BianchiSchwald LLC > Geneva, Switzerland > Firm Profile
BianchiSchwald LLC Offices
5 RUE JACQUES BALMAT
PO Box 1203
1211 GENEVA 1
Switzerland
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BianchiSchwald LLC > The Legal 500 Rankings
Switzerland > Employment Tier 2
BianchiSchwald LLC assists companies, educational institutions, governments, health care institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and senior executives with a wide range of employment matters such as drafting of employment contracts and internal regulations, social security, business transfers, and litigation. Practice head Stephanie Fuld has extensive expertise handling complex participation plans, secondments, hiring of services, transfers, and mass dismissals. Elodie Le Guen has experience litigating cases concerning unfair or immediate dismissals, gender discrimination, post-contractual competition, and related criminal aspects.Practice head(s):
Stéphanie Fuld
Other key lawyers:
Elodie Le Guen; Alexandra Uffer
Testimonials
‘BianchiSchwald LLC consists of extremely knowledgeable legal professionals that combine deep knowledge, experience and understanding of the Swiss law, whilst also being personal, professional and authentic in nature.’
Key clients
Julia Lundstrom
Tupperware
Geneva Call
TPG / Transports publics genevois
Le petit-fils de L.U. Chopard & Cie SA
VF International SAGL
Helvetic Payroll
ACE international SA
Dentsply Maillefer
Théâtre de l’Usine
Caroline Lacoste
Sonepar SA
Almond
Work highlights
- Assisted Caroline Lacoste in the framework of very aggressive provisional measures which were wrongfully filed against her and which after a long negotiation were withdrawn, and a fair settlement was found.
- Assisted Julia Lundstrom in the framework of her claim against the employer for sexual harassment, and gender discrimination.
- Assisted Geneva Call in the framework of several demanding court cases several employees raising various claims for abusive termination and unfair treatment amongst others.
Switzerland > Intellectual property Tier 2
‘A fantastic IP department with full client focus’, BianchiSchwald LLC frequently handles matters pertaining to the enforcement of trade marks, copyright and domain name issues, among others, with an established presence across a diverse array of industries, including mechanical, pharma and telecoms, as well as social media and advertising fields. ‘Outstanding’ and ‘extremely professional’ Christoph Gasser helms the practice with his notable knowledge of trade mark prosecution arising from medical devices, railway and fashion sectors, to name a few. Thierry Burnens is another key contact in the practice, contributing his considerable expertise in digital economy related matters.Practice head(s):
Christoph Gasser
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘A fantastic IP department with full client focus. Always performing extremely well, delivering the right recommendations in the right time to the right price.’
‘Christoph Gasser is probably one of the best and most experienced IP lawyers in Switzerland, always on top of things giving you the best recommendation swiftly!’
‘The customer orientation of Christoph Gasser is outstanding, a commitment without ifs and buts with simultaneous empowerment to apply what has been learned in practice.’
‘In addition to Christoph Gasser’s undeniable competence in matters of content and his great experience in assessing possible responses, there were his communication skills. I felt that my questions and concerns were taken seriously. There was a genuine interest in our work. The law firm BianchiSchwald LCC and Christoph Gasser have done an extraordinary job and made a substantial contribution to our success.’
‘Highly professional, highly skilled and responsive.’
‘Christoph Gasser is extremely professional, extremely skilled and highly responsive.’
‘Prompt, competent, professional; they also understand the business needs.’
‘Christoph Gasser is exceptionally good in handling complex legal matters involving various jurisdictions. Highly competent as a lawyer, Christoph understands the needs of the business very well and manages to deliver a service that is perfectly tailored to the specific business needs. He is very prompt in addressing client matters.’
Key clients
Hamilton Medical
Lidl
AVIA INTERNATIONAL
Maestrani Swiss Chocolates
Jungfraubahnen
KTM
Swiss Golf
Bumble Holding Limited
Canada Goose
Micro Mobility Systems
Chilli Pro Scooter
Microlino
Viacom18
Thommen-Furler
Envision Pharma
Liberty Global Europe
Racing Unleashed
Association “Hommage 2021”
Medtronic / Covidien
LKQ Europe
Stadler Rail
Standortförderung Zürioberland
Aweso
Unifil
Promat / Etex Building Performance
Crypto Valley
VAMED
Philipp Morris International
Swiss Deluxe Hotels
SVIT
Saline Park
PIERER E-Bikes
Freshbox Switzerland
Work highlights
- Advised Viacom18 in the media rights agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to broadcast the Olympic Games Paris 2024, plus non-exclusive rights to the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024.
- Advised KTM AG in worldwide design registration projects.
