Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd > Zurich, Switzerland > Firm Profile

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd > The Legal 500 Rankings

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Geneva Tier 1

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd assists Swiss and foreign banks and other financial institutions, such as investment firms, insurance companies, fund management companies and asset managers, with a broad range of matters, including establishment and licensing, regulation of financial services, enforcement proceedings and internal investigations. The team is particularly strong on the transactional side – assisting clients with syndicated loan facilities and acquisition finance, structured finance transactions, derivatives, and asset management. The team is led by Grégoire Wuest, who has a special focus on multi-jurisdictional transactions involving non-standard and highly valuable assets securing borrowings as well as cross-border acquisitions, and Tarek Houdrouge, whose practice covers advising banks, financial institutions and financial intermediaries on regulatory matters, cross-border activities, lending transactions, distribution of financial products, and fintech. Caroline Clemetson handles requests with FINMA for securities firms, fintech banking licences, amendment of banks, and implementing new regulations such as ESG within banking institutions whilst Grégoire Tribolet advises numerous clients, both established banks and fintech start-ups, on their projects related to blockchain technology. Other key team members include Christoph Vonlanthen, Joane Etienne, Luc Thévenoz, and Edmond Kohler.

Switzerland > Competition Tier 1

Alongside considerable experience in assisting clients with commercial practices and agreements, ‘solution-oriented’ Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd includes strategic advice regarding civil law litigations, compliance programmes and internal investigations in its competition arsenal. The team handles matters pertaining to a diverse range of sectors, including telecoms, energy and financial services, and is recommended for its ability to ‘challenge expectations’ and implement ideas in a ‘fast and understandable manner’. Practice head David Mamane is well positioned to assist clients with public procurement as well as licence and distribution agreements. Amalie Wijesundera’s diverse set of capabilities include multi-jurisdictional merger control procedures, dawn raids and leniency procedures, among others.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1

Demonstrating strengths in commercial, investment and sports related arbitration, ‘high-quality’ firm Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd features a varied arbitration practice that covers construction, life sciences and financial services disputes. Co-lead and global chair Elliott Geisinger acts in complex commercial disputes and in investor-state cases, while fellow co-lead Christopher Boog holds a prominent presence within international commercial, investment and sports related arbitrations. Rounding out the team’s leadership is Philippe Bärtsch, who is capable of advising clients on disputes arising from M&A transactions, construction and infrastructure projects, and distribution contracts, among others. Anya George capitalises on her considerable multi-jurisdictional expertise to represent states, state-owned entities and private companies in a variety of arbitrations, while Stefan Leimgruber regularly represents parties before Swiss courts, often handling the enforcement of foreign awards.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 1

Counting blue-chip corporations in its client roster, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is active across a diverse scope of fields, from energy and transport to pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. Peter Burckhardt, Louis Burrus and Clara Poglia jointly spearhead the group. Burckhardt is well-regarded for his work in complex financial, commercial and criminal litigation, with ‘pragmatic’ and ‘precise’ Burrus principally focusing on cross-border commercial litigation. Poglia’s expansive experience incorporates white-collar crime, asset tracing and internal corporate investigations knowledge. Stefan Leimgruber frequently handles banking, post-M&A and corporate litigation, while Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny contributes his banking litigation capabilities to the practice. Katherine Bell is noted for her ability in handling disputes arising out of complex construction, engineering and infrastructure projects.

Switzerland > Employment Tier 1

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd advises on mandates concerning labour law, as well as employment matters relating to high-end transactions and major disputes. The team has expertise in immigration, data protection, social security, litigation, and employment law matters concerning international and domestic M&A transactions and set-ups. Department head Vincent Carron has extensive experience drafting and reviewing employment documentation and unilateral and collective dismissals. Catherine Weniger, who has particular know-how in restrictive covenant issues and termination agreements, is a key contact in Geneva, whilst Michael Hess, whose practice covers bonus schemes and international employee transfers, is Zurich’s key contact.

Switzerland > Fintech Tier 1

Reputed for its work handling the utilisation of blockchain technology, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is well-equipped to manage issues surrounding digital assets, legal and regulatory compliance aspects as well as crowdfunding projects. Recommended for its ‘extraordinary level of competence and expertise’, the firm’s stellar client roster includes a variety of funds, banks and financial institutions. Olivier Favre, Tarek Houdrouge and Roland Mathys jointly spearhead the practice. Zurich-based Favre’s reputation for transactional and advisory work is prominent, and Geneva-based Houdrouge covers an array of fintech work, from cross-border M&A to venture capital. Mathys is intimately familiar with outsourcing transactions and major technology projects, while Caroline Clemetson possesses notable experience in the realm of banking and finance law. Grégoire Wuest regularly handles multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Switzerland > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd provides the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency matters including companies’ restructuring, loan-to-own transactions, distressed M&A, distressed refinancing, and advising board members on their duties, as well as liability claims. The team is headed by Olivier Hari, Tarek Houdrouge, and Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny. Hari specialises in complex national and cross-border insolvency and restructuring proceedings and related litigation proceedings, whilst Houdrouge, who co-heads the banking and finance team, has a strong focus on distressed situations. Hoffmann-Nowotny has a special focus on insolvency-related litigations, including actions to contest schedules of claims, claw-back actions, and the enforcement as well as defense of liability claims against directors and officers. Vincent Jeanneret, who is the former practice group head, has a wide range of expertise including distressed refinancing and M&A, corporate restructuring of listed and non-listed companies, filing of court-application for distressed businesses, litigation, and recognition of foreign orders. Cross-border insolvency expert Louis Burrus is a notable team member.

