Bär & Karrer Ltd. supports a broad range of clients in all legal and regulatory matters, including cross-border matters. The department advises both start-ups and well-established financial institutions, and works closely with other teams across the firm to provide a comprehensive service. Daniel Flühmann co-leads alongside Eric Stupp. Flühmann advises clients on general corporate matters, and has significant experience with the use of blockchain technology in the financial sector, while Stupp handles regulatory matters, enforcement proceedings, and M&A transactions. Peter Hsu, whose focus is banking and insurance, and Christian Kunz, who specialises in data, data protection and technology law, are also key. Associate Gadi Winter is another name to note.
Fintech in Switzerland
Bär & Karrer Ltd.
Testimonials
‘Very agile. Flexible when it comes to cooperations. Enjoyable to work with on a personal basis. Able to think in business terms and not only in legal terms.’
‘They work long hours, respond very fast, are able to think in an agile manner, are highly professional and have great industry knowledge. You feel like a valued client at all times.’
Key clients
Diem
FRUSS
Clark Germany GmbH
Summer Capital
Bitcoin Suisse AG
Novi Financial
SPOOL DAO
Work highlights
- Advising one of Switzerland’s leading financial service providers in the field of crypto currencies with regard to various complex and novel compliance issues.
- Advising Novi on all aspects of its envisaged service roll-out in Switzerland, including in particular on regulatory requirements for crypto wallet and exchange services, cross-border aspects, data protection and related matters.
- Advising Spool DAO on the set up of a Swiss association assisting the DAO, and providing advice on the regulatory and tax aspects involved.
Kellerhals Carrard
Kellerhals Carrard has broad coverage of financial law matters, with expertise across capital markets, investment banking, retail and private banking, and compliance. The department has core emphasis on key fintech areas, including payment systems, credit, and asset management. Team lead Cornelia Stengel, praised for ‘her deep knowledge and expertise in technical as well as financial matters’, has notable expertise in financial services regulation and data protection. Also key are Lars Schlichting, who focuses on blockchain and cryptocurrency, and Luca Bianchi, who acts for digital banks and innovative digital products. Associate Luca Stäuble provides notable support in the design and implementation of digital business models.
Testimonials
‘The team under the leadership of Cornelia Stengel is reachable and reverts back with a first assessment in short time. Their broad knowledge in banking and financial services paired with deep technical knowledge makes working with the team interesting and efficient.’
‘Cornelia Stengel clearly stands out given her deep knowledge and expertise in technical as well as financial matters. She is a fast thinker and her work is always of high value and quality.’
Key clients
Swiss FinTech Innovations
trustwise.io
Block Green AG
Eidoo
Santiment Gmbh
TWINT AG
MNC SA
Qui CH AG|Quid Global ltd
Ephelia Group SA
Undo Studio SA
MLL Legal
MLL Legal, described as ‘amazingly responsive, pragmatic and easy to work with’, provides comprehensive fintech services, with a broad offering enhanced by the 2021 merger of Meyerlustenberger Lachenal and Froriep. Areas of expertise for the team include DLT, electronic currencies, digital payment systems, and decentralised finance. Kilian Schärli, who has expertise in the areas of blockchain and AI, leads alongside Reto Luthiger, who is praised for his ‘unparalleled’ knowledge of the sector. Catrina Luchsinger Gaehwiler, who advises on regulatory and contractual issues, is another key name. Ronald Kogens departed to MME Legal | Tax | Compliance in May 2023, and Marcel Jung followed in July of the same year.
Testimonials
‘Affable and goal-oriented approach, adapted to the needs and requirements of the client. Time efficient proceedings.’
‘Amazingly responsive, pragmatic and easy to work with.’
Know the industry inside-out; provide highly pragmatic advice and understand business and commercial realities.’
‘Kilian Schärli – super responsive and supportive, clear know-how leader in how to create efficient legal structures for token emitting entities. Always goes the extra mile for his clients beyond any experience we had with other law firms. Reto Luthiger – very deep expertise in all topics around financial market laws in combination with blockchain and token economies.’
