Firms in the Spotlight Transport

VISCHER

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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.

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Transport in Switzerland

Eversheds Sutherland AG

Eversheds Sutherland AG regularly advises domestic railway companies on strategic procurement projects, as well as on corporate and commercial matters. The firm also acts for clients in other transport industries including aviation, assisting with regional, federal, national and international projects. Practice heads Oliver Beldi, Barbara Klett and Bruno Schoch all have extensive in-house experience in the transport and railways industries. Beldi primarily advises on commercial and corporate matters in the transport sector. Klett focuses on Swiss and international logistics and transport law, as well as liability and insurance matters. Finally, Schoch’s expertise in public transport law, railway-related administrative law and regulatory affairs receives high praise.

Testimonials

‘The people in the team are specialists in their respective fields and join forces in a given task in an optimal way. Our main contact is a leading expert in his field. He provides us with first hand knowledge and integrates colleagues according to our needs.’

‘Our main contact is Bruno Schoch. He is one of the leading lawyers in the field of mobility / public transport / contracts in Switzerland. His outstanding quality: listening carefully to really understand the problem to be solved. Second: he always presents relevant options to act and explains their respective advantages and risks for our companies in a clear and plausible argumentation.’

‘Eversheds Sutherland covers all relevant practice, which we need from time to time: public procurement law, commercial matter, litigation, M&A transactions. It is a leading law firm in the transport sector due to their sector know how and specialist expertise in a broad range of legal areas. The advice is always practical and to the point and they are very nice to work with. Diversity and inclusion is high on the agenda of the firm.’

‘Oliver Beldi is the head of the practice, very professional and always available with a hand’s on approach. He ensures that client expectations are fulfilled or exceeded. Bruno Schoch and Barbara Klett both are experts in their fields, very solution oriented and highly trusted advisors for our company.’

‘Eversheds has strong legal knowledge and experience in the public procurement sector in the area of capital goods.’

‘The interdisciplinary thinking of Bruno Schoch is very pronounced and is not limited to legal issues. The willingness to perform, quality of the delivery objects and adherence to deadlines is very high.’

‘I appreciate the simple and uncomplicated way of collaborating with Eversheds Sutherland. They are modern and open.’

Key clients

IATA


Turkish Airlines


Signature Aviation


Bergen Engines


gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd

The transport team at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd combines ‘excellent technical knowledge‘ with a ‘unique industry focus‘ and ‘unmatched‘ expertise. The practice is jointly led by Lars Gerspacher, Laurent Chassot, Nando Stauffer von May, and Philippe Wenker. Gerspacher primarily advises insurance companies on insurance, aviation and maritime law, as well as transport and trade law. Chassot is highly specialised in aerospace matters, ranking from liability to aircraft transactions and including all regulatory aspects of aviation. Wenker has extensive expertise in aircraft finance, advising domestic and foreign aircraft financiers and airlines in multinational transactions. Stauffer von May’s practice is focused on transport, insurance, data protection and corporate law.


Practice head(s):

Laurent Chassot; Lars Gerspacher; Nando Stauffer von May; Philippe Wenker


Testimonials

‘gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd combines excellent technical knowledge with an ability to integrate business issues into its analysis. They have a unique industry focus and are, in my view the leading Swiss law firm in the fields of aviation, shipping, transport financing. They offer a comprehensive service and I believe that they bring true expertise to a matter based on their breadth of experience. Their position in the Swiss legal market is really unique. Given their unique focus on specific and challenging industry sectors gbf provides in-depth, expert knowledge, as well as a full range of services, in those core practice areas. Their expertise is unmatched.’

‘Partner Lars Gerspacher is the go-to person for aviation and shipping matters at gbf. He has notable expertise in acquisition finance matters combined with a profound commercial mind-set. Lars mixes truly outstanding industry knowledge, excellent levels of service and tailor-made solutions to assist major clients in sophisticated transactions. He is highly respected in the market and a very smart person who can quickly understand any issues. He is also very pragmatic, which is good.’

‘They are able to take on a variety of instructions without hesitation. They have a leading knowledge of the law and understand your aims.’

‘Laurent Chassot – Very approachable, very talented and very effective. Yolande Lagrande – Readily available, very adaptive and is able to turn around instructions very efficiently and quickly. The advice I receive is second to none.’

