Bär & Karrer Ltd. is appreciated for offering a ‘combination of legal skills with a business mindset.’ With Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler and Raphael Annasohn, the firm can showcase a ‘powerhouse team‘ with strong experience in private M&A and private equity deals. Rolf Watter
, Mariel Hoch and Dieter Dubs are specialists in public transactions. The practice is particularly well versed in the life sciences and pharmaceutical, real estate and financial services sectors. Luca Jagmetti is the key contact for transport and logistic clients. Thomas Rohde advises on restructurings. Martin Anderson
is the name to note in Geneva.
Commercial, corporate and M&A in Switzerland
Bär & Karrer Ltd.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Urs Kägi; Paolo Bottini; Christoph Neeracher; Philippe Seiler; Raphael Annasohn; Mariel Hoch; Dieter Dubs; Luca Jagmetti; Thomas Rohde; Martin Anderson
Testimonials
‘They always find solutions. Combination of legal skills with business mindset.’
‘Very professional and knowledgeable, business sense, proactive, put client interests first, always available and supportive.’
‘Christopher Neeracher stands out, among others, because he has great experience, is transaction-minded and is always focused on resolving issues.’
‘The team is dynamic and very commercial, understanding the needs of the client and allowing us to cut through issues to understand the path forward. They are always available, approachable and feel like an extension of our in-house team.’
‘Mariel Hoch has provided high-quality advice in a practical, commercial manner that takes account of the needs of her clients. She constantly puts the needs of the clients first and understands that trust is key to the relationship. Mariel is available and approachable and cool and calm in high-pressure negotiations. It has been a pleasure to work with her.’
‘Due to Christoph Neeracher’s vast experience in contract and corporate matters, he is very efficient and do not produce unnecessary work products and always keeps the overall project in mind and anticipate the next steps. Further, the team ensures the fullest availability around the clock.’
‘Go-to firm in Switzerland for M&A, both public and private.’
‘Christoph Neeracher, Raphael Annasohn and Philippe Seiler are a powerhouse. If you like their style they will drive your team and the other side to get the deal done.’
Key clients
Vifor Pharma
EMZ Partners
CVC
Castik
EQT
KKR
Capvis
Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund
Equistone
Waterland Private Equity
Triton
Valora
GSquare
Coty Inc.
Mubadala
Lear Corporation
Triton
Deutsche Börse
Elliott Advisors
Sage Group plc
Mainsail Partners
GENUI
Lonza
UBS
Mobiliar
Credit Suisse
Temasek Holdings
Syngenta Group
AC Immune
Zurich Insurance
Lindt & Sprüngli
Swiss Re
SIX Group
Work highlights
- Assisted Triton Fund V with the signing of an agreement to acquire Swiss IT Security Group, a leading cybersecurity services provider in the DACH and Benelux regions, from Ufenau Capital Partners.
- Advised The EQT Infrastructure II fund on the sale of Unilode Aviation Solutions to Basalt Infrastructure Partners.
- Advised Clearstream (a Deutsche Börse Group company) on its acquisition of Fondcenter AG, UBS’s fund distribution platform, from UBS in two separate transactions.
Homburger
Homburger ‘regularly brings far-ranging resources to bear to provide timely, thoughtful legal advice in a diversity of corporate areas.’ The team often showcases its expertise in regulated sectors such as banking and insurance, life sciences, nutrition, and telecommunication in complex transactions. It advises Swiss and foreign corporations on venture capital, private equity, public and private M&A deals, as well as on joint ventures, spin-offs, and auctions. The practice is led by Dieter Gericke, who has more than 25 years of experience. Frank Gerhard is well versed in the chemical and life sciences industries and David Oser specialises in private equity transactions. Daniel Hasler‘s ‘personality, transparency and in-depth knowledge of the deal gives him the capabilities to win over the power to shape the transaction.’ Other prominent practitioners are Daniel Daeniker, Claude Lambert and Andreas Müller.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Frank Gerhard; Daniel Daeniker; Claude Lambert; Daniel Hasler; Andreas Müller; Daniel Häusermann; David Oser
Testimonials
‘The firm has strong partners in the area of corporate, finance and M&A.’
‘Claude Lambert and Andreas Müller provide strong support in their areas of expertise. They are knowledgeable and provide practical advice/support.’
‘We strongly believe the knowledge of the M&A team to truly manage a process to provide a fair deal for both sides while ensuring the important aspects for their client is the true brilliance of the team. The strong knowledge across all types of deals from SPACS/real estate holding companies/simple corporate M&A transactions – they can cover all. The key is also the personal approach they have towards both parties. No counterparty is too complicated and no deal fatigue ever happens to always ensure the perfect outcome.’
‘We can speak very highly of Daniel Hasler. His personality, transparency and in-depth knowledge of the deal gives him the capabilities to win over the power to shape the transaction and drive the dialog key.’
‘Homburger regularly brings far-ranging resources to bear to provide timely, thoughtful legal advice in a diversity of corporate areas. Their practical yet professional advice has always steered us to a positive business outcome while mitigating legal risk. They are also personable and a pleasure to engage with.’
‘Daniel Daeniker and Daniel Hasler are responsive, clear, business-oriented professionals. I am always pleased to loop them in whenever a matter even touches Swiss law.’
‘Homburger has a great team and is able to cover all aspects of commercial, corporate and M&A work on short notice.’
‘Claude Lambert is a very experienced advisor, with great availability and flexibility and understanding of client needs.’
Key clients
Clariant
Avaloq Group
Colfax Corporation
Credit Suisse
SAP
Platinum Equity
Telemos Capital
Swiss Post
RUAG
Liberty Global
ArchiMed
Glatfelter Corporation
Kimberly-Clark
Axel Springer
ABB
UBS
Nestlé
Roche
Novartis
Zurich Insurance Company
Dufry
TPG Growth
ASML Netherlands
Quintet Private Bank (Europe)
Therachon/VectivBio
Cerberus Capital Management
Philip Morris
Baker Hughes
PPF Group
Work highlights
- Advising Clariant as international lead counsel on the divestment of its pigments business to a consortium of Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners.
- Advised Avaloq Group and majority shareholders as global transaction counsel on the completion of NEC Corporation’s CHF2.05bn acquisition of Avaloq Group.
- Advised Colfax Corporation as international lead counsel on its acquisition of Mathys Bettlach.
Lenz & Staehelin
Lenz & Staehelin enjoys an excellent reputation in the market for its activity in public takeovers, private mid- and large-cap transactions, private equity and venture capital matters as well as corporate governance advice. Noted for its ‘creativity, stability, and efficiency‘, the team is particularly well versed in the financial services (incl. FinTech), chemical, healthcare and life sciences, TMT, industrials, and real estate industries. The close collaboration across departments adds value for the clients. Practice heads Hans-Jakob Diem and Andreas Rötheli both have a strong track record in M&A and PE transactions. Matthias Wolf advises banking and finance industry clients, and Beat Kühni
‘s expertise also covers the venture capital space. Tino Gaberthüel is a ‘top notch listed company/takeover expert.’ Simone Ehrsam made partner in January 2022.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Stephan Erni; Tino Gaberthüel; David Ledermann; Simone Ehrsam; Matthias Wolf; Beat Kühni
Testimonials
‘Beat Kühni and Hans-Jakob Diem are high-class professionals.’
‘The corporate M&A practice has proven to be outstanding. Hands-on advice, first-tier law firm, much value for money.’
‘Simone Ehrsam is hardworking, highly committed.’
‘Tino Gaberthüel: top-notch listed company/takeover expert.’
‘Smart, quick, creative and highly reliable and trustworthy’
‘Beat Kühni is an exceptional lawyer. He has a masterful grasp of the law and a perfect temperament when negotiating with company counsel. We remain very impressed. The work output is of very high quality.’
‘I am full of praise for the team. A stand-out group of individuals, very attentive, commercially minded and responsive. They are truly excellent lawyers, but in addition put a good emphasis on the personal level of the relationship. They are proactive and truly add value with their advice. Simply superb.’