‘Kilian Schärli – Very responsive, client friendly and strong. Reto Luthiger – Very good sense of regulations’
‘One of the best legal providers for new technologies including crypto & blockchain I have met in my career so far’
‘We work mostly with Reto Luthiger. He is readily available, has a bright mind and a pragmatic approach. His knowledge in the Swiss fintech sector is unparalleled. We use Reto for a wide array of work, from regulatory to contract work. It is always a delight to collaborate with Reto.’
Key clients
FTX
Backed Finance / Backed Assets GmbH
Crypto Finance AG
SEBA Bank AG
Paradigm Connect Asia Pte
Pyth Data Association
Bitcoin Suisse SA
InCore Bank AG
TWINT AG
GenTwo AG
Solana Foundation
Telegram
HDR Global Trading Limited
Ripple
Värdex Suisse AG
PEAX AG
SR Saphirstein AG
Aragon
Adaptive Holdings / CasperLabs
Modum
HOPR
AllianceBlock (Devraaj AG)
Fireblocks
Utxo AG / NFT Maker
Concordium
Sunshine Software Development GmbH
EOS Block One
SEBA Bank AG
Yoordi AG
Work highlights
- Assisted leading global cryptocurrency exchange FTX Crypto Exchange in its global expansion by advising on the establishment and launch of FTX Europe.
- Advised Backed Finance AG and Backed Assets GmbH on the structuring and issuing of tokenized structured products such as tracker certificates on listed financial instruments tradable on the blockchain.
- Advised Crypto Finance on the sale of a majority of its shares to Deutsche Börse combined with a considerable investment of Deutsche Börse in the target company.
MME Legal | Tax | Compliance
MME Legal | Tax | Compliance‘s team provides support across legal, tax and compliance matters to all crypto, blockchain, and fintech clients and includes experts across a broad range of areas, including banking, corporate law, tax, compliance, and AML. Co-leading the department are Thomas Linder, who specialises in international tax matters, Andreas Glarner, who covers DLT, fintech, gaming and blockchain matters, and regulatory compliance expert, and founding partner, Andreas Müller. Michèle Landtwing handles complex compliance cases, internal investigations and regulatory matters, while Michael Kunz assists a range of clients with intellectual property and financial markets law. Ronald Kogens joined from MLL Legal in May 2023, and Marcel R. Jung followed in July the same year.
Testimonials
‘Andreas Glarner and Dominik Hofmann have an excellent knowledge of the crypto and DeFi space. But understand also very well the tech/business matters of our project and are thus able to provide very good advice. Their output is qualitatively one of the best we have seen.’
‘Very deep technical know-how in the area of digital assets. the already considerable wealth of experience from practical implementation is certainly a great advantage compared to other consulting providers.’
‘Andreas Glarner: very good communication skills, analytical, critical in the sense of scrutinizing issues, many years of practical experience with providers and the regulator.’
Dominik Hoffmann: analytical, many years of practical experience with providers and the regulator, very good regulatory knowledge coupled with the ability to transport this to a new technology’
‘When we decided to engage MME, we were looking for a top-tier firm, that specialized in DLT Compliance and Regulation, and this was exactly what we got.’
‘MME was one of the first supporters of the Blockchain community, pushing regulators and legislators to make sure that Blockchain businesses could co-exist with Traditional Finance, creating a safer environment for clients and businesses.‘
‘One of the good parts of working with MME is their network. During the main part of our collaboration, MME introduced us to our relevant industry specialists, which helped us move faster to get into the places that we wanted.’
‘Full of energy and enthusiasm. Always willing to go the extra mile.’
Key clients
Aleph Zero Foundation
Anoma Foundation
BitGo Inc.
Bprotocol Foundation
Curve.fi
Custodigit AG
Daura AG
Golem Foundation
ICON Foundation
Liquity AG
MAMA Multichain Asset Managers Association
Metaco AG
MKS Switzerland AG
Openblocks AG
Partisia Foundation
Socios Technologies AG
Streamr Network AG
Sygnum Bank AG
Toucan Association
Work highlights
- Provided legal, compliance and tax advisory support related to the setup of Liquity, a fully dezentralized (DeFi) Ethereum-based lending platform for digital assets.
- Conducted the regulatory and contractual setup of the issuance, digitalisation and trading engine of Daura, a SaaS platform for digitalised shares, and providing ongoing regulatory, tax and contractual support.
- Advised BitGo on the setup of operations in Zug, Switzerland. The work included legal structuring and compliance to obtain a license with an SRO.
Niederer Kraft Frey AG
Niederer Kraft Frey AG acts for traditional financial service providers and fintech companies of all sizes, and provides support on the full range of M&A transactions, litigation, and regulatory matters. The department has notable expertise in the cryptocurrency area, often working with crypto brokers, crypto exchanges, and wallet providers. Practice head Thomas A Frick handles a diverse range of matters including the setup of crypto exchanges, structuring security token offerings, repositioning existing cryptocurrencies, and the filing of fintech licenses. Bertrand Schott is another key name, and has expertise across financial market regulations, financial infrastructure, and payment system regulations.
Key clients
AMNIS Treasury Services
DISEO
BC Capital
Crescent Fintech Ltd.
Move Digital
Finch Capital
Finastra
Keyman
Leontec
Swiss Impulse Group AG
Work highlights
- Advised Crescent Fintech Ltd on setting up a Swiss asset manager for foreign crypto investment funds.
- Advised Hyperion on setting up a crypto asset manager.
- Provded Newcent with general legal advice on all matters related to the legal set up of a Swiss FinTech licence.
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s multidisciplinary fintech team combines experts from across the firm, including corporate commercial, banking and finance, capital markets, and dispute resolution. The department also has key strength in connection with the issuance and trading of digital assets. Olivier Favre and Tarek Houdrouge co-head the team. Favre, who is based in Zurich, has expertise in derivatives, structured finance and financial regulatory matters, while the Geneva-based Houdrouge has broad corporate and M&A experience, and works on a range of crypto-asset related matters. Caroline Clemetson is another key name, as is Grégoire Wuest, whose specialisms include the digitalisation of financial services.
Testimonials
‘Always up-to-date and very experienced.’
‘Olivier Favre is my contact for all matters (finance & regulation) in Switzerland.‘
Key clients
Crypto Fund AG
Crypto Finance AG
Decentralised Autonomous Vehicles (DAV)
E-GTSA Limited
Alpian SA
SEBA Bank AG
iintega
ITOCHU Corporation
Work highlights
- Acted as Swiss Counsel to various European and international investors led by ITOCHU Corporation, a major Japanese general trading company supplying raw materials to global manufacturers and retailers.
- Acted as legal counsel to Brera Partners on the management buy-out of Credaris AG from the Comparis Group.
- Advised SIX Paynet AG, the main industry player in the Swiss e-invoicing market, on the sale of its B2B and B2C E-Invoicing Business to PostFinance AG.
Homburger
Homburger‘s interdisciplinary team has an established reputation among traditional financial providers such as Credit Suisse, in addition to its work for a range of fintech start-ups, including Targens, Verified and Amber. Daniel Haeberli, whose focus is the tokenisation of securities, digital capital markets transactions, and decentralised finance projects, leads the team alongside Luca Dal Molin, whose areas of expertise include data protection law and technology transactions. Other core team members include Stefan Kramer, who specialises in the tokenisation of both traditional and non-traditional assets.
Testimonials
‘Homburger is consistently fast, constructive, and complete legal matters with practical and academic precision. I thoroughly enjoy working with them, as they have the same desire as me to express matters with utmost precision and succinctness.’
‘Benjamin Leisinger, is an exceptionally smart and fast thinker in demanding situations, always introducing his wit to ease the situation and help gain clarity.’
‘Daniel Haeberli and team is very knowledgeable about the topic. He is creative and very precise. He immediately understands the issue to be solved and finds a pragmatic solution based on the legal framework at the time.’
‘Daniel Haeberli is very knowledgeable, creative and solution oriented. He is very cost disciplined and always finds practicable solutions.’
Key clients
Credit Suisse
Verified
Targens
Amber
21Shares
Hashdex
The Singularity Group
SIX Group
Work highlights
- Advised Credit Suisse on regulatory matters relating to the first end-to-end tokenization of shares of a Swiss company, using the Ethereum public blockchain
- Advising Swiss FinTech start-up Verified on regulatory and tax matters related to the issuance of the Verified Liquidity Token and its DeFi platform
- Advising Amber Group in connection with a Swiss platform for crypto-based ETP and on the AMC project
Lenz & Staehelin
Lenz & Staehelin provides a range of services to clients operating in the fintech sector, including guidance on regulatory and compliance matters, corporate and M&A advice, IP creation and protection, and issues related to tax. The department also has expertise in crypto finance, digital assets, and insurtech. Co-leading the team are Lukas Morscher, Marcel Tranchet and Fedor Poskriakov. Morscher’s expertise covers digitalisation, blockchain, and data privacy, while Tranchet has experience across regulatory and financing matters, and securities transactions. Poskriakov, who is based in Geneva, handles cybersecurity, data protection, crowdfinancing, and cryptocurrencies.
Testimonials
‘Large team of partners involved in Fintech-related matters.’
‘Fedor Proskriakov is very knowledgeable about Fintech matters, the functioning of DLT/Blockchain business models. His capital markets background is clearly an asset. He seems deeply involved in the Swiss legal Fintech community. He’s definitely the person I recommend to clients seeking Fintech legal advice in Switzerland.’
Key clients
Allfunds Bank
Capital Markets and Technology Association
Colb Asset SA
Global Asset Manager/RobecoSAM
Global Financial Services Provider
Global Insurance Group
Initial Coin Offering
International Group of Exchanges
Komainu
Leading US Financial Institution
Liberty Mutual
MagicTomato SA
Major Insurance group
Mt Pelerin Group SA
Swissquote Bank SA
UK based client
WisdomTree
Work highlights
- Advising international crypto trading company in its relocation set-up for artificial intelligence (AI) based crypto fund management and respective development of intellectual property.
- Advising a global issuer of digital gold tokens on contract, property and regulatory aspects of issuance and transfer of tokens on the blockchain evidencing ownership of physical gold.
Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi‘s fintech practice includes regulatory impact analysis, blockchain and cryptocurrency projects, and licensing applications with FINMA. The department is also active advising clients on insurtech, blockchain technology and artificial intelligence. Oliver Widmer, noted for his ‘industry knowledge and wide set of connections’, leads the team alongside Urs Klöti, who focuses on regulatory, AML and compliance issues. Andrea Huber, whose broad practice includes insurance, asset management, capital markets, and white-collar crime, is another key name. New additions to the team include counsel Markus Winkler, who joined in June 2022 from Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG.
Testimonials
‘The Pestalozzi team stands out for its ability to take something extremely complicated and translate that into clear guidance which also commercially makes sense. They are thoughtful and sophisticated. The team is just superb and available 24/7. They are all very professional, knowledgeable and engaged.‘
‘Andrea Huber is one of the preeminent financial services regulatory/Fintech experts and well placed with the regulator and industry bodies, with a very good sense about the issues that are important to the regulator. She is highly experienced and smart, and her advice is always well informed and commercial.’
‘I like the entire Pestalozzi team, they have superb lawyers from partners to junior lawyers, and the firm’s long-standing Fintech practice is unparalleled.’
‘The industry knowledge and contacts are a great plus. We also appreciate that the firm has expertise in a wide set of legal areas. That makes it possible that Pestalozzi can address all our legal needs.’
‘We appreciate the industry knowledge and wide set of connections Mr Oliver Widmer has to offer. He always promptly addressed any of our legal needs with care and prompt replies.’
Key clients
Amazon Web Services
Aximetria
Axpo
Bolttech/The Pacific Century Group
Clarksons Platou
Custodigit
De Beers
Finastra
FQX
Goldman Sachs
iCapital Network
Imcore
Instimatch
Kraken Crypo Currency Exchange
Leonteq
Libra
Lighthouse
New-X
Nexo
NIUM
Nivaura
Open Swap
PCT Trading Limited
Polkadot
Polygon (MATIC)
Positif.ly
RobecoSAM
Saxo Bank
Swiss Crypto Bank
Synpulse
Tezos Foundation
Token Commons Foundation
UDS Oil
Web 3.0 Technologies Foundation
Work highlights
- Advised the first-ever merger of two blockchain projects (Matic / Polygon Technologies) via token merger in crypto history, valued at USD 250M (as of August 2021)
- Advising various crypto exchanges, such as Bitpanda, NIUM, Kraken, Aximetria; PCT Trading on all legal, regulatory (licensing) and tax matters entering the Swiss market.
