Firms To Watch: Data privacy and data protection

Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG is a litigation and arbitration boutique that has a focus on insurance claims, in particular acting for the policy holders.

Firms in the Spotlight Data privacy and data protection

VISCHER

VISCHER logo

VISCHER is a leading Swiss law firm with over 120 fee earners. The firm provides solution-oriented support in all aspects of commercial, tax, and regulatory law. Their experts are organized in more than 20 practice teams, each led by experienced partners.

View Profile...

Data privacy and data protection in Switzerland

Homburger

Homburger‘s data protection and data privacy practice counts both global tech companies and major Swiss companies among its clients, advising on all aspects of Swiss data protection law, privacy issues, and related cross-border topics. The team is co-headed by Gregor Bühler and Luca Dal Molin. Buhler focuses on telecoms, information technology, privacy law and data protection-related litigation, while Dal Molin regularly advises tech companies and supports the implementation of innovative technology and digitalisation strategies in relation to data protection.

Testimonials

‘I value the team’s extremely client-focused approach. Luca Dal Molin has considerable experience working with multi-national technology companies.’

‘Luca Dal Molin is an all-star. He is technically excellent and extremely responsive.’

‘Excellent practitioners. Special mention of Gregor Bühler, Luca Dal Molin,’

‘The team members of this practice group are very well coordinated which facilitates the efficient provision of legal advice.’

‘They demonstrate a highly collaborative spirit, are very well coordinated amongst themselves, ready to find creative and unconventional solutions, and are very responsive (even when on vacation).’

‘Good, to-the-point legal advice, tailor-made for the specific case.’

‘Gregor Bühler is a very experienced litigator in the data protection field and always a pleasure to work with.’

Key clients

Google


UBS


aosphere


Roche


Novartis


Philip Morris


SIX


Swisscom


Swiss Post


Man Investments


Zurich Insurance Group


Zur Rose Suisse


Viacar


Helvetia


Work highlights


  • Advising Man Investments on the implementation of the new Swiss data protection law, also considering GDPR and data transfer to the United States
  • Advising Helvetia on data privacy-related aspects in the preparation of evidence for USD 150m U.S. litigation and arbitration proceedings
  • Advising Allen & Overy affiliate aosphere as its exclusive Swiss partner on Swiss data protection law matters

Lenz & Staehelin

Lenz & Staehelin provides data protection and privacy advice to clients active in a range of industry sectors, with professional and banking secrecy, and related areas of confidentiality obligations particular areas of strength. The team has a solid track record of advising Swiss and foreign companies on domestic, international, and cross-border data privacy issues. Head of practice Guy Vermeil is routinely instructed to handle IT and outsourcing matters related to international and domestic transactions, while co-heads Lukas Morscher and Jürg Simon are leading experts in technology, financial services and business sourcing, and IP law and competition law, respectively.

Testimonials

‘I work primarily with Dr. Jürg Simon. He is responsive and pragmatic’

Key clients

Apple


AT&T


Bank Vontobel


Carlo Gavazzi AG


Prabina Foundation


Resolution Life


Vontobel Asset Management


Wyss Center


Work highlights


  • Advising a Swiss private bank on its digital transformation from on-premise systems to a digital end-to-end wealth management platform operated on the cloud.
  • Advising a global leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence on the conclusion of a framework agreement for the provision of public cloud services for the Swiss Federation.
  • Advising a global audit firm in strategic outsourcings for integrated facility management in all legal and regulatory aspects.

MLL Legal

The data protection and privacy team at MLL Legal, co-headed by Lukas Bühlmann and Nicola Benz, acts for clients on a comprehensive range of data privacy and security-related matters. Bühlmann acts for a broad range of Swiss and international clients in the e-commerce and tourism sectors, while Benz is a popular choice for technology companies for a multitude of data privacy topics. Other individuals of note include ‘excellentMichael Reinle and junior associate Max Königseder. Cornelia Mattig left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Lukas Bühlmann; Nicola Benz


Other key lawyers:

Michael Reinle; Max Königseder


Testimonials

‘The team is strong in sustainability and technology, which is very helpful as I don’t need to explain my core business activities nor the technological challenges I am facing.’

‘The team led by Lukas Bühlmann is particularly acute and expert on top-notch legal topics such as metaverse or cryptos. They are able to assist big international clients and may go deep into legal challenges and stakes to add value towards clients’ strategy. A very reliable partner. He is pushing his team and the firm to become better and better. He is also very active on an international level and recently introduced an international think tank for data protection. I do highly recommend Lukas.’

Lukas Bühlmann is an outstanding individual in Switzerland with global reach.’

