FBT Attorneys-at-Law > Geneva, Switzerland > Firm Profile

FBT Attorneys-at-Law
RUE DU 31-DÉCEMBRE 47
CASE POSTALE 6120
1211 GENEVA 6
Switzerland

Email firm Visit website 41 22 849 6040

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Geneva Tier 2

FBT Attorneys-at-Law advises Swiss and foreign banks, securities dealers, insurance companies, investment fund and fund management companies, collective asset managers, asset managers and family offices on banking and finance regulations, including securities dealers, market infrastructure and derivatives, collective investment schemes, and financial services. The firm has a special focus on Swiss-French cross-border issues and often collaborates with its Paris office. Team head Frédérique Bensahel has expertise in banking and financial regulation, investment funds, cross-border activities, securities offering, collective investment schemes (both regulatory and contractual aspects), private equity and asset management, and complex financial disputes. Marco Villa advises large domestic and international banks and financial companies on banking contract law and financial regulations while Jean-Marie Kiener has expertise in derivatives and market infrastructure.

Leading individuals

Frédérique Bensahel –FBT Attorneys-at-Law

Next Generation Partners

Jean-Marie Kiener – FBT Attorneys-at-Law

Practice head(s):

Frédérique Bensahel

Other key lawyers:

Marco Villa; Jean-Marie Kiener; Jean-Louis Tsimaratos; Veronique Chatelain; Serge Fasel; Olivia de Weck; Aurelie Moyal-Azra

Testimonials

‘ The team provides concise and speedy answers.’

‘Frédérique Bensahel, Serge Fasel, and Olivia de Weck are straightforward and have very good knowledge in their areas.’

‘The FBT team is great. They have very deep knowledge of banking civil law. It is always a pleasure to work with them.’

‘Olivia De Weck is an excellent lawyer and provides very good legal advice. She has always a very clear view on strategies to be taken.’

‘The team takes care of all issues related to investment funds; the team is led by Frédérique Bensahel who has 30 years of experience and who is assisted by well-chosen associates.’

‘I have known and worked with Jean-Louis Tsimaratos and Frédérique Bensahel for 30 years now. Both are bright, available, and reactive. Both are specialised in asset management and perfectly understand the fund industry and its cross-border aspects.’

‘FBT has well-integrated contentious and transactional teams, which collaborate effectively. They are well-versed in cross-border disputes and work seamlessly with law firms in other jurisdictions.’

‘Frédérique Bensahel is a leader in her field with unrivalled connections across the market. She is pragmatic and commercial. Jean-Marie Kiener is great to work with, collegiate, intelligent, and articulate. Aurelie Moyal-Azra has huge technical expertise.’

Work highlights

Advised the client/borrower on a CHF 1.5 billion revolving syndicated credit facility.
Advising a client on the purchase of the share capital of a Swiss bank.

Switzerland > Private client Tier 3

In addition to advising high-net worth individuals and families, FBT Attorneys-at-Law caters to a broad range of clients, including trustees, banking institutions, asset managers, and charitable foundations. The team has experience advising on inheritance disputes, private banking, and international successions, among other matters. Jean-Luc Bochatay is a tax expert who frequently handles cross-border matters. Located in Paris, Pascale Cano focusses on estate planning and other family-related mandates.

Practice head(s):

Jean-Luc Bochatay; Pascal Cano

Other key lawyers:

Frederique Bensahel; Michel Abt

Testimonials

‘The FBT are reliable and competent. They react quickly and efficiently to all our questions and requests.’

‘Jean-Luc Bochatay and his colleagues give very good advice in timely and professional manner.’

Work highlights

Advised on a complex and high-stake cross-border tax and estate planning matter.
Advised on the transmission of assets to the heirs of several marriages domiciled in different countries.
Advised a founder and principal shareholder on the sale of a company active in the new digital economy.

Switzerland > Tax Tier 4

FBT Attorneys-at-Law advises on the establishment and restructuring of companies, and related tax planning and tax optimisation matters. Team co-head Michel Abt advises banks, private banks, and private clients on all kinds of tax-related issues, including cross-border matters. Jean-Luc Bochatay, who also co-heads the team, specialises in all aspects of tax proceedings, whether it be assisting and representing banks and their clients before the tax authorities, in international administrative assistance in tax matters or criminal tax procedures.

Practice head(s):

Michel Abt; Jean-Luc Bochatay

Testimonials

‘In terms of knowledge and efficacy, they are the best law firm.’

‘Michel Abt has a great know-how and is very appreciated by the clients’.

‘They have seriousness, competence, responsiveness.’

Work highlights

Advised a private client on a mixed ownership from a civil, property and tax perspective.
Advised heirs on a multi-jurisdictional succession involving assets held in a trust.
Advised a private client on the transmission of assets to the heirs domiciled in several European countries.

