Switzerland Teams 2016 – GC Powerlist
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Switzerland Teams 2016

  • Industries

  • Powerlist

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ABB

| ABB

Supporting the leading global technology company in power and automation, ABB’s legal team has been among the most respected in Europe for many years. Led by general counsel Diane de...

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Adecco Group

| Adecco Group

Adecco Group, registered and headquartered in Zurich, is known as the largest staffing firm in the world and is a Forbes Global 500 company. The Adecco Group legal team are...

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Allianz Suisse

| Allianz Suisse

As one of the largest insurance groups in Switzerland, Allianz Suisse is among the entities most affected by the increasingly tight regulatory focus on market conduct. Headed by general counsel...

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Alpiq Holding

| Alpiq Holding

Alpiq Holding was formed as a result of the 2009 merger of two Swiss energy companies Aare-Tessin (Atel Holding) and Energie Ouest Suisse (EOS). Since then the company has established...

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Amgen

| Amgen

When Robert Sexton, vice president and general counsel joined in 2005 the team had four lawyers in the Swiss headquarters. Known as the “International Legal Group” or “ILG”, the team now...

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Ascom Holding

| Ascom Holding

Made up of four lawyers and one non-lawyer, Ascom Holding’s Swiss legal team stands out for its sophisticated compliance strategy. The sale of one division has led to a recent...

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AXA Winterthur

| AXA Winterthur

One of the largest insurance providers in the world and insurer of over 40% of Swiss companies, the Swiss arm of French-based global insurer AXA generates a huge amount of...

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Baloise Group

| Baloise Group

Headed by general counsel Andreas Burki, the legal team at insurance and pension solutions firm Baloise Group strives to uphold the company’s smart prevention concept of building a “Safety World”....

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Barry Callebaut

| Barry Callebaut

Representing the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, the legal team at Barry Callebaut is divided into organised regional legal and compliance counsel for the US, Western...

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Basler Kantonalbank

| Basler Kantonalbank

Financials

Founded in 1899, Basler Kantonalbank is a universal bank providing retail and corporate banking products mainly to canton residents. Covering both individuals and businesses, the bank is particularly strong in...

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BCV Group (Banque Cantonale Vaudoise)

| BCV Group (Banque Cantonale Vaudoise)

Established in 1845 and headquartered in Lausanne, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV) is one of Switzerland’s cantonal banks providing retail and corporate banking products mainly to canton residents. Philipe L’Eplattenier, head...

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Berenberg Bank

| Berenberg Bank

Financials

The Berenberg Bank legal team is led by general counsel Gianni Porpiglia, who created the legal department from the ground up in 2010. The complete team consists of six people...

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Cargill International

| Cargill International

American global trading corporation Cargill, the world’s largest independent oil and agricultural trader, has been an established presence in Switzerland since 1965. Deputy general counsel for the entire company and...

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Carlsberg

| Carlsberg

The Carlsberg legal team consists of two lawyers and one paralegal who are faced with complex global matters with internal and external stakeholders and tasked with sustaining the compliance agenda...

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Chubb Insurance (formerly known as ACE)

| Chubb Insurance (formerly known as ACE)

Insurance

The Chubb and ACE legal teams have been tasked with the recent merger and integration of their companies, creating the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. ACE...

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Citrix Systems International

| Citrix Systems International

Multinational software services provider Citrix Systems offer a range of products enabling remote connection to desktops, applications and networks, which are used by approximately 330,000 organisations worldwide. Citrix’s Regional and...

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Concordia

| Concordia

With nearly 800,000 policy holders, Concordia is one of the largest health and accident insurance providers in Switzerland. The legal team is recognised for providing all-round support for the ever-expanding...

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Coop

| Coop

Cooperative retail and wholesale company Coop is one of the largest retailers in Switzerland, with over 2,000 shops and more than 54,000 employees in the country. Appointed “world’s most sustainable...

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Credit Suisse

| Credit Suisse

Headed by general counsel Romeo Cerutti, the legal team at Credit Suisse has had substantial contribution in recent years by successfully guiding the company through persisting challenges occurring in the...

