Bratschi Ltd > Zurich, Switzerland > Firm Profile
Bratschi Ltd Offices
BAHNHOFSTRASSE 70
PO BOX
8021 ZURICH
Switzerland
Bratschi Ltd > The Legal 500 Rankings
Switzerland > Real estate and construction Tier 1
Bratschi Ltd’s practice offers regional coverage and profound expertise in a variety of real estate matters including transactions, litigation, arbitration, and public and administrative matters. The team is co-led by Markus Aeschbacher, who has longstanding consultancy and litigation experience in the field of construction and real estate law, and Thomas Schönenberger, who focuses on real estate transactions and contractor agreements. The team was strengthened with the expertise of eight new hires in 2023, six of which are partners. Notable team members include Ion Eglin, Ulrich Keusen, and Marco Colombini.Practice head(s):
Markus Aeschbacher; Thomas Schönenberger
Other key lawyers:
Ion Eglin; Ulrich Keusen; Marco Colombini; Tanja Frischknecht; Andreas Brenner; Nadine Wanner
Testimonials
‘Fast responses, hands-on aproach, good communication and excellent legal skills.’
‘Markus Aeschbacher is great to work with.’
‘Great coordination of internal teams, also cross-Canton-wise, always easily understandable on-the-point advice (no extra-long memos), perfect cost/benefit ratio.’
‘My main contact people are Dr. Marco Colombini and Dr. Markus Aeschbacher. They are both providing an excellent level of service: very short response times, ability to rapidly grasp the relevant issues, abide by cost caps. ’
‘Well versed even in complex matters of extensive public buildings that evolved over several generations.’
‘Understands the client’s need and is able to strategically plan negotiations.’
‘Markus Aeschbacher: his analysis, procedure and experience.’
‘Very good advice, recommendations for different strategies in the respective situations, constant accessibility, reliability of the assigned tasks, knowledge in different areas and geographical locations.’
Key clients
BP Europe SE, Hamburg, Zweigniederlassung BP (Switzerland)
Calzedonia Group / Calzedonia Switzerland AG
Generali Italia SpA
SPAR Group, including TopCC AG
Intershop Management AG/Intershop Holding AG
Realstone SA
Steigenberger Hotels AG
Yotel Limited
Odyssey Hotel Group
Laudinella Hotel Group
Merck & Cie.
DPR Constructions
Blumer-Lehmann AG
CSL Behring Bern AG
Spitalanlagengesellschaft Spitalregion Fürstenland-Toggenburg
Meier Tobler AG
Genossenschaft Migros Ostschweiz
Arbonia AG
Asga Pensionskasse Genossenschaft
Kantonsspital St. Gallen
Limehome GmbH
Säntis Home AG
Fortimo AG und Fortimo Invest AG
Hälg & Co. AG
Ego Kiefer AG
St. Galler Kantonalbank
Ortsbürgergemeinde St. Gallen
Municipality and Roman Catholic Community Einsiedeln
ASTRA – The Federal Road Office of Switzerland
Petroncini Impianti SpA / Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Oel-Pool AG / Moveri AG
Monoplan AG
Hera Hospitality Holding AG
Success Hotel Management GmbH
24 Lens Sàrl
Work highlights
- Advised Meier Tobler AG in a sale-and-lease-back transaction regarding its newly built service centre in Oberbuchsiten SO, Switzerland.
- Advised the international hotel group Steigenberger AG in various new developments in Switzerland; already signed is a long-term hotel management agreement for a new hotel to be built in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, which will be the first hotel of the group in Switzerland under their new hotel brand “House of Beats”.
- Advised the international hotel group Yotel on their entrance into Switzerland, the group structure and their first hotel in Switzerland at Lake of Geneva, with announced opening in November 2023.
Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2
Felix Kesselring leads the Zurich based team at Bratschi Ltd, known for its ‘fortress of knowledge‘ and ‘acute intellectual prowess‘. The group excels at advising on the full gamut of matters, including reimbursements, administrative procedures, and innovation management. The team is also noted for its deep regulatory and contentious expertise, frequently assisting clients with drug pricing cases and laboratory services. Kesselring regularly acts for both Swiss and international clients within the medical device, pharma, and healthcare industries, while Yaël Heymann‘s primary area of focus is on regulatory issues involving data protection and healthcare law.Practice head(s):
Felix Kesselring
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Great communication. Quick responses and understanding of the issues. Very meticulous work.’