Switzerland > Insurance Tier 1

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd maintains a broad insurance offering, including notable expertise in relation to complex multi-jurisdictional litigation. Key undertakings for the practice involve private insurance and reinsurance law, insurance fraud defence and insurance broker-related issues. Alexander von Ziegler and Olivier Favre lead from the firm’s Zurich office and Tarek Houdrouge from the Geneva office. Von Ziegler is a key contact for clients needing assistance with high-profile defence, disputes and regulatory issues, while Favre’s expertise encompasses commodities as well as insurance and reinsurance regulation, among others. Houdrouge handles various mandates, such as lending transactions and the distribution of financial products, for the team.

Switzerland > Intellectual property Tier 1

With a strong presence at the forefront of a variety of fields, including consumer goods, media and cosmetics, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s multifaceted strengths range from the litigation of IP rights in relation to the counterfeiting of branded products to the management of IP portfolios and R&D. The team is praised by clients for its ‘high-quality work, creative solutions, and excellent client service’. Steering the practice is Philipp Groz, who is especially knowledgeable in handling litigation and arbitration for multinational clients. Another key name to note in the practice is ‘outstanding’ and ‘great communicator’ Lorenza Ferrari Hofer, who is well versed in patent and trade mark infringement and injunction proceedings. Adrienne Henneman is also recommended.

Switzerland > Private client Tier 1

With in-depth experience handling estate and inheritance disputes for high-profile international clients, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd presents itself as a go-to firm for families needing advice on wealth structuring and preservation. The team is headed by Andrea Dorjee-Good and David Wallace Wilson. Dorjee-Good stands out for her expertise in estate and succession planning, while Wilson often handles inheritance disputes. With decades of experience navigating the private banking landscape, Bernard Vischer is recommended for matters related to corporate and banking regulations. Other key individuals include Guillaume Grisel, who regularly advises on international tax matters, as well as Caroline Lopez Nagai.

Switzerland > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd’s practice group has extensive experience in both the commercial and residential property markets, advising on construction law, environmental law, tax, and administrative law matters. The team has niche expertise in serving the hotel industry, often handling complex international purchasing and the sale of property. Geneva-based team head, Yves Jeanrenaud, has considerable know-how advising domestic and international clients on drafting and negotiating property contracts. Josef Caleff, who heads the Zurich team, advises clients on all types of complex real estate transactions, including large commercial leases, contractor agreements, and development projects.

Switzerland > Regulatory, compliance and investigations Tier 1

Counting corporations, financial institutions and boards of directors in a diverse and impressive client roster, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd advises on the full gamut of regulatory, compliance and investigations mandates. Notable work for the group includes criminal liability in insolvency situations, white-collar crime work and a variety of regulatory proceedings. Peter Burckhardt and Benjamin Borsodi co-helm the practice, with the former being noted for his business crime expertise and the latter bolstering the team with expansive experience in international legal assistance, corporate investigations and asset tracing. Clara Poglia, George Ayoub, Louis Burrus and Paul Gully-Hart are other key names in the team.

Switzerland > TMT Tier 1

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s ‘excellent’ team uses its expertise in information technology, telecommunication, and intellectual property law to provide specialist knowledge in various industries such as finance, health sciences and pharma, and construction. The practice supports clients in international arbitrations arising out of ICT contracts and provides advice for the legal implications of emerging technologies such as big data, Internet of Things, and AI. Team head Roland Mathys advises in all matters relating to software development, digital platforms, technology licensing, and outsourcing transactions. Alongside being a competition law specialist, David Mamane has expertise in telecommunication law and license agreements. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer ‘has great experience in TMT and data privacy and data protection’ as well as media and leisure (including social media), advertising, marketing, and sponsoring matters. Samuel Klaus departed the team in April 2023 for an in-house position.  

Switzerland > Transport Tier 1

Full-service firm Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd has broad experience in all aspects of trade and transport law including transportation and insurance litigation, aviation and shipping regulatory matters, non-contentious matters concerning trade finance, and transactional matters. In Zurich, the ‘highly talented’ Alexander von Ziegler heads the team with his longstanding practice in the maritime sector, aviation and trade law, involving a number of insurance litigations. Geneva team head Bernard Vischer has extensive expertise in transactional work in the aviation and shipping industries. Grégoire Wuest represents high-profile clients in acquisitions and non-standard lending transactions in relation to shipping and aviation. Wuest is supported by Edmond Kohler, who fields expertise across the business aircraft industry.

