The Legal 500

Within Zurich, Walder Wyss Ltd is a second tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd has been busy with structured finance work and also handled a good flow of traditional financings, funds-related transactions and acquisition financings. Johannes Bürgi heads the team, which advised US-based Mettler-Toledo International on an $870m credit agreement.

Within Capital markets, Walder Wyss Ltd is a first tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd has ‘in-house expertise across all fields required for securitisation’, and recently ‘developed an in-depth knowledge of a new and unique segment’. The practice’s lawyers are highly regarded for their ‘practical knowledge of how to get things done in Switzerland’, with the ‘technically robust’ Johannes Bürgi and the ‘extremely responsive and knowledgeable’ Francis Nordmann being singled out. The team is advising JPMorgan Chase and UBS on a capital increase by a SIX-listed company and also advised the Klöckner Group on a large private placement bonds issuance.

Within Dispute resolution, Walder Wyss Ltd is a second tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd provides ‘legal advice of outstanding quality’ under ‘highly responsive and knowledgeable’ practice head Dieter Hofmann. Among recent cases, the team represented a steel manufacturer in a contract dispute regarding the design and delivery of steel structures for energy projects in Germany and Slovenia. Peter Straub is recommended for his ‘quick grasp of processes and procedures and strategic planning’.

Within EU, competition and WTO, Walder Wyss Ltd is a second tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd is recommended for its ‘good industry knowledge, strong advice and reasonable rates’. Reto Jacobs heads this two-partner team, which recently advised Swiss retailer Migros on merger clearance issues pertaining to its acquisition of Digitec, and also represented two large construction companies in an SCC investigation into price fixing. Hans Rudolf Trüeb is the other key contact.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Walder Wyss Ltd is a second tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd leverages its excellence in financial services to specialise in advising banks on insolvency matters, but also acts for debtors. In 2012, the firm successfully represented former German construction company Walter Bau, and its liquidator, before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in proceedings brought by the Kingdom of Thailand.

Within Intellectual property, Walder Wyss Ltd is a first tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd is regarded by some as being ‘the top-notch IP law firm in Switzerland’, and is recommended for its ‘hands-on, strategic lawyers’. It successfully represented Mega Brands in a claim to invalidate LEGO’s three-dimensional trade marks. Practice head Magda Streuli-Youssef is ‘a pleasure to work with because of her friendly personality and excellent knowledge of the law’. ‘Young, bright "new-generation" lawyer’ Markus Frick has ‘an uncanny ability to cut through legal jargon to the heart of the issue’.

Within Zurich, Walder Wyss Ltd is a second tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd continues to strengthen its reputation as a strong alternative to the market leaders on the back of its ‘excellent value for money’ and ‘impressive client service’. Contentious construction partner Peter Straub is ‘excellent’, Mark Reutter is ‘the absolute top shot in outsourcing’, and Magda Streuli-Youssef is recommended for IP.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Walder Wyss Ltd is a second tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd has ‘outstanding understanding of the client’s business’ and gives ‘to-the-point and practical advice’. The ‘very experienced and highly efficient’ Markus Vischer and the ‘technically outstanding’ Urs Gnos jointly head the practice, which advised the founding shareholders of Galaxus on Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund’s purchase of a 30% stake in Galaxus. Other clients include Plancal Holding, Acronis and CabTec.

Within Public sector, Walder Wyss Ltd is a first tier firm,

Walder Wyss Ltd, which has a strong international arbitration practice, is acting in several arbitrations relating to public international law. Transport and financial services are particular areas of focus.

Within Real estate and construction, Walder Wyss Ltd is a second tier firm,

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.

Within TMT, Walder Wyss Ltd is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Tax, Walder Wyss Ltd is a first tier firm,

Thomas Meister heads Walder Wyss Ltd’s team, which has strong expertise in tax relating to structured finance. Tax litigation, real estate taxation and corporate support are also strong areas of activity. Recent work includes advising banks on the tax aspects of several landmark securitisation programmes.