‘The law firm has provided very useful advice for governments in developing countries to understand how to strike the right policy balance (i.e., balancing issues such as encouraging innovation, consumer policy, data protection, competition policy, etc.), in order to foster a flourishing e-commerce industry tailored to each countries’ needs. I would in particular highlight the work of Lukas Bühlmann who is able to explain highly technical legal concepts succinctly and tailored towards the needs of the client.’

‘Nicola Benz – easily approachable, very practical advice, an understanding the commercial drivers, and very nice to work with’

‘People: excellent attorneys, fast reaction times; excellent personal and legal skills: Lukas Bühlmann; Michael Reinle; Max Königseder. Absolutely genius solution skills for Data privacy and data protection matters; great working with them!’

‘The MLL data privacy and data protection practice group combines excellent legal expertise with an understanding of the business needs of their clients. Also, I could observe a lot of team spirit, diversity, and joy amongst the different team members. This is key to me. For many years Lukas Bühlmann has been one of Switzerland’s leading privacy and data protection practitioners. What makes him distinct is his hands-on and very practical approach to legal counselling.’

Key clients

British American Tobacco Switzerland SA


Cofra Holding AG


International Trade Center (ITC)


Decentriq Ltd.


HANDELSVERBAND.swiss


Avobis Group


Meltwater News International


Burrus Development


Swiss Association of Horseriding Sports


International Exhibition Logistics Association (IELA)


HotellerieSuisse


Soroptimist International of Europe, Headquarters Office (Association)


Thom Brown


Swiss Fin Lab


Lusaria AG


Lehrmittelverlag Zürich


Hearing aid manufacturer


Ethical Fashion Initiative


Work highlights


  • Developing a legaltech based toolbox for the members of the trade association HANDELSVERBAND.swiss enabling assisting them to comply with the new Swiss data privacy act and EU-GDPR.
  • Advising Decentriq, a leading Swiss start-up providing confidential computing technology, to develop various use-cases compliant with privacy laws and targeted at various industries such as healthcare, marketing, or finance.
  • Acting as Swiss local privacy experts to the Baxter Group and advising regularly on various aspects of Swiss data privacy laws and other healthcare-related regulatory issues.

VISCHER

The data and privacy team at VISCHER has a strong track record handling all aspects of data privacy and data protection law, frequently advising private companies, public institutions, and international organisations. An ‘opinion leader in the field of data privacy,’ practice head David Rosenthal's expertise includes information technology, data protection, and e-discovery. Other individuals of note include TMT expert Rolf Auf der Maur, as well as Christian Wyss, who focuses on data protection issues in the life sciences industry.

Practice head(s):

David Rosenthal


Testimonials

‘Strong subject matter expertise, strong services mindedness’

‘The VISCHER data privacy team has seen exceptional growth since David Rosenthal joined the firm. They are now one of the leading data privacy teams in Switzerland.’

‘David Rosenthal is THE most prominent data privacy lawyer in Switzerland. David has a very business-oriented approach and always thinks out of the box to find practicable solutions. He also has an exceptionally large network both in Switzerland and abroad. David has become an opinion leader in data privacy on an international level. He developed a TIA tool that has become the standard for conducting transfer impact assessments not only in Switzerland but also internationally. He has often been referred to as “Mr. TIA”.’

Key clients

World Economic Forum


Swisscom


Allianz


Raiffeisen


Comet Group


Implenia


Canton of Zurich


Twint


Ringier


University Hospital of Basel


MCH Group


Bucher Industries


Sauter


SwissPower


Mitsubishi Chemical


Comparis Group


Open Systems


Lyfegen


Novocure


Work highlights


  • Advising the Canton of Zurich on moving to the Microsoft cloud – the Canton declared the firm’s foreign lawful access risk assessment model as the standard for all government cloud projects.
  • Advising and representing Raiffeisen, BLKB, Radicant, ZKB, Twint, Allianz, Suva, and many other financial institutions on their use of the cloud, including from Microsoft, AWS, Google and Salesforce.com.

Walder Wyss Ltd.

Walder Wyss Ltd. fields ‘one of the largest and most competent data privacy teams in Switzerland‘. The team is sought out by clients from a variety of industry sectors to assist with compliance implementations, investigations, and representation before courts and data protection authorities, among other matters. The practice is headed by leading Swiss data privacy expert David Vasella, ‘a household name in the Swiss data privacy community‘, who regularly advises Swiss and international clients on a wide range of data protection matters. Jürg Schneider, Martin Zobl, senior associate Florian Roth and associate Bernadette Bucheli further strengthen the practice.

Practice head(s):

David Vasella


Testimonials

‘We particularly appreciated the personal support and the ability to show and break down the complexity of the topic.’

‘David Vasella has been every time a very competent consulting partner for all our questions. He provides not only theory but also considers the needs of the company and actively seeks compliant and practical solutions. He has a very good understanding of the business, provides always useful documentation and there is good value for money. Also, communication is always very timely, even during the absence of Mr. Vasella. The customer is never left in the dark. We are very happy to have Mr. Vasella as a legal consultant and would recommend him anytime for his excellent work and knowledge at all times.’

‘Walder Wyss is an innovative and highly professional law firm. Thus far, we’ve only dealt with the most capable partners and associates. David Vasella is not only an extremely knowledgeable attorney, but he also communicates transparently and clearly. He is reassuring, articulate, knowledgeable, and effective. He always gets back to us quickly and makes it a seamless operation, especially as we are facing time constraints quite often.’

‘Walder Wyss has one of the largest and most competent data privacy teams in Switzerland. They are very business-oriented and always look for pragmatic and practicable solutions. David Vasella is the expert in Swiss data protection law. He is a great communicator and a perfect partner for entrepreneurs.’

‘David Vasella is a household name in the Swiss data privacy community and one of the most prominent and well-respected data privacy professionals in Switzerland. We use David for our most complex projects and high-stakes legal questions and always value his support. David has a profound business understanding and offers actionable advice, allowing us to effectively manage privacy-related risks. He regularly thinks of innovative ways of how to use data for business purposes while at the same time protecting the interests of data subjects. We also value his in-depth knowledge of international developments and his broad international network.’

‘David Vasella is among the three best and most famous data protection lawyers in Switzerland. He understands the risk-based approach and the pragmatism that the industry is requiring. He uses different tools, has an important network, is sharing the experience with clients. When we are asking for a meeting, this takes place very quickly either onsite or online. From our perspective, this is exactly what we are looking for.’

‘Walder Wyss has an extremely strong data privacy and data protection practice that clearly stands out from other law firms not only by the number of specialists but also its exceptional expertise and the very high quality of the services provided. We note that they are closely involved in ongoing doctrinal and political debates on current legal developments and the future of Swiss data protection law. Considering their reputation and expertise, we would consider them as market leader in the field.’

‘We were impressed by the high professionalism and diligence shown by Martin Zobl (partner) and Florian Roth (senior associate) when it came to handling complex legal questions at the intersection of data protection, labor, and public law. Despite the complexity of the topic, they provided very hands-on and cost-efficient advice. We would also like to emphasise that they are both very responsive and extremely pleasant to work with.’

Key clients

APG SGA


Argus


Atupri


Cembra


Credit Suisse


CSS


eBay


Emmi


Federal Roads Office


Galenica


gategroup


Helsana


Intrum


Kantar Media


KünzlerBachmann


Legartis


LGT Capital Partners


Leontec Securities AG


Loylogic


Microsoft


Migros


Mobiliar


MySmartHeart


Relio


RUAG


Sanitas


Santésuisse


SBB


Schweizerische Exportrisikoversicherung SERV


SpecPage


STOXX


Swisscard


Swisscom


Swisstransplant


Sygnum Bank


TX Group


Valiant Bank


Viseca


Well


Zur Rose


Zurich Insurance


Zurich University


Work highlights


  • Provided legal opinions to FEDRO, a member of Cardossier, on a blockchain-enabled platform for sharing vehicle data between public administration, insurance companies, leasing companies, and vehicle traders.
  • Advised santésuisse, an association of several health insurers, on outsourced health care provider performance analytics and audits, including consultation with the Data Protection Authority.
  • Advised a number of large companies and groups on data protection compliance, including Bossard, CSS, Emmi, Galenica, Leonteq, LGT Capital Partners, Migros, Sygnum, Swisscard, and many others.

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG‘s data protection and privacy team team advises acts for major Swiss and multinational corporations from a wide variety of industries, including banking, healthcare, new technologies, and consumer goods. The team is led by Alessandro Celli, whose practice focuses on Swiss data protection and GDPR compliance, as well as advising on new technologies and associated legal challenges. Associate Johanna Moesch specialises in data protection and data processing in the financial and healthcare industries.

Practice head(s):

Alessandro Celli


Other key lawyers:

Johanna Moesch


Testimonials

‘The team is extremely pragmatic and practical. Also, their Swiss focus was for us of great value. Work results are super smart and efficient.’

‘Johanna Moesch is our key contact and the address we think of when discussing data privacy topics in Switzerland.’

Bär & Karrer Ltd.

Bär & Karrer Ltd.’s data protection team has a particular focus on cross-border matters, outsourcing, and compliance issues as they relate to data privacy. The team is headed by Corrado Rampini, who specialises in data protection in M&A and capital market transactions. The team also benefits from the expertise of data protection expert Christian Kunz, who advises Swiss and international clients on data protection and cybersecurity matters. Associate Rehana Harasgama provides additional support.

Practice head(s):

Corrado Rampini


Other key lawyers:

Christian Kunz; Rehana Harasgama


Testimonials

‘The team has a thorough understanding of both the requirements under EU and Swiss data protection legislation combined with high business acumen. This combination allows the team to give to-the-point advice on clients’ business cases. The tight international relationships with data privacy specialists from other jurisdictions allow Bär & Karrer to follow the client’s international businesses and cover the requests as a one-stop shop.’

‘Very good personal fit between lawyers and clients and resulting in a productive working atmosphere. Diversity reflects client reality and increases credibility. High level of understanding of the client’s specific situation and adaptation of the advisory strategy. An outstanding combination of expertise, professionalism, and honestly conveyed sympathy. The team stands out with its highly professional lawyers with deep subject matter expertise. We mainly collaborated digitally which was always very efficient and they added the right experts to the calls wherever it was necessary.’

‘I have mainly worked with Christian Kunz who provides exceptional services with his highly knowledgeable, timely, and to-the-point advice both from a purely legal but also commercial perspective, balancing both legal and business considerations’

‘Professional and deep expertise in this sector, very efficient and fast in analyzing and negotiating, communication adequately to all parties, and very customer-friendly with exceptional availability. All the qualities mentioned above we have experienced especially with Rehana Harasgama’

‘Above-average expertise in both Swiss and European data protection and privacy law. Extremely fast response times and always available to the client, even when face-to-face physical meetings are necessary. Requests regarding invoicing due to internal accounting requirements were handled without further ado.’

‘Dr. Christian Kunz has above-average knowledge in the field of data protection and privacy law, especially in the context of cyber security. He has an above-average commitment to the needs of his clients and avoids formalities, which makes working with him extremely pleasant.’

‘Communications and responsiveness are definitely core strengths of Bär & Karrer Ltd.. We always get feedback within a couple of hours (sometimes minutes) and they never miss a deadline. The individuals we work together at Bär & Karrer Ltd. do really care about their customers. They make an effort to understand business processes and consult us efficiently and constructively.’

Key clients

Diem Association


OneDoc


FRUSS


Humabs BioMed SA


c.technology


Varo Energy Marketing AG


European Athletics Association


Zermatt Tourism Board


SPOOL DAO


Work highlights


  • Advising FRUSS Ltd. on all legal aspects relating to the Metaverse projects “Pax.world” and “Metameet”, in particular relating to technology, data, and data protection laws.
  • Advising Zermatt Tourism Authority in all matters data and data protection-related in connection to the promotion and digitalisation of the tourism destination Zermatt, Täsch, and Randa with a particular focus on the goal of Zermatt Tourism Authority to be a leading tourism destination in Switzerland that is fully digitalised from booking a hotel, to paying tourist taxes, to personalised marketing.
  • Advised the Diem Association regarding the establishment and operation of a DLT-based payment system that takes a privacy-by-design approach and complies with applicable data protection laws.

id est avocats sàrl

Data and privacy is a core area of expertise for id est avocats sàrl and the team acts for clients on the full range of data protection matters, from compliance to artificial intelligence questions. In particular, the firm stands out for its recent work with clients in the healthcare and biotech industries. The team is led by innovative technologies specialist Michel Jaccard. Senior associate Alexandre Jotterand focuses on advanced technologies and data security.

Practice head(s):

Michel Jaccard


Other key lawyers:

Alexandre Jotterand


Testimonials

‘id est is certainly one of the most prominent law firms in the field of information and communication technologies in Switzerland. The team is characterised by its small size compared to large law firms and knows well the needs of its clients.’

‘Alexandre Jotterand demonstrates a brilliant mind and great intelligence in meeting the needs of his clients. His in-depth knowledge of data protection and new technologies makes him one of the best lawyers in the field in Switzerland.’

Kellerhals Carrard

Kellerhals Carrard‘s data privacy team acts for clients from a range of industries, including banking, fintech, biotech and healthcare, in contentious and non-contentious cases. With offices in the French, Italian, and German parts of Switzerland, the team is well placed to provide advice in all three official languages. The team is jointly headed by Nicolas Mosimann, Daniel Alder, Ralph Gramigna, Christophe Rapin, and Stefano Perucchi.

Key clients

Moderna Switzerland GmbH


Swiss FinTech Innovations (SFTI)


Vilebrequin International SA


University Children’s Hospital Basel


Eidoo SA


Undo Studio SA


Work highlights


  • Advising Swiss Fintech Innovations (SFTI), a Swiss association of major financial institutes, on digitisation of processes (e.g. onboarding process, open banking, outsourcing, data protection), blockchain/DLT projects, data protection issues in different projects (e.g. cloud services, outsourcing, open finance-projects) and supporting the “working group regulations” on drafting statements to the authorities regarding new fintech and data protection regulation.
  • Advising Moderna on its global data privacy strategy, processes, and systems.
  • Advising Vilebrequin International SA on the set-up of the GDPR compliance programme worldwide for the mother companies and all their subsidiaries, including day-to-day advice in terms of collection and processing of data, marketing campaigns, and dealing with requests from customers and other data subjects.

Niederer Kraft Frey AG

Niederer Kraft Frey AG‘s ‘highly skilled‘ data privacy practice assists large multinational tech corporations, healthcare providers, and biotech companies in data privacy compliance and cyber security audits, cross-border data transfers, and outsourcing matters. The team is jointly led by András Gurovits, whose corporate practice overlaps with matters in the area of technology, and Clara-Ann Gordon, who focuses on TMT, outsourcing, as well as transactional and contentious matters Fintech, machine learning, and blockchain are areas of recent growth for the team.

Testimonials

‘Professional and timely responses.’

‘Quick responses and good understanding of the business.’

‘Highly skilled across multiple levels of seniority. Strong sense of ownership and commitment.’

‘The team I work with has deep expertise, is highly engaged and drives business oriented output.’

Key clients

Allianz Global


Amdocs


Axpo Services AG


BearingPoint


Bühler


Balgrist Hospital


Constellium


Grasshopper Football Ltd


Huawei


Jeld-Wen


Mediterranean Shipping Company MSC


Microsoft


Mercury Engineering Ltd


General Motors


Recticel


RedBull


Schindler


Selecta


SR Technics


Swisslife


World Economic Forum


Zoll Medical


EntServ (DXC Group)


Work highlights


  • Advised NEC Corporation on the acquisition by way of an auction of Avaloq, a global leader in digital banking solutions.
  • Acting as Swiss counsel to Microsoft Corporation in the negotiations of a collaboration agreement for Mixed Reality research with ETH Zurich. Especially in relation to the design of the contracts on which the cooperations are based, with a focus on security and data protection.
  • Acting as Swiss legal counsel on the acquisition of a Swiss technology provider, covering all M&A and corporate aspects as well as shareholder matters.

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd

The ‘exceptionalRoland Mathys heads Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s information technology, data, and cyber law practice. The group advises domestic and multinational clients active in a broad range of industries, including household names in retail, life sciences, and banking, on outsourcing, data protection, and data transfers. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer regularly represents clients in front of Swiss courts and administrative authorities and Samuel Klaus  advises clients on outsourcing, data security and cybercrime.

Practice head(s):

Roland Mathys


Testimonials

‘The team is excellent. The service provided delivers very satisfactory work results even in the case of low budget constraints. Uncomplicated and more goal-oriented work than others. The billing team is very organised.’

‘Lorenza Ferrari Hofer – She has great experience in TMT and data privacy and data protection but also in general commercial matters. She is highly professional, pragmatic, trustworthy, and also just a great person.’

‘The data privacy and data protection team of Schellenberg Wittmer is without a doubt the best in Switzerland. The customer- and solution-based approach provided to unknown and unexpected challenges creating a unique eHealth platform was excellent, efficient, and always on top of things.’

‘Roland Mathys is without a doubt the best data privacy and data protection lawyer in Switzerland. His seniority and customer- and solution-based approach to providing the most excellent advice for data protection/privacy challenges is unparalleled in the eHealth area. He is the smartest and most efficient lawyer we have come across so far. Just exceptional.’

Key clients

ABB


AddLife AB


Aity AG


Amazon


Aon


Axpo


BEKB / Berner Kantonalbank


CommVault


CSS Insurance


DHL


DocuSign


Facebook


Fairtiq


Husqvarna / Gardena


Intertrust


INLEAD


Kardex


Lindt & Sprüngli


Manor


Mettler Toledo


Novartis


Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)


Oryx Gaming


Ringier


Salesforce


Swiss Digital Initative (SDI)


SIX Paynet


Sonova


Standard Chartered


Swizzonic


Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)


Tesla


Vifor


Voi


Youplus Assurance SCHWEIZ


Work highlights


  • Advising Pax on all its outsourcing, data protection, and regulatory matters, particularly on Pax’s current outsourcing of its SAP and non-SAP systems and environment to Avectris, a major Swiss-based tech provider.
  • Advising BEKB on backsourcing a banking platform, IT infrastructure and a move to a hybrid service model.
  • Advising CSS has on a project to set up a digital health platform for patients and health service providers (“digital patient journey”), from AI-based self-diagnosis to telemedicine services, e-prescriptions, etc. in a joint venture with different other players (online pharmacy, telemedicine provider, etc.).

BianchiSchwald LLC

BianchiSchwald LLC ‘s team advises acts on contentious and non-contentious matters in a ‘hands-on‘ and ‘flexible‘ way. Cross-border data transfers as well as cybersecurity and other related areas, are core strengths of the team. The team is headed by IT and TMT specialist Christoph Gasser. ‘Very talented‘ and ‘competent‘ associate Thierry Burnens is a certified information privacy professional with a strong technical understanding.