‘Particular praise goes to Stephan Erni, who is always available and delivers to-the-point, clear and excellent advice. He is also an exceptionally nice guy with a good sense of humour. A great pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
5 Atlantis AG
Allegion
ALPHA Healthgroup
Ant Financial Services Group (subsidiary of Alibaba)
APG/SGA SA
Apple Inc.
Ardentis
Argos Wityu (formerly Argos Soditic S.A.)
Astra Zeneca
Bain Capital
Baloise Insurance Holding
Bank Vontobel
Bank Pictet
Banque Lombard Odier
Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL)
Bayer
Bertelsmann
BigPoint Holding AG / Martin Haefner
BlackRock
Bordier & Cie
Bottomline Technologies Inc.
BTG Pactual
Carlo Gavazzi Holding
The Carlyle Group
Cembra Money Bank
Chequers Capital
Chord Therapeutics
Cinven
Cognizant
COLTENE
Compagnie Financière Richemont SA
Credit Suisse
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Börse
Desmarais and Frère Family Group
Forrestay Capital (a fund of Waypoint Capital)
Garrett Motion
Geberit
Gonet & Cie SA
Gyrus Capital SA
Hermés International
Heubach
HSBC
Hyundai
Implenia
Insight Partners
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS)
Intertrust Group
Jacobs Douwe Egberts
JP Morgan
Julius Baer
KKCG
Lanxess
LK International
Logitech
Lonza
Mars
Maus Frères
Merck Group
Morgan Stanley
Nomad Foods
Novimmune
Novo Holdings A/S
ObsEva
Octium Group
Oddo BHF SCA
Pfizer Inc.
Permira
Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Quilvest Private Equity
Rakuten Medical
Rothschild & Co
SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation)
Sazka Group
Schweizerische Mobiliar
Sensata
Sensient Technologies Corporation
Sika AG
SK Capital
SME Equity Partner AG
SoftwareONE
Straumann
Sunrise Communication AG
Surveyor Capital
Swiss Post
Swiss Prime Site
Swissquote
TAG Group
Tetra Laval
Thyssenkrupp
UBS
UniCredit
Unilabs Group Services
Unilever
Union Bancaire Privée (UBP)
Vaudoise Assurance Holding
VTG Aktiengesellschaft
Water Street
WuXi STA
Zeno Ventures
Work highlights
- Advised funds advised by Bain Capital and Cinven in the CHF4.2bn acquisition of Lonza Specialty Ingredients, a division of Lonza.
- Advised the Heubach Group and SK Capital in the CHF855m acquisition of Clariant’s pigment business.
- Advised Sunrise Communications Group in the CHF6.8bn public tender offer by, and sale to, Liberty Global.
Niederer Kraft Frey AG
Niederer Kraft Frey AG ‘guarantees a very precise and safe landing on business points, without any compromise on the legal side of the advice.‘ The corporate team has a strong track record in advising corporations from the pharmaceutical and life sciences, financial services, high-tech and retail industries, as well as private equity houses in acquisitions, sales, takeovers and mergers. The group has experience in international matters, and has established a dedicated China Desk. Practice head Philipp Haas is a seasoned transaction specialist whose team also includes Adrian Koller, Peter R Isler, Moritz Maurer and investor key contact Patrik R Peyer. Till Spillmann also has capital market and finance know-how, while Philippe Weber
also assists with governance and compliance issues.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Patrik R Peyer; Manuel Werder; Philipp Candreia; Till Spillmann; Moritz Maurer; Adrian Koller; Thomas Broennimann; Andrea Giger; Peter R Isler
Testimonials
‘Moritz Maurer is very experienced, reliable and always calm in the storm. Samuel Hochstrasser is a gifted and very precise young M&A lawyer.’
‘Highly professional, hands-on, business minded.’
‘Patrik Peyer: great network and solution-oriented.’
‘Top-notch Swiss firm, but with the flexibility to address scope for smaller deals/add-on transactions in terms of costs/billing while still maintaining high quality.’
‘I appreciate their ability to provide high-quality advice throughout the spectrum needed: corporate, M&A, capital markets and regulatory. The partners are not only very hands-on, but make every effort to be available when needed, even at short notice. The quality of the work is very strong, they provide clear advice and are well used to dealing with regulators.’
‘Philippe Weber remains one of the best lawyers I know. He is always easy to reach, very commercial, provides clear advice and is trusted by boards of listed companies. He has also trained and nurtured a strong pool of lawyers working with him who have become strong partners.’
‘Thomas Brönnimann, excellent knowledge, thorough, cost efficient.’
‘Manuel Werder is extremely experienced and knows the various negotiation tactics well and is an excellent sparring partner for M&A advisors. The team that works with Manuel is on top of things and turns documents over within short time frames and extremely professionally. Lastly, we have a lot of fun working together on our joint projects.’
Key clients
Ardian
Assa Abloy
Boston Scientific Corporation
Coop/Transgourmet
Credit Suisse Group AG
EQT
GlaxoSmithKline plc
Idorsia Ltd
IBM Corp., Armonk N.Y. and IBM Switzerland AG
KKR
Lindsay Goldberg
OC Oerlikon
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Nordic Capital
Paragon Partners
Vivendi
Via Equity
Work highlights
- Advised Global Blue on its becoming a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange through a merger with Far Point Acquisition Corporation.
- Acted as lead advisor to NEC corporation on the $2.15bn acquisition of Avaloq.
- Advised Coop as lead counsel on the acquisition of Jumbo from Maus Frères SA by way of which Coop has become the second largest do-it-yourself (DIY) store operator in Switzerland.
Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie ‘provides a knowledgeable and reliable network in many locations and in many legal fields.‘ Its Swiss corporate and M&A practice stands out in public takeovers as well as in private equity, banking, real estate and life sciences transactions, in particular when there is a cross-border element. The group also works closely with the tax team to offer tax planning and structuring support in a transaction. Alexander Fischer assists clients with debt financing transactions and leads the practice together with real estate specialist Martin Furrer and the Geneva-based Jingjin Guo. Since publication, Petra Hanselmann left the firm.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very hands-on partner, deal- and business-minded, good understanding of economic and financial implications.’
‘The team is able to handle complex and unconventional deal situations.’
‘The team around Alexander Fischer are very hands-on and easy to deal with, while at the same time persistent and always acting in the best interest of the client.’
‘Availability and 100% commitment to the transaction.’
‘Alexander Fischer is a seasoned and highly reliable transaction specialist, he stands for execution excellence.’
‘Baker McKenzie provides a knowledgeable and reliable network in many locations and in many legal fields. A good communication within the various offices involved in the relevant projects is a major plus.’
‘The team has a positive attitude and wakes the client up with their friendly and business-proven spirit. As a client, I can feel that they speak the “same language” and know how to work closely together and can rely on each other as a team and individuals. The communication is respectful but also very full of advice and experience.’
Key clients
Kühne+Nagel
Arbonia
UBS AG
Safe Host
Equistone Partners Europe
Credit Suisse Energy Infrastructure Partners AG
S Management AG
NZZ/Architonic
Similsan
Wüest Partner group
Swiss Life
Viatrans
Online Doctor
Giesecke+ Devrient
Schaffner
Salesforce.com
Work highlights
- Advised global transport and logistics group Kuehne+Nagel on its acquisition of Apex International Corporation (Apex) from private equity firm MBK Partners and management.
- Advised Arbonia, the Swiss building component supplier, on the sale of its windows business to the Danish DOVISTA group.
- Advised UBS on the sale of its majority stake (51.2%) and subsequently on the sale of its remaining stake (48.8%) in UBS Fondcenter and part of its Asset Management business division to Clearstream.
MLL Legal
Following its July 2021 merger MLL Legal is well-positioned to advise Swiss and foreign companies in their commercial, corporate and transactional concerns. The team has experts in a wide range of industries such as financial services, TMT, DLT, life sciences & healthcare, real estate, retail & luxury and start- ups. In addition to its busy transactional caseload, the group is also regularly advising clients on corporate governance matters as well as SIX Swiss Exchange regulations. The ‘very effective‘ Andrea Sieber and Alexander Vogel lead the practice, which also includes financing transactions advisor Daniel Schoch and Mona Stephenson, who also acts for VC and PE clients.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Karin Oberlin; Daniel Schoch; Hubert Orso Gilliéron; Julie Wynne; Mona Stephenson; Nadine Von Büren-Maier; Mattias Johnson; Mark Montanari
Testimonials
‘We found the team at MLL to be highly responsive, able to accept meetings with little lead time and at early hours of the day. We appreciated their follow-up when we were distracted with other matters and felt they were defending our interests professionally and efficiently. I also considered that the lead lawyer was a very effective negotiator – finding a good compromise acceptable to both parties without damaging the working partnership required afterwards.’
‘We have found their advice extremely valuable, particularly when facing difficult negotiations. We have appreciated in particular the work of Alexander Vogel and Christian Rebell.’
‘MLL and especially Mark Montanari are down to earth. Their ‘non-snobby’ approach enables clients to discuss solutions, problems, and ideas at eye level, without feeling disadvantaged or unequal. Especially Mark Montanari’s expertise and interpersonal skills are making the day-to-day work with the law firm a huge pleasure. He manages to make complex problems simple and understandable, he’s sensitive and caring just like a good friend.’
‘Andrea Sieber: no-nonsense approach, understands risk management and takes a business approach to legal contracting; wants to close deals and pushes hard; very effective, clear opinions. Highly recommendable.’
‘Daniel Schoch: highly professional, very efficient, deep know how.’
‘Mona Stephenson is a good lawyer with strong interpersonal skills.’
‘Stand-out partner: Hubert Gilliéron. Strategic thinking, strong communication, technical expertise, dedication and commitment.’
‘Strong and efficient associate: James Reardon. Technical, structured, efficient, organised.’
‘Excellent technical legal ability and expertise; Responsive, 24/7, clear and timely advice. Integrated team with a breadth of experience advising on all stages (venture, growth, mid-cap and large-cap) and all aspects of investments (minority, carve-outs, consortium transactions, trade sale exits, leveraged buyouts, recaps).’
‘Andrea Sieber is in my view one of the key M&A lawyers in Switzerland with an impressive track record, an unrivalled network and a great approach vis-à-vis teams and clients.’
Key clients
Meyer Burger Technology AG
Calida Holding AG
WEPA SE, Germany
Julius Baer Group AG
Trifork Holding AG
Shinsegae International
Merz Pharma
Allegis, UK
Price (f)X AG
Global-e
3M Schweiz
Blue Horizon Capital
Swiss KMU Partners AG
The Capital Markets Company Sàrl
Semtech (International) AG
Zalando SE
Perrigo Company plc
TX Group AG
Piscai AG
Capital Transmission SA
Müller-Steinag Holding AG
Dufour Aerospace AG
Goebel Capital LLC
Bigtincan Holdings Limited
Crypto Finance AG
Wienerberger AG
DentaCore AG
Amphenol Corporation
Martello Technologies Corporation
Swisscom Ventures
Clinical Research Ventures
Deutsche Private Equity
Dassault Aviation
Raiffeisen Informatik
Lenze SE
Mövenpick Group
Zaptec AS
sCentral Real Estate Holding AG and Central Real Estate Basel AG
Banque Privée BCP (Suisse) SA
SOUTH STREAM SERBIA AG
BFW Holding AG
Utopia Music AG
WhatRocks Foundation
EuroChem Group AG
XPRIZE Foundation
H&H Group
Work highlights
- Advised Crypto Finance AG on the sale of a majority of its shares to Deutsche Börse AG combined with a considerable investment of Deutsche Börse AG in the target company.
- Represented Trifork Holding AG in its IPO at NASDAQ Copenhagen and its pre-IPO acquisition of Vilea GmbH.
- Advised Lenze SE on the sale of its Swiss subsidiary by means of an asset deal to Bucher Hydraulics AG.
Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi demonstrates ‘availability, proactivity and a business-oriented approach‘ and is noted for covering a wide scope of services. Led by Christoph G Lang and Sébastien Roy, the practice advises national and international clients on corporate and commercial law matters, public and private M&A transactions, as well as on private equity and venture capital issues. Severin Roelli has know-how in acquisition finance. Franz Schubiger specialises in life sciences clients. Beat Schwarz ‘excels with his assessment skills, guidance, and support.’ Christian Leuenberger brings his experience in post-M&A disputes to the table. Petra Hanselmann was a new arrival in 2022.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Severin Roelli; Franz Schubiger; Beat Schwarz; Christian Leuenberger; Petra Hanselmann
Testimonials
‘I have dealt with a number of law firms during my career, and Pestalozzi always stands out to me because they always provide a very high-quality service, often on very short turnaround times.’
‘Franz Schubiger is always contactable and extremely warm and professional.’
‘What I would like to highlight is the dedication of the team to our case. The answer times were exceptional as well as the know-how regarding M&A transactions. This helped us to achieve a very good transaction result.’
‘Beat Schwarz has shown exceptional availability and engagement. All our questions were answered in a short time with a very high degree of useful guidance for us that I have rarely experienced before.’
‘Christian Leuenberger is as good as they come.’
‘The team’s strengths: availability, proactivity and business-oriented approach.’
‘I appreciated Sébastien Roy’s calmness, reactivity and his pragmatic approach to dealing with issues.’
‘Christoph Lang. A joy to work with. smart, knowledgeable and business-minded. Focusing on the important things, knows to differentiate between relevant and less relevant.’
Key clients
Achiko AG (SIX: ACHI)
Agile Sports Technologies, Inc.
AIA Insurance
AIG
AmTrust Financial
AON (NYSE: AON)
AXA Climate
AXA XL
Barry Callebaut (SWX: BARN)
BMW (Xetra: BMW)
Bolttech/the Pacific Century Group
Celgene (NasdaqGS: CELG)
CH Media
China Resources (Holding) Co
Coca Cola (NYSE: KO)
Coop
Corza Medical
Dantherm / Procuritas
Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW)
Fortissimo Capital
Froneri International
FSN Capital
General Electric (NYSE: GE)
Glencore (LSE: GLEN.L)
Goldman Sachs Private Capital (NYSE: GS)
GTCR
iQ International AG (FSE: IQL)
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)
KHS GmbH
Leclanché SA (SWX: LECN.SW)
Microsoft (NasdaqGS: MSFT)
Nexo Group
Opel
Peugeot
Prudential Financial & The Prudential Insurance Company of America (NYSE: PUK)
Quintet
Ringier
Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE: RY)
ryd suisse AG
Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB)
Sony (NYSE: SNE)
Swiss Life /SWX: SLHN)
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
Union Park Capital
Wainwright & Co
Zimmer Biomet (NYSE: ZBH, SWX: ZBH)
Work highlights
- Avised Froneri International Ltd. on all Swiss law matters of the sale of Findus Switzerland to Nomad Foods Limited.
- Advised Ringier AG on all Swiss legal aspects of the acquisition of Axel Springer’s stake in the existing joint venture of Ringier and Axel Springer in Hungary, the Baltics, Serbia and Slovakia.
- Advised Volvo Autonomous Solutions AB on all Swiss legal aspects of the acquisition of 60% of the shares of Designwerk Technologies AG.
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
Clients appreciate Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd for ‘producing fast and efficient solutions that are legally watertight.‘ The group handles the full spectrum of corporate law and transactions, from start-up financing rounds to private equity deals as well as private and public M&A cross-border matters. It is particularly noted for its strength in interdisciplinary matters, frequently collaborating with the competition, IP and tax teams. Lorenzo Olgiati has more than 25 years of experience in the field and leads the practice together with Jean Jacques Ah Choon who has considerable know-how in the venture capital space. Senior partner Martin Weber is the key contact for banking clients. Other prominent practitioners are Oliver Triebold, Pascal Hubli and Tarek Houdrouge. Senior associate Marcel Jakob is ‘a very technically sound and strong lawyer.’
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Tarek Houdrouge; Martin Weber; Christoph Vonlanthen; Marcel Jakob; Pascal Hubli; Oliver Triebold; Josef Caleff
Testimonials
‘It was an absolute pleasure to work with the M&A team, both professionally and personally. The M&A team was sensational and available more or less 24/7.’
‘Lorenzo Olgiati is great to work with. He is extremely responsive, client-focused, deal-oriented and quick – an excellent, very experienced and highly qualified M&A lawyer with great commercial skills and a superb support team.’
‘I would like to recommend Marcel Jakob. He is a very technically sound and strong lawyer. He is quick, diligent and understands business.’
‘Pascal Hubli was always available to us, even at short notice, took great initiative in client-side communications when issues rose and always made sure to coordinate all necessary actions in a productive way within his team.’
‘The team is very much solution-focused and has a great understanding of our needs and an excellent business acumen, rare to find with legal firms. This produces fast and efficient solutions that are legally watertight. Simply excellent!’
‘The outstanding Oliver Triebold, Marcel Jakob are not only very competent, but also great in the personal interaction, always available and very fast in responding.’
‘Tarek Houdrouge knows the M&A process well, has excellent writing skills, excellent availability and communication, and is pleasant to interact with.’
‘Martin Weber: extensive know-how, focused, calm attitude. Always in charge and thinking ahead, great focus on the client’s need, even brings up topics which are not strictly legal, but highly relevant for the project. Very likeable on a personal level with a great sense of humour.’
Key clients
ams AG
TE Connectivity
Axpo
Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG
Rothschild & Co Bank AG
Lennox International
Standard Chartered Bank/Standard Chartered Ventures (Singapore)
Lufthansa Group
CSS Health Insurance
Zdenek Bakala, Gregory Finger and Petr Svoboda (Group of buyers of Lausanne Hockey Club)
Alpian SA
Leonardo S.p. A
Oxford Finance
GCA Corporation
Santhera Pharmaceuticals
Lantal Textiles AG
Heiq Materials AG
Philip Morris International/Philip Morris Equity Partners
Julius Bär
SIX Group
BNP Paribas
Cardinal Health
Helvetia Schweizerische Versicherungsgesellschaft
Hugo Fund Services
EFG International
MoneyPark AG
AddLife
ZKB Zürcher Kantonalbank/Swisscanto Holding
BASF Schweiz AG
Bouygues Construction
RAM Active Investments
Schroder & Co Bank
Shire International GmbH
SET Ventures
Cigna/Ascent Health
Eficode
cm.shoes GmbH
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Implenia AG
OC Oerlikon
KPS Capital Partners
SIX Paynet AG
ITOCHU Corporation
Synergy Sports
Work highlights
- Advised Rothschild bank on its acquisition of Banque Paris Bertrand.
- Advised Addlife AB on its acquisition of Vision Ophthalmology Group.
- Advised TE Connectivity on its acquisition of Erni Group.
VISCHER
The team at VISCHER has a considerable track record in national and international mid-market M&A and private equity transactions, with a particularly active practice in the life sciences. Furthermore, the practice offers a dedicated China desk and extensive experience in advising venture capital investors, corporates and start-ups in financing rounds and exits. Transaction specialists Jürg Luginbühl, Robert Bernet and Damien Conus lead the group, which also includes life sciences expert Matthias Staehelin. Gian-Andrea Caprez has notable know-how in the technology sector.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
H. Lundbeck A/S
Axpo Services AG
Cantonal Bank of Basel
Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG
Polyphor Ltd.
Medartis Holding AG
Oculis SA
Bregal Unternehmerkapital GmbH
Swisscom AG
Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund
Equistone Partners Europe
Syngenta
Swisspower Renewables AG
Barnes Group Inc
Kuros Biosciences Ltd
Anokion SA
NOUSCOM AG
JSR Corporation
MCM Fashion Group
Deichmann Shoes
AFINUM
SkyCell AG
Bachem Holding
Rigeto Unternehmerkapital GmbH
Jacobs Holding AG
Invision Private Equity
Helvetica Capital
Colosseum Dental Group
Continental AG
3 Plus Group AG
Swissterminal AG
Control4 Corporation
Loomis AB
RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA
MCH Group AG
Sauter Group
Spaeter Group
Quest Software Group
Noema Pharma
Snyk Ltd.
Eleven Sports Network Limited
Red Ventures
Mediashop Group
Work highlights
- Advised NBE Therapeutics and its shareholders on its share purchase agreement with a total transaction value of €1.18bn with Boehringer Ingelheim.
- Assisted AFINUM and the shareholders of the evitria Group with a share purchase agreement with Atlas Antibodies, Sweden.
- Advised Novartis on the signing of a collaboration agreement and an option to acquire Cellerys, a Zurich-based start-up that is researching an innovative therapy to combat multiple sclerosis (MS).
Walder Wyss Ltd.
Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s large team is regularly involved in domestic and multi-jurisdictional private and public M&A transactions, with practice head Alex Nikitine‘s strong capital markets expertise adding value in matters involving listed companies. The members also cover deal structures, due diligence, transaction agreements and regulatory approvals. Markus Vischer and Luc Defferrard also cover PE and VC matters. Urs Gnos ‘is a very strong negotiator who always tries to get the best deal for his clients.‘ Ramona Wyss is well versed in regulated industries, including the energy sector.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Markus Vischer; Luc Defferrard; Urs Gnos; Stefan Knobloch; Ramona Wyss; Christian Hagen
Testimonials
‘Walder Wyss provided quality advice in a timely manner in relation to a very complex transaction. I appreciated the level of communication and their responsiveness when matters required a quick response.’
‘Urs Gnos has become a trusted advisor through the course of this very long and complex transaction. He is very responsive, provided excellent advice and was focused on ensuring that his firm delivered ‘value’ for the fees charged. I would highly recommend him.’
‘Christian Hagen was very dedicated, responsive and prepared quality work. He was instrumental in managing the deliverables and ensuring the work was kept to the timescales that we were working to. He was very organised and was key to keeping the deal on track.’
‘Attentive, service-minded and knowledgeable team.’
‘Very knowledgeable, service-minded, clear in communication, quickly understands the issues at hand, commercially good advice.’
‘Very strong insight on the business case, not only on legal matters. Outstanding responsiveness, reachability and availability even at late hours or very early in the morning. Very efficient.’
‘Urs Gnos, besides his legal and business knowledge, is a very strong negotiator who always tries to get the best deal for his clients, but can make compromises where needed. He is always in control of the process, even in difficult situations. He is extremely responsive which gives you the feeling of being the most important client. He is straightforward and provides a clear picture of the situation. Even when you contact him, he is involved in your matters and knows any detail of the process.’
Key clients
Nestlé SA
Warburg Pincus International
Sulzer AG
NovImmune
NVT AG
Helm AG
Boehringer Ingelheim
HOCHDORF
Viseca Holding AG
Apax
Ringier
Tamedia (TX Group)
Glarner Kantonalbank
Montana Tech Components
Bio Energy Group
Work highlights
- Advised Boehringer Ingelheim on the acquisition of NBE-Therapeutics AG.
- Advised Groupe Mutuel Holding SA on its acquisition of a majority participation in Neosana AG and its subsidiaries.
- Acted as lead counsel to ED&F Man Capital Markets regarding the sale of its structured commodities division to Albright Capital and De Jong Capital.
Advestra
Newly opened transaction specialist boutique Advestra offers support in all phases of M&A and other corporate transactions since the beginning of 2021. The team advises on acquisition and divestment transactions (including corporate auctions), public takeovers, mergers, demergers, joint ventures and financing rounds. Its ‘great combination of legal expertise with commercial understanding‘ is often sought after by clients from the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, the financial services industry, consumer goods and retail industries. Thomas Reutter, Rashid Bahar, Daniel Raun and Alexander von Jeinsen are the key contacts.
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Reutter; Rashid Bahar; Daniel Raun; Alexander von Jeinsen; Anna Capaul; Annina Hammer
Testimonials
‘Great combination of legal expertise with commercial understanding. No detours or hour-billing. Excellent response time & very good interpersonal service.’