‘In-depth knowledge of laws and regulation in the pharmaceutical industry.’
‘We work with Felix Kesselring for his unique expertise in laws and regulations related to life sciences’
‘Bratschi Ltd astounds with its exemplary team, wielding a unique blend of legal acumen and scientific insight, ensuring that it not only understands the law but also profoundly grasps the science behind client innovations. They navigate regulatory complexities with finesse and strategic savvy unparalleled in the marketplace. The team exemplifies a q and strategic thinking in regulatory compliance.’
‘The individuals at Bratschi Ltd’s practice epitomise a blend of acute intellectual prowess and genuine dedication to client success, setting a high bar in the legal and scientific consulting arena. What markedly distinguishes them from peers in the competitive landscape is their unwavering commitment to ethical practice, client transparency, and a palpable passion for driving healthcare innovations forward.’
‘Felix Kesselring is clearly the go-to person for healthcare and life science matters in Switzerland – for Swiss or international clients. This pan-European knowledge makes Felix very valuable, particularly for Swiss pharma companies which export pharmaceuticals abroad.’
‘Dr. Felix Kesseling: quick feedback, realistic assessment of the opportunities and risks, industry experience’
‘The team is specialised in Swiss regulatory matters and has ample experience with Swissmedic. They are very thorough and detail oriented in their work and the work results delivered are precise. They did not shy away from reviewing an impressive amount of rather technical documents and were able to perform a helpful risk assessment.’
Key clients
Zur Rose Suisse Ltd.
Daiichi Sankyo (Schweiz) Ltd.
Otto Group
Ortsbürgergemeinde St. Gallen
Neuraxpharm Switzerland Ltd.
Post CH Ltd.
Gilead Sciences Switzerland LLC
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ltd.
Sigma Aldrich Production GmbH
CSL Behring Ltd.
IGEN Biolab Group Ltd.
Kantonsspital St. Gallen
Spitalregion Fürstenland-Toggenburg
Oertli-Instrumente AG
Work highlights
- Advised Otto Group on the acquisition of the Medgate, a provider of digital health services, and Better Doc, provider of services in the field of medical quality data analysis.
- Represented Neuraxpharm Switzerland Ltd. before the Federal Supreme Court against price reductions for one of its medicinal products.
- Advised Daiichi Sankyo (Schweiz) Ltd. on the development of a digital health app.
Switzerland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Well regarded by high-end and mid-market clients, Bratschi Ltd fields a strong offering that includes expertise in the IT, finance and energy sectors, among others. Thomas Peter leads the team, with other key names in the practice including Etienne Gard and Kevin Kengelbacher. Jvo Grundler joined the team from Prager Dreifuss AG in March 2023, and Orlando Meyer and Marco Giavarini joined from Lexportal in October 2022.Practice head(s):
Thomas Peter
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is highly committed and competent, with a good understanding of the market. Bratschi offers a solution to any problem we may have.’
‘Thomas Peter is our lead contact person. While he has excellent legal knowledge, we also appreciate his pronounced business focus and the ability to render practical advice. He is very responsive and reliable.’
‘They remained focused on the client’s needs. The team is highly competent and engaged.’
‘Highly client and business oriented and able to provide on-the-spot advice and solutions.’
‘Pascal Rüedi provides immediate advice on any specific transaction. Pascal speaks “business language” and is therefore able to explain challenging legal topics to business people easily.’
‘We had a great experience working with Pascal Rüedi and his team. As transaction counsel, they were always on top of deal issues and extremely responsive.’
‘Pascal Rüedi stood out for his knowledge, professionalism and commercial approach to managing transactions. A delight to work with.’
‘All of them are very pragmatic, flexible and service oriented.’
Key clients
Swiss Post
Loft Dynamics AG
Umanite Holding AG
Pharmacies BENU SA
Prayon S.A.
Variant perception ventures AG
Centrum Beratungs- und Beteiligungen AG
San Cristobal Mining Inc.
Sunrise GmbH
Liberty Vorsorge AG
Visana Services AG
Work highlights
- Advised Loft Dynamics AG on the raising of CHF 20m in its series A financing round from US venture capital firms, including David Sacks’ Craft Ventures, Sky Dayton and Up Ventures.
