The Legal 500

Within Geneva, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Martin Anderson and Frédéric Bétrisey lead Baker & McKenzie Geneva’s team, which has notable strength in advising public institutions on their borrowings and acted for a large public institution on three separate bond issues, with lead managers in the matter being UBS and certain Swiss cantonal banks. Stephanie Jarrett is also recommended.

Within Zurich, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich acted for Zürcher Kantonal Bank on a CHF6bn syndicated secured revolving working capital facility for a food producer, and for UBS on a syndicated acquisition term loan and working capital facility for a Swiss-listed company. BIBM is also a client. Lukas Glanzmann and Markus Affentranger head the team, the former being an expert in credit facilities and restructuring, and the latter specialising in acquisition finance and syndicated loans.

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich’s ‘respected and able’ practice acted for OC Oerlikon on its large rights offering and for Schmolz & Bickenbach on its CHF300m capital increase. Geneva-based Martin Anderson leads the team in conjunction with Theodor Härtsch and Matthias Courvoisier in Zurich.

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Geneva’s ‘erudite and hardworking’ team is led by Rodolphe Gautier and Daniel Peregrina, and handles domestic and international arbitration matters in conjunction with Zurich colleagues led by Richard Gassmann. Areas of expertise for the firm include M&A, banking, public law, trust and white-collar crime disputes. Cross-border litigation with a banking dimension is a significant part of the practice.

Within EU, competition and WTO, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich’s team is led by Peter Reinert and Philippe Reich in Zurich, and senior associate Hubert Orso Gillieron in Geneva. The team represented Estée Lauder in the Swiss Competition Commission’s cosmetics and perfumery cartel investigation and advised various international and Swiss clients on export control and sanction matters with the Swiss trade supervisory authority.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich’s five-partner team recently advised AE&E Holdings on insolvency proceedings and the subsequent sale of companies, and continues to advise OC Oerlikon Corporation on comprehensive financial restructuring. Urs Schenker, Florian Bommer and ‘very good attorney’ Richard Gassmann are all recommended.

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich acts for clients including Estée Lauder and Cloetta Fazer. It advised ESPRIT International on managing its European IP portfolio including numerous disputes across the continent. It also advised Kraft Foods on IP issues relating to its European reorganisation. Nicolas Passadelis and Michael Treis are recommended.

Within Geneva, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Geneva’s ‘highly effective and efficient’ practice has strength in several areas, especially banking and finance, capital markets and M&A. Recommended figures include managing partner Martin Anderson in M&A, Stephanie Jarrett in private banking, and Daniel Peregrina.

Within Zurich, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich’s 28-partner team is well placed in the market and has depth in all areas. Managing partner Urs Schenker is recommended, as is real estate partner Alexander Wyss, Beat Mathys in M&A and disputes, Martin Frey in M&A and private equity matters, and Matthias Courvoisier in capital markets.

Within Legal market overview,

The key players in the market remain the same, generally fielding larger and more well-rounded practices: these include Bär & Karrer AG, Baker & McKenzie Geneva, Homburger, Schellenberg Wittmer, Lenz & Staehelin and Niederer Kraft & Frey AG. Walder Wyss Ltd has had a successful year with many commenting on its growing strength.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich’s team is led by Zurich-based Matthias Courvoisier and Geneva-based Martin Anderson. It advised Ascom Holding on acquiring the TEMS business division from Ericsson, and Martin Furrer advised a private investor on the acquisition of Kägi Söhne.

Within Private banking, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Geneva’s team is led by Stephanie Jarrett in Geneva and Marnin Michaels in Zurich. The team is highly regarded in the market and acts for a host of top-drawer trusts, individuals and banks. Areas of note include tax transparency and compliance, anti-money-laundering advice, trusts and succession matters.

Within Public sector, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Geneva focuses on international public law for various clients, many of which are organisations connected to the United Nations. The firm has strong construction and environmental law credentials and a strong litigation practice. Daniel Peregrina is the key name.

Within Real estate and construction, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Zurich advised Pensionskasse der F. Hoffmann-La Roche on its CHF640m acquisition of a portfolio of 660 Swiss properties, which was sold by a private company fully controlled by the Swiss Federation. The team is headed by three individuals, namely Martin Furrer and Alexander Wyss in Zurich and Daniel Peregrina in Geneva.

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

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.