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CSS

| CSS

Headquartered in Lucerne, the general health insurance company CSS has well over a hundred years of history serving the Swiss and international markets. Newly elected CEO and former group general...

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DKSH (DiethelmKellerSiberHegner)

| DKSH (DiethelmKellerSiberHegner)

DKSH relies on its 16 legal professionals and five assistants to support its market expansion services. The legal team has undergone a few critical changes that have enabled a more...

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Dufry

| Dufry

The legal team at Dufry takes pride in its diverse work force as it comprised of professionals of 16 different nationalities, 55% are women, and there are nine different languages...

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EFG International

| EFG International

EFG International is an international private and banking assets management company that operates in around 30 locations worldwide, and is headquartered in Zurich. The legal department has supported some of...

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European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

| European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Every organisation faces legal challenges, but few have been accused of plotting to destroy the world. In 2008, just before its Large Hadron Collider was due to be initiated, the...

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Galenica

| Galenica

Headed by Oliver Kronenberg, group general counsel, the legal team at Galenica consider themselves a big driver in completing integral business development and licensing deals. The team is made up...

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Garmin

| Garmin

Headed by vice president, general counsel and company secretary Andrew Etkind the legal team is made up of 15 lawyers and two non-lawyers with 10 based in the US. Evidence...

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gategroup

| gategroup

A multi-national organisation often needs a multi-national legal team that can bring a diverse, broad range of ideas and experience to any situation. The Zurich-based EMEA legal team for gategroup...

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Geberit Group

| Geberit Group

Christian Vornehm, general counsel at Geberit Group, a manufacturer and supplier of sanitary parts and related products, leads a team that deal with a challenging environment in the construction industry....

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Generali Schweiz

| Generali Schweiz

Headed by general counsel Hans-Ulrich Schoch, the legal team at Generali Schweiz has helped the company maintain its record as an insurance innovator by overseeing the introduction of several new...

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Givaudan

| Givaudan

Givaudan is the largest manufacturer of flavours, fragrances and active cosmetic ingredients in the world. Due to the ever-increasing need for sustainable products, Givaudan is faced with challenges that come...

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Glencore

| Glencore

Representing Anglo-Swiss multinational commodity trading and mining behemoth, Glencore, the legal team is led by general counsel Kenneth Klassen. Klassen has steered the team through exceptional negotiation practises in the...

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Helsana

| Helsana

Supporting one of the major Swiss health insurance companies, the legal team at Helsana has top-tier expertise in all areas of law. With over 1.9 million customers insured and a...

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Helsinn

| Helsinn

The legal division at global cancer care company Helsinn has expanded significantly in recent years, growing from a two person team to a full-service legal support function that covers all...

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Helvetia

| Helvetia

In addition to supporting the business in its day-to-day operations, the team has worked on some notable matters, including a recent arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in...

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Switzerland

| Hewlett Packard Enterprise Switzerland

The last few years have seen big changes at information technology company HP (formerly known as Hewlett Packard). The company recently went through a split into two companies: Hewlett Packard...

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Holy Fashion Group

| Holy Fashion Group

Holy Fashion Group has achieved a number of successes in major trademark disputes thanks to its lean legal team. The team, which currently consists of three lawyers, has had to...

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Honeywell Technologies

| Honeywell Technologies

Led by award-winning general counsel Koenraad Van Himbeeck since 2002, the Swiss legal team at Honeywell Technologies has been driven towards excellence by a combination of strong leadership and a...

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Huntsman Advanced Materials

| Huntsman Advanced Materials

The global legal team of global chemicals manufacturer Huntsman, comprises of over 100 personnel that includes compliance experts and non-legal professionals. The Advanced Materials legal team, comprising of 12 people...

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Infront Sports & Media

| Infront Sports & Media

The legal department at Infront Sports & Media has built a reputation for thinking creatively about its contribution to the company, an approach which has led to some important initiatives...

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International Air Transport Association (IATA)

| International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Supporting one of the largest aviation associations, the Swiss legal team of the IATA is made up of six lawyers based in Geneva. The legal service department is responsible for...

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Julius Baer Group

| Julius Baer Group

After the 2008 credit crisis, Julius Baer established a group-wide task force tasked with systematically broadening the company’s international presence by offering acquisitions and a number of strategic cooperation agreements...