‘Great team with strong legal knowledge. Perfect technicity’

‘Laurent Chassot is extremely bright and very knowledgeable of aviation law. Very good lawyer with a sense of the client’s needs.’

‘Every year gbf organise professional events with current topics where you met all the Marine Insurance people. This became an important event for networking in this sector.’

‘I appreciate Lawyers who understand the Transport business. There are not a lot in Switzerland. But gbf has lawyers with just that specific knowledge and that makes the difference.’

Key clients

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty


AIG Europe S.A.


Allianz Suisse


AXA Corporate Solutions


AXA Assurances SA


AXA XL


Chubb Insurance


DHL


Ergo Insurance


Fly 7 Executive Aviation SA


Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers


HDI Global


Helvetia Insurance Co.


Maersk A/S


HFW

The transport team at HFW stands out for its expertise in shipping law, with a particular focus on dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional work. The firm routinely represents the full spectrum of those involved in the industry, including shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, banks, international agencies, and governments. The practice is headed by the ‘sharpMichael Buisset, who is sought out for his experience in major dry shipping litigation and arbitration matters. Sarah Hunt further strengthens the team with her extensive experience with sanctions-related trade issues.

Practice head(s):

Michael Buisset


Other key lawyers:

Sarah Hunt; William Hold


Testimonials

‘I have been working on various occasions with Michael Buisset. He is sharp, knowledgable and willing to work round the clock to solve legal issues relating to trading in a commercially viable manner.’

‘Excellent knowledge of international sale transaction and related transportation agreement and issues. Cost efficient.’

‘William Hold is very knowledgeable of the international sale transaction. Extremely cost efficient.’

Key clients

UBS Switzerland AG


Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd


Apix (Agency for Foreign Investment and Major Works of the Republic of Senegal)


Japan P&I Club


Banque de Commerce et de Placement SA


UniCredit Bank AG


Hafesa Energia SL


Work highlights


  • Acting for the financing bank in a dispute with the owner of a vessel over an alleged misdelivery of cargo.
  • Acting for sellers in 8 separate sale & purchase transactions, comprising the client’s entire fleet of trading vessels.

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd's trade and transportation team advises its clients on all aspects of trade and transport law, including litigation, arbitration, trading, financing and insurance. Alexander von Ziegler, who advises national and international insurers on regulatory issues and covers disputes with a particular focus on maritime and aviation law, co-heads the firm’s trade and transport group with Bernard Vischer, head of the firm’s private wealth group with a focus on shipping and aviation.

Practice head(s):

Alexander von Ziegler; Bernard Vischer


Key clients

EasyJet


Work highlights


  • Advising a major airline in connection with its sustainability questions.

MLL Legal

The team at MLL Legal covers the full spectrum of transport work, with a particular focus on aviation and shipping matters. Working for commercial and corporate clients alike, the team is particularly experienced in airline insolvencies, repossessions and restructurings, as well as sale and purchase issues and regulatory matters. The firm’s expertise in aviation tax, provided by Dimitri Rotter, is also notable. The ‘excellentKarin Oberlin, whose ‘stand out’ expertise in aviation and shipping law is praised by clients, co-heads the practice with aviation expert Dunja Koch, who is based in London.

Practice head(s):

Dunja Koch; Karin Oberlin


Other key lawyers:

Dimitri Rotter


Testimonials

‘Well experienced in cross-border transactions with a view for potential pitfalls.’

‘The team at MLL is well versed in the aviation related aspects of Swiss law and provide excellent counsel to foreign leasing companies.’

‘Karin Oberlin stands out as being excellent in her field and is the go to choice for Swiss aviation law questions.’

 

Key clients

Oaktree Capital Management


BBAM Aircraft and Leasing Management


ELFC


Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited


Merx Aviation


Sanad Aerospace


Viking Air


Global Jet Capital


Dassault Aviation


ABC Maritime AG


Dufour Aerospace


PK Airfinance


ING Bank N.V., Singapore branch


Work highlights


  • Advising ELFC on all Swiss aviation related matters, ranging from aviation finance specific transactions to advice on Swiss aviation law, civil law (security interest), insolvency (incl. repossession).
  • Advising Dufour Aerospace, a start-up based in Switzerland working on the development of a new aeronautic technology platform enabling sustainable, affordable and flexible flights, on all commercial and transportation related matters.
  • Asssisted Merx Aviation Finance in connection with a lease of an Airbus A319 to be delivered to Chair Airlines Switzerland.