Practice head(s):

Christoph Gasser


Other key lawyers:

Thierry Burnens


Testimonials

‘I received various telephone consultations from Prof. Dr. Christoph Gasser. He answered my questions, including follow-up questions and comprehension questions, precisely and in an action-oriented manner. Since some of the information was very detailed, he made himself known within a short time and provided me with sources of information that I would not have found myself and with which I could also provide my team, which made the continuation of the project much easier. He also gave me advice on the best possible procedure for obtaining rights of use from project partners from whom I expected difficulties.’

‘I was impressed by Prof. Dr. Gasser’s openness and his willingness to deal with specific project situations. I was equally impressed by his practical sense for possible solutions in conflict-ridden project situations. Once again, after the consultation, I felt confident and strengthened to implement the recommendations. Not only that: the problematic project situation could be solved satisfactorily for all sides.’

‘Broad knowledge and expertise in the field of data protection and privacy. An approach which is up to date and enables a simple praxis-orientated implementation.’

‘The team is great to work with and responds quickly to requests. Although the team is not the biggest one, they are able to handle high-profile cases. In addition, they always keep an eye on the big picture, which is valuable and very helpful. Responds to requests and needs and delivers practicable and targeted results within a short time.’

‘Thierry Burnens is the main contact I worked with. He is certainly an expert in data protection law and keeps an eye on the big picture, particularly if additional IP issues might arise. He is certainly a very talented lawyer with a strong business mind. He is great to work with and always finds meaningful and creative solutions that are purposeful for the business. Certainly one to watch.’

‘The level of engagement in my case as well as the competence of the staff there with which I am in contact leaves me with the impression that I am appreciated as a client and that my case is of importance to the firm. I believe that they have a sincere interest in our mutual success, which is very reassuring and imbues me with confidence. I work almost exclusively with Thierry Burnens – his personal demeanour makes our collaboration smoother and more effective than it might otherwise be.’

‘The knowledge and flexibility to meet the precise business requirements.

‘Very hands-on mentality (that also shows in the collaboration on documents) when it comes to finding suitable solutions that make things easier instead of even more complicated. We have Thierry Burnens as our direct contact person. He manages to take away the fear and complexity and guides us through the entire process. He explains in simple words what we need to focus on, what we can ignore, and what we need to prepare for. I feel understood, taken seriously, and very well consulted with all my legal questions.’

Key clients

AVIA INTERNATIONAL


AVIA Vereinigung (Switzerland)


Mr. Gueorgui Vassilev, Switzerland/Bulgaria


WebStages GmbH


World Wheelchair Rugby


ZSC Lions Eishockey AG


Work highlights


  • Successfully representing Mr. Gueorgui Vassilev in his appeal to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. The Swiss Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) refused to respond to Mr. Vassilev’s request for information based on his access right (see art. 8 of the Swiss Data Protection Act).
  • Supporting a leading Swiss professional ice hockey team located in Zürich in all data protection matters. Consulting in connection with their fan app (mobile application), which will include sophisticated personalised targeting of its users.
  • Supporting the governing body responsible for the sport of Wheelchair Rugby concerning data protection compliance matters.

Bratschi Ltd

The data privacy and protection team at Bratschi Ltd advises clients from a wide range of industries, including finance, life sciences, and real estate, on data protection issues. The practice is co-headed by Adrian Wyss and Adrian Bieri and also includes privacy law pioneer and of counsel Rolf Weber and associate Yaël Heymann.

Practice head(s):

Adrian Bieri; Adrian Wyss


Other key lawyers:

Rolf Weber; Yaël Heymann


Testimonials

‘A very competent team that speaks an understandable language. Comprehensive answers within a short time with concrete recommendations for action.’

‘Access to the various technical experts, that is very practical, especially if, for example, 2-3 departments are affected in a contract. Interdisciplinary work is done here. Good quality work and whenever possible as quickly as possible – high level of customer friendliness. Mr. Adrian Bier: Excellent quality, consistently good over several years, friendly, with a high level of practical relevance and good, comprehensible risk assessment. Long-standing positive partnership, his opinion, and his assessments are valuable and carry weight.’

‘The deliverables of Bratschi are always of excellent quality, also under very high time pressure. In addition to the legal aspects, the deliverables always consider business feasibility and strategy. The interaction is very friendly, courteous and professional. We can highly recommend Bratschi! Adrian Bieri has outstanding expertise in the field of data privacy and data protection. He can explain complex issues and topics very clearly and it is always a pleasure to work together with him. We are thrilled about Adrian Bieri and can highly recommend him!’