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Kuehne + Nagel International

| Kuehne + Nagel International

The legal affairs of Kuehne + Nagel Group, a global transportation and logistics company, are led by group general counsel Marc Pfeffer. With over 63,000 employees at more than 1,000...

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LafargeHolcim

| LafargeHolcim

In 2015 Swiss cement giant Holcim merged with its French rival Lafarge to form one of the largest building materials and aggregates companies in the world. The merged entity is...

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Liebherr International

| Liebherr International

The legal team at Liebherr, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction equipment, often flies under the radar but is, according to nominators, among the core strengths of the...

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Lindt & Sprüngli

| Lindt & Sprüngli

Lindt & Sprüngli, a world-leading chocolate and confectionary company, has a small but very efficient legal team that don’t just provide legal advice but also strategic support with high impact...

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Lonza Group

| Lonza Group

Headed by Andreas Bohrer, group general counsel and company secretary, the legal team at Lonza consists of more than 45 legal, compliance and intellectual property professionals globally, of which around...

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Louis Dreyfus Group

| Louis Dreyfus Group

The legal team at Louis Dreyfus is exposed to political and global changes on a daily basis. In the past two years the legal team has faced reorganisation of the...

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Luzerner Kantonalbank

| Luzerner Kantonalbank

Financials

In operation since 1850, Luzerner Kantonalbank is the historic government-owned commercial retail banking group based in the Swiss canton of Lucerne. As a bank focussed on financing small businesses in...

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Metalor Technologies

| Metalor Technologies

The small group of four lawyers that make up the Swiss legal team at Metalor encourages a very integrated dynamic within the business. Group general counsel Jose Camino says there...

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Migros

| Migros

Migros, Switzerland’s largest retail company, largest supermarket chain and largest employer, relies on its attorneys to support more than 2 million cooperative members nationwide and 10 regional cooperatives in Switzerland....

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Mobiliar

| Mobiliar

Since Mobiliar’s inception in 1826 the insurance company has relied on the organisational skills of its lawyers to manage the complexities of its operations. With around 1.5 million customers and over...

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Mövenpick

| Mövenpick

With 83 hotels spread across three continents, Mövenpick relies on a small but respected legal team to help it implement global strategy and find commercial and practical solutions to legal...

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Nestlé

| Nestlé

The Nestlé legal team, headed by chief legal officer and group general counsel Ricardo Cortés-Monroy, contains more than 400 personnel, making it one of the largest and most experienced teams...

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Novartis

| Novartis

Led by the widely-respected group general counsel, Felix Ehrat, the Novartis legal team has greatly improved the communications, government affairs and risk-related functions, and continue to drive the team toward...

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OC Oerlikon

| OC Oerlikon

Supporting a company that provides innovative industrial solutions for the efficient and clean production of mobility, food, energy, infrastructure, functional wear and electronics, the legal team at OC Oerlikon has...

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Pentair

| Pentair

The legal team at Pentair, a diversified industrial manufacturing company, are faced with political, regulatory and economic risks. During the past two years, the team has been heavily involved in...

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Philip Morris International

| Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International’s (PMI) Illicit Trade Strategies and Prevention (ITS&P) Law team consists of five lawyers and one legal assistant. On top of its day-to-day legal support, the team works...

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Pictet Asset Management

| Pictet Asset Management

Pictet Asset management considers itself a ‘flat’ organisation, with legal team members interacting on a day-to-day basis directly with both operational staff and senior management. The team of 15 lawyers,...

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PPG Industries Europe

| PPG Industries Europe

PPG’s offices in Switzerland serve as the company’s regional headquarters for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), meaning that the Swiss legal team has had to be more internationally agile...

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Procter & Gamble

| Procter & Gamble

With 27 attorneys and six legal professionals from more than 15 different nationalities, the Geneva Procter & Gamble (P&G) legal team reflects the richness and diversity of the Europe, India,...

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Raiffeisen Schweiz

| Raiffeisen Schweiz

Led by head of legal and compliance, Nadja Ceregato, the legal team at Swiss cooperative bank Raiffeisen, has taken a guiding role in the businesses’ international law and intellectual property...

