Walder Wyss Ltd. > Zurich, Switzerland > Firm Profile
Walder Wyss Ltd. Offices
SEEFELDSTRASSE 123
PO BOX 1236
8034 ZURICH
Switzerland
Walder Wyss Ltd. > The Legal 500 Rankings
Switzerland > Competition Tier 1
With a large team of highly proficient lawyers, Walder Wyss Ltd. is a go-to firm for all competition matters. The team handles merger control proceeding with skill and efficiency, advising both local and international companies with filings and complex transactions. The firm represents a vast and diverse array of clients in industries such as telecommunications, transport, energy, banking, and construction. Reto Jacobs has extensive experience setting up distribution and compliance systems. He leads the team with Monique Sturny who is a skilled negotiator, representing clients in competition proceedings.Practice head(s):
Reto Jacobs; Monique Sturny
Other key lawyers:
Gion Giger; Daniel Zimmerli
Testimonials
‘The team works efficiently, cost-consciously and are business-oriented.’
‘The antitrust law partner has a high expertise and very good knowledge concerning the regulatory authority.’
‘Very diligent and relentless approach.’
‘Serious, dedicated and low-key, while having excellent knowledge and market understanding.’
Key clients
Dovista/VKR
Daimler Truck Holding AG, TRATON SE and Aktiebolaget Volvo (publ)
Migros Group
Swisscom
TX Group (former Tamedia)
PostFinance
Aduno / Viseca
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB (Swiss Federal Railway)
Saviva AG
Swisscom Directories AG
Work highlights
- Represented Daimler Truck Holding AG, TRATON SE and Aktiebolaget Volvo in the merger control proceedings before the Swiss Competition Commission related to the establishment of a full-function joint venture which will be active on international markets.
- Represented Swisscom AG with respect to an investigation by the Swiss Competition Commission (ComCo) against Swisscom AG in connection with the expansion of its fibre optic network – case is pending before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.
- Represented SBB Cargo AG, Hupac SA, Contargo AG and Gateway Basel Nord AG with respect to an appeal by Swissterminal before the Swiss Federal Administrative Court.
Switzerland > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1
Walder Wyss Ltd. fields ‘one of the largest and most competent data privacy teams in Switzerland‘. The team is sought out by clients from a variety of industry sectors to assist with compliance implementations, investigations, and representation before courts and data protection authorities, among other matters. The practice is headed by leading Swiss data privacy expert David Vasella, ‘a household name in the Swiss data privacy community‘, who regularly advises Swiss and international clients on a wide range of data protection matters. Jürg Schneider, Martin Zobl, senior associate Florian Roth and associate Bernadette Bucheli further strengthen the practice.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘We particularly appreciated the personal support and the ability to show and break down the complexity of the topic.’
‘David Vasella has been every time a very competent consulting partner for all our questions. He provides not only theory but also considers the needs of the company and actively seeks compliant and practical solutions. He has a very good understanding of the business, provides always useful documentation and there is good value for money. Also, communication is always very timely, even during the absence of Mr. Vasella. The customer is never left in the dark. We are very happy to have Mr. Vasella as a legal consultant and would recommend him anytime for his excellent work and knowledge at all times.’
‘Walder Wyss is an innovative and highly professional law firm. Thus far, we’ve only dealt with the most capable partners and associates. David Vasella is not only an extremely knowledgeable attorney, but he also communicates transparently and clearly. He is reassuring, articulate, knowledgeable, and effective. He always gets back to us quickly and makes it a seamless operation, especially as we are facing time constraints quite often.’
‘Walder Wyss has one of the largest and most competent data privacy teams in Switzerland. They are very business-oriented and always look for pragmatic and practicable solutions. David Vasella is the expert in Swiss data protection law. He is a great communicator and a perfect partner for entrepreneurs.’
‘David Vasella is a household name in the Swiss data privacy community and one of the most prominent and well-respected data privacy professionals in Switzerland. We use David for our most complex projects and high-stakes legal questions and always value his support. David has a profound business understanding and offers actionable advice, allowing us to effectively manage privacy-related risks. He regularly thinks of innovative ways of how to use data for business purposes while at the same time protecting the interests of data subjects. We also value his in-depth knowledge of international developments and his broad international network.’
‘David Vasella is among the three best and most famous data protection lawyers in Switzerland. He understands the risk-based approach and the pragmatism that the industry is requiring. He uses different tools, has an important network, is sharing the experience with clients. When we are asking for a meeting, this takes place very quickly either onsite or online. From our perspective, this is exactly what we are looking for.’
‘Walder Wyss has an extremely strong data privacy and data protection practice that clearly stands out from other law firms not only by the number of specialists but also its exceptional expertise and the very high quality of the services provided. We note that they are closely involved in ongoing doctrinal and political debates on current legal developments and the future of Swiss data protection law. Considering their reputation and expertise, we would consider them as market leader in the field.’
‘We were impressed by the high professionalism and diligence shown by Martin Zobl (partner) and Florian Roth (senior associate) when it came to handling complex legal questions at the intersection of data protection, labor, and public law. Despite the complexity of the topic, they provided very hands-on and cost-efficient advice. We would also like to emphasise that they are both very responsive and extremely pleasant to work with.’
Key clients
APG SGA
Argus
Atupri
Cembra
Credit Suisse
CSS
eBay
Emmi
Federal Roads Office
Galenica
gategroup
Helsana
Intrum
Kantar Media
KünzlerBachmann
Legartis
LGT Capital Partners
Leontec Securities AG
Loylogic
Microsoft
Migros
Mobiliar
MySmartHeart
Relio
RUAG
Sanitas
Santésuisse
SBB
Schweizerische Exportrisikoversicherung SERV
SpecPage
STOXX
Swisscard
Swisscom
Swisstransplant
Sygnum Bank
TX Group
Valiant Bank
Viseca
Well
Zur Rose
Zurich Insurance
Zurich University
Work highlights
- Provided legal opinions to FEDRO, a member of Cardossier, on a blockchain-enabled platform for sharing vehicle data between public administration, insurance companies, leasing companies, and vehicle traders.
- Advised santésuisse, an association of several health insurers, on outsourced health care provider performance analytics and audits, including consultation with the Data Protection Authority.
- Advised a number of large companies and groups on data protection compliance, including Bossard, CSS, Emmi, Galenica, Leonteq, LGT Capital Partners, Migros, Sygnum, Swisscard, and many others.
