Bär & Karrer Ltd.’s insurance team’s is a ‘go-to practice for insurance transactional and regulatory matters’. The team advises on complex and high-value matters, including assisting Allianz Suisse Lebensversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG with an innovative reinsurance solution to hedge interest rate commitments, valued at CHF3.6bn. Peter Hsu leads the team, providing expertise in insurance, reinsurance, banking, financing and capital markets. Eric Stupp’s strength is in regard to regulatory matters, enforcement proceedings and M&A transactions. Associate Tiffany Ender is a name to note.
Insurance in Switzerland
Bär & Karrer Ltd.
Practice head(s):
Peter Hsu
Other key lawyers:
Eric Stupp; Pascal Hachem; Tiffany Ender
Testimonials
‘The team lead by Peter Hsu has excellent insurance knowledge, is strong in its capabilities with respect to large transaction and is able to develop creative solutions for complex issues.’
‘Highly reputable and established insurance law practice group.’
‘Practice Leader, Peter Hsu, always provides meaningful, innovative and yet independent legal advice.’
‘Baer-Karrer has the go-to practice for insurance transactional and regulatory matters in Switzerland. They are instructed by our insurance sector clients and by us on behalf of our insurance sector clients and investor clients.’
‘Peter Hsu is practical, commercial and responsive and his understanding of the approach and workings of FINMA is invaluable when working on transactional and regulatory matters.’
‘Quality advice clearly thought through and communicated whilst adapting to the needs of the client’
‘Peter Hsu and Pascal are both always quick to respond with clear advice. Both are outstanding lawyers who happily explain and guide client in unknown legal waters .’
Key clients
Axa
Swiss Life
Zurich Insurance Group
Swiss Re
Generali
Mobiliar
Chubb
Allianz Suisse Versicherungs-Gesellschaft
Clark Germany GmbH
AON Schweiz AG
Marsh AG/Mercer (Switzerland) AG
Credendo
CSS Versicherung AG
Work highlights
- Advised Allianz Suisse on a Reinsurance Solution for a Legacy Portfolio of Individual Life Insurance Products.
- Advised Swiss Life on the acquisition of elipsLife from Swiss Re.
- Advised the German Insurtech company CLARK on the integration of the finanzen Group.
gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd
gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd advises insurance and reinsurance carriers in a number of areas, including drafting of business plans to obtain licences and insurance regulatory practices. It is notable for its combination of both contentious and non-contentious practices, as well as its ‘unique combination of excellent knowledge and an explicit can-do attitude’. The team is a premier contact for the structuring of solutions for complex risks and international insurance and reinsurance programmes; for example, advising on capital-replacing and risk-mitigating reinsurance solutions for life insurers. The team is headed by Lars Gerspacher, Dominik Skrobala, Clemens Von Zedtwitz and Nando Stauffer Von May, who all have extensive experience and expertise in insurance.
Practice head(s):
Lars Gerspacher; Dominik Skrobala; Clemens von Zedtwitz; Nando Stauffer von May
Testimonials
‘Dr. Clemens von Zedtwitz: Outstanding knowledge and expertise in Swiss and foreign insurance related laws and regulations. He is able to apply such outstanding knowledge to in-house “realities” corporate lawyers like me are faced with internally. Thus, his advice is not only driven by pure legal assessment but also takes the clients´ business perspective and realities into account.’
‘This team is one of our most trusted partners due to their cooperative, uncomplicated yet sophisticated way of working. We have made very good experiences with several highly complex and contentious litigations that GBF have handled very well and within reasonable monetary budgets.’
‘Lars Gerspacher is accessible, obliging and strategically thinks three steps ahead. His support has been invaluable in many claims.’
‘We have mutual clients and refer always.’
‘Dominik Skrobala is an excellent business lawyer, having great knowledge on insurance matters. Always market oriented, easy to contact and open minded. He has a great knowledge on insurance and regulatory matters and a considerable experience in this area.’
‘Boutique law firm providing a unique combination of excellent knowledge and an explicit can-do attitude.’
‘The team consists of incredibly nice and competent people who know what they do in a hands-on approach.’
‘A team of great lawyers who understand the business of their clients and how the regulator works inside out. Boutique insurance law firm with very strong individuals, all top notch in their fields and concentrating on what they are best at.’
Key clients
AIG Europe
Allianz Suisse
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
AXA Assurances SA
AXA Corporate Solutions
AXA XL
Beazley Insurance DAC
Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Bupa, London
Chubb Insurance
CNA Hardy
Ergo Insurance
FM Insurance
HDI Global
Helvetia Insurance Co.