‘Alex von Jeinsen moved into trusted advisor position straight away. He’s quick, to the point, with honest assessments coming straight to conclusions & not ‘repeating the law.‘
‘Annina Hammer: very good response time, very diligent & reliable, very good counsel.’
‘Advestra combines the flexibility and responsiveness of a small law firm with knowledge and experience of a big law firm.’
‘Rashid Bahar is an outstanding, extremely intelligent, extremely knowledgeable, very experienced, very wise lawyer. He is an absolute expert in commercial and corporate Swiss law and M&A. Furthermore, he is very friendly and professional at all times. Finally, he always delivered excellent services, even under a very high workload and stress burden.’
‘Great service, best legal advice, goes the extra mile.’
‘Highly competent corporate lawyers with excellent English language skills.’
‘Thomas Reutter is an excellent strategist. He is very responsive, caring and competent.’
Key clients
Mubadala Investment Company/Falcon Private AG
Swiss Re
SIG Combibloc
Arundel
One Equity Partners
Zurich Insurance Company
XP Inc.
Orascom Development Holding
Unifiedpost Group
H.I.G. Capital
Bob Finance
CGG
Recticel
Work highlights
- Advised One Equity Partners on the acquisition of a 29% stake in Cicor Technologies Ltd.
- Advised XP Inc. on the sale of its Swiss private investment and wealth management private investment and wealth management.
- Advised SIG Combibloc on the acquisition of its joint venture companies in the Middle East.
BianchiSchwald LLC
BianchiSchwald LLC‘s strengths are private M&A transactions involving Swiss SMEs, joint ventures and company successions, frequently involving private equity players. The client portfolio includes companies from the industrial, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors. Practice head Thomas Schmid ‘is distinguished by his deal-making abilities and exceptional ability to swiftly apprehend the core of the matter in question.’ Marc Metzger is the key contact for public procurement projects. Stefan Scherrer is well versed in the industrials sector. Since publication, Manuel Bianchi della Porta left the firm.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They are very close to the client, with very fluent communication and nice manners. They deliver very high-quality work on time. Qualified professionals within an organisation that is very well managed and organised.’
‘Bianchi Schwald LLc has been advising to our complete satisfaction.’
‘Thanks to the qualified knowledge and expertise, BianchiSchwald LLC was able to develop creative and efficient solutions in order to protect our interests at all times.’
‘Thomas Schmid is distinguished by his deal-making abilities and exceptional ability to swiftly apprehend the core of the matter in question. He is also able to point out possible risks and dangers and thus contribute to realistic and feasible solutions in order to protect our interest in the best and most efficient way possible.’
‘Excellent and dedicated staff and partners without paying the expensive overhead and name of the big companies.’
‘Dedication, legal knowledge and experience and interest in cases.’
‘Broad and complete spectrum of areas of law. High responsiveness, quality of work.’
‘Marc Metzger and Stefan Scherrer are characterised by a high level of competence and are available with their support practically around the clock.’
Key clients
Richemont International SA
Stadler Rail AG
One swiss bank SA (formerly Banque Profil de Gestion SA)
PCS Holding AG
Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
Casacuberta Group
Helvetica Capital AG
Farmer Connect SA
Infravia Capital Partners
Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
PINC – Paulig Incubator
Work highlights
- Advised the Swiss Confederation in connection with COVID related state support provided to the Swiss airline industry, including as surety provider for a CHF1,5bn credit facility to Swiss International Air Lines AG and Edelweiss Air AG.
- Acted as lead counsel to Helvetica Capital AG on their acquisition together with Bruno Fankhauser of Leoni Studer AG from Leoni AG.
- Advised PCS Holding AG in connection with the acquisition of significant participation in the stock exchange-listed Swiss Steel group from its main shareholder BigPoint Holding AG.
Bratschi Ltd
Bratschi Ltd is popular with Swiss and foreign mid-market clients, with particular expertise in the IT and telecoms, financial services, energy, real estate, healthcare and hospitality industries. Group head Thomas Peteris a prominent practitioner in M&A and private equity transactions. Other key contacts include Matthias Schmid, Florian Jörg and Christian Stambach. Marco Rizzi has ‘excellent knowledge of Swiss law.‘
Practice head(s):
Thomas Peter
Other key lawyers:
Christian Stambach; Florian Jörg; Matthias Schmid; Marco Rizzi
Testimonials
‘Very good and pleasant collaboration with Marco Rizzi. His advice and his work have helped us to proceed smoothly and successfully in this deal.’
‘Marco Rizzi and his team have an excellent knowledge of Swiss Law. Excellent delivery.’
‘The team was very professional and has very good lawyers, always available.’
‘Diverse, but specialised team with good understanding of the local culture.’
‘Efficacy, pragmatism, speed and client focus.’
‘Experience, expectations management, clarity. The simplicity of solutions proposed.’
‘Experienced team, good communication skills and cross-border knowledge.’
‘Very personable, attentive to detail, keen to understand the whole picture and help with all aspects of a complex transaction either directly or by reference to the relevant professionals, also trustworthy.’
Key clients
Collectius AG
Descartes Systems
Migros (Eastern Switzerland)
Paragon Partners GmbH
Jansen AG and Jansen Holding AG
SPAR Holding AG
H2e Power, Pune, India /mPower LLC, Dresden Germany
Obeikan Investment Group (OIG)
VRMotion AG
Glide ‘n’ Lock AG
Work highlights
- Advised the Jansen Group on the sale of its automotive component business to Mubea.
- Advised SPAR Holding AG on the acquisition of Store Service AG.
- Advised Obeikan Investment Group on the sale to SIG Combibloc of its 50% stake in the joint venture business for the Middle East and Africa market for aseptic cartons.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. has team of ‘excellent specialists with a high level of commitment and flexibility.’ Areas of expertise include cross-border transactions, private equity fund formations and investments, W&I insurance and D&O liability as well as distressed M&A. The group covers a variety of industries, including the energy, financial services, infrastructure and pharmaceutical sectors. Stefan Brunnschweiler and Pascal Favre are the practice heads of the Zurich and Geneva teams respectively. Alain Raemy also advises on corporate governance issues. Daniel Jenny is a key practitioner for private equity matters.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Excellent, committed, straight to the point, extremely professional.’
‘Very professional, responsive and commercial team with an awareness that in an M&A deal time is of the essence.’
‘Competent, solution-oriented, fast.’
‘Client-focused, flexible pragmatic.’
‘Very friendly and courteous team of excellent specialists with a high level of commitment and flexibility, a wide range of experience and always striving to find pragmatic legal solutions.’
‘High level of commitment and collegial cooperation, especially with Stefan Brunnschweiler and Franziska Hammer. A great wealth of experience and in-depth expertise.’
Key clients
ABB
ISS
Uniprod/Halder
Ecclesia
RUAG MRO Holding AG
keyon AG
Medico Invest AG
Aktiengesellschaft Ernst Hablützel + Co.
ASSEPRO
Renaissance KMU Schweizerische Anlagestiftung
Avectris
Shareholders of IPG Group
Socar Energy Limited GmbH
NChain
Designwerk Technologies GmbH
The Permanent Committee of the Geneva International Motorshow (GIMS)
ARM Swiss Representatives SA
S2F Groupe Partnaire SA
BeeMed SA
VISTA
Guardtime Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised ISS, a leading global facility services provider on the sale of its Swiss subsidiary ISS Kanal Services AG to KLAR Partners.
- Advised the Geneva International Motor Show in the negotiation and set up of a cross-border joint venture with Qatar’s National Tourism Council to provide assistance to the Qatari government with the inception and development of a Qatar Geneva International Motor Show.
- Advised publicly traded, international bakery company Aryzta in the sale of its sandwich production division to Bell Food Group.
Eversheds Sutherland AG
Eversheds Sutherland AG fields a ‘hands-on, solution-oriented and precise‘ team, which advises on M&A and private equity transactions, as well as restructurings. For the practice’s many cross-border matters, the group works closely with the firm’s international network. The group also has experience in assisting with setting up operations as well as in acting for entrepreneurs. Practice head Marc Nufer is well versed in the industrials and real estate sectors, while Oliver Beldi is the key contact for energy and transport clients. The team was reinforced with several new arrivals over the past months, among others Michael Mosimann who joined from Prager Dreifuss AG in early 2021.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Oliver Beldi; Michael Mosimann; Natalie Schwager; Ludovic Duarte
Testimonials
‘Marc Nufer is extremely supportive in all legal matters for my company. He and his team are diligent, responsive and efficient in handling any issues raised.’
