HFW > Geneva, Switzerland > Firm Profile
HFW Offices
6TH FLOOR
COURS DE RIVE 13-15
1204 GENEVA
Switzerland
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HFW > The Legal 500 Rankings
Switzerland > Transport Tier 1
HFW‘s transport team stands out for its work regarding shipping disputes in Switzerland, as well as for its expertise in the maritime and trade sectors. It often advises clients on multi-jurisdictional shipping, trading, arbitration, and regulatory matters involving UK, EU, Swiss, US, and Australian transport-related sanctions for traders, owners, P&I clubs, and banks. