Bär & Karrer Ltd. assists its clients, ranging from start-ups to established international financial institutions, with all legal and regulatory as well as cross-border aspects of fintech matters. Led by co-heads Eric Stupp and the ‘excellent’ Daniel Flühmann, the team advises on distributed ledger and blockchain technology, crowdlending and robo-advisory projects and supports clients with licensing, data protection and regulatory issues. Peter Hsu advises on cross-border regulatory, contractual and transactional matters as well as enforcement proceedings. Associate Gadi Winter focuses on financial market regulations, M&A and venture capital transactions and represents clients in white-collar crime investigations.

Kellerhals Carrard’s fintech practice advises its clients, which range from start-ups and mid-size companies to international players in the financial services sector, on a host of matters involving payment systems, asset management, initial coin offerings, crowd funding and lending as well as crypto-exchanges, funds and certificates. The team covers the regulatory aspects of fintech projects as well as data protection, funding and transactions. Cornelia Stengel frequently performs legal analysis of new systems, products and technologies within the financial market. Lars Schlichting is experienced in decentralised finance projects as well as setting up companies with tokenized shares.

The fintech practice at MLL Meyerlustenberger Lachenal Froriep Ltd advises on a broad array of matters relating to distributed ledger and blockchain technologies, electronic currencies, mobile and digital payment, lending platforms, crowdfunding systems, online asset management and robo-advisers. Further areas of focus of the team, which also handles blockchain related patent litigation, are in the areas of insurance technology and regulatory technology as well as artificial intelligence. The practice heads Alexander Vogel, Kilian Schärli and Reto Luthiger are experienced in projects concerning crypto-assets, blockchain use in the pharmaceutical sector, crypto-ecosystems and token design. Catrina Luchsinger Gähwiler advises on regulatory and contractual matters and is experienced in acquisitions and project finance transactions. Ronald Kogens, ‘one of the leading experts in the field of emerging cryptocurrencies’; he is specialised in advising on the tokenization of financial products, decentralised ecosystems and cloud infrastructures.

MME Legal | Tax | Compliance advises financial market service providers, including exchanges, brokers and banks on the integration of digital assets and assists in obtaining the necessary regulatory licences. The team has ‘unique knowledge on blockchain and the Swiss crypto ecosystem’ and helps clients with complex fintech projects relating to blockchain and distributed ledger technologies as well as the tax aspects of such projects. Andreas Glarner, Thomas Linder and Luka Müller are the team heads and are experienced in matters relating to cryptocurrency development and storage, initial coin offerings and tokenization. Michael Kunz is, among others, focused on distributed ledger technology regulation.

Niederer Kraft Frey AG advises fintech companies of all sizes, ranging from start-ups and emerging growth companies to publicly traded enterprises, and works with investors, such as venture capitalists and private equity houses with a fintech focus. The team assists fintech clients with blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence projects and cryptocurrency matters as well as initial coin offerings. The group also represents clients before the Swiss regulatory authorities and also handles transactions. Thomas Frick is experienced in setting up crypto-exchanges, structuring security token offerings and liquidating ICO-foundations. Patrik Peyer is specialised in advising investors, particularly venture capitalists.

The fintech practice at Homburger advises both established companies from the financial services sector as well as new players on regulatory issues and represents them in regulatory proceedings. The interdisciplinary team has experience in advising on blockchain, crypto-linked products, payment services, exchange traded products and financial market infrastructure projects and has been involved in the drafting of new Swiss legislation on distributed ledger technologies. Daniel Haeberli has specialisms in the tokenizations of securities and crypto asset matters. Luca Dal Molin is experienced in regulatory matters concerning wealth management platforms and digital banking.

Lenz & Staehelin acts for clients operating and investing in all areas of fintech, such as start-ups, investors, technology companies and established financial institutions. The team advises on regulatory, compliance, investment, financing, licensing and data protection issues and is experienced in assisting with joint ventures, distributed ledger technologies, cryptocurrencies, digital assets and mobile payment systems, among other work. Head of the practice Fedor Poskriakov advises on corporate, regulatory and contractual matters with a fintech focus. Co-heads Lukas Morscher and Marcel Tranchet work on regulatory matters, securities transactions, financing matters, derivatives, work-outs and recapitalisations, among others.

Pestalozzi advises clients operating in the fintech space on legal, regulatory and tax matters throughout the entire process of the development, implementation and operation of blockchain and other technologies in the financial services sector. The team assists clients with obtaining licences from the Swiss financial market authority, advises on initial coin offerings and drafts and implements internal processes and guidelines, among other work. Oliver Widmer is experienced in regulatory work, such as assisting clients with applications and non-action letters, and also advises on blockchain-based bond issuance. Urs Kloeti is a key name for cryptocurrencies.

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is specialised in matters relating to blockchain technology, including cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings and decentralised autonomous organisations. The team also provides regulatory advice on activities relating to crypto assets, cryptocurrencies and storage solutions as well as security coin offerings and assists with compliance with anti-money laundering legislation. Olivier Favre is specialised in regulatory and transactional matters. Tarek Houdrouge advises on the set-up of cryptocurrency platforms and regulatory aspects of the development of online banking. Caroline Clemetson advises start-ups and financial entities on regulatory matters. Samuel Klaus made partner at the beginning of 2020.

VISCHER advises clients, which include fintech incubators, financial service providers and insurers, on projects involving crowdfunding platforms, mobile payments, cryptocurrencies and financial instruments, among others. The team, often including lawyers from the TMT, banking and tax teams, also represents clients in contentious matters and has previously provided policy-making advice to the Swiss government. Jana Essebier heads the team and is specialised in fintech matters. Stefan Grieder has specialist expertise in finance and capital markets and M&A-related matters and Christian Wyss is focused on insurance related tech-companies. David Rosenthal joined from Homburger in June of 2020.

Wenger Vieli Ltd advises clients ranging from start-ups to regulated financial institutions on a variety of matters, including mobile payments, crowd lending, token generating events and blockchain-based trading systems for digitalised assets. The team has recently been involved in a number of distributed ledger technology projects, such as initial coin offerings and trade venues. Barbara Brauchli Rohrer is specialised in the tax implications of fintech projects. Martin Peyer, who joined from Bär & Karrer, and Daniel Weber, who joined from the Swiss Bank UBS, are now heading the practice following the departure of Martin Hess.

CMS assists start-ups, technology companies, financial institutions, investors and infrastructure providers with the legal aspects of fintech projects. The team is experienced in projects relating to blockhain, cryptocurrency exchanges as well as initial coin offerings and also advises on investments in fintech companies. Dirk Spacek assist clients mainly from the financial services, technology and media sectors. Matthias Kuert is noted for providing contractual and regulatory advice to companies working in fintech and with blockchain technology.

id est avocats sàrl advises a range of clients from start-ups and investors to financial institutions on an array of fintech matters, including blockchain projects, cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings, investment platforms and apps for financial service providers. Headed by Michel Jaccard and Mehmet Toral, the team is also experienced in data protection issues of fintech projects and provides general corporate advice to fintech clients as well as assisting with M&A transactions and investments.

The fintech practice at Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC assists clients with blockchain, cryptocurrency and distributed ledger related projects as well as security token offerings. The team further assists its fintech clients in regulatory matters as well as matters pertaining to banking, finance, corporate, commercial and contractual issues. Practice head Fabien Aepli advises on governance, regulatory and organisational issues of fintech projects and is a board member of two companies active in the cryptocurrency area.

Prager Dreifuss AG is specialised in advising start-ups in the fintech area, primarily on corporate, contractual and regulatory issues. The team assists emerging companies with crypto and distributed ledger technology projects, handling regulatory assessments and advising on compliance matters, as well as drafting and revising contracts and filing applications for financial market licences, among others. Practice head Michael Mosimann is experienced in advising on financial market regulations as well as corporate and contract law and assisting with venture capital financing transactions.