gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd > Zurich, Switzerland > Firm Profile

gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd
Hegibachstrasse 47
P.O. Box
8032 Zurich
Switzerland

Switzerland > Insurance Tier 1

Helmed by Lars Gerspacher, Dominik Skrobala, Clemens von Zedtwitz and Nando Stauffer von May, gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd’s stellar client roster includes insurance and reinsurance carriers, alongside numerous other insurance-related market players. While covering the full gamut of insurance services, the ‘solution-oriented’ team is noted for its expertise in relation to financial lines and cyber claims, product liability proceedings and regulatory issues. Gerspacher is regularly entrusted by clients with international arbitration proceedings, drafting policies and reinsurance contracts as well as regulatory compliance. Skrobola’s wide-ranging experience extends from licensing matters to private medical insurance, while von Zedtwitz is pre-eminent in the dispute resolution arena of the insurance sphere. Stauffer von May strengthens the practice with his accomplishments across contentious and non-contentious work.

Practice head(s):

Lars Gerspacher; Dominik Skrobala; Clemens von Zedtwitz; Nando Stauffer von May

Testimonials

‘The team at GBF have been, and remain, varied, responsive and supportive. We are very content with the quality of service and legal know-how they have supplied to us over the years of collaboration.’

‘Lars Gerspacher retains an outstanding overview over the many different legal matters that we deal with at any point in time. He can be relied upon with absolute confidence. His expertise has been a great support.’

‘The team remain outstanding both for competency and commercial acumen.’

‘Clemens Von Zedtwitz is an outstanding lawyer.’

‘Definitely one of the leading law firms regarding insurance in Switzerland. They are solution focused, very experienced and are very pleasant to work with.’

‘Very solution-oriented team with a very good price-performance ratio.’

‘Dominik Skrobala is a great regulatory lawyer. He has fantastic insurance experience and a legal background. He also has a multidisciplinary approach that meets multijurisdictional expectations.’

‘Dominik is an exceptional advisor, always capable of providing practical and high quality advice.’

Key clients

AIG Europe

Allianz Suisse

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

AXA Insurance SA

AXA XL

Beazley Insurance DAC

Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Bupa, London

Chubb Insurance

CNA Hardy

Ergo Insurance

FM Insurance

HDI Global

Helvetia Insurance Co.

Markel Insurance SE Germany

Markel International Insurance UK

MedPro Group

MS Amlin AG

Tryg Forsikring A/S, Ballerup, Zurich Branch

Work highlights

Switzerland > Transport Tier 1

gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd offers a full-service practice to high-profile clients in the aviation, marine, shipping, transportation, and trading sectors. Its work covers the multiple facets of the transportation industry including design, operation, insurance, and customs matters. Lars Gerspacher is the ‘go-to‘ person to handle matters relating to insurance, aviation and maritime law. Laurent Chassot dedicates his time purely to aerospace matters. Philippe Wenker focuses on aircraft financing matters where he has extensive experience in advising several domestic and foreign aircraft financiers. Nando Stauffer von May, who does both contentious and non-contentious work, handles several transport insurance claims for high-profile clients. Marco Novoselac specialises in technology, trade and retail, as well as aviation and aerospace.

Practice head(s):

Laurent Chassot; Lars Gerspacher; Nando Stauffer von May; Philippe Wenker; Marco Novoselac

Other key lawyers:

Yolande Lagrange; Christophe Platel

Testimonials

‘Great litigation department – really responsive, thorough, and experienced. Knowledge of the industry sector is fantastic. Just started working with the corporate team too – also a great team.’

‘gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd combines excellent technical knowledge with an ability to integrate business issues into its analysis. They have a unique industry focus and are, in my view the leading Swiss law firm in the fields of aviation, shipping, transport financing.’

‘They offer a comprehensive service and I believe that they bring true expertise to a matter based on their breadth of experience. They position in the Swiss legal market is really unique. Given their unique focus on specific and challenging industry sectors, gbf provides in-depth, expert knowledge, as well as a full range of services, in those core practice areas. Their expertise is unmatched.’