‘Marc Nufer is very responsive and delivers great work. His network helps us to solve legal issues around the world.’
‘Very efficient and competent team, which contributed successfully to an efficient, straight-forward cooperation.’
‘Excellent friendly, professional service, good knowledge of the sector and a very helpful approach. The team from partners to associates want to work with you to get contracts and legal matters completed in an efficient way. They are also quick to respond.’
‘They have a vast knowledge of law both in theory and practice and always give prompt feedback to you.’
‘Oliver Beldi and Natalie Schwager were always fast, ready-to-answer and sensitive to our needs.’
‘Good law firm that is very diligent in its work. The work they did was quick and excellent.’
‘Good team. Oliver Beldi was very attentive to our desires.’
Key clients
Arklyz Group
Aspen Pharma
Axpo
Bergen Engines
Covantis SA
Danaher
Eaton
Iron Mountain
Kering
Lanxess
Microsoft
Nokia
Parker Hannifin
Ricoh
Rockwell Automation
Signature Aviation
Work highlights
- Advised Arklyz Group on two recent acquisitions of Intersocks group and The Athlete’s Foot (TAF).
- Advised a consortium of global businesses (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, COFCO, Louis Dreyfus Company and Viterra) on the formation of a transformational blockchain platform for agricultural commodities.
- Advised Kering on several intra-group restructurings and corporate housekeeping matters.
Kellerhals Carrard
The team at Kellerhals Carrard includes commercial, corporate and M&A specialists, who are appreciated for taking ‘new roads and finding innovative solutions.’ With several Swiss offices, the practice is well positioned to advise on mid-market transactions and matters relating to venture capital and start-ups. The close collaboration across departments adds value. Beat Brechbuehl combines M&A and capital markets expertise. Ines Pöschel and Edgar Philippin have know-how in private deals, and Reto Schumacher is ‘a partner with business excellency.’
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Massimiliano Maestretti; Emanuel Dettwiler; Reto Schumacher; Edgar Philippin; Ines Pöschel
Testimonials
‘Excellent availability, strong commitment, excellent in execution.’
‘Availability (anytime); business-driven negotiation skills; excellent in law practice and similar business cases’
‘The KC team is pragmatic, solution-oriented and efficient. They take new roads and find innovative solutions. They offer high personal commitment and partner attention.’
‘Beat Brechbühl is a smart, tough and creative negotiator.’
‘Ines Pöschel is a thorough and excellent specialist in pay and governance.’
‘Edgar Philippin is a brilliant mind, very hard-working and pragmatic.’
‘Reto Schumacher is a partner with business excellency.’
Key clients
One Swiss Bank SA, Geneva
Swiss Automotive Group
Innflow AG
Aspectra AG
PEG Papeteristen Einkaufgenossenschaft/OFFIX Holding AG
F. Bayard/Mengis Media
EYEPARC AG
HeBa Partners AG (Mode Bayard, Thomas Herbert)
Eight Roads Ventures
Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital AG
CreditGate24 (Schweiz) AG
AdVita Lifescience GmbH
Atlantic Labs, a large Germany-based VC
Apollo Health Ventures
Corporate Venture Arm of CSS Health Insurance
Fischer Spindle
SPT Roth AG
VTX
Accorinvest
Work highlights
- Advised Fischer Group on a cross-border complex joint venture with the Chinese Weichai Power group in the set-up of the Fischer Fuel Cell Compressor AG.
- Advised One Swiss Bank on the acquisition of a CHF2bn client portfolio from Falcon Privatbank AG in three separate closings.
- Advised Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital AG in connection with the investment in Sophia Genetics SA, which closed their Series F financing round.
Loyens & Loeff
Clients appreciate Loyens & Loeff‘s ‘dedication to the success of the transaction.‘ The practice offers know-how in the private equity, energy, transportation, and healthcare sectors, and often acts for strategic buyers. Matters such as M&As, joint ventures, restructurings, and corporate finance transactions are handled in close collaboration with the tax team. Marco Toni leads the practice and also covers corporate governance queries. He is supported by private equity specialist Andreas Hinsen.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They have a fantastic team. Excellent technical skills, professional attitude and a high portion of humour, which is why I really like to work with them.’
‘Marco Toni stands out. Exceptionally good M&A lawyer with impressive skills. Marco focuses on solutions and is efficient.’
‘Loyens & Loeff has generally been extremely smart, efficient and fast and had very creative approaches in stuck situations. In addition, the project felt like a real priority from day one.’
‘Andreas Hinsen and Beat Baumgartner definitely stood out with their commitment, fast turn-around time and their ability to resolve stuck situations. Their contribution to the successful closure of this deal was definitely larger than what was expected and reflects an extremely high value for money. Andreas’ ability to dig down to the essentials in large amounts of materials and to ask the right questions is definitely outstanding while Beat’s understanding of the tax landscape was definitely not matched by other advisors on this transaction.’
‘Friendly and professional.’
‘Team dedicated to the success of the transaction. Delivered high-quality work.’
Key clients
Wabion AG
adidas
Geberit
Faurecia
Specialized
Revlon
Südvers GmbH
Egeria
Bacardi
Le Collectionist
SITA N.V.
EQT
Cellularline S.p.A.
Nektar Therapeutics
Vortex Companies
Folli Follie
Vespa Capital
Morgan Stanley, BofA Securities, and SVB Leerink
UGI Corporation
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised Wabion on its sale to Accenture.
- Advised UGI Corporation on the acquisition of the LPG business from SOCAR Energy.
- Advised Le Collectionist and acted as Swiss legal advisor on its acquisition of Bramble Ski.
Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte
Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte offers clients a ‘to the point, practical, solution-oriented and experienced approach.‘ The team is particularly active for companies from the manufacturing, healthcare, real estate and technology industries whom it advises on the full range of corporate, commercial and M&A topics. Practice head Markus Alder is also able to assist clients with succession planning issues. Arlette Pfister combines ‘strong and precise knowledge of the law with an excellent understanding of a client’s business needs.’ Michael Bösch is a key contact for corporate matters.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very responsive and flexible in availability. To the point, practical, solution-oriented and experienced approach.’
‘Thouvenin has a very able team with highly accessible and hands-on partners.’
‘Arlette Pfister is an excellent lawyer, combining strong and precise knowledge of the law with an excellent understanding of client’s business needs.’
Key clients
Microsoft Corporation
Wal-Mart Inc.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Insightsoftware
Collagen Matrix, Inc., USA
Mediq B.V.
Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
Leica Geosystems AG
Admicasa Holding AG
Jenoptik AG
Wenger Vieli Ltd
Wenger Vieli Ltd is noted for providing ‘outstanding results in a timely manner and in a pragmatic way.’ The team handles a high number of transactions in the mid-market segment, acting in particular for private equity funds, start-ups and VC investors. Beat Speck is well versed in handling matters for clients from the energy, IT, telecommunications, and entertainment industries. He leads the practice together with transaction specialist Pascal Honold. Wolfgang Zürcher is a key contact for entrepreneurs.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Highly competent team. Solid, but pragmatic approach.’
‘The efficiency and the dedication of Wenger & Vieli’s lawyers is outstanding. In particular, Marc Walter consistently provides detailed and accurate, yet pragmatic legal analyses. What is more: he always does so within the agreed – often challenging – deadlines. His ability to understand complex situations and devise pragmatic approaches greatly contributes to reaching his client’s objectives. In addition, Marc Walter stands out for his excellent language skills (German, English and French) and his friendliness.’
‘Great team with hands-on mentality and expertise.’
‘Beat Speck and his team focus on delivering outstanding results in a timely manner and in a pragmatic way.’
‘Wenger & Vieli is a trusted partnerfor us. The team around Beat Speck is top notch, always delivers and is fun to work with.’
‘Pascal Honold: with a confident but collegial demeanour towards the other party, he maintains control of the contractual process and puts his client’s interests to advantage.’
‘Hands-on approach; professional; focused on solutions that work.’
‘Strong technical skills, focused on finding solutions i.e. deal-driven, high availability and flexibility, fair pricing.’
‘Beat Speck: outstanding M&A-skills, very deal-driven.’
Key clients
Signa
AXA Insurance Group, Switzerland
Breitling
Statoil
Swisscom
AG für die Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Daimler AG
Jones Lang LaSalle GmbH
Hybris AG
Naspers
Emeram Capital Partners
Helvetia Insurances
Earlybird Ventures
Verium AG
Shareholders of Ambassador & Opera AG
Scandit AG
Shareholders of Burckardt Compression Holding
AGRFR
Xovis
Infoguard
Contovista
Avantec
Paros
Dept. Holding B.V.
Omers
digitalSTROM AG
Shareholders of Hedoga AG
Frontify AG
SHS
u-blox
Work highlights
- Advised Signa on an auction process on Globus, the fashion warehouse of Migros.
- Advised Vontobel on its acquisition of twentyfour Asset Management LLP, a specialist fixed income boutique.
- Advised digitalStrom AG on the merger with a provider of smart solutions in the building industry.
id est avocats sàrl
The team at id est avocats sàrl predominantely advises clients from the technology, life scineces, financial and professional services, and computing sectors. The practice acts in venture capital, private equity and M&A matters, often for high-growth companies. Specialisations include corporate financing, capital structuring and exit strategies. Michel Jaccard combines corporate and IP expertise; he leads the practice together with Mehmet Toral who specialises in VC and PE investments. Marina Castelli made partner in July 2021.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Highly skilled team with a pragmatic approach. Young and dynamic.’
‘Marina Castelli-Joos is available and a good listener. Good practitioner.’
‘The team delivers very pragmatic advice and quickly understands the in-house/business needs. They manage to bridge between large companies and start-ups due to their diverse clients. They are very well informed and good with investment in private companies/start-ups.’
‘Michel Jaccard is very good with everything about new technologies, data protection, licensing. Mehmet Toral is very good with corporate matters, M&A and investment rounds.’
‘Best firm for support in the high-tech start-up community in Switzerland. In-depth knowledge of the ecosystem and specific dynamics in the field.’
‘We appreciate the relatively young team which is dynamic, but experienced enough to meet most of our needs. We felt they speak our language, understand our needs, have been through similar cases before and can also provide competitive commercial conditions. The team is responsive and will go the extra mile to get the job done.’
Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC
Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC has know-how in commercial, corporate and M&A transactions. Corporations and start-ups from the financial, pharmaceutical, IT and real estate industries are on the client roster. The team handles contracts, compliance and corporate governance, and strategic advice, with experience spanning matters arising along the full life cycle of transactions. Practice head Fabien Aepli acts in private mergers and acquisitions. Joël Chevallaz and counsel Lukas van Dobben are also noted.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is very pragmatic and proactive in finding solutions.’
‘Lukas van Dobben is a skilled negotiator, actively seeking pragmatic solutions. He knows how to focus on things that really matter for us and has been crucial on important business decisions. He has many times anticipated problems that we incurred later.’
‘Close collaboration and accountability of each project. The practice has a vast experience in broad topics.’
‘We are grateful to MANGEAT lawyers for the competent and thoughtful work. Thanks to clear, responsible and well-coordinated work, the MANGEAT lawyers helped with corporate issues and business operations.’
‘What I appreciate at Mangeat is the fact that they are solution-driven, pragmatic and fair.’
‘Lukas van Dobben is both professional and committed, always responsive, efficient and multi-skilled.’
Key clients
Infomaniak Network SA
Edwards Lifesciences SA
Aptissen SA
Re-Company SA
MITC Méthode Innovations Technologies Conseil SA
Akrivia SA
Elis SHPK
Backbone Art SA
Wenger Plattner
Noted for its ‘solutions-oriented attitude’, Wenger Plattner is a go-to contact for Swiss and foreign companies from a wide range of industries. Led by the ‘extremely dedicated‘ Oliver Künzler, the team covers due diligence, transaction negotiations, and merger control notifications. It is furthermore often involved in M&A transactions, including joint ventures, restructurings and outsourcing, in connection with private and distressed companies. Marc Nater also offers experience in private equity and capital market matters.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very good qualifications in all areas of business law, including tax law.’
‘Wenger Plattner offers a highly competitive service. Also, the firms put high emphasis on gender diversity, including the possibility to work part-time for women with young children, with a high number of female lawyers in senior positions.’
‘Oliver Künzler is an excellent lawyer with a deep business understanding. He is extremely dedicated to the needs of the client and knows perfectly what is required to get a deal successfully over the finishing line. He is a fast thinker and has the ability to come up with innovative, sound proposals to resolve difficult situations for the benefit of his clients. I very much like his pragmatic and high-quality approach.’
‘Good response speed, willingness to resolve issues promptly.’
‘Oliver and his team are just great.’
‘Oliver Künzler is experienced, reliable and service-minded.’
‘Wenger has a very solutions-oriented attitude; they are keen on solving the problems and not creating or listing issues. Very responsive, uncomplicated communication, easily available for a brief call.’
‘Oliver Künzler has a very solutions-oriented attitude and is a great expert in various areas, from civil law to regulatory framework related to pharma, medical sectors etc.’
Key clients
SIGNA Group
TX Group AG
SWICA Gesundheitsorganisation (Health Insurance)
HRG Hotels GmbH
Gilde Buy-Out Partners
Audi AG
Julius Baer Group
CIBT, Inc.
Novartis Pharma Ltd.
Hawesko
HG Commerciale
ADUR Management AG
SBI Holdings
Capital Transmission SA
Magazine zum Globus AG
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Align Technology, Inc.
Hospitality Swiss Proco AG
GA Europe GmbH
Saurer Group
Work highlights
- Acted as counsel to Align Technologies Inc on the acquisition of Swiss company Arbrea Labs AG, including its subsequent integration in the group through a merger.
- Acted as lead counsel to SBI Group with respect to its investment in Sygnum Bank, the first digital asset bank in Switzerland and a digital asset specialist with global reach.
- Acted as legal counsel to the Canton Solothurn with respect to the divestment of its minority shareholding in the delisted energy producer Alpiq Holding AG.
Bonnard Lawson
Bonnard Lawson is ‘clearly at the cutting edge of corporate law and venture capital.‘ The team has Swiss and foreign start-ups, SMEs, and corporations on its client roster, whom it advises on general corporate queries, different transactions, financing and investment rounds, commercial contracts, as well as on employment and tax matters. Loïs Hainard ‘offers practical solutions freeing himself from a theoretical point of view‘ and leads the team with Giovanni Rossi and Marie Flegbo-Berney.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The work done by Bonnard Lawson on the acquisition was perfect. They know all the intricacies that need to be considered. I was really delighted with how they handled this matter.’
‘Loïs Hainard basically took care of everything with a high level of professionalism. The quality of his documents (no grammatical mistake, no typo, etc.) is simply perfect and highly appreciated compared to other lawyers I had worked with. I also praise his responsiveness which is exceptional. Definitely a top lawyer.’
‘Loïs Hainard was amazing. It is really a pleasure to have a lawyer like Loïs as he is always available and knows exactly how to handle any situation. He has real business knowledge on top of his legal background. I can only recommend him to anyone looking for a corporate lawyer.’
‘Loïs Hainard stands out with his tremendous knowledge in corporate law. His interpersonal skills also allow him to get along with all generations. I will definitely keep on working with him. I do not see how I could find a better advisor than him in commercial/corporate law.’
‘In all honesty and sincerity, I think that Loïs Hainard is one of the best lawyers in the French part of Switzerland in corporate law and M&A. He is simply brilliant. The quality of his work is exceptional and praised by all the people I have recommended him to.’