‘What stands out above all is the bundling and provision of competencies of various experts for the solution of problems – and this through considerable speed, after the contact person has gained an initial picture of the problem(s). In addition, one hears in the environment that attention is paid to the employees of this law firm with regard to health, labour rights, work-life balance, further development, respectful treatment, etc., compared to other law firms and this despite constant pressure to perform. The law firm is also prepared to check the work results of the in-house lawyer in the sense of a 4-eye check and to correct or supplement them if necessary. This also results in mutual learning successes.’

‘We particularly appreciate the pragmatism with which lawyers (whether partners or associates) of this firm work. They know that their clients have to do business and, in the case of diffuse legal action, they always look for solutions where possible or point out the residual risks in an understandable way. Moreover, they not only explain the legal situation but also provide support in reaching a decision or finding alternatives. In urgent matters, help is provided quickly and the brief and concise presentations of the legal situation are also very welcome, which makes the decision-making process much easier.’

‘Practical approach, competent legal support that can be implemented quickly and easily in practice, availability at all times. Adrian Bieri and his team are concerned with showing the actual (and not all theoretically possible) risks and they are presenting practical solutions to them. They want to be a help in the everyday inhouse business and not just a theoretical advisor.’

‘The team of Bratschi AG is from our point of view very competent (they have different experts in law, which is helpful in complex cases), professional, and very reliable in terms of answering times.

Key clients

Health & Medical Services AG


Stiftung Kinderdorf Pestalozzi


Hypothekarbank Lenzburg AG


Liberty Vorsorge AG


Aphu Linh


Hypo Vorarlberg St. Gallen


H2K Personal GmbH


MDPI AG


Bernische Lehrerversicherungskasse (BLVK)


Steigenberger Hotels AG


Soplar SA


Meier Tobler AG


Bio Partner Schweiz AG


Bruderer AG


GLB Genossenschaft


Work highlights


  • Advising MeierTobler AG on privacy terms for various new digital tools.
  • Advising Bernische Lehrerversicherungskasse (BLVK) on the implementation of the new requirements of the revised Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection.
  • Advising Hypothekarbank Lenzburg AG in connection with the potential use of cloud services.

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.‘ Swiss data protection team advises domestic and international clients in regulated industries on global data privacy, protection, and information security projects, often multijurisdictional and with a focus on developing technologies. The practice is headed by Dirk Spacek, who handles outsourcing, data protection, cloud computing, and cybersecurity matters. Counsel Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser and associate Aline Steffen are other names of note.

Practice head(s):

Dirk Spacek


Key clients

Web 3.0 Foundation


Commerzbank AG


Mobile Health AG


Bruker


Avectris AG


Better Cotton Initiative


Sunrise


Work highlights


  • Advising mobile Health AG in connection with Consilium Care™, an electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePRO) SaaS system which includes the CE-marked MDD Class I medical device, Pro Care.
  • Advising Better Cotton Initiative on terms and conditions and data protection compliance in connection with an online trading platform for sustainable cotton for international use.
  • Advising Web 3.0 Foundation on data privacy and contractual matters regarding the establishment of (meta-) Blockchain-offerings and establishing contractual data sharing models among different blockchain-offerors.

MME Legal | Tax | Compliance

MME Legal | Tax | Compliance is particularly strong in the areas of cybersecurity and cyber risk, with notable experience supporting clients subjected to ransomware and other cyberattacks, and also handles compliance issues. Head of the practice Martin Eckert has broad experience in IT and technology law, with a focus on emerging technologies including blockchain and medical technology. He is also experienced in negotiating complex IT outsourcing and data protection projects for clients in the financial services industry.

Practice head(s):

Martin Eckert


Other key lawyers:

Caroline Gaul


Key clients

Microsoft Switzerland


Chubb Insurance


Zurich Insurance


Daura AG


Sygnum Bank AG


InfoGuard AG


OpenVasp Association


Riversand Technologies Europe AG


WealthArc GmbH


GF Machining Solutions AG


CKW AG


Digital Parking AG


ParkingSwiss


Symmedia GmbH


Emil Frey Group


Autentica (mintlab AG)


Innoplexus AG


Work highlights


  • Advised the biggest car dealer in Europe following a hacking that involved more than 1.5m customers and required authorities in 9 countries to be notified.
  • Acting for Zurich Insurance on Cyber Risk Insurance.
  • Conducted a thorough analysis of all privacy-related questions and drafted related contracts with customers and suppliers for GF Machining Solutions AG. Created data protection compliance tools for the handling of personal data, including compliance with GDPR Chapter 5 and Schrems II.

OBERSON ABELS SA

OBERSON ABELS SA‘s data privacy team is situated within the firm’s broader banking, tax, and corporate law practice. Co-headed by ‘true teamAntoine Amiguet and Philipp Fischer, who specialise in Swiss banking, financial, and data protection regulations, the practice regularly advises Swiss and international banks, insurance companies, collective investment schemes, and other financial institutions on all data protection and privacy matters. Associate Marine Largant specialises in Swiss data protection regulations.