Markel Insurance SE Germany
Markel International Insurance UK
MedPro Group
MS Amlin AG
Tryg Forsikring A/S, Ballerup, Zurich Branch
XL Insurance Company SE
Prager Dreifuss AG
Prager Dreifuss AG‘s insurance team, regarded as a ‘highly skilled and very dedicated team’, has been involved in high-profile insurance and reinsurance investigations and disputes in connection with a number of areas, including professional indemnity, errors and product liability. The practice also handles regulatory matters. Members of the insurance team are also regularly designated by insurers as defence counsel for policyholders. The team is led by Christoph Graber who has vast experience in the field of banking and financial services, E&O, D&O, EPL and product liability insurance. Hans-Ulrich Brunner, with more than 25 years’ experience in defence litigation, has expertise in insurance and tort. Alongside them, Gion Christian Casanova and Reto Jenny strengthen the team. Counsel Andrea Stäubli is a key name.
Practice head(s):
Christoph Graber
Other key lawyers:
Hans-Ulrich Brunner; Gion Christian Casanova; Reto Jenny; Andrea Stäubli
Testimonials
‘The team is the right size (neither too big nor too small). The partners are experts in their fields and the associates deliver high quality work. The firm is well networked and cooperates profitably with other firms when necessary. As far as we can tell, the firm offers associates a better work-life balance than comparable firms.’
‘We appreciate the consistently excellent quality of the cooperation, Dr. Graber’s profound knowledge of insurance, contract and procedural law, his experience, his tactical skills, his understanding of the insurance market and his weight as one of the best-known insurance law specialists in Switzerland, whose published doctrinal opinions are not only dogmatically well-founded but also always the result of balanced considerations of interests.’
‘Not only are they very skilled from a thematical point of view, but they are also able to bring calm back on disputes that have been escalated already. Prager Dreifuss now also has a specific Cyber practice, which is one of the most advanced among law-firms.’
‘Christoph Graber is very well known on the market for his negotiation skills, his creativity when analyzing complex matters. He is able to bring structure into the most confusing disputes. His communication skills are widely known to the market.’
‘Reto Jenny: what distinguishes him most from his peers is that he is not just trusting his experience, but he is very patient and diligent when having to analyze extensive documents received from the client or the claimant in a dispute. He is very well organized and able to quickly understand and put a memo in place for any large and chaotic cases. Also his writs are well received.’
‘Christoph Graber has a very large experience and a very practical approach combined with good know-how.’
‘They field one of the largest insurance teams in Switzerland and regularly advise and represent Zurich in insurance matters, in particular in complex claims. Their team is highly skilled and very dedicated to its clients, making them one of the leading providers in this field.’
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd’s insurance team has expertise in coordinating and monitoring complex litigation in multiple jurisdictions, particularly disputes arising from the introduction of new product lines. Alexander von Ziegler specialises in insurance and reinsurance, while also handling regulatory issues. Olivier Favre has previous experience advising international insurance companies on licensing matters. Another key contact is Tarek Houdrouge, whose insurance work dovetails with his banking and finance practice.
Practice head(s):
Alexander von Ziegler; Olivier Favre; Tarek Houdrouge
Key clients
Uber
Baloise
Work highlights
- Advising a major insurance company on regulatory aspects of cross-border insurance products.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. conducts proceedings before state courts and arbitration tribunals, as well as representing insurance/reinsurance companies when dealing with authorities in all matters relating to supervisory law. The team has experience of legal, regulatory and tax advice concerning the structuring, issuance, marketing and distribution of insurance products, as well as drafting and reviewing insurance and reinsurance policies and broker agreements. Jodok Wicki is the key name.
Practice head(s):
Jodok Wicki
Other key lawyers:
Kaspar Landolt; Sébastien Moret
Testimonials
‘Often representing Insurers in coverage disputes. Very experienced in the area of claims handling and liability assessments for Insurers. Strong focus on Cyber Insurance, maintains a Cyber Insurance – Emergency – Hotline on behalf of various Insurers.’
‘Dr.Jodok Wicki is an excellent lawyer with very much expertise in the Insurance industry. He is quick-witted and very strong in the strategical analysis of cases. He is great for complex, difficult Insurance or Re-Insurance claims.’
‘I have only worked with Dr. Kaspar Landolt, and in a fairly limited capacity. On behalf of my employer, an American insurance company, I have sought Dr. Landolt’s counsel on Swiss law as it applies to foreign insurers. I have found Dr. Landolt both knowledgeable and pragmatic in his approach. I trust his judgement and his counsel which I find invaluable.’