- Supported the Association “Hommage 2021” by writing expert opinions on copyright issues in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Switzerland > Real estate and construction Tier 2
BianchiSchwald LLC acts on a wide range of real estate matters including the management of assets, urban and mobility planning, and the preservation of historical monuments. The Geneva team is headed by Yves de Coulon, who has extensive expertise in the hotel industry and regularly advises and represents institutional and private clients on civil and administrative issues. Marc Metzger, who heads the Zurich team, has expertise as counsel to private real estate investors and construction companies.Practice head(s):
Yves de Coulon; Marc Metzger
Other key lawyers:
Andreas Suter; Romain Schadegg; Stipe Jozic
Testimonials
‘Corporate and professional.’
‘Fast response.’
Key clients
Casacuberta Inmuebles
Hôtel Beau-Rivage SA Genève
HRS Real Estate AG
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES – MSF
VAMED Management und Services Schweiz AG
ZSC Lions AG
ZSC Lions Arena Immobilien AG
Rehaklinik Seewis AG
Rehaklinik Tschugg AG
Work highlights
- Assisting Casacuberta Inmuebles with all its real estate and hospitality projects of acquisition, construction and development as well as with the management of the company and the hotels for the last 15 years.
- Advising ZSC Lions Arena Immobilien AG on all legal aspects related to this project, incl. regarding the tender for the general contractor and the negotiations of the general contractor agreement, the negotiations of an energy contracting agreement, the tender of a catering partner as well as the negotiations of the catering agreement and the respecting lease agreements, and any and all aspects regarding project execution and management as well as construction disputes.
- Advised Rehaklinik Tschugg AG on the real estate due diligence and the negotiation of a long-term lease agreement for the clinic facilities.
Switzerland > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3
Operating for clients across both contentious and non-contentious matters, BianchiSchwald LLC is recommended by clients for its ‘rigorous focus’ and ‘business-oriented perspective’. Christoph Gasser helms the practice, contributing his substantial IP and IT expertise. ‘Exceptionally responsive’ and ‘standout expert’ Thierry Burnens principally focuses on matters arising from the digital economy, as well as cybersecurity, e-commerce and trade mark work.Practice head(s):
Christoph Gasser
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Thierry Burnens works very efficiently and is exceptionally responsive. I appreciated working with such a clever person!’
‘Its expertise in Swiss data protection law is exceptional. They accommodate to client needs and approach Swiss law in comparison with the GDPR, which facilitates the client’s understanding of the laws that are applicable in Switzerland. They also tackle problems from a business-oriented perspective.’
‘In particular, what makes Thierry Burnens stand out is its great expertise in data protection law. His in-depth knowledge not only of Swiss law, but of the GDPR makes it easy and recomforting for clients to follow. Thierry provides solutions that are tailored to client needs, and that are business-oriented, making its advice aligned with client needs and objectives.’
‘Thierry Burnens pays great attention to detail. He is meticulous and his advice leaves no space for legal compliance gaps. This makes Thierry an outstanding lawyer and a go-to expert in Swiss privacy law matters.’
‘BianchiSchwald LLC have a rigorous focus on privacy and data protection, providing top-tier, reliable advice in an efficient and timely manner.’
‘Thierry Burnens is a remarkable lawyer who has carved a niche for himself in the realm of data privacy and data protection. He has an extensive knowledge of the digital economy, which allows him to fully comprehend and provide tailored solutions to the complex issues presented to him.’
‘What sets Thierry apart is his multidisciplinary expertise. His understanding of law is not confined to a single domain; he has a holistic view of the law. This broad knowledge base allows him to provide comprehensive and actionable advice.’
‘The team at Bianchischwald is knowledgeable, pragmatic and responsive.’
Key clients
AVIA Vereinigung (Switzerland)
WebStages GmbH
ZSC Lions Eishockey AG
Flux Mobility AG
Work highlights
- Represented Mr. Gueorgui Vassilev in several appeals both to the Swiss Federal Administrative Court and the Swiss Federal Supreme Cour regarding a data subject access request. In June 2023, the Fedpol had to release the requested documents, allowing our client to file a claim against the State of Bulgaria.
- Support a leading Swiss professional ice hockey team located in Zürich, playing in the National League (Switzerland’s top league) in all data protection matters, including the implementation of the revised Swiss Data Protection Act.
- Assisting Flux Mobility AG, a pioneering Swiss start-up which develops attractive, safe and environmentally friendly electric commercial vehicles, with their data protection compliance.
Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3
BianchiSchwald LLC houses a broad practice with deep knowledge of public procurement in relation to the construction of clinics, and the financing of medical care. Dividing his time between Zurich and Bern, Marc Metzger leads the team and is noted for his broad expertise in contractual, distribution, and public procurement law. Zurich’s Stefan Scherrer regularly assists with company succession and corporate governance issues. Thomas Goosens departed the practice in September 2022.Practice head(s):
Marc Metzger
Other key lawyers:
Stefan Scherrer; Andreas Suter; Stipe Jozic
Key clients
VAMED Management und Service Schweiz AG
VAMED Standortentwicklung und Engineering GmbH & CO KG
Rehaklinik Seewis AG
Rehaklinik Dussnang AG
WS Audiology Switzerland AG
Rehaklinik Tschugg AG
Rehaklinik Zihlschlacht AG
Work highlights
- Advised VAMED Management und Service Schweiz AG on its takeover of operations of Rehaklinik Tschugg AG, a rehabilitation clinic in the Canton of Berne. The closing of the transaction occurred in May 2023.
- Advising WS Audiology Switzerland AG (former Widex and Sivantos) in the post-merger integration proceedings.
- Advising Rehaklinik Seewis AG on its leasing of the entire Hotel Scesaplana from October 2021 (transformed and now used as part of VAMED’s rehabilitation clinic in Seewis specialized in cardiology). With this step, Rehaklinik Seewis AG is able to offer 80 single rooms for cardiological, psychiatric-psychosomatic and internal oncological rehabilitation.
Switzerland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4
BianchiSchwald LLC possesses in-depth expertise in private M&A, joint ventures, public procurement projects and in advising entrepreneurs on company successions. Spearheading the practice is Thomas Schmid, who is regularly engaged by clients to advise on merger control, restructurings and joint ventures. Marc Metzger's diverse experience encompasses commercial and corporate law, as well as public procurement law. Stefan Scherrer is sought after by strategic buyers and private equity investors for assistance with private M&A transactions.Practice head(s):
Thomas Schmid
Other key lawyers:
Marc Metzger; Stefan Scherrer; Hans-Peter Schwald; Hélène Weidmann
Testimonials
‘Impressive and tailor-made legal advice under Swiss law. Ability to cater extraordinarily well to international clients. Sound commercial mindset. Great client service.’
‘Thomas Schmid is very experienced in the cross-border M&A market. He provides great business-oriented advice.’
‘Thanks to its knowledge and expertise in the field of commercial and corporate law, BianchiSchwald LLC was able to develop creative and efficient solutions in order to protect our interests at all times.’
‘BianchiSchwald LLC works efficiently and is always very client oriented. The legal skills of the team and staff are outstanding and the solutions presented have always satisfied all our requirements.’
‘Thomas Schmid is distinguished by his deal-making abilities and exceptional ability to swiftly grasp the core of the matter in question. He is also able to point out possible risks and dangers and thus contribute to realistic and feasible solutions in order to protect our interests in the best and most efficient way possible.’
‘Excellent and very agile and solution-oriented lawyers.’
‘No nonsense. We never have the feeling that they aim at billing hours.’
‘Their comments were pragmatic and to the point.’
Key clients
Stadler Rail AG
Athyrium Capital Management, LP
Helvetica Capital AG
Gustoso Group
VASS
Thommen-Furler AG
routeRank AG
Studer Cables AG
PCS Holding AG
Work highlights
- Advised Stadler Rail AG throughout the public procurement tender process relating to the purchase of new multiple unit trains by Swiss national railway company Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB for regional passenger transport.
- Acted as lead counsel to Studer Cables AG in connection with the carve-out and subsequent sale of an e-beam sterilisation and cross-linking facility to Ionisos.
- Advised PCS Holding AG in connection with the acquisition of an additional stake in listed company Swiss Steel from its main shareholder, BigPoint Holding AG.
Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4
‘Efficient and knowledgeable’ BianchiSchwald LLC is particularly active in the civil dispute resolution field, also demonstrating experience within the white-collar defence realm. Jean-Marc Carnicé, who strengthens the team with his proficiency in handling white-collar crime issues, and Cyrill Süess, who possesses a wealth of experience in civil and commercial matters, co-lead the group. ‘Excellent’ white-collar crime expert Philippe Vladimir Boss is another name to note.Practice head(s):
Jean-Marc Carnicé; Cyrill Süess
Other key lawyers:
Christoph Gasser; Philippe Vladimir Boss; Dominique Ritter
Testimonials
‘Efficient and knowledgeable team.’
‘Philippe Boss is an excellent practitioner.’
‘It is highly skilled in the following areas – cross border jurisdiction, complex fraud (both civil and criminal) and has good relationships with prosecutors. The team is able to manage complex cases.’