‘Partner Lars Gerspacher is the go-to person for aviation and shipping matters at gbf. He has notable expertise in acquisition finance matters combined with a profound commercial mind-set. Lars mixes truly outstanding industry knowledge, excellent levels of service and tailor-made solutions to assist major clients in sophisticated transactions.’

‘Gbf has everything I want from a good law firm. In addition to the outstanding professional expertise and experts in almost all special fields, it is above all the short distances and goal-oriented communication that convince me.’

‘Philippe Wenker ist not only an expert in his field but he also understands to translate most complicated legal wordings into a comprehensive structure. Marco Novoselac has shown great expertise at all times. Overall, we see Gbf more as part of our team than as an external service provider. The cooperation on all levels is always courteous, professional and yet also team oriented.’

‘Yolande Lagrange and Lauren Chassot are very engaging and provide swift, concise, exceptional advice. They are very good at seeing the big picture.’

‘gbf deliver excellent legal advice and offer pragmatic solutions to complex legal issues. Outstanding client service.’

Key clients

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

AIG Europe S.A.

Allianz Suisse

AXA Assurances SA

AXA XL

Chubb Insurance

DHL

Ergo Insurance

Fly 7 Executive Aviation SA

Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers

HDI Global

Helvetia Insurance Co.

Maersk A/S

Work highlights

Switzerland > TMT Tier 4

gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd advises international corporations and start-ups on TMT matters. In Zurich, the team is headed by Marco Novoselac who has significant expertise in data protection, technology, e-commerce and competition law. Bern team head Nando Stauffer von May advises domestic and foreign start-ups on data protection and technology issues. Thomas Hua, whose practice regularly covers supporting Chinese clients with matters relating to technology transfer and licensing, heads the Geneva team. David Mösch specialises in fintech-related issues.

Practice head(s):

Marco Novoselac; Thomas Hua; Nando Stauffer von May

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The firm has outstanding capabilities in technology and digital economies; competent and reliable legal advice.’

‘gbf’s practice is unique as it combines high end expertise with extreme reactivity and rapid responsiveness. ’

‘Thomas Hua is an extremely reliable partner with a deep knowledge of his fields of expertise. I really appreciate working with him because he knows how to put his skills and knowledge to good use and so I am always assured that I receive the best services. In resolving complex problems, Thomas Hua quickly gets to the heart of the matter and offers creative and pragmatic solutions. ’

‘Very diverse team with different focuses, know-how, language skills. Fantastic reliability, professionalism and transparency. Their way of cooperative, uncomplicated yet sophistocated wazs of working makes gbf our trusted partner.’

‘Marco Novoselac is an excellent lawyer on whose support, broad legal as well as economic knowledge I can always count. He is always market-oriented, easy to reach, pragmatic and open-minded. ’

‘The firm is open to flexible working models and can therefore advise clients when they need it.’

‘Apart from the impeccable professional competence, Nando Stauffer von May stands out for his enormous time flexibility. In complex cases, Nando Stauffer von May maintains an overview at all times and patiently advises the client on the next steps and also prepares the necessary documents.’

‘Outstanding service for clients. Always very client focused.’

Key clients

CYBERCRYPT

Megaport Ltd.

Tech 5 SA

VIA Science

Solarify GmbH / Solarify Holding AG

Chubb Insurance

AIG Europe

Amplify SA

Konsento AG

Terapet SA

Gamned SA

Catalyx SA

Impact Hub Geneva-Lausanne SA

Smood SA

Work highlights

  • Advising an Australian listed telecommunications company in the Swiss market mainly on regulatory and corporate law issues.
  • Advised Tech 5 SA on several financing rounds, assisted in acquisitions and set up of subsidiaries abroad and advised on licensing agreements.
  • Supported VIA Science Inc with its Swiss market entry and advised them on data protection, anonymisation and pseudonymisation of smart meter data as well as on corporate issues of the Swiss subsidiary.

The firm: gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd is a leading Swiss law firm in the fields of insurance, reinsurance, aviation, shipping, transport and trade. Our client basis consists mainly of international companies in these industries.

As a result of our unique industry focus, and our legal skills and experience of both contentious and non-contentious matters (many of which have a cross-border nature), we are in a good position to offer clients effective solutions tailored to their legal needs.