- Advised Centrum Beratungs- und Beteiligungen AG on all legal aspects of the sale of all shares in Belvédère Asset Management AG to Fundamenta Group.
- Advised Umanite Holding AG on a secondary majority LBO of Cleeven Group with Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille.
Switzerland > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3
Recommended for its ‘competent and reliable work’ and ‘eagerness to solve the client’s issue’, Bratschi Ltd has recently handled advice surrounding the new Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection as well as large digital platform projects. The team is active across banking, pension funds and IT industries. Adrian Bieri and Adrian Wyss jointly lead the practice, with Jacqueline Odermatt being another key name in the practice.Practice head(s):
Adrian Bieri; Adrian Wyss
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘We can count on them for quick uncomplicated and competent legal support.’
‘I perceive Bratschi as a very knowledgeable, diligent and trustworthy legal partner. Their advice is always tangible, takes into consideration not only the individual situation but also the culture and values of the client.’
‘Bratschi is an excellent law firm, providing pragmatic solutions for both the business perspective and the legal perspective.’
‘Adrian Bieri has outstanding knowledge in the field of data privacy and date protection. He also has a very deep technical understanding. Solutions he provides are always excellent. Working with Adrian is a great pleasure and very instructive. Highly recommended!’
‘The team grasps problems very quickly and holistically. They present not only the black or white options, but the team also shows possible solutions in between, while disclosing the corresponding risks. The fact that they try to make a business or project possible instead of advising against it is particularly appreciated.’
‘Very collegial atmosphere, our own ideas are listened to and taken on board. The lawyers do not distinguish themselves, but put the task and the problem to be solved in the foreground. They seriously want good solutions for their clients.’
‘Bratschi has the latest knowledge in data protection regulation, EU-GDPR as well as CH-data laws. They are responsive to their clients’ needs, they can listen and understand their clients’ needs. Bratschi offers tailor-made solutions. They speak the language of their customers.’
‘They propose solutions that can be easily implemented and which are pragmatic and very helpful as well. I appreciate their professionalism and at the same time friendliness and the speed with which they approach tasks. They are active in Switzerland at various locations and are well networked (internationally).’
Key clients
Hypothekarbank Lenzburg AG
Liberty Vorsorge AG
Ardian
Health & Medical Services AG
Bernische Lehrerversicherungskasse (BLVK)
Meier Tobler AG
PetHealthData AG
Lehrmittelverlag Zürich (LMVZ)
Informatique-MTF SA
Varo Energy Marketing AG
Loft Dynamics AG
Dogus Health & Wellness AG
Tangens Wirtschaftsakademie GmbH, Torgau
Globomedica AG
Calzedonia Switzerland AG
ZGP ZÜRCHER GESELLSCHAFT FÜR PERSONAL-MANAGEMENT
Stiftung Kinderdorf Pestalozzi
H2K Personal GmbH
Fidinam Group Holding SA
Pro Pallium – Schweizer Palliativstiftung für Kinder und junge Erwachsene (Pro Pallium)
NNH Holding AG
MDPI AG
GLB Genossenschaft
Work highlights
- Advising Hypothekarbank Lenzburg AG in connection with the implementation of the revFADP.
- Advising Liberty Vorsorge AG in connection with the implementation of the revFADP.
- Advised Ardian on the acquisition of a stake in Mimacom Flowable Group in the areas of IP, IT and data protection law.
Switzerland > Employment Tier 3
Bratschi Ltd offers support for the full-spectrum of employment law matters from traditional employment law advice and litigation to transaction-related work and public law advice. The firm has particular expertise in personnel regulations, employee incentive schemes, including share and stock option plans, and global mobility. The team is co-headed by Angela Hensch, who has a special focus on employment contracts, and Tobias Herren, who has extensive expertise with termination agreements. Yvo Hungerbühler handles employment related litigation and Céline Hofer supports on employment agreements.Practice head(s):
Angela Hensch; Tobias Herren
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Tobias Herren has great competence in law and provides valuable advice.’
Key clients
Securiton AG, Mr. Adrian Liechti (VP Sales International)
Swisspower AG, Mr. Ronny Kaufmann (CEO)
Sammelstiftung Symova, Mr. Fabian Schmid (President)
Kistag Dekopack AG, Mr. Julien Hertli (CEO)
Bernina Retail AG, Mr. Pascal Christener (CEO)
Work highlights
- Represented Sammelstiftung Symova (Tobias Herren) to find a favourable settlement agreement with the former CEO who had to be dismissed while he was having cancer in a final stadium.