Switzerland > Employment Tier 1
The co-heads of Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s employment practice are split between three cities, with Philippe Nordmann situated in Basel, Irène Suter-Sieber and Simone Wetzstein in Zurich, and Rayan Houdrouge (who joined the firm from Lenz & Staehelin in mid-2022) in Geneva. The team provides advice and assistance in all areas of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious, such as employment litigation, negotiation, mass dismissals, internal investigations, international assignment of employees and pandemic-related support. The practice’s client base is broad, with clients in . Clients -drawn from a broad array of industries such as aviation, finance, insurance, pharmaceuticals and the public sector- are particularly pleased with the team’s ‘pragmatic’, ‘commercial’, and ‘innovative’ work.Practice head(s):
Philippe Nordmann; Irène Suter-Sieber; Simone Wetzstein; Rayan Houdrouge
Other key lawyers:
Jonas Knechtli
Testimonials
‘My main contact Rayan Houdrouge has shown to be extremely commercial whilst advising in many practice areas. This combination is quite rare and is invaluable for clients.’
‘The Employment Practice Team is very responsive, has deep and up to date knowledge and aligns internally with other practice teams where complex matters requires so. Very good collaboration with our internal stakeholders. Business oriented and hands-on support.’
‘The team is extremely reactive and pragmatic. All members communicate very well among them and adopt the same approach and methodology towards complex legal issues. In addition, our firm has very appreciated the adaptability of the team in terms of communication tools and its flexibility in terms of billing.’
‘Rayan Houdrouge is not only an exceptional lawyer but he is also a great manager. He is fully dedicated and use all members of its team in the most efficient manner. He is always solution-oriented and able to design the most adapted strategy to very complex legal situation. He is also capable of remaining calm in all circumstances and always keep in mind the end goal of the strategy.’
‘I appreciate the strong team spirit that I can perceive as a client. The client is considered part of the team and fully integrated in the legal thought process and solution finding. Client is listened to carefully. We get excellent legal perspective always considering legal bottom line with best practice and actual business need.’
‘It is a real pleasure to work with Walder Wyss. The collaboration is extremely efficient and very professional and we really appreciate their transparent way of working. The team is very diverse and innovative: In case of changes in legislation or new decisions, very informative newsletters are sent out immediately, summarizing the changes precisely.’
‘Philippe Nordmann has a vast experience in all employment related areas. He is fast thinking and always reacts immediately to all of our- sometimes very complex enquiries and gives outstanding and helpful advice. He has a high level of responsibility and has a very balanced, pleasant personality. Philippe Nordmann also has a great team supporting him. In this context, I would like to highlight Jonas Knechtli in particular.‘
‘Simone Wetzstein has continuously exceeded our expectations. Her professionalism, integrity, continued support and exceptional expertise have helped us navigate through uncertain situations. She always responds in a timely manner, and offers multiple solutions before executing, so we can proactively choose a tailored service to our questions. This way, costs are proactively mitigated. We feel truly backed and supported by her.’
Key clients
Bayer Pharma
Groupe Mutuel
Lonza
Bâloise
Equinix
DSV
Migros
Bachem
Moody’s
Equatex
Work highlights
- Advised the Swiss entity of WuXi AppTec on all employment related matters.
- Advised and drafted a legal opinion for Ecolab on the structuring and implementation of a contractual basis for a globally harmonised policy on the safe use of company vehicles and a driver safety program.
- Advised the Director of the Historical Museum of Basel-City, Marc Fehlmann in a case against the Government of Basel-Stadt which has attracted considerable media attention.
Switzerland > Intellectual property Tier 1
Markus Frick and Roger Staub head the ‘diligent’ and ‘strong’ intellectual property practice of Walder Wyss Ltd., with both utilising their extensive experience in litigation to represent clients in court and in arbitration. The team is well regarded for its full range of intellectual property expertise, but in particular for its litigation capabilities regarding copyright, patent, trade mark, and design disputes. Praised for praise its ‘business oriented approach', the practice acts for both international and Swiss clients from a variety of industries including automotive manufacture, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, food, luxury goods and media.Practice head(s):
Markus Frick; Roger Staub
Other key lawyers:
Manuel Bigler; Stefano Codoni
Testimonials
‘Walder Wyss is a very professional team with high-end expertise in IP litigation.’
‘Roger Staub is great to work with, with a fantastic touch for storytelling in litigation matters. Manuel Bigler is very knowledgeable and has an outstanding attention for detail.’
‘Smart and diligent. Markus is a pleasure to work with.’
‘Strong and well established firm, with strong IP practice.’
‘We choose to work with Walder Wyss because of the trust in one of its partners, Stefano Codoni. Stefano is extremely dedicated, knowledgeable, honest, accountable and nice to work with.’
‘The Walder Wyss team is our first choice when it comes to trademark matters in Switzerland, be it prosecution, portfolio management, oppositions, cancellations, infringements or strategy work. For us it is very important that our local cooperation partners are highly experienced and do not only know the local laws and the local practice and case law, but also that the chemistry between us, our local cooperation partner and our clients work out. The Walder Wyss lawyers are extremely collaborative, unflappable and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Stefano Codoni is highly experienced in all IP matters, but also understands our clients’ need for targeted specific advice, for instance with a business orientated approach. It really helps a lot that Stefano Codoni is used to working in an international framework and for international clients.’
Key clients
ABB
Actial Farmaceutica
Alcon
Amazon
Apple TV
AT&T
Bystronic
Deutsche Börse/Qontigo
Easygroup (incl. EasyJet)
FIBEP (Swiss Chapter)
Giorgio Armani
Hitachi/ABB Power Grids
Inventio (IP management company of Schindler Group)
Lastminute.com Group
Merck
Microsoft
Migros
Nestlé
Otto’s
Pret-A-Manger
Richemont (incl. Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, Chloé, Baume & Mercier, Montblanc, Van Cleef & Arpels, Panerai, A. Lange & Söhne)
Rocket Film Productions
Snap, Inc. (formerly: Snapchat)
Storck
The Association of the Swiss Gas Industry
Switzerland > Leading firms: Italian-speaking Switzerland Tier 1
Walder Wyss Ltd. is described as a ‘first choice’ for matters in Switzerland with Italian clients. The Lugano office is led by Davide Jermini, who is a key contact for all real estate-related matters in the Italian-speaking region, and Stefano Codoni, who clients describe as ‘experienced and highly responsive’. Stefano Fornara is also noted as an ‘exceptionally accomplished’ attorney who frequently represents clients in international arbitrations, commercial, and employment law litigation proceedings.Practice head(s):
Davide Jermini; Stefano Codoni
Other key lawyers:
Stefano Fornara; Marco Galli
Testimonials
‘Walder Wyss is a highly professional law firm with specialists in all relevant areas of law. The cooperation with the firm is professional and pleasant at all times. The firm has the technical capabilities expected in today’s market and billing is smooth.’
