at Wyss Wiesli Rechtsanwälte, which handles IT outsourcing, licensing and data protection issues.