- Advised Kistag Dekopack AG (Tobias Herren): an employee was employed for almost 30 years had to be dismissed. The employee mandated a worker union a bitter fight followed.
- Providing ongoing employment law advice and representation as external counsel to Swiss Federal Roads Office (Tobias Herren).
Switzerland > Private client Tier 3
Bratschi Ltd offers tax and general legal advice to private businesses and private banking. Hailed for its ‘great experience in international taxation and estate planning’, the team also regularly advises on financial regulations, inheritance law, succession planning, and relocation. Ingmar JM Snijders heads the team with more than two decades of experience.Practice head(s):
Ingmar JM Snijders
Other key lawyers:
Michael Suter; Roland Böhi
Testimonials
‘The team has great experience in international taxation and estate planning.’
‘Ingmar Snijders is professional and is always willing to look for a solution. He’s one of a kind, and it’s always great to work with him.’
‘The team are always ready to assist. They are friendly, creative and professional.’
‘Ingmar Snijders clearly stands out as an experienced private client practitioner with a range of UHWI clients who trust his advice in regard to all kind of legal issues.’
‘The team offers practical and professional advice.’
‘Ingmar Snijders stands out for providing extremely thorough and sound advice.’
Work highlights
Switzerland > Public law Tier 3
Bratschi Ltd‘s team has ‘impressive’ expertise in advising on the full spectrum of constitutional and administrative law matters with a particular focus on state organisation law on all federal levels, general economic administrative law, energy law, and medical and health law. Isabelle Häner, who has extensive knowledge in public procedural law, the principle of publicity, and public-private partnerships, and Jürg Bereuter, whose practice covers public construction, planning and environmental matters, co-head the team. The team benefits from Livio Bundi‘s experience advising clients in the areas of health law, social security law, and migration law.Practice head(s):
Isabelle Häner; Jürg Bereuter
Other key lawyers:
Livio Bundi; Anja Binder-Josuran; Florian Brunner
Testimonials
‘Tier 1 firm for administrative/public law and proceedings. ’
‘Isabelle Häner is certainly one of the best and finest administrative/public practitioners in Switzerland. She is a “must have” on any serious panel law firm list.’
‘We appreciated the very strong engagement as well as the professionalism of the support throughout the whole project.’
‘Bratschi Ltd is an excellent law firm. Their expertise and experience in general administrative law is impressive. Building on this, and due to a professional and highly motivated approach, Bratschi Ltd handled the court proceedings to our complete satisfaction. The cooperation and flow of information worked flawlessly.’
‘The few employees (Isabelle Häner, Florian Brunner, Livio Bundi) with whom we were/are in contact are extremely well qualified, have a quick perception, take our concerns seriously and implement them promptly. The legal documents prepared in various languages (German, French and Italian) are impeccable.’
‘Many years of experience in the field of Swiss public law, especially public procurement law and public HR law.’
Key clients
Fiege Logistik (Schweiz) AG
GastroSuisse
Kantonsspital Winterthur
Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht (Rega)
Verein “Sorten für morgen”
Ernst & Young AG
Energie Wasser Bern
Kaufmännischer Verband Zürich
MeteoSchweiz|(Bundesamt für Meteorologie und Klimatologie)
Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft SRG SSR
Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs)
Stadt Dübendorf
Syngenta Crop Protection AG
Werke am Zürichsee AG
Gemeinde Zermatt
Gemeinde Wil SG
Work highlights
- Represents the Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht (“REGA”) in appeal proceedings concerning a service contract and an operating licence for air-rescue services in the canton of Valais.
- Defends the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs in 37 proceedings before the Federal Administrative Court and the Federal Supreme Court, regarding the recovery of short-time work compensation improperly claimed by private companies.
- Advised and represented the Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft SRG SSR, Switzerland’s national public service broadcaster, in a variety of matters.