‘Mr. Jermini and Mr. Fornara are both exceptionally accomplished attorneys and very dedicated to assisting us as clients in all matters, even if they may arise at very short notice. Both legal representatives are very well versed in their respective areas of expertise. Great care is taken to avoid unnecessary costs where possible. We are very happy to have these two attorneys as contact persons and to be able to count on their support in Italian-speaking Switzerland.’
‘Stefano Codoni has been working with us on a series of trademark matters. He is a Italian native speaker, perfectly fluent in German and English. We highly appreciate working with Stefano because he is fully dedicated to serve clients in the best way, he is intellectually honest and respects deadline and budgets. He is accountable and works for the client’s best.’
‘The Walder Wyss team is our first choice when it comes to matters in Switzerland with Italian clients. For us it is very important that our local cooperation partners are highly experienced and do not only know the local laws and the local practice and case law, but also that the chemistry between us, our local cooperation partner and our clients work out. The Walder Wyss lawyers are extremely collaborative, unflappable and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Stefano Codoni is always available and is able to coordinate the work of teams in various jurisdictions, being a very efficient interface between the clients and the lawyers in different legal system. The quality of input and advice both technical and strategical is impeccable.’
‘Stefano Codoni is the most considered, smart, attentive, experienced, and highly responsive M&A lawyer I have dealt with.’
‘On the basis of our long-term working relationship, we believe that the distinctive feature of the Walder Wyss SA law firm is the rapidity of the response, with the framing of the client’s needs in a clear way and with the proposal of possible strategies according to the risk / benefit. The comparison with other companies is essentially made on the basis of the experience and specialization of the partners, in relation to the customer’s field of activity.’
‘The difference is made by the product characterized by quality, sustainability and added value for the customer, per unit of dedicated time. We found these peculiarities in abundance in the lawyer Stefano Codoni with whom we had the opportunity to work on several occasions.’
Key clients
Actial Farmaceutica Srl
Jetpharma SA
Artisa Group
Akara Funds AG
Lifeware SA
Atnahs Pharma UK Ltd
Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale
RSI – Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana
Work highlights
- Entrusted with a large internal investigation at RSI – Radiotelevisione Svizzera di lingua italiana (part of SRG SSR, Swiss Public Radio- and Television Network), regarding alleged workplace harassment of various kinds.
- Assisted Artisa Group on a recurring basis with various real estate transactions all over Switzerland, both on the seller side and on the buyer side.
Switzerland > Private client Tier 1
Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s private client team is jointly led by Kinga Weiss in Zurich, who has extensive experience with Swiss and international inheritance law in addition to marital property and family issues, and Philippe Pulfer in Geneva, who is a long-time committee member of STEP Geneva. The ‘top tier‘ firm advises high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients on a variety of matters including wills, national and international succession planning issues, relocations, family law matters, and trust mandates. The practice also includes the ‘very experienced‘ Olivier Sigg and the ‘solution-oriented‘ Robert Desax.Practice head(s):
Kinga Weiss; Philippe Pulfer
Other key lawyers:
Olivier Sigg; Robert Desax; Fouad Sayegh; Philippe Kohler
Testimonials
‘Philippe Pulfer has been a go-to person for many a UHNWI for more than a decade. His knowledge and, most importantly, personal touch and ability to listen to the multi-faceted (financial, emotional, generational) issues that clients face is extraordinary.’
‘Robert Desax, very hands-on and responsible to clients’ needs, strictly solution oriented. Always keeps a close eye on the short and long-term economic effects of different approaches and client options.’
‘In the private client team, I know Olivier Sigg in particular who is very experienced and straight to the point. He deals with complex estate planning matters involving trust structures and he has an excellent cross-border approach, in particular with countries like the UK or Italy.’
‘Philippe Pulfer and Olivier Sigg are extremely well-known names internationally, renowned for their expertise advising HNW and UHNW individuals.’
‘They are first rate and we have worked with them, both in litigation and cross-border tax and trust planning, on a number of very significant and interesting matters for many years. We place Walder Wyss at the top tier of the firms with which we work regularly in Switzerland on private client matters for important clients.’
‘We have worked closely with Philippe Pulfer for over fifteen years on many complex matters and he is recognised as one of the very top private client lawyers in Switzerland. He is equally strong on contentious and non-contentious trust and private client matters and is known as a superb litigator as well as a first-rate tax and trust planning lawyer. He is superb at everything he does, extremely bright and a delightful person with whom to work. We have also worked closely with Kinga Weiss on complex cross-border private client matters and she is uniformly excellent. Kinga is considered one of the top private client lawyers in Switzerland, and her reputation is well deserved.’
‘The Geneva contingent of Philippe Pulfer, Fouad Sayegh and Olivier Sigg are extremely personable and knowledgeable – real stand out practitioners.’
‘Philippe Pulfer – very experienced Swiss lawyer that can guide clients in a calm, collected and pragmatic way at all times. He is so well experienced that he provides sage advice. Philippe Kohler – up and coming lawyer, with a can-do approach!’
Switzerland > Public law Tier 1
The public law team at Walder Wyss Ltd., which is described by clients as ‘highly professional, pragmatic‘, and ‘skilled’, acts for a varied client roster including major Swiss governmental entities, state-owned enterprises, and high-profile pharmaceuticals companies. The firm has particular expertise in public procurement processes and mandates in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. The practice is headed up by Hans Rudolf Trüeb, who regularly represents clients in arbitration proceedings and handles technology, telecoms, energy, licensing and distribution matters, and is described by clients as possessing ‘superior knowledge‘. Martin Zobl excels in the healthcare, life sciences, energy, infrastructure and transport industries. Rayan Houdrouge joined the firm in the first half of 2022 from Lenz & Staehelin.Practice head(s):
Hans Rudolf Trüeb
Other key lawyers:
Martin Zobl; Lena Götzinger; Florian Roth; Felix Tuchschmid; Isabelle Hanselmann; Matthieu Seydoux; Rayan Houdrouge
Testimonials
‘Highly professional, pragmatic, understands the need of the client (e.g. simple drafting, results are ready to be used for internal stakeholders, no need to translate to “layman” language).’
‘The team is just great at providing their services around the clock. Finding the right words to explain difficult legal positions in easy language. Very friendly and highly skilled.’
‘Walder Wyss was the first of the large Swiss law firms to specifically focus on public law and public clients. Over the past decade, Walder Wyss has managed to substantially grow and establish their public clients team in the market. Today, it is certainly one of the best and the team with the broadest and deepest knowledge of the procurement and public transportation market. I would definitely put them in the first tier. They are responsive and easy-going. It is always a pleasure working with this team.’