‘Responsive and pragmatic.’
‘Kaspar Landolt has been very easy to work with: knowledgeable and user friendly.’
Key clients
AIG
AXA XL
Work highlights
- Coverage advice regarding a claim under PI policies for a financial services company. The matter raised interesting questions regarding non-disclosure and extent of coverage.
- Coverage advice regarding Lloyds BBB policy relating to undue actions of an employee in connection with structured financial products and handling of client accounts.
Kellerhals Carrard
Kellerhals Carrard primarily handles domestic and international litigation and arbitration proceedings. Particular focuses include private insurance contracts law and reinsurance law, including property damage matters and professional indemnity cases. The firm often represents major players in the Swiss insurance market in litigious cases as defence or coverage counsel, with particular experience in negotiating with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority where it assists clients with a range of corporate and regulatory matters. Pascal Grolimund is an experienced litigator. Christoph Frey advises on torts and third-party liability disputes as well as IP cases. Thomas Eichenberger, Nicolas Gillard and Ivan Paparelli are the other practice heads.
Practice head(s):
Christoph Frey; Pascal Grolimund; Thomas Eichenberger; Nicolas Gillard; Ivan Paparelli
Other key lawyers:
Claudio Helmle; Laura Manz, Karin Friedli, Matthias Spinner
Key clients
KPT Versicherungen AG
Visana Services AG
Baloise Insurance Ltd
Chubb Insurance (Switzerland) Limited
AXA Insurance Ltd
AIG Europe S.A., Luxembourg; Branch Opfikon; Zürich Glattbrugg
Swiss Re International SE, Luxembourg, Zurich Branch,
Swiss Mobiliar Insurance Company Ltd
Catlin Europe SE, Cologne, Zurich Branch
Allianz Suisse Insurance Company Ltd
Helvetia Swiss Insurance Company Limited
Work highlights
- Litigating a 100 million dollar case in a coverage dispute against Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.
- Representing 3 former board members in a multibillion-dollar D&O litigation.
- Representing a major insurance company in an arbitration proceeding under Swiss Rules regarding a coverage dispute of a liability insurance. Amount in dispute is approximately $50m.
Lenz & Staehelin
Lenz & Staehelin is active in areas such as market entry, capital investment, outsourcing and insurance policies law. The team’s clients include major Swiss and foreign insurance and reinsurance companies, banks and other industry participants. Olivier Stahler specialises in banking and finance law; his work also includes regulatory advice on the context of the granting of licences for banks. Lukas Morscher’s expertise is in relation to corporate M&A and financial services, especially technology, telecoms, fintech and business sourcing in Switzerland.
Practice head(s):
Olivier Stahler; Lukas Morscher
Testimonials
‘Dr Lukas Morscher and team are strong on regulatory insurance and reinsurance queries/transactions, and an authoritative source of Swiss advice in this space’
‘Dr Lukas Morscher, lead partner on (re)insurance and Swiss regulatory advice: personable, clear communicator who is tenacious in transaction negotiations’
Key clients
Baloise Insurance Holding
consimo
Caterpillar Insurance Company
Generali
Liberty Mutual
Octium Group
Resolution Life
Resolution Re
Schweizerische Mobiliar Versicherungsgesellschaft AG
TransRe
Unilever Reinsurance AG
Vaudoise Assurances Holding SA
Work highlights
- Advised global life insurance group Resolution Life and its Bermudian reinsurance platform Resolution Re on its landmark reinsurance transaction with Allianz Suisse Life. The reinsured business is a closed-book of individual life policies comprising a reserve volume of CHF 4 billion.
Pestalozzi
The insurance team at Pestalozzi has considerable experience and understanding of regulatory capabilities. The group advises in M&A transactions in the insurance space and also assists insurance companies and insurance brokers with regulatory developments affecting their businesses. Its strength is in the digitalisation of insurance business models and insurtech, key areas of strength for Markus Winkler. Other notable names include Christoph Lang, Andrea Huber, Lukas Rusch and Beat Schwarz.
Practice head(s):
Christoph Lang; Andrea Huber; Beat Schwarz; Lukas Rusch; Markus Winkler
Key clients
Acquiney
AIG
AmTrust Financial
AXA Climate
AXA XL
AXIS
Bolttech (i-surance AG)
Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse Insurance Linked Strategies AG
Howden
Hyperion Insurance Group
Swiss Life
EcoHub
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
Work highlights
- Advised 23 Swiss insurers and brokers in connection with the formation of the insur-tech joint-venture EcoHub
- Advised AXA XL on day to day operations as well as on strategic projects in insurance and re-insurance
- Advised AIG on several W&I insurance issues and on special tax indemnity insurance matters
VISCHER
The ‘pro-active’ and ‘forward-thinking’ insurance department at VISCHER advises insurance companies, brokers, and/or insured parties on coverage issues including financial line and crime policies. Other areas of expertise involve insurance-related regulatory and corporate issues. Daniele Favalli regularly represents parties in coverage litigation matters. He is also regularly retained by insurance companies to represent insured parties in disputes. Adrian Dörig specialises in structured finance transactions, in particular acquisition, restructuring and lease financing.