Through our offices in Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland’s two main business hubs, we ensure that our reach is country-wide. The notary’s office in Bern is managed by Nando Stauffer von May and David Mösch, the one in Olten by Marco Novoselac.

Areas of practice
Insurance: the insurance practice of gbf provides its insurer clients with a full range of services. gbf works extensively with both primary insurers and reinsurers, assisting them in their transactions, as well as in the handling of their claims. gbf is involved from the beginning with the drafting of business plans in order to obtain licences, and continues to assist with claims handling throughout, including during the run-off period up until the withdrawal of the relevant licence.

Aviation and aerospace: aerospace law is one of gbf’s core areas of practice. Originally born out of the firm’s strong insurance practice, and hence focused on aviation accident claims, coverage and defence work, gbf’s aviation practice has expanded into regulatory and aircraft transactional work, which now also constitutes a significant part of its activities.

Transport: gbf advises its clients on all transport-related issues and represents them in litigation and arbitration proceedings, irrespective of the mode of transport, and whether commodities are being carried or passengers ferried. gbf’s maritime law expertise also includes advising companies as to the sale and purchase of second-hand vessels as well as the construction of new builds. gbf also advises its clients as to the financing of ships or other assets.

Trade: gbf has particular expertise in relation to commodity sale contracts (for example on various GAFTA or FOSFA forms), letters of credit, and associated carriage/shipping documents such as bills of lading. It regularly represents clients in all contentious matters arising out of their trading business.

Technology and digital economy: The gbf technology practice consists partly of former start-up entrepreneurs and therefore also has many years of practical experience. We advise our clients in the following areas: data protection, e-commerce, blockchain, insurtech, fintech, software development and licensing, internet of things, cyber risks and security, unmanned aircraft systems and autonomous driving.

Photo Name Position Profile
Laurent Chassot photo Dr Laurent Chassot Laurent Chassot established and leads the firm’s Geneva office. His practice is…
Philip Chrystal photo Philip Chrystal Philip Chrystal is Of-counsel at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd and specialises in aviation…
Lena Dolci  photo Lena Dolci Lena Dolci’s main practice areas are liability and insurance law (including reinsurance…
Lars Gerspacher photo Lars Gerspacher Lars Gerspacher is a partner at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd and specialises in…
Thomas Hua photo Thomas Hua Thomas Hua is a partner at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd and regularly advises…
Isabel Kölliker photo Isabel Kölliker Isabel Kölliker’s main practice areas are liability and insurance law (including reinsurance…
Yolande Lagrange photo Yolande Lagrange Yolande Lagrange’s practice focuses on litigation and arbitration, and she regularly assists…
Riccardo Maisano photo Riccardo Maisano Riccardo Maissano’s main practice areas include liability and insurance law, data protection…
David Mösch photo David Mösch David Mösch’s legal practice focuses on in insurance supervisory law, insurance law,…
Marco Novoselac photo Marco Novoselac Marco Novoselac is a partner with gbf Attorneys-at-law. He specialises in Trade…
Christophe Platel photo Christophe Platel Christophe Platel’s practice focuses primarily on aviation-related matters, with a particular emphasis…
Vesna Polić photo Dr Vesna Polić Vesna Polić is Of-counsel at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd and is specialised in…
Dominik Skrobala photo Dominik Skrobala Dominik Skrobala is a partner at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd and advises both…
Nando Stauffer von May photo Dr Nando Stauffer von May Nando Stauffer von May’s is a partner with gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd and…
Roger Thalmann photo Roger Thalmann Roger Thalmann’s main practice areas include liability and insurance law, transportation law…
Philippe Wenker photo Philippe Wenker Philippe Wenker is a partner with gbf Attorneys-at Law Ltd and advises…
Flavia Widmer photo Flavia Widmer Flavia Widmer is specialising in insurance law as well as commercial law.…
Mélanie  Xu photo Mélanie Xu Mélanie Xu’s main practice areas include corporate law and commercial contracts, M&A,…
Clemens von Zedtwitz photo Dr Clemens von Zedtwitz Clemens von Zedtwitz is a Partner at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd specialising in…