The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie Zurich’s team is headed by Markus Berni in Zurich and Daniel Peregrina in Geneva. It advised a multinational banking institution on a strategy for renegotiating mainframe agreements, and represented a multinational clothing manufacturer in a software dispute concerning overuse.

Bär & Karrer SA regularly advises clients on outsourcing projects, as well as M&A and joint ventures in the IT and media industries. Recent instructions include acting in an ICC arbitration regarding media rights; and drafting joint venture agreements. Michele Bernasconi is the key contact in the six-partner team, which resides in Geneva and Lugano.

Georg Rauber and David Rosenthal head Homburger’s ‘smart, successful and helpful’ team, which boasts key clients including Google, Huawei and Philip Morris Group. It acted for Suva on a large-scale IT project involving new integrated solutions. The team has also represented an internet service provider in numerous defamation and copyright infringement matters.

Lenz & Staehelin’s ‘efficient’ team is appreciated for its ‘practical and very good value’ advice. Clients include Xerox, Equinix and Amazon.com, and it also advised Valartis Bank on outsourcing securities services. Zurich team head Lukas Morscher is ‘very responsive’ and ‘provides fast, efficient and practical advice’. Guy Vermeil leads the Geneva team.

Python & Peter’s team is led by Pierre-Yves Gunter and Thomas Legler. This Geneva-based group is expert in the IT sector, and in particular the drafting of licensing, maintenance, integration or outsourcing agreements, as well as data protection.

Walder Wyss Ltd is ‘one of the top law firms in Switzerland for providing legal advice on complex global outsourcing projects’, and provides ‘consistently excellent and appropriate’ advice. The team advises clients – including Zurich Financial Services – on telecoms, infrastructure sharing, software licensing agreements and contractual and regulatory matters. Mark Reutter and Hans Rudolf Trüeb head the team, and are recommended along with popular managing associate Christophe Marclay, who provides ‘sound legal judgement, a pragmatic, hands-on approach’, and ‘thinks outside the box’.

BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC’s ‘absolutely superb’ team is active in technology transactions, outsourcing and IT, branding and advertising. However, former group head Michel Jaccard recently left to found id est attorneys LLC.

BMG Avocats’ Geneva-based team advises on contentious and non-contentious TMT matters, particularly for clients in the watches, luxury goods and sports sectors. Sylvie Gurry-Veit heads the team.

Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob’s ‘commitment and dedication are a real asset’, and it advises on a range of matters including telecoms and IT acquisitions. Reto Arpagaus and Simon Osterwalder jointly head the team and are recommended.

Kellerhals Attorneys at Law advises clients in the TV and new technology sectors. Daniel Alder is recommended, as is Mario Marti for outsourcing matters.

Lalive’s ‘innovative and able’ TMT practice has experience in advising clients on structuring and financing large telecoms deals. TMT dispute resolution is another area of great strength. Georges Racine and Domitille Baizeau are the key contacts.

meyerlustenberger provides ‘good response times, good industry knowledge and value for money’. Reinhard Oertli, an expert in internet and cross-technology solutions, is recommended along with Armin Zucker, a media disputes and regulatory expert, and Simon Holzer, who acts at the interface of IP and technology issues.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG acted for BSI on outsourcing a portion of its IT operations. France Télécom is also a client. Outsourcing and IT expert András Gurovits co-heads the team with Peter Honegger, who specialises in broadcasting and media arrangements.

Pestalozzi’s two-partner team acts for clients including Groupon and AT&T, and advised Microsoft on the implementation of cloud applications and corresponding legal frameworks. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer and Clara-Ann Gordon are recommended.

Andrea Mondini leads the three-partner team at Schellenberg Wittmer, which is based in Zurich and Geneva. It acts for clients including KPN International and Samsung, and drafted a master services agreement under Swiss law for a leading US provider of wireless telecoms equipment.

Tavernier Tschanz’s Geneva-based team advises domestic and international clients on computer hardware and software, telecoms and other hi-tech or media matters. Jacques Bonvin heads the practice.

Vischer’s expertise in IT and online and broadcasting services attracts clients including Swisscom, Hostpoint and Condor. Rolf Auf der Mauer has ‘a thorough understanding of the TV, media and telecoms industry’, and is ‘very well connected’ in the Swiss media industry.

Wenger Plattner advises clients in the pharmaceuticals, chemicals and financial services industries on telecoms agreements, outsourcing, software contracts and service level agreements. This Basel-based team includes Bernhard Heusler and Roland Mathys, both of whom are recommended.

Altenburger Ltd legal + tax advises a number of producers and record companies.

Badertscher Rechtsanwälte AG/ Attorneys at Law’s Thomas Rinderknecht and Annekathrin Meier advise on software and telecoms agreements and outsourcing contracts.

Robert Briner leads CMS von Erlach Henrici Ltd’s three-partner team, which acts for several software houses and banks. It advised SwissICT as part of an expert committee drafting a widely used set of IT-related standard contracts.

Froriep Renggli advises on contentious and non-contentious TMT matters with particular experience in IT outsourcing projects, software development, licences, maintenance contracts and service agreements. Lucien Valloni is a sports law expert.

Zurich and Zug-based MME Partners advises on TMT matters, but particularly IT agreements.

Mathis Berger leads Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte’s three-partner practice, which advises on media, technology and IP law. Clients include a privately owned Swiss TV station, which it advises on regulatory and general media matters.

Prager Dreifuss AG has experience in media and sports law, outsourcing and technology transfer matters. Ralph Butz is recommended.

Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte advises internet, mobile and satellite providers on regulatory issues and also has expertise in gaming and betting technology.

Wyss Wiesli Rechtsanwälte acts for clients on a range of matters including IT outsourcing agreements, service level agreements and gaming and social networking ventures.