The Legal 500

Back to Legal500 home

Baker & McKenzie

RUE PEDRO-MEYLAN 5, 1208 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto and 73 more

Switzerland : Banking and finance

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

Baker & McKenzie’s three-partner group provides ‘quick responses from qualified people and practicable advice’, and its ‘international network is particularly helpful in cross-border cases’. In 2011, the ‘highly pragmatic’ Frédéric Bétrisey advised Aareal Bank on the refinancing of an acquisition loan. Practice head Martin Anderson is also recommended.

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

Baker & McKenzie provides ‘more practical solutions’ than many, and its extensive international network ‘allows it to provide strong support in cross-border matters’. Prominent market figure Lukas Glanzmann led advice to UBS, and another bank, as mandated lead arrangers of the financing of a takeover of a Frankfurt-listed company.

Switzerland : Capital markets

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

‘An efficient, user-friendly and commercial choice’, Baker & McKenzie provides ‘more practical solutions than some of its competitors’. Its strong position in the Swiss market is evidenced by a broad deal sheet that spans rights offerings, IPOs and bond offerings. Co-led by Martin Anderson in Geneva, and Theodor Härtsch and Matthias Courvoisier in Zurich, the practice is excellent in both cities. In 2012, the firm advised Fundamenta Real Estate on a CHF30m rights offering. Other clients include Yorkville Advisors and Weatherford International.

Switzerland : Dispute resolution

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

Baker & McKenzie’s eight-partner practice is led by Rodolphe Gautier and Daniel Peregrina in Geneva and Richard Gassmann in Zurich, and includes the newly promoted partner Anne-Catherine Hahn. The team acts for the full spectrum of private clients, mid-sized companies and major multinational brand manufacturers, and recent mandates include tax, licensing agreements and antitrust cases.

Switzerland : EU, competition and WTO

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

Baker & McKenzie successfully represented Estée Lauder before the Swiss Federal Administrative Court to challenge a CHF25m fine in a landmark case relating to information exchange, and is now representing the client in the subsequent appeal before the Swiss Competition Commission (SCC). The firm is also representing Panalpina before the SCC in its investigation of alleged participation in the freight forwarding cartel. Philippe Reich led advice in both cases and is highly recommended.

Switzerland : Insolvency and corporate recovery

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

Baker & McKenzie, which is ‘one of the top law firms for finance matters in Switzerland’, recently advised a financial services client on its worldwide restructuring, and also has extensive experience in contentious insolvency matters. Lukas Glanzmann is ‘excellent for restructuring work’.

Switzerland : Intellectual property

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

Baker & McKenzie impresses with its ‘ability to understand the clients’ services, activities and needs’. Michael Treis recently advised Parfums Christian Dior in trade mark litigation against Diodor Cosmetic. Nicolas Passadelis is also recommended.

Switzerland : Leading firms

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

Baker & McKenzie is particularly strong for banking and finance, corporate and private client work. Leading names include Stephanie Jarrett on the private client side, and Martin Anderson for M&A.

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

Baker & McKenzie’s managing partner Urs Schenker is a renowned and corporate finance specialist, and real estate expert Daniel Peregrina is also highly recommended. The firm has the additional resources of an office in Geneva and a strong international network that makes it an excellent choice in cross-border mandates.

Switzerland : Mergers and acquisitions

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

Baker & McKenzie is ‘excellent in all respects’, with clients highlighting the firm’s ‘pragmatic approach and deep knowledge – not only in legal but also in general business and tax matters’. The firm recently advised Argos Soditic on its acquisition of BMF Bartholet Maschinenbau. Geneva-based Martin Anderson and Zurich-based Urs Schenker head the practice, which includes the ‘excellent’ Martin Furrer, who is ‘top when it comes to efficiently structuring and successfully implementing complex transactions’.

Switzerland : Private banking

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

Baker & McKenzie’s private banking practice ‘understands the clients’ needs and operates accordingly’, and provides ‘state-of-the-art services’. The firm has acted on some of the most significant restructurings undertaken by private banks recently and continues to advise wealthy families, financial institutions, trust companies and government entities on wealth management matters. Zurich-based Marnin Michaels has ‘a high level of technical and industry knowledge’, and Geneva-based Stephanie Jarrett is ‘an undoubted star in the market’.

Switzerland : Public sector

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

Baker & McKenzie regularly advises on complex international public law issues for clients such as organisations connected to the United Nations. Particular areas of specialism include construction and environmental law, and the firm has strong litigation capability.

Switzerland : Real estate and construction

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

Baker & McKenzie recently advised Fundamenta Group on the establishment of an investment foundation and the refinancing of its listed investment vehicle. It also advised Sunnegga Investments and General Oriental Investment on their investments into a retail centre development. The practice co-heads are transactional specialists Martin Furrer and Alexander Wyss in Zurich, along with Geneva-based Daniel Peregrina, who handles real estate investment and litigation.

Switzerland : TMT

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

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.

Switzerland : Tax

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

‘Excellent in all respects’, Baker & McKenzie’s group has ‘a very high level of technical and industry knowledge’. Geneva-based Denis Berdoz and Zurich-based Hans-Andrée Koch jointly head the practice, which recently advised on the tax aspects of a cross-border merger between two foreign insurance groups.

