Wenger Plattner > Zurich, Switzerland > Firm Profile

Wenger Plattner > The Legal 500 Rankings

Switzerland > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1

Wenger Plattner is experienced with handling insolvency and restructuring cases from both sides, namely acting as administrator or bankruptcy trustee in complex cross-border cases and advising debtors or creditors in other cases, within various industry sectors such as pharma, real estate and construction, energy, banking and finance, and technology. Practice head Brigitte Umbach-Spahn advises clients in domestic and cross-border restructuring and insolvency cases and represents them in related proceedings. Fritz Rothenbühler  handles insolvency and restructuring matters within the corporate, competition law, construction and real estate sectors. Karl Wüthrich advises creditors on national and international enforcement law and assisted debtors in formulating and implementing reorganisation and restructuring plans. Litigation specialist Stephan Kesselbach represents national and international clients before the administrative authorities, focusing mainly on corporate and insolvency law matters. Pablo Duc handles major bankruptcies and composition proceedings whilst Stefan Bossart primarily advises foreign clients on insolvency matters. Roland Burkhalter, who rejoined the team in 2022 from St Galler Kantonalbank, handles complex restructuring and insolvency assignments as well as extensive investigations and audits for the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). Denise Jagmetti-Huser and Mathias Burghardt support the team.

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Zurich Tier 3

Wenger Plattner advises banks, asset managers, and securities dealers on regulatory issues and acts on their behalf in dealings with Swiss regulatory bodies and self-regulatory organisations, such as FINMA and SIX Swiss Exchange. The team also assists clients with the setting up of investment funds, drafting agreements, licenses and permits, and financing transactions. Practice head Filippo Th. Beck regularly advises entrepreneurs, companies and individuals on contract law, asset structuring, and compliance as well as acting as an investigating agent for banks and financial institutions. Oliver Künzler has expertise in private equity and venture capital transactions and financings.

Switzerland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

Oliver Künzler leads Wenger Plattner‘s corporate and commercial department, which is capable of implementing M&A transactions under the Swiss Merger Act, as well as possessing considerable knowledge of Swiss-related asset and M&A transactions. Marc S Nater principally advises clients on public and private M&A, private equity and commercial law, while Benjamin Dürig bolsters the practice with his thorough knowledge of M&A and corporate finance transactions.

Switzerland > Employment Tier 3

The employment team at Wenger Plattner has a special focus on dispute resolution for high-profile companies and individuals, including entrepreneurs and senior management staff. The team is particularly strong in bonus disputes, employment termination litigation, and litigation relating to non-competition clauses including interim relied proceedings and arbitration. The practice is headed by Roland Bachmann, who has extensive experience litigating on separation agreements and complex bonus plans and advising clients on all issues relating to employment law. The team is supported by IP expert Damian Schai and commercial dispute specialist Yannick Hostettler.

Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

The team at Wenger Plattner acts for its varied client roster of hospitals, insurance companies, and healthcare organisations. In Basel, practice head Tobias Meili is noted for his broad knowledge of M&A, corporate governance issues, and banking and finance matters, and Carlo Conti regularly assists clients with mandates involving healthcare, governmental, and administrative law. Zurich’s Oliver Künzler handles a range of cross-border M&A, and restructurings.

Switzerland > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Wenger Plattner’s full-service practice is active in the whole life cycle of real estate property, from development and permit disputes to the sale or lease of the property. Placidus Plattner heads the team and has extensive expertise in representing investors and developers as well as entrepreneurs, landlords, and tenants in both public and private proceedings. Beat Stalder’s focus is on advising clients on planning, construction, and business administration matters. Other key team members include Gaudenz Schwitter, Thomas Wetzel, and Fritz Rothenbühler.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4

Counting corporations, public law entities and private clients in its varied client roster, ‘excellent’ Wenger Plattner fields a wide-ranging litigation practice, advising on liability, banking and inheritance law disputes to name a few. The team operates across its Zurich and Basel offices, the latter of which being notable experienced in pharma industry mandates. Zurich-based team leader Stephan Kesselbach principally focuses on corporate, contract and insolvency law litigation. Other key names to note include Zurich-based Roland Bachmann, as well as Dieter Gränicher and Yannick Hostettler, who operate in the firm’s Basel office.

Switzerland > Private client Tier 4

In addition to offering comprehensive tax advice, Wenger Plattner also has extensive experience drafting deeds of inheritance, wills, and estate distributions. Filippo Th. Beck is at the forefront of the private client practice, and focusses on law relating to banking and financial markets. Praised as ‘a very knowledgeable and experienced professional’, Roland Bachmann is recommended for matters relating to employment law and work permits.

Switzerland > Tax Tier 4

Areas of tax law covered by Wenger Plattner‘s expanding team include M&A tax, corporate tax, international tax, lump sum taxation, and VAT, with the group experienced in acting on behalf of both individuals and businesses. Team lead Markus Mühlemann covers a broad range of matters, including those involving complex and international elements. The team is supported by Oliver Künzler, who has expertise in financing tax, and Christian Martin Gutekunst, who advises clients on national and international tax including VAT.

Switzerland > Intellectual property