‘Hans Rudolf Trüeb, a senior practitioner with superior knowledge and experience, has successfully led the team for many years. He is quick, smart and always finds creative solutions for complex problems. Also, Martin Zobl is worth mentioning. He is a new partner of the firm in 2022, has worked with us on large cases for many years. We are very happy with his work, he delivers high quality work and wins the cases. The partners are supported by an array of younger talents, among them Florian Roth, Isabelle Hanselmann and Felix Tuchschmid, to mention just a few. For the cases in the French speaking part of Switzerland, we have worked with Matthieu Seydoux from their Lausanne office. Matthieu, while still young, is a great and ultra-fast paced lawyer.’
‘Profound experience in different areas in public law as well as highly professional lawyers involved. Due to deep sector knowledge they have great capabilities to handle legal problems in a very effective and efficient way.’
‘Walder Wyss has an outstanding public law team covering all aspects of public law relevant to us. In particular, we would like to emphasize their impressive expertise and diligence when it comes to public procurement questions and administrative litigation. Given their reputation and expertise, we would clearly consider them as number one in the field.’
‘We very much enjoy working with Martin Zobl (partner) who is highly professional, very responsive and utterly reliable. He provides very thoughtful and hands-on legal advice and is a great ‘sparring partner’, in particular, in the field of public and administrative law, procurement law, data privacy and open access law. In addition, he is a skilled litigator and tactician when it comes to administrative proceedings. Martin Zobl is supported by very talented younger lawyers including public law specialist Florian Roth (senior associate) and Lena Götzinger (senior associate), who specializes in public law and IT contracts. Martin Zobl and his team are always very pleasant to work with on both a professional and a personal level.’
‘Valued partnership, very strong providing support in a very time and cost effective manner. Excellent combination of generalist and specialized knowhow. Special mention should be given to Hans Rudolf Trüeb.’
Key clients
Swiss Confederation
Canton of Zurich – Office for Water, Energy and Air (AWEL)
Axpo Group (Axpo Holding, Axpo Power, Axpo Trading)
Energie 360 Grad AG
SBB – Swiss Federal Railways
SBB Cargo AG
ETH Zürich
ENGIE (France)
University of Zurich
Universitätsspital Zürich
Universität Kinderspital Zürich Eleonorenstiftung
Hirslanden AG
Zuger Kantonsspital AG
Spital Thurgau AG
Helsana Versicherung AG
Tertianum Gruppe
Swiss Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (BBL)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)
Armasuisse
SERV Swiss Export Risk Insurance
Work highlights
- Defended the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in appeal proceedings initiated by Alstom before the Federal Administrative Court regarding the procurement of 286 new single-deck multiple units.
- Defended the Swiss Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (BBL) in appeal proceedings initiated by Google Commerce Ltd. before the Federal Administrative Court regarding the procurement of public cloud services for the entire Swiss Government.
- Represented the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in numerous proceedings in front of ETH’s Appeals Commission and the Federal Administrative Court regarding damage claims under state liability, data protection claims, public employment law and allegations of academic and other misconduct.
Switzerland > Real estate and construction Tier 1
Walder Wyss Ltd. is widely recognised for its history of advising on high profile complex transactions, with particular experience in representing buy-side investors. The team acts for a wide range of clients including real estate funds, high net worth individuals and public listed companies. The firm also frequently represents clients in complex real estate disputes, establishing a solid reputation with international brands and investors. Practice heads Francis Nordmann , Johannes A. Bürgi and Marco Strahm leverage advanced know-how in complex commercial and corporate transactions. Samuel Dürr is a benefit to the team with his strong expertise in Swiss real estate tax law.Practice head(s):
Francis Nordmann; Johannes Bürgi; Marco Strahm
Other key lawyers:
Samuel Durr; Albane Selimi; Etienne Trandafir; André Kuhn
Testimonials
‘Francis Nordmann is an outstanding partner. He is reachable outside business hours and provides well-founded information immediately or within short delays. Whenever needed he clearly communicated the deadline and accommodates in case of urgency.’
‘The Team of WW is highly professional, well-trained and before everything else proactive and solution oriented which makes the collaboration not only very efficient and easier but especially very helpful.’
‘Albane Selimi is my go-to lawyer. She negotiates very strictly with the opposite party. She understands and takes on our point of view very well.’
‘I mainly worked with Albane Selimi. Besides her professional competence, she is very solution-oriented and quick to deliver high-quality results. She is also an excellent communicator, making legal challenges easy to understand for me, thus allowing well-informed business decisions.’
‘Walder Wyss knows how to immediately put itself in our shoes and solve the problem in the best possible way when it comes to a new inquiry, which usually has to be completed under a lot of time pressure. For this purpose, very efficient processes are created in which cross-company project teams are established.’
‘I came to appreciate the team under Francis Nordmann very much. The following people in particular performed outstandingly.’
‘The team at Walder Wyss is composed of skilled and motivated individuals with a high degree of determination and willingness to think outside the box to achieve the desired outcome for their clients.’
‘The attorney handling our cases (Albane Selimi, MLaw), is always willing to go the extra mile for her clients. She takes a big picture approach to her profession and focusses on pragmatic solutions while never neglecting important details. This way to work matches very well with our approach to doing business and is very helpful when you need to move fast.’
Key clients
Artisa Group
Credit Suisse Asset Management (Schweiz) AG
Raiffeisen Futura Immo Fonds
Immofonds
Gold Tree
Swiss Finance & Property
Akara Funds
Immozins
Helvetica
Rhystadt Ltd (consortium of Swiss Pensions Funds)
Zuriba
F. Aeschbach
Brickvalue 2
Raststätte Knonaueramt
Work highlights
- Advised IPI Partners, LLC, a global investment firm that specializes in investing in critical digital infrastructure assets, in the acquisition of Safe Host, a Switzerland-based data center owner and operator.
- Advised Baloise Asset Management Ltd. as buyer in the course of a sale and lease back acquisition of several real estate in Basel with a privately owned sports clinic.
- Advised public listed real estate fund Immofonds in the course its acquisition of four real estate in Lugano comprising of approximatively 50 apartments. It was Immofond’s first geographical reach to southern Switzerland.