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Zurich Tier 2

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd advises on regulatory matters, such as the establishment and licensing of financial institutions as well as supporting clients on transactional matters, including syndicated loan facilities and structured finance transactions. The practice is headed by Philippe Borens whose main practice areas are the regulation of financial intermediaries, equity, and debt capital markets. Anita Schläpfer advises finance institutions and corporate clients on domestic and cross-border acquisition finance whilst Caroline Clemetson handles requests with FINMA for securities firms and fintech banking licenses. Olivier Favre focuses on derivatives, structured finance, and capital markets transactions.

Switzerland > Capital markets Tier 2

Noted for its ‘tailor-made advice and deep knowledge of the market’, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is well versed in mandates arising from financial services, industrial and energy sectors, among others. The team, which is led by Philippe Borens and Tarek Houdrouge, is capable of advising an array of clients on public takeovers and exchange traded products. Borens excels in the area of equity and debt capital markets and Houdroudge strengthens the team with his knowledge in cross-border trade receivables securitisation and derivative transactions. Olivier Favre’s client base encompasses financial institutions, buy-side firms and issuers. Pascal Hubli and Lorenzo Olgiati are also recommended. In December 2022, Martin Lanz retired from the practice.

Switzerland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Capable of advising clients across the full spectrum of industries, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd’s ‘exceptionally strong’ team is led by Lorenzo Olgiati and Jean Jacques Ah Choon, and demonstrates notable strengths in the venture capital arena and in handling debt and debt-funded transactions. Olgiati leads the Zurich team, with Ah Choon helming the Geneva practice. Oliver Triebold is routinely engaged by a variety of multinational clients, while Marcel Jakob is another key name to note.

Switzerland > Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

Active across telecoms, pharma and retail sectors among others, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd’s ‘highly qualified’ practice combines its technological and legal knowledge to advise on big data analysis, ICT related regulatory work and ICT disputes. Practice head Roland Mathys is routinely engaged to advise on outsourcing transactions and major technology projects, alongside a variety of other data matters. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer is noted for her ability to handle complex disputes in this area, while Samuel Klaus is accomplished in managing IT security and cybercrime matters among others.

Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd handles a broad range of IP disputes, including validity and infringement actions, technology transfers, and clinical trial agreements, whilst advising on regulatory issues involving market surveillance and advertising restrictions. Philipp Groz and Lorenza Ferrari Hofer jointly lead the team in Zurich. Groz regularly represents clients in international arbitrations concerning supply and distribution agreements, in addition to handling IP disputes. Hofer is well versed in mandates involving product development and trade, specifically in relation to data protection and IP. Pascal Hubli maintains a strong transactional practice, handling numerous public takeovers and corporate restructurings.

Switzerland > Tax Tier 2

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is skilled in an array of contentious and non-contentious matters, with extensive experience working with tax authorities, at both the federal and cantonal levels. Jean-Frédéric Maraia, who advises individual and corporate clients on all tax matters both at the domestic and international level, and Michael Nordin, whose focus is transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, and restructurings, head the Geneva and Zurich teams, respectively. Pietro Sansonetti has skill in negotiating with tax authorities on delicate and high-value matters. Danielle Hostettler‘s key focus is on private client taxation. At the associate level, Roland Wild and Arthur Magnin are key names.

Switzerland > Public law Tier 3

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s administrative law and public procurement team, led by David Mamane and Yves Jeanrenaud, has long-term experience in the energy, life sciences, media, and transport industries, and often represents clients before the cantonal and federal courts. Mamane has special expertise in competition law, energy regulation, and public procurement. Real estate and construction expert Jeanrenaud regularly advises and represents clients in public procurement issues, building permits, and due diligence procedures, and has experience in environmental law, and energy law. The team benefits from the expertise of specialists in other fields, such as Roland Mathys and Lorenza Ferrari Hofer, who support the team on technology and IP-related public law issues, Philipp Groz, with domestic and international dispute resolution, and Grégoire Wuest who supports on banking and finance issues.

Switzerland > Sports law Tier 3

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd offers ‘high-quality legal services covering a broad spectrum of legal issues’ including non-contentious matters such as sponsoring and marketing agreements and broadcasting rights as well as disputes work. Philippe Bärtsch , who has extensive experience handling complex international commercial and sports arbitrations, co-heads the team with Christopher Boog , who represents clients in disputes before adjudicatory boards of federations, the Court of Arbitration for Sports and other arbitral institutions as well as the Swiss Supreme Court. The team benefits from Anna Kozmenko ‘s expertise in high profile and complex disputes.