CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. > Zurich, Switzerland > Firm Profile

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Switzerland > Public law Tier 1

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. has particular strengths in public procurement law, administrative penal law, white-collar crime, economic sanctions, and competition law matters. Marquard Christen, who heads the team, has extensive experience representing and advising clients in administrative court proceedings concerning public procurement law. Bernhard Lötscher assists corporate and private clients in economic crime matters, handling criminal and regulatory investigations as well as international mutual assistance in administrative, criminal and civil matters. Julia Haas has a special focus on economic administrative law and regulated markets.

Switzerland > Competition Tier 2

Alongside extensive experience in competition law matters related to public procurement, ‘well-educated and experienced’ CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. fields a strong offering across cartels, distribution agreements and the implementation of comprehensive antitrust compliance programmes. The team covers a multitude of sectors from construction to consumer goods. ‘Business-oriented’ Marquard Christen, Patrick Sommer and Pascal Favre steer the team. Christen demonstrates strong capabilities in handling matters at the interface of competition and public procurement law, while Sommer includes merger control proceedings and antitrust compliance matters in his arsenal of skills. Favre is particularly experienced in the realm of distribution agreements.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 2

‘Superb’ CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. possesses a strong grounding across commercial, corporate and contractual disputes, with a prominent presence in the field of construction. Its strengths extend from automotive and insurance to IT and employment sectors. Co-lead Philipp Dickenmann is routinely entrusted by large banks, auditing and advisory companies to manage disputes, and fellow co-lead Daniel Kinzer has recently handled a significant real estate dispute alongside a host of white-collar, commercial and financial disputes. Christian Lüscher is adept in sports-related matters. Reto Hunsperger specialises in commercial and enforcement disputes. Jodok Wicki is another key contact.

Switzerland > Employment Tier 2

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. utilises its global network to support international clients with all employment-related matters, with particular expertise in the cross-border aspects of mobile working. Practice head Christian Gersbach advises corporate clients on drafting of employment contracts, employee representation, and dismissals. Daniel Kinzer represents employees and employers in both public and private court litigation. Miryam Meile has extensive expertise in employee leasing and cross-border assignments.

Switzerland > Insurance Tier 2

Capable of acting for a diverse range of clients, CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. is sought out for assistance with matters pertaining to legal, regulatory and tax advice in the insurance sphere. Key undertakings include the structuring, issuance, marketing and distribution of insurance products, alongside demonstrable capabilities in handling the drafting and review of policies and broker agreements. Jodok Wicki helms the practice, counting large insurance and reinsurance companies amongst his client roster. Kaspar Landolt’s wide-ranging experience encompasses corporate lending, insurance and collective investment schemes.

Switzerland > Private client Tier 2

The private client team at CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. focusses on domestic and international estate planning and litigation, and regularly caters to high-net worth individuals, families, and banks. Co-leading the team is Tobias Somary, who has extensive experience advising on prenuptial agreements, trusts, and succession planning. Pierre Ducret heads the team alongside him and is particularly skilled at navigating litigation with a cross-border element. Considered ‘a go-to practitioner for complex inheritance matters’, Louise Lutz Sciamanna also comes highly recommended.

Switzerland > Real estate and construction Tier 2

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. provides legal advice to both domestic and international clients on all aspects of real estate transactions, from acquisition and development to financing the sale of properties. The Zurich team is headed by Stefan Gerster, who has extensive experience in hotel and entertainment centre investments, and Sibylle Schnyder, who has a particular focus on real estate acquisitions and divestments. Olivier Carrard advises clients on commercial real estate transactions and co-heads the Geneva team together with Sidonie Morvan, who has expertise in tenancy law and real estate-related litigation. At the associate level, Thomas Zweifel and Delphine Di Nolfi are names to watch.

Switzerland > TMT Tier 2

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. provides a full service for all TMT-related matters including IT-procurement and sourcing, IT-based offerings in insurance and finance sectors, and regulation of telecommunications companies. Practice head Dirk Spacek has a primary focus on new business models arising in the media, internet, and technology sectors, as well as data commercialisation and intellectual property law. Alain Raemy has particular expertise in network-based industries and technology matters. Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser advises clients in connection with contentious and non-contentious issues relating to trade marks, copyrights, unfair competition, and advertisement.

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Geneva Tier 3

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. assists Switzerland-based and global financial institutions, funds, industrial enterprises and other companies on a broad range of banking & finance issues. The team is headed by Vaïk Müller, whose practice covers banking, regulatory, financial services and products, and compliance and regulatory matters, and Pascal Favre , who has extensive expertise in acquisition and project financing, corporate and syndicated lending, and collective investment schemes. Audrey Durand focuses on blockchain and crowdfunding projects as well as regulatory matters.

Switzerland > Capital markets Tier 3

Led by Matthias Kuert, CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.’s capital markets practice counts a consortium of clients, from global listed companies to industrial enterprises, in its roster. The team covers a variety of matters in the remit of capital markets, including fintech, proxy fights and an array of compliance issues. Kuert advises clients in general contract, commercial and financial law matters, while Tina Balzli is routinely engaged by leading Swiss and foreign financial institutions to handle a broad scope of matters.