Switzerland > Tax Tier 1
The ‘outstanding‘ tax practice at Walder Wyss Ltd. advises on all areas of domestic and international tax law, with expertise in private and public M&A, real estate issues, corporate finance work and capital market transactions. The department also regularly represents clients in contentious matters before tax and customs authorities, as well as tax courts. Practice head Maurus Winzap has a broad practice, which includes handling private equity transactions, financings, and corporate restructurings. Samuel Dürr specialises in real estate matters, Fouad Sayegh focuses on private clients, trusts, and tax litigation, and Thomas Meister covers tax controversies in finance-related matters. Fabienne Limacher is also key.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Fouad Sayegh is a highly competent tax professional.’
‘I want to mention that it was always a pleasure to work with them. The Walder Wyss team is not only highly efficient and professional, but they are also a very cool bunch.’
‘In tax matters, Maurus Winzap was our contact person. He advised us very competently in tax matters and compiled all relevant information very accurately and precisely in the tax factbook.’
‘The Walder Wyss Tax team was very efficient, had in a short time a perfect overview about the work to be done and was brilliant in all matters (meaning the personal contact with us, the customer, with the authorities, with the counterparty, in oral and written). The performance was outstanding.’
‘All our contacts at Walder Wyss were outstanding! Friendly, comprehensive, engaged, giving their best even if time was short. In the matter of the case, they worked till midnight to keep the time schedule, patient and still persisting if documents were missing, and had an overall commitment which can be described by just a first class performance.’
Key clients
Athlon Switzerland Ltd.
Bank J. Safra Sarasin Ltd.
Datatrans Ltd.
DSM
Helvetia Swiss Insurance Company Ltd.
IPI Partners, LLC
SAFRAM
Stragen Pharma Group
The Riverside Company
Yokoy Group Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised DSM, a global leader in health, nutrition and biosciences, on its merger with Firmenich.
- Advised IPI Partners, LLC, on the acquisition of Safe Host, a Switzerland-based data centre owner and operator.
- Advised Daimler Group on the sale of the entire Swiss full-service leasing fleet of Athlon Switzerland Ltd. to Arval (Switzerland) Ltd., which is part of the BNP Paribas Group.
Switzerland > TMT Tier 1
The ‘highly qualified and solution-oriented team’ at Walder Wyss Ltd. spans the entire breadth of TMT expertise, ranging from cloud migration projects to litigation. Practice head David Vasella has a strong reputation for his data protection expertise, where he advises domestic and international companies on matters pertaining to compliance implementation, data monetisation and IT projects. The ‘creative and thoughtful’ Michael Isler is well-versed in technology transfer, platform and outsourcing projects, while Mark Reutter focuses on advising companies in the IT sector, as well as corporate clients on technology, digitalisation and IP matters.Practice head(s):
David Vasella
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘A highly qualified and solution-oriented team.’
‘Michael Isler is a creative and thoughtful lawyer who helps his clients solving the real problem instead of “only” answering the questions asked. His prior in-house experience differentiates him from other partners.’
‘Being ahead of the curve in knowing about the latest tech developments is a key differentiator in data privacy today, and the Walder Wyss team does this exceptionally well.’
‘David Vasella is very knowledgeable in all matters involving data and technology, and is one of the opinion leaders in Switzerland. He has a very hands-on approach and is always keen to find a practical solution. He also has a deep understanding of data-driven business models and is very tech-savvy.
‘The strength of Walder Wyss is its ability to provide holistic advice for all fields, i.e. broad expertise with deep knowledge and great experts in each field.’
‘David Vasella is regarded as the top expert in Switzerland for data related matters and was is able to live up to his reputation.’
‘The entire Walder Wyss team shows profound knowledge in the banking and tech industry. No matter what question arises, their lawyers have usually had experience with similar cases in the past, so it is great to benefit from their prior experience when dealing with current challenges.’
Key clients
ABB
Avaloq
Bobst
Cembra
Citrix
CKW
Crealogix
Credit Suisse
CSS
Emmi
FIFA
Galenica
gategroup
Helsana
Helvetia
Hitachi Energy
Intrum
Kantar Media
Kuoni
Legartis
Leonteq
LGT Capital Partners
Loylogic
Microsoft
Migros
Mobiliar
Mövenpick
OTTO’S
RUAG
Sanitas
Santesuisse
SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA
SBB
STOXX
Swiss Federation
Swisscard
Swisscom
Sygnum Bank
Viseca
Zurich Insurance
Zurich University
Work highlights
- Advised SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA on its IT-outsourcing to Accenture.
Switzerland > Banking and finance: Zurich Tier 2
Walder Wyss Ltd.’s team is particularly strong in lending and structured finance transactions, and is active at the international level for a range of high-profile clients. Co-leading the team is regulatory and fintech expert Thomas Müller, Lukas Wyss, who specialises in domestic and cross-border finance transactions, and Theodor Härtsch, who focuses on leveraged finance, syndicated lending, and structured finance work. Other core team members include Luc Defferrard, Johannes Bürgi, and David Borer, who joined from Homburger in July 2022. Associate Roger Ammann has experience in asset based financings.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
UBS Switzerland AG
UBS AG
Credit Suisse (Switzerland) Ltd. and Credit Suisse AG
Zürcher Kantonalbank
Cembra Money Bank
Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft
Valiant Bank AG
Migros Bank AG
Equatex
Deutsche Private Equity
Naxicap
Ufenau Capital Partners
AMAG Leasing AG
Swisscard AECS AG
Work highlights
- Advised medmix Ltd. (a company listed on the SIX stock exchange and a spin-off of Sulzer) in connection with its inaugural multi-million syndicated credit financing.
- Advised PostFinance on its cooperation with Swissquote relating to the digital banking app Yuh.
- Advised UBS Switzerland AG and Credit Suisse (Switzerland) Ltd. as mandated lead arrangers on the €250m financing of Guess Europe.
Switzerland > Capital markets Tier 2
Walder Wyss Ltd. offers broad support on capital markets transactions, with areas of expertise including IPOs, high-yield and mezzanine financings, and straight bond and convertible bond issuances. Theodor Härtsch leads the team, and has a broad practice which includes IPOs, rights issuances, and regulatory matters. Lukas Wyss handles regulatory, securities, and corporate law matters, while Alex Nikitine contributes expertise in DCM and ECM offerings. Other key names include Urs Schenker, Markus Pfenninger and counsel Daniel Dedeyan. Hans-Jakob Diem joined from Lenz & Staehelin in September 2023.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Walder Wyss have a fantastic and highly capable team of dedicated experts. They go the extra mile for their clients and advise diligently on all relevant aspects. Partner and team are reachable 24/7 if urgent matters occur and help circumspect.’
‘Great negotiation skills. Agility and flexibility. Deep expertise in their respective expert fields. Understanding and creative.’
‘Urs Gnos, great lawyer in all aspects of corporate law. Daniel Dedeyan, a real expert in capital markets, also in relation to ongoing capital markets compliance.’