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Richemont

| Richemont

Richemont, the Swiss owner of Cartier and Montblanc, has had to deal with a changing and challenging market for luxury goods in recent months. A slowdown in the travelling luxury...

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Roche Holding

| Roche Holding

Led by Gottlieb Keller, general counsel, the exceptional legal team at Roche Holding has been tasked with high profile cases that have led to a series of victories in the...

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RUSAL

| RUSAL

In supporting the activities of RUSAL, the Moscow-headquartered aluminium company, Charles Anderson and his team of two in Switzerland has allowed the business to penetrate new markets, streamline relations with...

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Salt Mobile

| Salt Mobile

Telecommunications services provider Salt Mobile recently successfully rebranded from Orange Switzerland in 2015 after a takeover by Xavier Niel. Helping provide legal support through this time of upheaval, the Salt...

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Schindler Holding

| Schindler Holding

The legal department at Schindler Holding supports one of the world’s leading providers of elevators, escalators and moving walkways. In an environment of stagnation and competitive devaluations, the success of...

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Selecta Management

| Selecta Management

Selecta Management, a leading vending and coffee services company with a turnover of €740m and employing 4,300 staff. Founded in Switzerland in 1957, Selecta has grown its geographic market presence...

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SGS

| SGS

Headquartered in Geneva, SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. With more than 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of more than 1,800 offices and laboratories...

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SICPA Management

| SICPA Management

SICPA develops and distributes overt and covert high security ink for banknotes, documents and brand protection, occupying a niche in financial services. The legal team at SICPA understand that the...

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Sidel Group

| Sidel Group

Described by private practice peers as ‘one of the best in-house teams to work with’, the legal team at Sidel is praised for its outstanding preparation and deep knowledge of...

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SOCAR Trading

| SOCAR Trading

The legal team of SOCAR Trading, a Swiss crude and trading oil company specialised in Azeri Light crude oil of Azerbaijan, has grown from three to six members with four...

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Sonova

| Sonova

The world’s largest manufacturer of medical hearing devices has been at the forefront of improving the performance and aesthetics of medical equipment. Sonova has been helping to introduce wireless technology...

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St. Galler Kantonalbank

| St. Galler Kantonalbank

Financials

Founded in 1868, St. Galler Kantonalbank (SGKB) is a leading bank in the Canton of St. Gallen. With 38 regional offices and more than 1,200 employees, it is the sixth...

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STMicroelectronics

| STMicroelectronics

The legal team at STMicroelectronics, a multinational electronics and semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Geneva, stands out for its customised legal support, which was tailored to the changing needs of business...

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STOXX

| STOXX

STOXX, a globally integrated index provider, has a Swiss legal department of four, which was built by head of legal, Michael Hyzik. The team support a global sales force with...

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Sulzer

| Sulzer

As an international industrial engineering and manufacturing company, Sulzer’s legal department has adapted in order to stay current and impactful in a challenging global economy. As part of organisational changes...

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Swatch Group

| Swatch Group

Led by Hanspeter Rentsch, the Swatch legal team supports the world’s largest watchmaking group, active in the manufacture and sale of watches, jewellery and watch components. The company boasts eighteen...

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Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR)

| Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR)

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) is the country’s leading radio and TV broadcaster. Founded in 1931, SRG SSR is a non-profit organisation, funded mainly through radio and television licence...

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Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)

| Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)

The legal and compliance team at Swiss Federal Railways (known as SBB) has led numerous complex commercial settlements and international transactions which have gained global recognition. The team is currently...

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Swiss Post

| Swiss Post

The importance of Swiss Post’s legal team is reflected in the sprawling web of logistics and financial services the company provides on a global scale. Founded in 1849 and headquartered...

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Swiss Re

| Swiss Re

The legal team at global reinsurer Swiss Re, led by group chief legal officer Hermann Geiger, is known industry-wide for its operational excellence. The team consists of senior lawyers that...

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Swisscanto Asset Management

| Swisscanto Asset Management

Following its takeover by Zürcher Kantonalbank, legal team at Swisscanto Asset Management has recently adopted a new structure and assumed various new responsibilities. However, based on the legal requirements of...