Switzerland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

Drawing on its global network, the ‘very dedicated’ CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. acts for a stellar client roster across a diverse array of sectors, from energy and financial services to life sciences and technology. Key areas of expertise for the practice include private equity, transaction risk insurance and an extensive range of M&A. Stefan Brunnschweiler and Daniel Jenny, who are based in the Zurich office, and Pascal Favre and Jérôme Levrat, who are based in the Geneva office, spearhead the practice. Brunnschweiler is routinely entrusted to advise on strategic investments and M&A, while Jenny is well known for his capabilities in private equity and cross-border transactions. Favre enjoys a strong reputation with clients across the manufacturing, pharma, media and transport sectors, among others, and Levrat’s strengths lie in M&A and venture capital transactions, among others. Alain Raemy is also recommended.

Switzerland > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3

‘Quick thinker’ Dirk Spacek steers CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.’s data privacy practice, a team that is proficient in handling global data privacy, protection and information security matters for a diverse range of domestic and international clients. Spacek advises clients on an array of advisory, transactional and contentious work in this field, while Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser’s expertise comprises a variety of IT and IP issues. Julia Nitschke fields a considerable workload that incorporates arbitration and litigation related matters.

Switzerland > Fintech Tier 3

Steered by Tina Balzli, CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.’s ‘responsive, solution-oriented and creative’ fintech practice advises on matters pertaining to innovative payment services, digital assets brokerage and trading platforms as well as cryptocurrency exchanges. The team is able to utilise its extensive global network to benefit its clients. Well regarded for her ‘experience, personality and skills’, Balzli is knowledgeable across the full gamut of regulatory issues, among others. Matthias Kuert strengthens the practice with his expertise in general contract and corporate law matters.

Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

The broad team at CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. is well equipped to handle a variety of mandates involving patent enforcement actions, advertising and distribution issues, and tariff negotiations. The group is also noted for its handling of data protection matters and administrative proceedings concerning pricing. Practice co-head Christoph Willi assists numerous outpatient clinics and hospitals with agreements concerning rebate transfers and services. Co-head Patrick Sommer is well versed in matters concerning licenses for medical products, and remedial actions and disclosure to Swissmedic. Alain Raemy has extensive expertise in private M&A, contractual issues, and corporate restructurings.

Switzerland > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 3

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. has ‘deep legal knowledge’ on all insolvency and restructuring matters, regularly advises domestic and foreign financial creditors and debtors on judicial and non-judicial restructuring matters and corporate reorganisation measures, including non-performing loans, debt restructuring, and capital increases. The team is headed by Marjolaine Jakob who has a special focus on cross-border insolvency and restructuring law. Reto Hunsperger assists foreign insolvency administrators in enforcing claims and adding domestic assets to foreign insolvency estates.

Switzerland > Intellectual property Tier 3

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. uses its ‘excellent knowledge of IP and trade mark law’ to support Swiss-based and global clients with international IP transactions and litigations with particular strengths in the IP development and transfer agreements, pharma patent litigation, trade mark protection, and corporate IP transactions. Practice co-head Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser has expertise drafting and enforcement of contracts for the transfer of intellectual property rights, especially license and R&D agreements. Dirk Spacek, who co-heads the team alongside Birkhäuser, handles technical IP matters such as patent law as well as software- and media-copyright matters.

Switzerland > Sports law Tier 3

The sports practice at CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. is regularly instructed on sports litigation matters within ice hockey and football. The practice draws from the expertise of specialists from other practice areas as well as relying on its global network to support in complex mandates. Practice heads Pierre Ducret and Philipp Dickenmann both  represent clients in arbitration proceedings before CAS. Alongside being a CAS arbitrator, Olivier Carrard assists many young athletes and clubs pro bono.

Switzerland > Tax Tier 3

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. is a ‘one-stop shop’ handling the full spectrum of tax-related matters. Areas of strength include transfer pricing, estate planning, VAT and customs matters, and tax controversy issues. Mark Cagienard is ‘outstanding’ in corporate taxation matters at the domestic and cross-border level, with expertise in finance, VAT, and M&A. Cagienard leads alongside Andrio Orler, who advises on the tax elements of M&A, corporate reorganisations, and other cross-border transactions. David Hürlimann focuses on the particular taxation of groups, international tax, and tax accounting. Sarah Busca Bonvin has extensive expertise in tax planning for high-net-worth individuals.

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Zurich Tier 4

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.‘s ‘responsive and experienced’ team advises Switzerland-based and global financial institutions, funds, industrial enterprises and other companies on the full range of banking & finance matters. Kaspar Landolt, who heads the team, is experienced in acquisition finance, corporate lending, real estate finance, project finance and asset finance, the issuance and offering of financial instruments, and applying for regulatory licenses. Fintech expert Tina Balzli specialises in banking and financial markets. Matthias Kuert and Dominique Gemperli are further recommended.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 4

Zurich-based Philipp Dickenmann and Geneva-based Daniel Kinzer lead the arbitration practice at CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd., a team which handles complex contentious construction mandates as well as commercial and contractual disputes. Key contact Niklaus Zaugg‘s strengths lie in managing construction projects and various supply agreement disputes. Olivier Carrard and Pierre Ducret contribute considerable expertise in the arena of sports, while Jodok Wicki possesses a wealth of experience in the remits of insurance law, among other areas.