Key clients
UBS AG and Credit Suisse Ltd
Komax Holding AG
Sulzer Ltd and medmix Ltd
SF Urban Properties
SHL Telemedicine Ltd
Montana Aerospace AG and Montana Tech Components
EnBiotix, Inc.
Swiss Life Holding
Swiss Life AG
Constellium
AMAG Leasing
Swisscard AECS GmbH
Glarner Kantonalbank
Valiant Bank AG
Switzerland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
The ‘highly qualified and experienced’ Walder Wyss Ltd. team has expertise in both domestic and multi-jurisdictional private and public M&A transactions, supported by significant capital markets proficiency. Alex Nikitine, whose practice covers M&A transactions, public tender offers, IPOs and venture capital, co-leads the department with Stefan Knobloch, who has additional experience in public takeovers, debt financing, and corporate governance matters. Urs Gnos heads the transactions team, while Markus Vischer and Luc Defferrard focus on private equity and venture capital. Hans-Jakob Diem joined from Lenz & Staehelin in September 2023.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Hands-on approach, very service-oriented. Broad practice covering all relevant areas of law.’
‘Urs Gnos, super knowledgeable and responsive corporate and M&A professional. Markus Vischer, one of the senior M&A guys with lots of experience.’
‘The Walder Wyss M&A team was very efficient, had in a short time a perfect overview about the work to be done and was brilliant in all matters (meaning the personal contact with us, the customer, with the authorities, with the counterparty, in oral and written).’
‘All our contacts at Walder Wyss were outstanding! Friendly, comprehensive, engaged, giving their best even if time was short. In the matter of the case, they worked til midnight to keep the time schedule, patient and still persisting if documents were missing, and had an overall commitment which can be described by just a first class performance.’
‘Prof. Stefan Knobloch, very skilled and helpful, extremely responsible, good and fast grasp of economic effects of decisions; deep understanding of the M&A industry, good negotiator, even in very difficult settings.’
‘Urs Schenker: very agile, to the point and fast. Urs Gnos: very high level technical skills and absolutely reliable. Markus Vischer: extremely experienced & collaborative.’
‘We bet on people and like to work with them since they know us well and are highly experienced.’
‘Highly qualified and experienced M&A lawyers, high commitment, sector expertise, constant availability.’
Key clients
Nestlé SA
Warburg Pincus International
Sulzer AG
NovImmune
NVT AG
Helm AG
Boehringer Ingelheim
HOCHDORF
Viseca Holding AG
Apax
Ringier
Tamedia (TX Group)
Glarner Kantonalbank
Montana Tech Components
Bio Energy Group
DSM
Komax Holding AG
Work highlights
- Advised DSM in connection with a business combination agreement with Firmenich to establish the leading creation and innovation partner in nutrition.
- Advised TX Group on its Joint Venture with Ringier, La Mobilière and General Atlantic to create a leading digital marketplace group in Switzerland.
- Advised Komax in connection with the merger with Schleuniger, a subsidiary of the listed company Metall Zug. Deal value: Approx. CHF 300 million.
Switzerland > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 2
Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s ‘excellent on all accounts’ arbitration group fields a sizeable team of lawyers, with expertise in construction, plant and equipment engineering disputes, as well as disputes arising from distribution and joint venture agreements, and post-M&A issues. ‘Excellent and efficient’ commercial dispute specialist Dieter Hofmann leads the team, which includes the ‘exceptional’ Micha Bühler, who focuses on construction, distribution, and post-M&A disputes, and ‘outstanding’ commercial and investment arbitrator Michael Feit. The ‘impressive’ Diana Akikol and the ‘pragmatic’ Andrea Meier focus on cases arising from post-M&A disputes and large construction projects.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Highly knowledgeable arbitration team. Very nice and smooth cooperation.’
‘Partner Michael Feit is an outstanding Swiss arbitration practitioner who always keeps control of the proceedings with his calm and strategic thinking.’
‘The Walder Wyss team provides a service that clients love. They are highly strategic, hugely hard working and fine advocates. They are also very good colleagues, particularly during the toughest of cases.’
‘It would be a blasphemy from me to point out someone from the team, the whole team is exceptional, however I want to point out the captain of our team, Micha Bühler, who is exceptional with his workload and exceptional thinking in critical situations, always keeps his cool intact, never allows himself or his emotions to take over the common sense.’
‘Excellent on all accounts. A rare gathering of excellent arbitration specialists.’
‘Dieter Hofmann – excellent and efficient. He knows the file perfectly. Efficient advocacy skills.’
‘Marco Stacher – excellent specialist in arbitration law. Incredibly comfortable with figures, hence damage computation.’
‘Diana Akikol – excellent arbitrator, masters the arbitration law. Impressive.’
Key clients
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Actelion Ltd (part of the Johnson & Johnson group of companies)
Roche
Greiner AG
Ali Gohar & Company (Private) Limited
Sharma Fabrictors and Erectors Private Limited
AFRILAND First Group
Idorsia Ltd
Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 2
Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s team of ‘very strong and internationally experienced’ litigators works across the firm’s six Swiss offices, facilitating comprehensive support in all key economic and language areas of the country. The key areas of focus for the group are commercial litigation and the enforcement of foreign judgements and arbitral awards. Team lead Dieter Hofmann has particular strength in construction, joint venture, shareholder, and post-M&A disputes. Other core team members include Micha Bühler, who has additional expertise in distribution disputes, Rodolphe Gautier, whose practice covers white-collar crime mandates, and Andrea Meier. ‘Highly skilled attorney at law’ Maurice Courvoisier is particularly active in disputes relating to engineering and construction projects.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Walder Wyss dispute resolution team consists of various very strong and internationally experienced litigators and arbitrators. Each of them is very professional, highly-responsive, fun to work with and deeply dedicated to his/her profession, which is impressive.’
‘Maurice Courvoisier is a highly skilled attorney at law with a strong focus on client needs and with a deep understanding of the litigation and international arbitration procedures. He has an impressive feeling for the relevant questions to be discussed, always keeping the client’s focus and acting with a strongly dedicated winner-mentality.’
‘Litigation is not about innovation at the margins. It is much more the competence of a team that wins cases. And WW has won cases for me in federal court that have dragged on for years. With persistence, with attention to detail, with responsiveness, and with an outstanding team effort. Compared to other law firms, it was always the team that stood out.’
‘Dieter Hofmann – Stamina and aplomb describe him best. Always weighing things up in a realistic sense. Never exaggerating. And finally, the fighter in the court, who never loses his coolness.’