- Advising Instimatch on its innovative B2B platform for money markets, debentures, private placements and alternative financing.
VISCHER
VISCHER acts for a broad range of clients including domestic start-ups and multinational corporations, and has notable expertise in matters related to crowdfunding. The team has a strong relationship with governmental institutions, and members are regularly consulted in legislative decisions. Jana Essebier leads the team, bringing broad experience across blockchain matters, mobile payments, and complex financial instruments. Stefan Grieder is a notable expert on the tokenisation of funds, while Christian Wyss handles insurtech and financing rounds for venture capital. David Rosenthal advises on data privacy and protection elements.
Testimonials
‘Jana Essebier: industry experience, subject matter expertise, service mindedness’
‘The team is very knowledgeable and creative in approaching new product development from a regulatory perspective.’
‘Jana Essebier is a standout regulatory attorney. Knowledgeable, creative, practical, and a pleasure to work with.’
‘The team are exceptionally knowledgeable in cutting-edge legal matters (including DLT) and provide practical advice that aids the business.’
‘Jana Essebier is an excellent communicator; she makes it easy for clients to understand complex legal issues allowing clients to reach decisions based on her advice.’
Key clients
Atomyze
Additiv
Elementum Metals Securities plc
F10 Investment AG
King Esports GmbH
Radicant
QoQa Service SA
Digital PK
Bank CIC
Work highlights
- Advised Atomyze on its tokenization project on the transformation of traditional ways of how industrial companies are working with their counterparties.
- Advised Additiv on developing innovative digital wealth management solutions.
- Advised Swiss regulated entities with respect to moving into the cloud.
Wenger Vieli Ltd
Wenger Vieli Ltd has particular strength in regulatory matters and license procedures, and provides guidance to both start-ups and established market players. Blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and DLT are key areas of focus. The department is led by Martin Peyer and counsel Daniel S. Weber. Peyer, who made partner in 2022, covers digital assets, decentralised finance platforms, and regulatory advice, while Weber brings expertise in internal and regulatory investigations and white-collar crime. Blockchain specialist Martin Berweger is also key.
Key clients
Sygnum Bank
radicant
Inyova (former Yova)
Neon Switzerland
Dialectic
mStable Association
Sqiyo
Codos Network
DeFactor DAO
Objkt
Peer Energy AG
Vorto Network
Rally
Valory
Work highlights
- Represented Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank in high-profile licensing process of its FinTech subsidiary radicant vis-à-vis FINMA
- Advised Swiss FinTech bank Sygnum on its tokenized micro shares project – a global novelty
- Advising FinTech Objkt on complex regulatory issues in connection with its NFT marketplace
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. assists clients with a range of matters, including initial coin offerings, cryptocurrency exchanges, and submitting licensing applications to FINMA. The team, which is described as ‘always responsive, creative in their solutions’, is led by Tina Balzli, who is noted for her ‘outstanding reputation’. Matthias Kuert, who advises on general contract and corporate law matters, is another name to note.
Testimonials
‘The depth of the team’s knowledge is unrivalled. They quickly ensure that specific people with subject matter expertise are engaged on your file so that you have immediate access to the lawyers who can best advise you.’
‘Matthias Kuert is a standout performer. His response time is immediate and he is commercially saavy. His advice is always given from the perspective of the business he is advising so that it is not just “legal” advice but “Commercially sensible legal advice”’
‘Always responsive, creative in their solutions. Great knowledge of the overall market trends.’
‘Tina is an amazing partner both professionally and personally.’
‘Tina is creative, understands issues quickly and provides practical advice in a short time. She is easy to work with and has an outstanding reputation.’
‘The CMS team is unique in its depth of knowledge about blockchain, crypto and DeFi.’
‘Mark Cagienard: In depth understanding of the technical implications of various digital assets. In depth understanding of how to structure token sales to make them tax optimized. In depth understanding of general startup revenue tax implications.’
‘Tina Balzli is one of the leading partners in Switzerland for the regulated crypto financial industry.’