Switzerland > Tax Tier 3
Bratschi Ltd assists companies with domestic and international corporate tax planning, and handles tax aspects of relocations, reorganisations, acquisitions, and sales. The team also develops tax-efficient structures for family offices in Switzerland. Michael Barrot, who has extensive in international tax administrative matters, heads the team. Cédric-Olivier Jenoure provides consulting services for domestic and foreign corporate groups, business owners, and private individuals who have national and international tax issues. Sascha Wohlgemuth specialises in wealth tax planning and corporate and shareholder advice for the optimisation of tax benefits. Roland Böhi is a ‘combination of technically skilled, commercially aware and pragmatic’, and has expertise in transfer pricing.Practice head(s):
Michael Barrot
Other key lawyers:
Cédric-Olivier Jenoure; Sascha Wohlgemuth; Roland Böhi; Kerem Altay
Testimonials
‘Roland Böhi is polite, highly skilled and very responsive. He has an ability to simplify highly complex issues in such a way that the key issues emerge, which makes decision-making efficient and effective. He is also a problem solver, who is not afraid to give his view.’
‘I work mainly with Sascha Wohlgemuth, and I really appreciate his availability and responsiveness. He is very competent in his field, follows his cases diligently, and is always able to give quick answers to any questions he is asked.’
‘They identify potential issues ahead of time and inform their clients so as to take a holistic approach on things. Speaks the client’s language and do not confuse them with technicalities. There are no confusions or misunderstandings. All of the above make me very confident that this is the trusted team of lawyers and paralegals that I want to engage with.’
‘The addition of Roland Böhi has enhanced this firm’s expertise in international and business taxation.
‘Roland Böhi is a combination of technically skilled, commercially aware and pragmatic, which is rare amongst some tax advisors in Switzerland. ’
Key clients
Umanite Holding AG
Olympia Group
Viking Cruises Group
BioEqual Nova AG
Wega Informatik AG
AutoForm Engineering AG
Vista Augenpraxen und -kliniken AG
Orpea Suisse / Senevita AG
Miriam AG / Magwich Holding AG
Belimo Climate Foundation AG
Pitanguy family – European Real Estate
Lyktos AG
Petrus AG
Ancient India Group AG
LGT Bank (Schweiz) AG
Work highlights
Switzerland > Banking and finance: Zurich Tier 4
The ‘experienced, commercially-minded’ team at Bratschi Ltd assists clients with regulatory matters, applications for licenses, internal investigations, structuring financing transactions, and DLT-related work. Team co-head Reto Arpagaus advises and represents banks, insurance companies, and financial intermediaries in all banking and finance-related matters. Ivo Hungerbühler, who also co-heads the team, has extensive expertise in banking litigation which includes cross-border cases and investigations by regulatory bodies. Barbara Jecklin regularly advises domestic and international banks on acquisition finance, structured finance, and syndications.Practice head(s):
Reto Arpagaus; Ivo Hungerbühler
Other key lawyers:
Barbara Jecklin; Thomas Peter
Testimonials
‘Bratschi’s team is experienced, commercially-minded and easy to work with.’
‘Barbara Jecklin and Thomas Peter – our go-to lawyers for cross-border financings with a Swiss nexus. They focus on what is important and provide very good value for money.’
Key clients
UBS Switzerland AG
Viking Cruises Group
Adecco
PNC Bank, National Association
Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4
Tort, employment, construction and real estate are key sectors in which Bratschi Ltd’s litigation practice operates, and the team is noted for its ability to provide ‘accurate advice’. Daniel Glasl, who leads the practice alongside Mirco Ceregato, possesses exceptional knowledge around media-related litigation.Practice head(s):
Mirco Ceregato; Daniel Glasl
Other key lawyers:
Marco Colombini
Testimonials
‘They provide accurate advice, and are very helpful in business and corporate disputes.’
‘Mirco Ceregato responds quickly, provides accurate and reliable legal advice as well as recommendations regarding litigation strategy and tactical questions.’
Key clients
DPR Construction
Spitalregion Fürstenland-Toggenburg
BP Europe SE, Hamburg, Zweigniederlassung BP (Switzerland)
Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht Rega
St. Galler Kantonalbank AG
Meier Tobler AG
Spar Group
Work highlights
- Representation of Credit Suisse in a libel and reputation litigation against the financial Blog Inside Paradeplatz.
- Representation of the Spitalanlagengesellschaft of the Spitalregion Fürstenland-Toggenburg (SAGes.-SRFT) in a dispute regarding the new building for an extension to the hospital in the city of Wil.
