The Legal 500

Legal Developments in Switzerland

• Finding an International Mediator

  Identifying Suitable Candidates to Mediate an International Commercial Dispute
  - Altenburger

• Switzerland to adopt OECD standard on exchange of information

  This Homburger Bulletin shall give an overview over the exchange of information in fiscal affairs (administrative assistance) under the recently concluded double taxation treaties by Switzerland.
  - Homburger

• Recent developments in the regulatory environment for alternative investment service providers

  In the wake of the recent crisis in the international credit markets, alternative investment funds are also a target for new regulations, while Switzerland and other prominent financial centres continue to compete to attract alternative investment funds and asset managers. This article outlines recent developments in the Swiss regulatory environment for alternative investment service providers.
  - Walder Wyss & Partners

• Switzerland: Environment Legislation 2010

  Switzerland: Environment Legislation 2010
  - Niederer Kraft & Frey

• Proposed Swiss Bank Deposits Protection Law

  In response to the recent crisis in global credit markets and the insolvency of numerous banks worldwide, the Swiss Parliament passed an emergency law in December 2008 to expand protection for Swiss bank depositors. On 14 September 2009 public consultation on permanent legislation has begun. This NewsLetter summarizes and appraises the proposed Federal Law on the Protection of Bank Deposits (the ”Deposits Protection Law”or ”DPL”).
  - Walder Wyss & Partners

• New Internet Generic Top-Level Domains - Getting Them and Disputing Them

  Beginning in 2010, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will launch its new Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) program. A ‘top level domain’ is the extension that consists of three or more characters at the end of an internet address, such as .com, .org or .info. The new gTLD program will allow private and public entities to apply for the gTLD of their choice, expanding the 21 gTLDs in operation today to a potentially unlimited number.
  - Walder Wyss & Partners

• Swiss Tax Amnesty

  On 1 January 2010, the Swiss Federal Law on the Simplification of Additional Taxation for Inheritances and the Introduction of Self-Reporting without punishment will enter into force. This News-Letter deals with specific issues in this regard.
  - Walder Wyss & Partners

• London Exodus to Geneva Runs Into Housing, School Shortages

  Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Geneva, touted as a haven for London bankers facing heavier U.K. taxes, may lure fewer than predicted thanks to a housing shortage, crowded schools and a 44 percent income-tax rate.
  - Altenburger

• SWISS IP&TECHNOLOGY BRIEFING - NOVEMBER 2009

  The legal argument over whether Nestlé Schweiz AG (“Nestlé”) may introduce its bitesize-snack KIT KAT POP CHOC into the Swiss market is fi nally settled.
  - Froriep Renggli

• Neue Arbeitszeitbestimmungen im Gesundheitsbereich

  Der Bundesrat hat am 27.November 2009 die Revision der Verordnung 2 zum Arbeitsgesetz vom 10.Mai 2000 (ArGV 2) beschlossen. Neu geregelt werden im Gesundheitswesen die zulässige Anzahl aufeinanderfolgender Arbeitstage,die Nachtarbeit und der Pikettdienst. Die Änderungen treten am 1. Januar 2010 in Kraft. Die für den Arbeitgeber günstigeren Bedingungen hinsichtlich der Verlängerung der Arbeitswoche und der Nachtarbeit müssen jedoch in den Anstellungsbedingungen konkretisiert werden, damit sieWirkung entfalten können und Kostensparpotential ausgenutzt werden kann.
  - Walder Wyss & Partners