‘Philippe Boss is a pleasure to deal with – always responsive, has an exceptional knowledge of criminal and civil procedure in Switzerland and a good understanding of English law issues.’
‘They are very experienced in court and and true litigators with a high degree of specialisation and able to anticipate any possible counter arguments in advance.’
‘This firm always finds pragmatic solutions.’
‘Enquiries are answered very quickly and very competently. ’
‘Very solution-oriented way of working. Furthermore, the employees convince with very short response times and excellent accessibility. Friendly and competent advice.’
Key clients
Thommen-Furler AG
Swiss Confederation; Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
UnitedPrint.com SE
Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG, Neckarsulm, Germany
Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen AG
WorkMotion Software GmbH
Work highlights
Switzerland > Sports law Tier 4
BianchiSchwald LLC advises local, national, and international sports governing bodies, athletes and officials in specific governance matters, board and congress operations, disputes, election processes, disciplinary and ethics proceedings, anti-doping and competition management. The team is headed by Philippe Vladimir Boss, who has a special focus on integrity issues such as match-fixing and anti-doping, and Despina Mavromati, who has among other work sits as an arbitrator at CAS.Practice head(s):
Philippe Vladimir Boss; Despina Mavromati
Testimonials
‘Exceptional commitment to us as a client and a strong focus on finding constructive solutions. Good understanding of complex situations.’
‘The experienced Philippe Vladimir Boss is available, always very calm and reassuring. He is very competent, responsive and has a very caring and empathetic nature.’
‘Access to their pro-bono service is crucial to the success of our organisation aa a client.’
‘I’ve enjoyed the experience of engaging with the Partner, Philippe Vladimir Boss. His ability to simplify complex discussions is helpful whilst ensuring detail is not forgotten. I feel valued as a pro-bono client.’
‘The team has a very strong sports arbitration practice. Being based in Lausanne give additional insight into the sports industry and sports arbitration matters.’
‘Despina Mavromati is a truly market leading lawyer and her knowledge of sports law jurisprudence is exceptionally high.’
Key clients
International Weightlifting Federation
International Wheelchair Rugby Federation
Switzerland > Tax Tier 4
Boutique firm BianchiSchwald LLC advises high-profile clients, including funds and venture capital groups, on all matters related to direct and indirect taxes, customs duties and other levies. Joseph Merhai, who covers criminal tax, international tax planning, and corporate tax, heads the team. Gianni Fera advises companies and individuals in national and international tax, and regularly assists clients in negotiations with tax authorities. Thomas Pasquier and Laurent Schenker advise both individuals and corporations in the fields of Swiss and international tax law.Practice head(s):
Joseph Merhai
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Medicxi Ventures
Highland Europe
Index Ventures
Casino Group – International Retail and Trade Services (IRTS) Sàrl
Top Fund
Work highlights
Switzerland > TMT Tier 4
BianchiSchwald LLC‘s team covers a broad range of TMT services including advising clients on the legal implications of AI, cloud computing, electrification of vehicles, and the Internet of Things, e-commerce, and IT contracts. The team is headed by Christoph Gasser whose long-standing practice includes advice and litigation in all areas of intellectual property and information technology law as well as trade mark and design prosecution. Thierry Burnens has broad knowledge on issues relating to licensing, e-commerce, and social media.Practice head(s):
Christoph Gasser
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
AVIA Vereinigung
WebStages GmbH
ZSC Lions Eishockey AG
Flux Mobility AG
Work highlights
- Supporting a Swiss professional ice hockey team located in Zürich, playing in the National League in all data protection matters, including the implementation of the revised Swiss Data Protection Act.
- Advising a Swiss start-up on their data protection compliance.
BianchiSchwald LLC > Firm Profile
The firm: BianchiSchwald was founded on 1 January 2017. This new national law firm combines the skills of the Zurich and Bern teams of well-established law firm Staiger, Schwald & Partner with the expertise of the renowned law firm BCCC Attorneys-at-Law in Western Switzerland, in corporate/M&A, intellectual property and litigation.
BianchiSchwald is a leading Swiss full-service business law firm providing comprehensive legal and tax advice and delivering tailor-made legal solution to its clients. With 13 partners and around 40 lawyers and legal professionals in total, BianchiSchwald is well equipped to resolve major and complex assignments, drawing on its combined wealth of experience, passion and personal commitment.
With offices in Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne and Bern BianchiSchwald is providing national coverage. Together with a powerful international network the firm is able to bring together at short notice expert teams focused on and tailored to the needs of the client to deal with local and cross-border transactions/cases.