- Representation of Schweizer Rettungsflugwacht Rega against a competitor in front of the Zurich Commercial Court for contractually agreed fees.
Switzerland > Intellectual property
Bratschi Ltd > Firm Profile
Bratschi Ltd. is one of Switzerland’s leading law firms with over 100 attorneys in seven major business centers of Switzerland. Our experienced attorneys advise and represent national and international enterprises as well as private individuals and the public sector in all areas of commercial law, tax law as well as public law and notarial matters.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Partner | Cédric Jenoure | Cedric.Jenoure@bratschi.ch | +41 58 258 19 00 |
General Secretariat | Annalisa Cagnazzo | annalisa.cagnazzo@bratschi.ch | +41 58 258 10 00 |
Lawyer Profiles
Staff Figures
Attorneys-at-Law : 120Languages
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Bratschi Ltd.: First choice for questions in the field of public law
Introduction:
Bratschi Ltd is one of Switzerland’s leading and rapidly growing law firms. As a full-service law firm Bratschi is offering clients a broad range of first-class legal and counseling services. Geographically it covers the whole of Switzerland with the exception of the Italian-speaking region and counts a full range of legal and specialist areas as well as regional networks of relationships among its extraordinary strengths.
Regulatory density and the speed of regulation are steadily increasing due to new or amended laws, ordinances, and guidelines. With a dedicated team of experienced and knowledgeable attorneys, Bratschi is also one of the leading law firms in Switzerland when it comes to public law. We are therefore pleased to present our team specializing in public law at Bratschi and to bring you closer to our daily work.
The definition of public law:
Public law in Switzerland comprises the legal norms and rules governing the relationships between the state and citizens as well as among different state institutions. It encompasses various areas such as constitutional law, administrative law and procedural law. Public law is thus the counterpart of private law, which primarily regulates legal relationships between private individuals and companies. In Switzerland, public law is governed by numerous federal laws, as well as cantonal and communal laws and regulations.
The team’s mission
The public law team closely follows developments in state and administrative law, particularly in business administration law, to engage with its clients on any challenges in these areas and provide them with the highest level of expertise. The team members also represent them before administrative bodies and courts. The clients include private individuals, public and private companies, as well as public authorities such as municipalities, cantons, and the federal government.
The members of the public law team accompany and represent their clients in matters of public law before administrative authorities and courts at all levels of government, including municipalities, cantons, and the Confederation. They offer advice and support to their clients in managing legal risks and avoiding legal disputes. The team also accompanies clients through difficult negotiations, whether on behalf of individuals, companies, or communities, in order to achieve the best results for them. Their services extend to reorganizing or outsourcing a branch of administration, creating and implementing new legal frameworks, and drafting and negotiating service agreements and other administrative agreements. With their in-depth knowledge of proceedings and independent position, they also conduct administrative investigations for their clients. Finally, leveraging their specialized scientific background, the team performs peer review work to resolve specific legal issues in state and administrative law.
Our team – Lawyer Profiles
Our team is composed of the following individuals:
Prof. Dr. iur. Isabelle Häner, partner, office Zurich
(https://www.bratschi.ch/de/anwalt/isabelle-haener.html);
Dr. iur. CAS MedLawUZH Livio Bundi, office Zurich (https://www.bratschi.ch/de/anwalt/livio-bundi.html);
Dr. iur. LL.M. Anja Josuran-Binder, office Zurich
(https://www.bratschi.ch/de/anwalt/anja-martina-josuran-binder.html);
Dr. iur. Florian Brunner, office Zurich
(https://www.bratschi.ch/anwalt/florian-brunner.html);
Ulrich Keusen, certified Specialist SBA Real Estate and Construction Law, partner, office Berne (https://www.bratschi.ch/de/anwalt/ulrich-keusen.html);
Kathrin Lanz Kneissler, LL.M., office Berne
(https://www.bratschi.ch/de/anwalt/kathrin-lanz-kneissler.html);
Jörg Bereuter, certified Specialist Lawyer SBA in Construction and Real Estate Law, partner, office St. Gallen
(https://www.bratschi.ch/de/anwalt/juerg-bereuter.html);
Dr. iur. Andreas Brenner, office St. Gallen
(https://www.bratschi.ch/de/anwalt/andreas-brenner.html);
Interview with two team members
Prof. Dr. iur. Isabelle Häner, partner, with Bratschi AG since 2000
As an attorney-at-law, Isabelle Häner advises and litigates on behalf of public and private sector entities as well as private individuals in administrative law matters. She has a broad range of expertise, in particular in the areas of public procedural law, the principle of publicity, mixed-economy task fulfilment, including public procurement law, state and municipal law, construction, planning and environmental law, infrastructure law and energy law. She accompanies and represents clients in administrative proceedings as well as before the cantonal administrative courts, the Federal Administrative Court and the Federal Supreme Court. With her scientific background, she also drafts well-founded legal opinions.