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Swisscom

| Swisscom

‘Our goal is finding ways and means which allows our business to realise complex projects and services which fulfil the needs of our customers in a compliant manner’, says Jlona...

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SwissMarine

| SwissMarine

Led by general counsel Elizabeth Leonhardt, the SwissMarine legal team has gone from strength to strength representing the shipping transportation business, which has a turnover of over $1.34bn and in...

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Swissport International

| Swissport International

Representing the world’s largest provider of ground and cargo handling services in the aviation industry, the legal team at Swissport is made up of six lawyers, two insurance specialists and...

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Syngenta

| Syngenta

The legal team of Syngenta, the world’s leading maker of crop chemicals, has been central to facilitating the company’s strategy for dealing with a growing global population. As the company’s...

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Takeda Pharmaceutical Company

| Takeda Pharmaceutical Company

Healthcare

Led by Nils Kjaergaard, regional general counsel Europe and Canada, the Takeda legal team is comprised of 14 lawyers and five non-lawyers responsible for supporting the EUCAN region and with...

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TE Connectivity

| TE Connectivity

TE Connectivity’s strategy map puts emphasis on serving as a premier partner for customers, delivering superior returns for shareholders and retaining a highly engaged employee base in a bid to...

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Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)

| Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)

Guy Oxnard, general counsel at Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), describes the legal function as a ‘diverse and dynamic team which has shown itself able to adapt to the fast changing...

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Transocean

| Transocean

Philippe Huber, senior associate general counsel and corporate secretary, leads the Swiss legal team at one of the world’s largest offshore drilling contractors, Transocean. The team has had to showcase...

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Trina Solar (Switzerland)

| Trina Solar (Switzerland)

Faced with a number of challenging factors in the past two years, mainly driven by global trends in the solar industry, the legal team has managed to stay current and...

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UBS

| UBS

The support of the litigation team at UBS has been described as a key element in bringing the bank to where it is today, ‘being seen by peers as one...

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UEFA

| UEFA

Containing some of the most competent sports lawyers in the world, the UEFA legal team has helped European football’s governing body rise above the numerous scandals that have rocked other...

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Union Bancaire Privee

| Union Bancaire Privee

The last years have been transformative for Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) due to the recent acquisitions, which have led to the integration of lawyers from several jurisdictions including Asia and...

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Valiant Bank

| Valiant Bank

Financials

Led by head of legal and compliance Pascal Baumgartner, Valiant Bank offers a range of products and services across retail banking, small and medium sized enterprise banking, private banking and...

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Victorinox

| Victorinox

Led by general counsel and corporate secretary Urs Schwartz, the legal team support the operations of the pioneer of the iconic Swiss army knives, Victorinox. The company has produced the...

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Vitol

| Vitol

Under the directions of general counsel Jonathan Marsh, the legal function at global energy and commodity trading company Vitol has recently reorganised to help it optimise efficiency and value-add in its global...

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Wolseley

| Wolseley

Led by Richard Shoylekov, group general counsel, the Wolseley legal team is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance. As the world’s leading specialist distributor of plumbing and heating...

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Zürcher Kantonalbank

| Zürcher Kantonalbank

Financials

Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) is the largest cantonal bank and fourth largest bank in Switzerland. Tom Fischer, the newly appointed general counsel, will take over the management of legal, tax and...

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Zurich Insurance Group

| Zurich Insurance Group

Insurance

With around 55,000 employees serving customers in more than 170 countries, Zurich Insurance Group is one of the world’s largest insurers. It serves all levels of clients, from individuals, small...

For 29 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world. The GC Powerlist is the latest publication from The Legal 500, turning its attention to the in-house function, and recognising those corporate counsel who are driving the legal business forward. The latest edition is the GC Powerlist: Switzerland Teams, which identifies an array of the most influential and innovative in-house teams working in Switzerland.

The GC Powerlist is a series of publications, highlighting the most influential in-house lawyers and teams in business today.