Key clients
Aequitec AG
Bitcoin Association for BSV
TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc.
Work highlights
- Advising TAAL on the incorporation of a Swiss subsidiary and on other Swiss law aspects concerning, inter alia, tax and employment law.
- Advising Aequitec on the legal aspects of its app-based platform for keeping the share registry of Swiss stock corporations.
- Advising the Bitcoin Association for BSV, Zug, on various topics.
Eversheds Sutherland AG
Eversheds Sutherland AG is particularly active advising start-ups in the crypto and blockchain area, and focuses on regulatory compliance and tax matters. Michael Mosimann has experience in corporate and contract law, as well as financial market regulations. Ludovic Duarte and Andrea Bätscher are also key names.
Other key lawyers:
Ludovic Duarte; Andrea Bätscher
Testimonials
‘The firm has excellent know-how in the areas that are important for us, the cooperation was professional and pleasant at all times. We appreciate the quick response times and the high quality of the work performed.’
‘Michael Mosimann and Andrea Bätscher: fast grasp of issues, very competent, broad knowledge, quick response times, goal-oriented, friendly and pleasant manner, as well as high quality work results.’
Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés
Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés advises clients active in a range of innovative projects, and provides broad regulatory and due diligence advice. Financial regulation expert Géraldine Badel Poitras co-leads the team alongside Damien Cand, whose focus is corporate and contract law. Associate Bernado Marques, who joined the firm in 2021 from Lenz & Staehelin, is also noted.
Testimonials
‘Géraldine Badel-Poitras is one of the best regulatory attorneys I know of.’
Work highlights
- Advising Cronos Finance SA as an attorney and as an independent board member
Künzi Hess MacNab
Boutique partner-only law firm Künzi Hess MacNab provides advice on civil and supervisory law and regulations to a range of fintech clients. Core team members include Martin Hess and My Chau Bachelard. Hess is a noted expert in the practice area, with more than twenty years’ experience acting for financial institutions and start-ups. Eva Künzi Peditto is also a key name, with expertise in asset management and structured products.
Key clients
Rulematch Ltd
Lykke
QPQ
Nishimura & Asahi
Cerchia AG
Web 3 foundation
Near foundation
Swiss Stable Coin Ltd
Wayra Capital AG
CG24 Group AG
Futura law firm
Alber Blanc Experts SA
Saxo Bank
Work highlights
- Providing regulatory analysis on custody, settlement, and nature of traded products for a QPQ DLT trading facility project.
- Acting as legal counsel to Swiss Stable Coin Ltd, a project company defining a stable coin project for a stable coin 1:1 covered by CHF.
- Providing legal and regulatory advice for the relocation of services of a crypto fund to Switzerland, for Alber Blanc Experts SA.
Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC
Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC has a notable track record of work on cryptocurrency and DLT projects, in addition to its coverage of matters related to finance, AML, and corporate law. ‘Knowledgeable and proactive partner’ Fabien Aepli leads the practice, and has broad experience in areas which include blockchain, STOs, cryptocurrencies, and tokenisation of assets. Associate Diego Leis is notable for his experience in litigation.
Testimonials
‘MANGEAT are knowledgeable attorneys in finance. They are innovative and follow regulatory updates. They provide exceptional advice for Fintech projects including Decentralized Finance.’
‘We’ve been closely engaged with Fabien Aepli, who provided us with exceptional customer care, DeFi knowledge, diligence, precision.’
‘Great team and knowledge in digital assets.’
‘Fabian Aepli is very responsive and pragmatic.’
‘Mangeat has been the reference law firm accompanying me throughout my whole entrepreneurial journey, proving to be a great support at different stages of development of my enterprise, and consistently proving their knowledge and quality of service.’
‘Fabien Aepli constantly stood out as a quality, knowledgeable, proactive partner at Mangeat.’
‘The company has been active for a long time in the crypto and digital assets space, and made a further step ahead with specific competences in DeFi for top global leaders in this space’
‘Fabien Aepli is always very much on top regarding innovation in the finance and regulation space, proactively anticipating needs and recommending solutions which are useful and fixing real business and legal issues.’
Key clients
Swiss Crypto Advisors SA
Re-Company SA
Alphemy Capital SA
1inch