1) Isabelle, what are some typical highlights of your daily work?
A typical highlight is guiding my clients through legal proceedings or negotiations and working with them to assert their position. Especially when this succeeds in complex and difficult situations, it brings me satisfaction and joy.
2) You introduced and built the public law department at Bratschi AG, a typical business law firm, over 20 years ago. What are you particularly proud of?
I am particularly proud that I have succeeded in making Bratschi one of the leading law firms in Switzerland in the field of public law. I am proud that today I can rely on a highly qualified team that is highly motivated to work on public law cases.
3) What can clients expect from Bratschi’s public law team?
Clients can expect highest quality with good value for money, rapid responses, and flexibility tailored to the needs of the clients.
4) How do you stay up-to-date with legal changes and developments in your area of specialization?
The entire team of Zurich, including myself, is actively engaged in academic research, which means that we constantly have to engage with the latest practices. Additionally, we hold monthly internal know-how meetings to review the latest practices and literature in our areas of expertise.
5) How do you differentiate yourself from other lawyers and what makes you an outstanding choice for potential clients?
The outstanding knowledge of public law, which is distributed among all team members, is what I consider to be our important unique selling point. With this solid foundation in public law and our high level of commitment, we can quickly and competently respond even in complex cases, with very short deadlines and appointments.
Dr. iur. CAS MedLaw Livio Bundi, Senior Associate, with Bratschi since 2015
Livio Bundi deals with a wide range of issues relating to constitutional and administrative law. He mainly advises and represents clients in the areas of health law, personnel law, public procurement law, social security law, migration law and education law as well as procedural law. He also has broad experience in the area of state organization and public finance law.
In addition to his advisory and litigation work, Livio Bundi writes expert opinions in his areas of expertise. He publishes regularly and also lectures on these special areas.
1) Livio, why did you specialize in public law?
I decided to specialize in public law during my studies. The question of what form of government we want and to what extent the state should intervene in our lives is highly relevant and interesting for our daily private and business life. The increasing amount of state regulation has always concerned me and at the same time has made me aware that there is a great need for advice and protection against state intervention. However, government authorities also depend on advice, as private individuals are becoming more aware of their individual rights.
2) What challenges do you observe specifically in the areas of law in which you work?
As a lawyer, it is my job to always have an overview of the existing and, in particular, new regulations. In addition to the constantly evolving legal provisions and court rulings, which more or less extend across all areas of law, it is noticeable that there has been excessive regulation in the healthcare sector, which, however, does not focus enough on quality, especially not on the benefit regarding the patient. In the future, it will be urgently necessary to establish a competition based on quality in this sector.
3) How do you approach effectively communicating with authorities and advocating for your clients’ interests when it comes to public health issues, subsidies, social security, immigration, or education issues?
Communication with authorities is an extremely important precondition in order to effectively advocate for the client’s interests. It involves a combination of legal expertise, relationship-building, and strong advocacy skills. At the beginning of each case, it is crucial to understand the client’s needs and concerns, and to develop a comprehensive legal strategy that addresses these issues. The requirements for effective communication with authorities differ from area to area of law. In highly regulated areas such as healthcare law, authorities tend to be more difficult to access.
4) What do you see as the main points that differentiate Bratschi from your competitors?
Unlike other firms of comparable size, Bratschi can offer everything from a single source and thus present the client with a complete solution. For example, when a company relocates, questions from various areas of law play a role, which our firm knows how to answer in a well-founded and timely manner.
5) What do you see as the main challenges specifically for public law in the future?
I call attention to – not surprisingly – digitization. This poses new challenges for both the legislator and legal practitioners. New technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data have an impact on many areas of public law, including data protection, healthcare law, education law, public procurement, and state liability issues.