VISCHER

With a focus on aviation matters, the transport team at VISCHER regularly advises and represents airline companies in Swiss, European, and international matters. The team handles damage and insurance cases of all types, and assists in contract negotiations with travel offices, air-traffic authorities and airport operators. Practice head Peter Kühn advises foreign and domestic clients on corporate and contract matters as they relate to transport. Other key individuals are Urs Haegi  and Christoph Niederer.

Practice head(s):

Peter Kuehn


Other key lawyers:

Urs Haegi; Christoph Niederer


Key clients

Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.


Deutsche Lufthansa AG


Edelweiss Air


LSG Sky Chefs Schweiz AG


Lufthansa Technik AG


Swiss Aviation Training AG


Austrian Airlines AG


DLH Fuel Company mbH


Jet Aviation Ltd.


Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht (Rega)


Export Development Canada


Lufthansa AirPlus Servicekarten GmbH


AirPlus International AG


Air Canada


Swissterminal AG


Work highlights


  • Representing Swiss International Air Lines, the national carrier of Switzerland, in various legal and tax matters.
  • Representing Jet Aviation Ltd in various litigation matters and transactional work.
  • Representing various Lufthansa group companies in relation to certain legal affairs in Switzerland.

Bär & Karrer Ltd.

Bär & Karrer Ltd. is a one-stop-shop for clients in the logistics and transport industry, advising on aviation, maritime, road and rail law. The firm regularly arbitrates and represents clients in international logistics and contracts disputes. Practice head Luca Jagmetti  represents haulers in customs proceedings, as well as advising on large asset deals and transport logistics. Other key individuals include transaction finance, outsourcing and procurement specialist Christoph Neeracher and Philippe Seiler, who specialises in international and domestic M&A transactions with a focus on the transport and logistics industry.

Practice head(s):

Luca Jagmetti


Other key lawyers:

Christoph Neeracher; Phillippe Seiler


Testimonials

‘Pragmatic and true advice, strong commercial understanding and judgement which is valuable in the advice provided.

‘Strong senior involvement.’

Key clients

Tecan Group Ltd.


DSV A/S


Swiss Federal Railways SBB


DHL


CEVA Logistics


Jet Aviation


Valora


DSV


EQT/Unilode Aviation


Swiss International Ari Lines AG


Edelweiss Air AG


CEBS AG (Kooky)


CIMO


EQT


Work highlights


  • Advising Cimo on the drafting and negotiation of the respective steam purchase, transportation and pipeline construction contracts.
  • Advising DSV on the acquisition of Agility Global Integrated Logistics.

MME Legal | Tax | Compliance

MME Legal | Tax | Compliance acts for clients from the international trade field on damage management, claims handling and enforcement, litigation, maritime law, and aviation. The team’s areas of expertise also cover advice on export compliance and regulatory compliance matters. The ‘outstanding‘ and ‘extremely responsiveRaphael Brunner, head of the practice, has a strong focus on international trade, logistics, transport, shipping and trade compliance.

Practice head(s):

Raphael Brunner


Testimonials

‘The team is extremely close-knit and they share knowledge and experience to the benefit of the clients.’

‘Raphael Brunner has an unique knowledge of international transport and has a superb attitude to anticipate clients’ needs.’

‘MME is covering all our legal and advisory requests and can do that very successfully as they have the competency and knowledge in all areas.’

‘Raphael is extremely responsive and delivers outstanding solutions to the problems that we are sharing with him.’

Wartmann Merker Ltd.

Dispute resolution boutique Wartmann Merker Ltd. handles litigation and arbitration proceedings in the transport sector, representing domestic and international clients before state courts, arbitral tribunals and administrative authorities. The firm represents shipping and logistics companies as well as trade companies and UHNWIs in commercial disputes and insurance litigation cases. Head of practice Giovanna Montanaro has broad experience in trade and transport law, regularly advising on cross-border transportation and insurance matters.

Practice head(s):

Giovanna Montanaro


Testimonials

‘Giovanna Montanaro is very knowledgeable in transport and insurance matters and is very practical.’