The firm: FBT Attorneys-at-Law (FBT) is a multidisciplinary law firm, based in Geneva and Paris, which operates in the financial and commercial sectors as well as in niche activities, with a predominantly cross-border dimension. FBT was founded in 1993 in Geneva by Serge Fasel, Jean-Luc Bochatay and Jean-Louis Tsimaratos. Nowadays, FBT counts ten partners out of a total of 33 lawyers. From a generalist Swiss law firm, FBT opted back in the 90s to specialise in four, now six, specific legal domains.

FBT also decided from the very beginning to provide its clients with specialised advice on cross-border transactions with France. From this perspective, it chose to work closely with another law firm in Paris. A few years later, FBT decided to open its own offices in France with the French lawyers that had accompanied the Swiss firm successfully from the beginning of its special focus on Swiss-French cross-border issues. Besides this special focus on Swiss-French cross-border issues, FBT has developped a network of lawyers around the world, enabling it to mobilize and coordinate specialized teams in many countries.

Areas of practice: FBT is organised in six specialised and complementary legal teams which advises its Swiss and foreign clients on domestic and cross-border issues in the following areas:

Banking and finance:

Banking and financial regulations, including authorizations and FINMA enforcement procedures
Collective investment schemes and other similar structures
Private insurance
Asset management
Financing
Financial litigation

Tax:

Individual taxation, including top executives taxation
Corporate taxation
Taxation related to financial activities
Real estate taxation
Tax procedures and litigation, including international assistance in tax matters

Corporate and commercial:

Corporate affairs
Entrepreneurs’ legal framework
Shareholders’ legal framework
Contractual law
Corporate asset protection
Assistance to companies in critical financial situations

Litigation and arbitration:

Commercial litigation
Banking and financial litigation
Arbitration
Forced execution
Economic crime
Mutual assistance in criminal and administrative matters

Labour and social insurance:

Individual and collective litigation
Collective labour agreement
transfers and relocation
Work permits

Family estate:

Wealth structuring and estate planning
Unions (marriage and partnerships)
Philanthropic activities
Succession
Residence transfer (expatriation and impatriation)

Each group is led by a partner highly experienced in the group’s field of activity. A constant exchange among the practice groups allows the sharing of up-to-date information in each field of specialisation. Depending on the case, FBT sets up a ‘multidisciplinary legal team’ capable of devising a pragmatic overall approach to the various aspects of the case, responding rapidly while maintaining a high degree of legal safety and ensuring optimal cost control.

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Banking and finance	Frédérique Bensahel	fbensahel@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Tax	Michel Abt	mabt@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Tax	Jean-Luc Bochatay	jlbochatay@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Corporate and commercial	Marco Villa	mvilla@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Litigation	Serge Fasel	sfasel@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Private clients	Frédérique Bensahel	fbensahel@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Private clients	Jean-Luc Bochatay	jlbochatay@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Labour & Social Insurance	Serge Fasel	sfasel@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Family Estate	Jean-Luc Bochatay	jlbochatay@fbt.ch	+41 22 849 60 40
Tax (Paris office)	Alain Moreau	amoreau@fbt-avocats.fr	+33 1 45 61 18 00
Family Estate (Paris office)	Pascale Cano	pcano@fbt-avocats.fr	+33 1 45 61 18 00

Name	Position	Profile
Me Michel Abt	Michel Abt is the co-head of FBT’s Tax Group and a member…	View Profile
Frederique Bensahel	Frédérique Bensahel is considered as a leading lawyer in the banking and financial…	View Profile
Me Jean-Luc Bochatay	EXPERTISE Jean-Luc Bochatay is a co-founder and Chairman of FBT Avocats SA.…	View Profile
Veronique Chatelain Gomez	Associate and member of the Banking and Finance Group. Véronique Chatelain Gomez…	View Profile
Me Jean De Skowronski	Jean de Skowronski is an Attorney-at-Law and holds an MBA from INSEAD. He…	View Profile
Me Serge Fasel	Founding partner and head of the Litigation and Arbitration Group. Serge Fasel…	View Profile
Jean-Marie Kiener	Jean-Marie Kiener is a Counsel and a member of FBT’s Banking and Finance…	View Profile
Me Julien Le Fort	Julien Le Fort is a Lawyer with FBT and a member of both…	View Profile
Me Aurélie Moyal-Azra	Aurélie Moyal-Azra is a lawyer and member of FBT’s Banking & Finance group. …	View Profile
Me Noemie Pauli	Noémie Pauli is a lawyer and member of FBT’s Banking & Finance group. …	View Profile
Me Sara Pugliese-Charfadi	Sara Pugliese-Charfadi is a Lawyer with FBT and a member of its…	View Profile
Me Sara Pugliese-Charfadi	Sara Pugliese-Charfadi is a Lawyer with FBT and a member of its…	View Profile
Me Jean-Louis Tsimaratos	Partner and member of the Banking and Finance Group. Jean-Louis Tsimaratos advises…	View Profile
Dr Marco Villa	Partner – Marco Villa is a leading contract and commercial law expert.…	View Profile
Me Joanna Ybarra	Joanna Ybarra is a Lawyer with FBT and a member of both…	View Profile
Me Olivia de Weck	As a Partner in FBT’s Litigation and Arbitration group, Olivia de Weck advises and…	View Profile