To put together the list, we canvassed opinions from law firm partners and in-house counsel across Switzerland, to identify corporate counsel that have been instrumental in changing or forming opinions within their company or industry; developing brilliant technical solutions to complex issues; creating innovative structures to ensure that the in-house function is driving the business forward; or providing a business working model that other corporate counsel should follow. Our team of experienced researchers assessed the nominations, speaking both to general counsel and nominating lawyers to finalise each jurisdictional list. The GC Powerlist: Switzerland Teams features not just information on teams that have made the list, but also practical tips for fellow in-house counsel to follow to maximise their interaction with their businesses.

David Burgess
Publishing Director

Froriep

Froriep logo

FRORIEP is delighted to be the sponsor of the 2016 Swiss GC Powerlist. On behalf of the team at FRORIEP, congratulations to each and everyone who has been included in this year’s Powerlist for Switzerland!

Switzerland has always been an important hub for international corporations driving innovation not only from a business perspective, but also in legal and compliance matters. It comes as no surprise that corporate counsels in Switzerland who are at the heart of these processes are receiving international recognition. Making it into the top 100 is an achievement as Switzerland houses many of the largest international firms with dedicated in-house legal teams.

Perseverance, innovation and outstanding abilities to develop strategic approaches to the questions raised are required by good corporate counsel. In our daily experience with the in-house legal teams of our clients, we see the challenges they face, which go way beyond answering legal questions. They are playing an increasingly important role in risk management processes and are involved in material operational decision taking. This requires responsibility and foresight. In a time of ever changing regulatory requirements not only within Switzerland but globally, being a corporate counsel is a truly challenging job.

This also applies to being the external legal counsel to an in-house legal team. Knowledge of the law and precision in applying such laws in contracts and the like is clearly no longer enough. The needs of the client and its team dealing with legal issues are dictated first and foremost by the client’s internal business requirements. In order to be able to serve in-house legal teams it is our goal at FRORIEP to always also understand the business issues of the client that trigger its questions, as well as the cultural aspects of the client’s in-house communication. This knowledge enables us to provide a product which matches the needs of the in-house legal team. It is important to us that this understanding of a corporate counsel’s needs is already cultivated among the associates and we therefore actively support secondments of our associates to our clients’ legal teams.

Switzerland is facing challenges in its international relationships and there are global challenges which have repercussions on our country. All of these directly reflect on the experiences Swiss corporations are making in their international business. In such an environment, cross-fertilisation among corporate counsels can provide support and help find innovative, sustainable solutions. The same goes for collaborations between corporate counsels and law firms as the latter benefit from insight into a large variety of corporations. As one of the larger law firms in Switzerland we have gained this insight through close to 50 years of working with corporate clients and are happy to exchange views and share our knowledge and best practice.

We look forward to meeting the corporate counsels who made it into the 2016 Swiss GC Powerlist, be it on the job or otherwise!

 

‘FRORIEP is a Swiss law firm with a unique international presence and perspective, where the highest standards of professional excellence, thoroughness and efficiency go hand-in-hand with a cultural diversity, dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit that sets this firm apart.’

‘Founded in Zurich in 1966, FRORIEP is one of the leading law firms in Switzerland, with offices in Zurich, Geneva and Zug, as well as foreign offices in both London and Madrid, serving clients seeking Swiss law advice. FRORIEP has grown a domestic and international client base ranging from large international corporations to private clients. FRORIEP’s unique, truly integrated, international structure mirrors its strong cross-border focus. Many of FRORIEP’s lawyers are recognised as leaders in their practice areas, and clients benefit from the rich diversity of talents, languages and cultures that makes FRORIEP’s lawyers particularly versatile and adaptive.’

Jones Day Hong Kong Roundtable 2024

The Legal 500 was thrilled to join a selection of top Jones Day partners and a hand-picked group of 15 the most prominent GCs in Hong Kong for a freewheeling and no-holds-barred discussion on geopolitical risk management at a time of global transition. Steve Brogan, managing partner of Jones Day from 2002-2022 flew over to lend his considerable expertise to the discussion, as did Partner-in-Charge Hong Kong Joelle Lau. Joining them to give expert briefings on the topics of the day were partners Peter Wang, Dr Qiang Xue, James Fidler, Samuel Ngo and Charles Chau. The conversation moved from sanctions and counter sanctions, to the increasing pre-eminence of the Asian economy, to the philosophy of the rule of law in times of crisis.