Top-quality legal advice requires top-performing employees. The firm relies on its outstanding networks in both the business and the academic communities to recruit the best lawyers on an ongoing basis.
Areas of practice: BianchiSchwald is one of the leading Swiss business law firms with offices in Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne and Bern. The firm’s team of highly qualified lawyers acts for top-ranking national and international clients from all business sectors, ranging from individuals to small and medium-size businesses as well as global companies.
BianchiSchwald is a full-service law firm, covering all areas of civil and commercial law. In addition, the firm provides dispute resolution and litigation services before judicial tribunals, criminal and administrative courts and within the arbitration and mediation settings. The firm has gained a solid reputation, with expertise in a broad range of business-based practice areas. Ultimately, the firm’s success is based upon its absolute commitment to clients, having a deep knowledge of clients’ industry needs and through adopting a pragmatic mind-set.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Banking, finance and capital markets | Thierry Amy | thierry.amy@bianchischwald.ch | |
Banking, finance and capital markets | Hélène Weidmann | helene.weidmann@bianchischwald.ch | |
Corporate/M&A | Thomas Schmid | thomas.schmid@bianchischwald.ch | |
Corporate/M&A | Hélène Weidmann | helene.weidmann@bianchischwald.ch | |
Commercial and Contracts | Marc Metzger | marc.metzger@bianchischwald.ch | |
Commercial and Contracts | Hélène Weidmann | helene.weidmann@bianchischwald.ch | |
Competition law | Christoph Gasser | christoph.gasser@bianchischwald.ch | |
Energy and environment | Thierry Amy | thierry.amy@bianchischwald.ch | |
Insolvency, corporate recovery and corporate restructuring | Thierry Amy | thierry.amy@bianchischwald.ch | |
Insolvency, corporate recovery and corporate restructuring | Thomas Schmid | thomas.schmid@bianchischwald.ch | |
Intellectual property and unfair competition/TMT | Christoph Gasser | christoph.gasser@bianchischwald.ch | |
International assistance/white-collar crime | Jean-Marc Carnicé | carnice@bianchischwald.ch | |
International assistance/white-collar crime | Philippe Boss | philippe.boss@bianchischwald.ch | |
Employment, Pensions and Immigration | Stéphanie Fuld | stephanie.fuld@bianchischwwald.ch | |
Litigation and arbitration | Jean-Marc Carnicé | carnice@bianchischwald.ch | |
Litigation and arbitration | Philippe Boss | philippe.boss@bianchischwald.ch | |
Public procurement | Yves de Coulon | yves.decoulon@bianchischwald.ch | |
Public procurement | Marc Metzger | marc.metzger@bianchischwald.ch | |
Public procurement | Thierry Amy | thierry.amy@bianchischwald.ch | |
Real estate/construction | Yves de Coulon | yves.decoulon@bianchischwald.ch | |
Real estate/construction | Marc Metzger | marc.metzger@bianchischwald.ch | |
Real estate/construction | Thierry Amy | thierry.amy@bianchischwald.ch | |
Sport | Philippe Boss | philippe.boss@bianchischwald.ch | |
Sport | Marc Metzger | marc.metzger@bianchischwald.ch | |
Tax | Joseph Merhai | joseph.merhai@bianchischwald.ch |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Thierry Amy | Thierry Amy has many years of experience in representing and advising the… | View Profile | |
Mr Philippe Vladimir Boss | A former clerk at the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland, Philippe Vladimir… | View Profile | |
Mr Jean-Marc Carnicé | Jean-Marc Carnicé is one of the founding Partners of BianchiSchwald LLC (formerly… | View Profile | |
Mr Dominique Christin | Dominique Christin is a recognized expert in corporate, tax, contract and banking… | View Profile | |
Mr Gianni Fera | Gianni Fera advises companies and individuals primarily in the areas of national… | View Profile | |
Mrs Stéphanie Fuld | Head of the employment team, Stéphanie Fuld has more than 15 years… | View Profile | |
Dr Despina Mavromati | Dr. Despina Mavromati is a widely recognized expert in international sports law… | View Profile | |
Mr Joseph Merhai | Expert in corporate tax law, international tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, as… | View Profile | |
Mr Thomas Pasquier | Thomas Pasquier works as a senior associate in the tax law department… | View Profile | |
Mr Laurent Schenker | Laurent Schenker is an associate of the tax department of our Geneva… | View Profile | |
Mrs Hélène Weidmann | For many years, Hélène Weidmann has been advising private and public companies… | View Profile | |
Mr Yves de Coulon | Yves de Coulon heads the Real Estate and Construction practice group at… | View Profile |