Key clients
Afriland
Nestlé
Credit Suisse
Ferring
Hitachi Zosen Inova AG
University Hospital Zurich
Hinduja Automotive Limited
Eurobank Ergasias (fka Proton Bank)
Ernst & Young
Roche
Bergos Bank (Swiss bank)
Ralph Lauren
Richemont
Kozachenko Vitality
Microsoft
Nespresso
Tarek Obaid – Petrosaudi
Switzerland > Leading firms: French-speaking Switzerland Tier 2
Walder Wyss Ltd.'s team provides a 'great all-around service', with Olivier Sigg heading the Geneva office and Jürg Schneider leading the Lausanne office. The 'highly skilled' team is particularly recognised within corporate, banking and finance, regulatory, litigation and arbitration, white-collar criminal law, real estate, private client, and tax matters. Notable names include Diana Akikol for arbitration, Adriano Antonietti for Swiss regulatory and compliance issues, and Fouad Sayegh for HNWI matters.Practice head(s):
Olivier Sigg; Jürg Schneider
Other key lawyers:
Fouad Sayegh; Hubertus Hillerström; Béatrice Viertl-Bujard; Adriano Antonietti; Rodolphe Gautier; Diana Akikol; Adriano Antonietti
Testimonials
‘Very highly-skilled and experienced team of lawyers dealing with tax, estate planning but also banking regulatory issues. Partners are very available and knowledgeable in their respective field of expertise but also down to earth and reliable.’
‘I work with Olivier Sigg on the estate planning side and Fouad Sayegh in the tax planning side. Both are exquisite persons that have a huge experience in dealing with private client matters and complex international structures (involving trusts) in a cross-border environment. They are both very available and go straight to the point.’
‘Key strengths: availability, quick deliveries, diligent execution, engaged with understanding of our business model and related needs. Key capabilities: deep understanding of complex debt structures and therefore strong ability to add value in structuring related transactions for us. Advantage to other firms: stable and experienced team which optimises time spent on individual transactions.’
‘Hubertus Hillerström: Very experienced and respectful; deep-dives into underlying deal before advising on structuring. Thinks outside of the box. Highly value adding. Good communication. Béatrice Viertl-Bujard: great responsiveness/communication; very experienced, well organized and highly diligent execution. Understands our business and is flexible to meet our changing needs.’
‘The firm provides a great all-around service. Advice was practical and commercial and delivered quickly.’
‘The team is really responsive, quick to answer and has a very extensive knowledge of the financial industry, law, and regulation which make them the perfect partners for us.’
‘Hubertus Hillerström and Adriano Antonietti are really diligent and knowledgeable. I always feel in confidence following their advice.’
‘Rodolphe Gautier: strategic thinker looking for out-of-the box solutions; 24/7 availability; goes the extra mile for his clients.’
Key clients
Nespresso
Hinduja
Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG
Bank Vontobel AG
Credit Suisse
Deutsche Bank
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
Edenred Capital Partners
ING Bank
Société Générale
Swisscom Ventures AG
Engie
Zürcher Kantonalbank
Airbus
Adent Cliniques Dentaires Groupe
Audacia Holding SA
Rakuten
Avaloq
Swiss Bankers Associations
Banque Syz SA
Migros
Emmi Schweiz AG
FIFA
Microsoft
KomGo SA
Switzerland > Leading firms: German-speaking Switzerland Tier 2
Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s Zurich office provides assistance in sectors including automotive, pharmaceutical, energy, and financial services, with advice ranging from public procurement issues, intellectual property matters, and financial restructurings. Florian Gunz Niedermann, Michael Isler, and Irène Suter-Sieber are key names.Other key lawyers:
Florian Gunz Niedermann; Michael Isler; Irène Suter-Sieber; Markus Frick; Urs Gnos; Alex Nikitine; Reto Vonzun; Hans Rudolf Trüeb; David Vasella; Reto Jacobs; Philippe Nordmann; Markus Pfenninger; Luc Defferrard
Switzerland > Banking and finance: Geneva Tier 3
Walder Wyss Ltd.‘s Geneva team advises securities businesses, domestic and foreign banks, and other financial institutions. The team is led by Patrick Vogel, whose areas of expertise include regulatory and financing matters; he has additional experience in the medical technology and fintech sectors. Other core team members include Hubertus Hillerström, who covers both national and international financings, and regulatory and compliance expert Adriano Antonietti. ‘Absolutely brilliant’ associate Valentine Schnyder is also noted.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Top-notch banking and finance team, and very friendly.’
‘Adriano Antonietti: very knowledgeable, pragmatic and innovative approach and client-focused. Valentine Schnyder: absolutely brilliant.’
‘Key strengths: availability, quick deliveries, diligent execution, engaged with understanding of our business model and related needs.’
‘Hubertus Hillerström: Very experienced and respectful; deep-dives into underlying deal before advising on structuring. Thinks outside of the box. Highly value adding. Good communication.’
‘The firm provides a great all-around service. Advice was practical and commercial and delivered quickly.’
‘Hubertus Hillerström has excellent commercial acumen and is a pragmatic negotiator. He is very responsive and coordinates the firm’s practice areas well to ensure advice is delivered seamlessly.’
‘The team is really responsive, quick to answer and has very extensive knowledge of the financial industry, law, and regulation which make it the perfect partners for us.’
‘Hubertus Hillerström and Adriano Antonietti are really diligent and knowledgeable. I always feel confident following their advice.’
Key clients
Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG
Bank Vontobel AG
Credit Suisse
Deutsche Bank
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
ING Bank
Société Générale
Swisscom Ventures AG
KomGo SA
Endeavour Vision SA
Work highlights
- Advised Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG on the acquisition of the private banking business of Bank of Montreal (BMO).
- Advised the management of Fransad Gestion SA, an independent asset manager with around CHF1.5bn of assets under management, on its management buyout from Julius Baer Group Ltd as seller.
- Advised Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG on the acquisition of the Swiss online bank zweiplus ag from Aabar Trading, a subsidiary of the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi.
Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3
Walder Wyss Ltd. provides market access strategy and legal support, including litigious matters and pricing and regulatory work. Its advice encompasses IP, litigation and other corporate matters. ‘Proven specialist’ Andreas Wildi leads pricing and regulatory work. Other notable lawyers include Michael Isler, Martin Zobl and Philippe Nordmann.Practice head(s):
Michael Isler
Other key lawyers:
Andreas Wildi; Martin Zobl; Philippe Nordmann
Testimonials
‘Very good in-depth know-how. Feedback in a short time. Consulting at fair price.’
‘Extremely broad spectrum of know-how in legal as well as health policy relevant subject areas. Absolutely proven specialist Dr. Andreas Wildi.’