‘I can confirm that I am delighted with the way Bonnard Lawson has handled my case since we started working together. They are clearly at the cutting edge of corporate law and venture capital and their experience is evident in the way they handle cases.’
‘Loïs is the lawyer who makes the deal happen; he was calm, convincing, reassuring for all parties and very knowledgeable about the whole process.’
‘Loïs Hainard’s skills in corporate law and commercial contracts are indeed widely recognized. He knows perfectly how to handle sophisticated clients and his pragmatism has often been noted and highly appreciated. He is one of the few lawyers I know who offers practical solutions freeing himself from a theoretical point of view. He is simply excellent.’
Key clients
SixSq SA
SWISSINSO SA
DYN SA
ONSA ADVISORS SA
Scitec Research SA
Check Your Health SA
Guy Gaudard SA
Nolands Advisory Services Switzerland AG
SFO Partners SA
Banque Cramer & Cie SA
Auris Wealth Management SA
Enki Capital SA
PFCH Luxe SA
Drinkotec Sàrl
Skechers Sarl
Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés
Boutique firm Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés covers restructurings, financings, fundraisings, and acquisitions for Swiss and foreign clients. The team is particularly sought after by companies active in the healthcare and luxury sectors. Damien Cand combines corporate, dispute resolution and banking law expertise. Nicole Fragnière Meyer‘s practice also covers tax law. The duo head the team together with the Hong Kong-based Christian Valentini.
Practice head(s):
Jeantet
Clients appreciate Jeantet for its ‘precision, knowledge and accessibility‘ in corporate queries. The team specialises in cross-border matters with France. It has an impressive client portfolio, including Swiss and foreign investors as well as multinational corporations, commodity investors and UHNWIs from a variety of industries. Practice head Patrice Lefèvre-Péaron also acts as key contact for real estate developers and in tax matters.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The practice is unique because of the outstanding experience that this team enjoys when it comes to cross-border corporate matters. Not to be underestimated is their deep knowledge of tax law and structuring.’
‘Patrice Lefèvre-Péaron is very knowledgeable and extremely efficient. A great lawyer with deep knowledge of the laws coupled with a seasoned practitioner who cuts to the chase and sees the problematics way ahead of time.’
‘We appreciate their precision, knowledge and accessibility.’
‘Patrice Lefèvre-Péaron is an excellent technician, honest, and always relevant to the interests of his clients. Patrice and his team are available and responsive. Especially thanks to his background, Patrice has in-depth expertise and ability to manage from a technical, but also cultural point of view multi-jurisdiction matters in continental Europe as well as the US/UKkl.’
‘Jeantet acquired a unique position on the French-Swiss legal and tax market making available in Switzerland a unique French legal and tax platform for M&A, but also other specific expertise like real estate. The team knows perfectly how to manage matters with a tricky mixture of legal and tax aspects.’
‘We appreciate working with Laure Rinchet, who is qualified at French, Luxembourg and Swiss bars with for each jurisdiction an in-depth knowledge of the legal systems and constraints. She is an excellent technician.’
‘Very responsive, commercial and aggressive when needed.’
‘Patrice Lefèvre-Péaron is simply an outstanding lawyer.’
Key clients
GIFI group
ENGIE S.A.
INSEEC U. – CINVEN
VALEO
Crédit Suisse
YORK CAPITAL US
VINCI CONSTRUCTION
CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe)
Work highlights
- Acted as Swiss legal counsel to ENGIE group in connection with the construction and operation of a photovoltaic electric generation facility located in Mexico together with its financing.
- Acted as Swiss legal counsel to the Australian investment fund and the arrangers in connection with the negotiation and structuring of an equity-linked financing project (convertible notes financing with warrants coverage) for Leclanché.
- Advised VINCI on the structuring of its first real estate investment in Switzerland, including tax, corporate and financing aspects and in compliance with the Lex Koller law.
MME Legal | Tax | Compliance
MME Legal | Tax | Compliance offers a ‘high level of availability and individual expertise‘ in corporate and M&A matters. The group unites transaction, tax and compliance expertise in one team and is particularly well versed in the fintech, technology, and trade and commerce sectors. Balz Hösly specialises in corporate governance topics while Andreas Rudolf also handles restructurings and structured real estate transactions. Alex Enzler is ‘a great asset both professionally and personally.’ Together, they lead the team with Peter Kuhn and Samuel Bussmann.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Balz Hösly
Testimonials
‘Very entrepreneurial; highly experienced in niche segments such as crypto and IT and inheritance law.’
‘High level of availability and individual expertise.’
‘Personal, fast and efficient – it’s always a pleasure working with MME.’
‘Alex Enzler always tries to take the best possible path for our company. He not only executes, but also assists us in an advisory capacity. Competent and helpful, he is a great asset both professionally and personally.’
Key clients
Alstom (Switzerland) former Bombardier Transportation (Switzerland) AG
Verit Group
Liquity AG
Ticketcorner AG
AG Hallenstadion Zurich
Greater Zurich Area AG
MCH Group AG
Mitra Solutions AG
Showwerk AG, Aegeri
Tadah AG
Work highlights
- Advised Verit Immobilien AG on its acquisition by Avobis Group AG The Avobis Group.
- Advised Liquity AG and its founders on a financing round.
- Advising Alstom (Switzerland) on its corporate governance and compliance set-up of the company in Switzerland.
OBERSON ABELS SA
OBERSON ABELS SA specialises in tax, banking and finance, and commercial, corporate and M&A engagements. The corporate caseload includes sales, set-ups, investment rounds and restructurings, as well as in commercial contracts. The group advises clients from a variety of industries, including insurance, pharmaceutical, technology, and renewable energy players. Sébastien Bettschart and Stefan Eberhard are the heads of the practice.
Practice head(s):
Work highlights
- Advised an investment company on a complex sale of a group of companies in the mechanical industry sector to a Chinese purchaser.
- Advised owners and investors on a complex cross-border combination and buy-out deal in the luxury cosmetics industry.
- Advised an investment company arm of a public utility on the purchase and development of various power plants in the photovoltaic and hydroelectric sector in the Cantons of Valais, Vaud, Fribourg and Ticino.
Prager Dreifuss AG
Prager Dreifuss AG covers the full spectrum of corporate and M&A matters. The team regularly advises companies on their set-ups, restructurings, housekeeping and compliance, as well as on relocations and contract matters. The comprehensive transactional practice includes venture capital matters. Energy and infrastructure specialist Andreas Moll and transaction practitioner Daniel Hayek direct the practice. Matthias Bürge and Michael Mosimann left the firm at the end of 2020.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Andreas Moll is one of the best counsel I’ve worked with in any jurisdiction.’
‘Jvo Grundler: Smart, efficient, experienced and highly competent lawyer who stands out thanks to his practical and deal-oriented approach and his ability to draft short, clear and nevertheless comprehensive and complete contracts/legal documents. He is reasonable in negotiations which is especially useful in difficult negotiations.’
‘Andreas Moll: Competent lawyer who communicates clearly, yet with patience, tact and finesse. He delivers impeccable legal products.’
Python
The corporate and M&A team at Python is active in transactions such as stock and asset deals, mergers, spin-offs and co-investments. Another area of expertise is advising international companies in their restructuring projects and setting up operations in Switzerland. Christophe de Kalbermattenh has know-how in the real estate sector, and Benjamin Humm is well versed advising on commercial contracts.
Other key lawyers:
Staiger Attorneys at Law Ltd
Staiger Attorneys at Law Ltd is regularly approached by SMEs, start-ups and entrepreneurs to assist them with their corporate matters. The team has notable experience in regulated industries such as the energy, insurance, and banking sectors. Real estate transactions are another area of strength. Yasemin Varel has a special focus on Turkey-related matters and leads the practice together with Andreas von Erlach.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Our cooperation was conducted to a high standard. We were properly assisted by Yasemin Varel. The team of Staiger was always available.’
Key clients
Zug Estates AG
Work highlights
- Advising Zug Estates on all corporate matters related to a CHF600m property development project.
- Advising a Turkish industrial group on corporate and commercial matters related to its Swiss operations.
- Advising an international tourism group on a cross-border real estate transaction.