Practice head(s):
Daniele Favalli
Other key lawyers:
Adrian Dörig; Tina Jäger
Testimonials
‘Very professional and forward-thinking team. Good understanding of their client’s business.’
‘Solution oriented engagement and pro-active development of targeted strategies.’
Key clients
AIG
MCH Group, Art Basel Hong Kong / Art Basel Miami Beach
KSL AG
Work highlights
- Advising MCH in relation to enforcing claims against their insurers (Llodys) under a cancellation policy.
Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie's insurance team focuses on legal and regulatory issues in relation to the insurance industry, including cross-border advice and insurance/reinsurance coverage disputes. Joachim Frick has extensive experience representing Swiss and international clients in regulatory proceedings and other disputes and transactions. Lyubomir Georgiev adds further experience to the team.
Practice head(s):
Joachim Frick; Jacopo Crivellaro
Other key lawyers:
Lyubomir Georgiev
Testimonials
‘Truly international law firm serving as one-stop-shop for Swiss companies.’
‘Always a pleasure working with Joachim Frick. He has an excellent understanding of the insurance industry and the Swiss regulator.’
Key clients
Swiss Re
Zurich Insurance
Generali
Homburger
Homburger advises insurance companies on tax matters, in addition to complex regulatory issues. The team caters for blue-chip clients and in recent work assisted with the funding round for a privately held insurtech. Team head Hansjürg Appenzeller specialises in advising (re-)insurance companies on M&A and capital markets transactions, license and regulatory matters and compliance with corporate governance regulations. Vanessa Isler advises on M&A and capital markets transactions and regulatory matters in the field of insurance.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Vanessa Isler
Testimonials
‘Highly reputable and knowledgeable insurance practice group led by Hansjörg Appenzeller.’
‘Hansjörg Appenzeller is clearly one of Switzerland’s leading insurance contract and regulatory lawyers.’
‘Experienced lawyers in the Swiss corporate and insurance field. Provide helpful insights and good availability, can source additional resources when needed. Fair billing.’
‘Seasoned, experienced lawyer in the corporate and insurance field. Good collaboration and clear, actionable communication.’
Key clients
Wefox
Zurich Insurance Group
Swiss Re
Swiss Life
Generali
Munich Re
Helvetia
Axa
Work highlights
- Advised insurtech company wefox on its Series D funding round resulting in a post-money valuation of $4.5 bn.
- Advised a listed international insurance group on establishing an insurtech company, developing AI and tech enhanced insurance and software solutions.
- Advised a listed international insurance company on legacy life insurance products and on structuring new products in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG
Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG focuses on litigation, arbitration and administrative/criminal proceedings in business matters, particularly in regard to banking and finance litigation, financial regulatory enforcement proceedings and insurance/reinsurance litigation. Managing partner Roberto Dallafior has a strong litigation practice. Benjamin Schumacher specialises in business and professional liability insurance, business interruption insurance, D&O insurance and property insurance.
Practice head(s):
Benjamin Schumacher; Roberto Dallafior
Testimonials
‘Roberto Dallafior is intelligent, pragmatic and has a good network of resources to get complex cases handled successfully. He acknowledges the unpredictability of legal disputes, but finds ways to get the case across convincingly to the judges hearing the case.’
‘Excellent service, small firm, extremely dedicated professionals.’
‘Perfect availability, thorough work, convincing the claims’ team at insurers.’
Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte
Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte’s team acts for a strong roster of insurance companies; the team handles insurance and liability law, and private insurance law. A particular area of focus for the team is claims management. The team is led by Martin Bürkle, who covers all aspects of insurance law.
Practice head(s):
Martin Bürkle
Wartmann Merker Ltd.
Wartmann Merker Ltd. focuses on litigation and arbitration in the area of insurance. The team represents domestic and foreign-based clients in commercial disputes before state courts, arbitral tribunals and administrative authorities. Giovanna Montanaro has broad experience and an extensive practice in insurance law, including litigation, arbitration and insurance-related trade and transport issues.
Practice head(s):
Giovanna Montanaro