Work highlights
- Won about a dozen cases mostly related to SL (specialities list), case price decrease challenge against the Federal Office of Public Health and triennial review of drugs inclusion requirement.
Switzerland > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 3
The ‘commercial and pragmatic’ team at Walder Wyss Ltd. is highly active in cross-border insolvencies and restructurings, and has particular aptitude in contentious insolvencies. Co-leading the team are restructuring/insolvency specialist Dominik Hohler, Dieter Hofmann, who focuses on dispute resolution, and Mark Reutter, who conducts insolvency related assessments, and has particular sector strength in the TMT sector.Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Hands-on approach, thinking is commercial and pragmatic.’
‘Dominik Hohler and the team are nice guys, very reliable and to the point with their advice.’
‘The Walder Wyss team is providing clear advice, is very responsive and has an international mindset. Due to the fact that they work on various international projects, they always understand the context and the requirement of a non-Swiss client.’
Key clients
ExWorks Capital LLC
DTEK Energy
Aryzta
Investment and Restructuring in Arthouse Cinemas (group of cinemas)
Meyer Burger Group
STA Travel
Paracelsus Hospital Richterswil
Thomas Cook
Nestlé Nespresso
Apollo International Management LLP / Funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management
Esprit Europe GmbH
gategroup Holding AG
Work highlights
- Advising ExWorks in the composition proceeding of iQ International AG [FRA: IQL].
- Acting as Swiss special counsel to bank lender ad hoc group and to Eurobond holders relating to Swiss legal matters in the restructuring of DTEK Energy.
- Advising Esprit (Esprit Europe GmbH) in relation to its financial restructuring.
Walder Wyss Ltd. > Firm Profile
The firm: Around 250 legal experts make Walder Wyss one of the most successful and fastest growing Swiss commercial law firms. The firm specialises in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance, intellectual property and competition law, dispute resolution and tax law. Its clients include national and international companies, publicly held corporations and family businesses as well as public law institutions and private clients.
Growth and a close relationship to its clients are the factors that determine the firm’s success. Walder Wyss was established in Zurich in 1972 and has since grown continuously. With offices in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Berne, Lausanne and Lugano, it provides its clients with seamless one-stop-shop, personalised and high-quality services in all language regions of Switzerland.
Its strong national and international network of correspondents and partners from a broad range of disciplines are selected according to the highest standards of professional competence.
Areas of practice
Banking, finance and insurance: Walder Wyss handles domestic and international banking, securitisations, infrastructure and project finance, domestic and cross-border leasing, and structured financial instruments, as well as over-the-counter and exchange-traded derivatives. Walder Wyss advises on all aspects of Swiss securities laws and regulations.
IT, telecommunications and multimedia: Walder Wyss focuses on the interlinked and converging areas of information technology, internet, multimedia, as well as media and telecommunications law. It advises on software protection, licensing issues, systems integration contracts, and data processing contracts.
Intellectual property: the firm has a wide range of experience in protecting intellectual property rights, as well as exploiting such rights by way of licensing, franchising and merchandising.
Corporate and commercial: Walder Wyss advises on and assists in the incorporation and organisation of business activities in Switzerland, including the establishment of corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, joint ventures and non-profit organisations.
M&A, restructuring, joint ventures, IPOs and private equity: Walder Wyss handles the structuring and implementation of corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, outsourcings, shareholder agreements, takeovers, demergers, capital restructurings, repurchases of shares, management buyouts, joint ventures, reorganisations, cross-border business arrangements and other direct investment transactions. Walder Wyss advises on seed, early stage and growth financing.
Litigation, arbitration and ADR: Walder Wyss is renowned for its international arbitration and litigation practice. This is reflected both by a high number of arbitration cases, both with respect to party representation and arbitrator appointments, and a well-established commercial court practice leading to an important number of pending cases before the Zurich Commercial Court and other relevant courts throughout Switzerland.
Tax: Walder Wyss’ tax specialists advise on private and public M&A, capital market transactions, IPOs, real estate, structured finance, tax-optimised financial products and investment funds.
Competition/antitrust: Walder Wyss is proficient in all aspects of the regulation of competition. The competition team regularly handles complex merger filings in Switzerland and co-ordinates them with filings in other jurisdictions. The team is routinely involved in questions of market dominance and the design of agreements that do not violate competition law.
Private clients: Walder Wyss advises high-net-worth individuals regarding domestic and international estate planning and provides tailor-made succession solutions. Its services include drafting of wills, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, particularly matrimonial property agreements, and inheritance contracts, as well as any related contractual arrangements, all of which are drawn up in close collaboration with Walder Wyss’ experienced notaries. The firm supports relocations and taking up residence in Switzerland and the planning and setting up of appropriate structures.
Lawyer Profiles
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 250 Number in this location : 163Languages
Croatian Dutch English Farsi French German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Italian Persian Polish Rhaeto-Romanic Russian Serbian Spanish SwedishOther
Contacts : F Gunz Niedermann (management board) Contacts : P Guillaume (management board) Contacts : M Isler (management board) Contacts : I Suter-Sieber (management board) Other offices : Basel Other offices : Berne Other offices : Geneva Other offices : Lausanne Other offices : LuganoLegal Briefings
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Changing legislation in Switzerland: The new Swiss Federal Data Protection Act and updates on cybersecurity
1) 2023: An important year for data protection and cybersecurity in Switzerland Swiss data protection law is primarily set out in the Federal Data Protection Act (FDPA) and the Data Protection Ordinance (FDPO). As Switzerland is a member neither of the EU nor the EEA, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does not apply …
Comparative Guides
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Switzerland: Capital Markets
Published: July 2023
Authors: Prof. Dr. Daniel Dedeyan, LL.M. (Yale), Attorney-at-lawNico Bernhard
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Capital Markets laws and regulations applicable in Switzerland.
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Switzerland: Environmental, Social and Governance
Published: April 2023
Authors: Prof. Dr. Daniel Dedeyan, LL.M. (Yale), Attorney-at-lawRegula Fellner, Attorney-at-law, Certified Specialist SBA Construction and Real Estate LawKatrin Hagger, Attorney-at-law, LL.M. (London)
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Environmental, Social and Governance laws and regulations applicable in Switzerland.
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Switzerland: Project Finance
Published: January 2024
Authors: David Borer Roger Ammann
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Project Finance laws and regulations applicable in Switzerland.
- Competition
- Data privacy and data protection
- Employment
- Intellectual property
- Leading firms: Italian-speaking Switzerland
- Private client
- Public law
- Real estate and construction
- Tax
- TMT