Other key lawyers:

Marine Largant


Testimonials

‘Proactive, clear in their communication, well connected with the industry’

‘They are responsive and provide concrete practical guidance on fast evolving and complex topics. Moreover, they are very well connected to the market and the authorities and are keen to openly share their experience with their clients.’

‘Philipp Fischer and Antoine Amiguet are a true team that work together in reaching clients’ satisfaction and solving issues. They provide concrete practical solutions and useful advice based on their knowledge and experience.’

Pestalozzi

The team at Pestalozzi is active across the full range of data protection and privacy matters, with a particular focus on cross-border litigation and dispute resolution. The team is particularly strong in its advice to clients from regulated industries including banking, life sciences, and insurance. Practice head Michèle Burnier specialises in data protection and IT law and regularly represents clients before Swiss civil and criminal courts. Other key individuals include Thomas Legler counsel Markus Winkler, and the ‘highly knowledgeable and talented’ Sarah Drukarch, who was promoted to the partnership in 2023.

Practice head(s):

Michèle Burnier


Testimonials

‘They are experts. No doubt about this. They have an increasing knowledge of Swiss law, but not only that. They are also extremely familiar with GDPR. They can dig into the details and navigate through the technical and legal complexity. We worked with them on a challenging anonymisation issue.’

‘Michèle has amazing expertise in data privacy, from both academic and operational sides. She is also responsive and highly pragmatic. Sarah is also highly knowledgeable and talented.’

Key clients

Akorn Pharma


CH Media


Coca Cola


Infor Group


Johnson & Johnson Group of Companies


Leclanché


McDonald’s


Ringier


ZimmerBiomet


TIMES Attorneys

Technology law boutique TIMES Attorneys‘ data protection practice was significantly strengthened by the recent arrival of IT and data protection expert and new head of practice Martina Arioli. Her ‘profound expertise‘ covers outsourcing, data protection, and data transfer matters, and she also advises on M&A transactions with a focus on IT and data privacy. Advising clients from a range of industries including healthcare and life sciences, fintech, and consumer goods, the firm is praised for its ‘excellence, diversity and technical knowledge’.

Practice head(s):

Martina Arioli


Other key lawyers:

Markus Kaiser


Testimonials

‘The team is great, the competencies are of high value for us and the services are great. They are very client focused and help us whenever we need.’

‘Martina is our key contact and already helps us for many years. She is very nice, has very good communication skills, and responds always very fast whenever we need her help. The biggest difference is probably her huge know-how and experience in the IT-Market which we need for our own business.’

‘Martina is highly efficient, tech-savvy, knowledgeable in many legal domains’

Key clients

Generali


St. Claraspital


AB InBev (Anheuser Busch InBev)


Apps with love


wemakeit


Loanboox


Datasport


Work highlights


  • Advised a client on various IT outsourcing and resourcing projects as well as the move to the cloud, including data protection compliance-related matters.
  • Assisted a private hospital in all contractual matters for the complete digital transformation, including contracting for the medical devices for the highly specialised surgical department as well as telecoms, ERP, and HR.

Wenger Vieli Ltd

The ‘very knowledgeable, competent’ and ‘highly responsive’ data protection team at Wenger Vieli Ltd advises clients on all aspects of data management, with a particular focus on compliance and the implementation of data protection requirements and regulations. The team is headed by the ‘excellent‘ and ‘very committed’ Claudia Keller, who was recently promoted to the partnership. Michael Tschudin is another key member of the team.

Practice head(s):

Claudia Keller


Other key lawyers:

Michael Tschudin


Testimonials

‘The team is very knowledgeable, competent, and is highly responsive.’

‘Mike Tschudin and Claudia Keller supported us with several requests related to data privacy, data protection, trademark law, and registrations of a new trademark. They were very supportive, took full ownership and responsibility of the tasks at hand, and delivered high-quality work in no time.’

‘Extremely dedicated, professional, and friendly team that delivers target-oriented solutions.’

‘Claudia Keller is an excellent lawyer and the perfect partner in all IT and data protection matters. She is very committed to her clients and her analyses do not only focus on the legal aspects but also consider the economic factors.’

Key clients

Beekeeper


digitalswitzerland


Burckhardt Compression Holding


Inyova (former Yova)


Work highlights


  • Advising digitalswitzerland on data protection measures in connection with the client’s multi-faceted cross-industry initiative to support digital innovation.
  • Advised Faigle Solutions on the implications of the new Swiss data protection legislation.
  • Advised a renowned Swiss hospital group on data protection aspects of the business model of a potential target.