Further information on Baker & McKenzie

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Baker & McKenzie in other jurisdictions.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Abu Dhabi

Argentina

Offices in Buenos Aires

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

Brazil

Offices in Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Chile

Offices in Santiago and Santiago

Colombia

Offices in Bogota and Bogota

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London EC4V and London EC4V

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Mexico

Offices in Juarez, Cancun, Tijuana, Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Offices in Doha

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

South Africa

Offices in Johannesburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Turkey

Offices in Istanbul and Istanbul

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

United States

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston

Venezuela

Offices in Valencia and Caracas

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • The New Turkish Code of Obligations: Important Changes for Leases of Residential & Business Premises

    For decades, the primary Turkish laws governing leases of residential and business premises have been the Law on Leasing Real Property dated May 27, 1955 (the “Lease Law”) and the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 818 dated April 22, 1926 (the “Obligations Code”). Both of these laws, however, will be repealed and replaced with the new Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 dated January 11, 2011 (the “New Obligations Code”), which will enter into force on July 7, 2012.
    - Esin Attorney Partnership

Legal Developments in Switzerland

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Minder-Initiative – need for action?

    On March 3, 2013, the Swiss people voted in a nationwide ballot in favor of the so called “rip-off” initiative by the businessman-turned-politician Thomas Minder...
    - Kellerhals Attorneys at Law

  • Dividing estates: Auction of a property by heirs or by the State?

    Dividing an estate can be - depending on its complexity and on the behavior of the heirs - quite complicated. Swiss Law gives a possibility to heirs and/or executors to call upon the State authorities to assist them in liquidating the deceased person's estate.
    - Umbricht Rechtsanwälte

  • Foreign insolvency administrators in Switzerland: The narrow and rocky path to claim recovery

    Foreign insolvency administrators facing the task of recovering assets located in Switzerland typically find themselves in an uncomfortable legal situation since:
    - Umbricht Rechtsanwälte

  • Collaboration between the communities in the Canton of Zurich

    Much importance is attached to the collaboration between the different communities in the Canton of Zurich. There is hardly any community today which, because of the number and complexity of their obligations, does not need to find it necessary to collaborate.
    - Umbricht Rechtsanwälte

  • Inheritance contracts under Swiss law: A valuable and binding instrument for international estates

    Inheritance contracts are only one possibility among many other matters to be kept in mind when trying to regulate one's own estate. Estate planning is, however, much more than just drawing up a will or setting up a trust or an inheritance contract. Estate planning has to be understood as an overall plan to regulate matters, while keeping in mind the possibility of retirement and the certainty of death with all appropriate consideration to the different areas of law. Following a decision recently published by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, this article tries to summarize the most important issues regarding inheritance contracts under Swiss law in an international environment.
    - Umbricht Rechtsanwälte

  • Provisional measures in Swiss Patent and other intellectual property Laws

    The Swiss Federal Patent Court has recently issued a decision of relevance regarding provisional measures relating to patents. It specifies that, at least in the field of intellectual property – not only patents –, a preliminary injunction may not be obtained in order to ascertain rights on intellectual property.
    - Umbricht Rechtsanwälte

  • News in limitation legal

    Am 1. Januar 2013 treten die neuen Verjährungsfristen für die Gewährleistung im Kauf­ und werkvertragsrecht in Kraft.
    - Kellerhals Attorneys at Law

  • News in stock exchange law

    Am 1.1.2013 wird das Börsenrecht verschärft. Die Kontrollprämie bei öffentlichen Übernahmen wird abgeschafft, das Insiderrecht wird ausgedehnt und die FINMA erhält mehr Kompetenzen. ...
    - Kellerhals Attorneys at Law

  • Cash Pooling - Options to optimize financing

    Als Cash Pooling wird der Liquiditätsausgleich innerhalb einer Unternehmensgruppe bezeichnet. Durch die koordinierte Verwendung von überschüssiger Liquidität von Gesellschaften innerhalb der Gruppe kann die Beanspruchung von Fremdkapital minimiert werden. Ferner können durch das koordinierte Auftreten gegen aussen, insbesondere infolge des grösseren Volumens, bessere Konditionen (Zinsvorteile) erzielt werden. Weniger Fremdkapital zu besseren Konditionen mit entsprechender Senkung der Fremdfinanzierungskosten ist die Folge. War Cash Pooling bis vor einigen Jahren vor allem ein Thema für Multinationals, haben mittlerweile mehr und mehr KMU's die Vorteile des zentralen Finanzmanagements für sich entdeckt. ...
    - Kellerhals Attorneys at Law

  • From the tighter control of the general terms and conditions to the reforms in e-commerce

    Am 17. Juni 2011 hat das Parlament der Revision des Bundesgesetzes über den unlauteren Wettbewerb zugestimmt, wodurch unlautere Geschäftspraktiken konsequenter unterbunden werden sollen. Die Revision umfasst einerseits Bestimmungen zu den sog. «Adressbuchschwindeleien», führt die erforderlichen Angaben beim elektronischen Geschäftsverkehr auf und schränkt die Verwendung missbräuchlicher Geschäftsbedingungen gegenüber Konsumenten strikter ein. Das vorliegende Kurz & Bündig gibt einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Neuerungen, welche gemäss Bundesratsbeschluss vom 12. Oktober 2011 am 1. April 2012 in Kraft treten werden, mit Ausnahme der Bestimmung über die allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen (AGB), welche erst auf den 1. Juli 2012 in Kraft gesetzt werden. ...
    - Kellerhals Attorneys at Law
© 2013 www.legal500.com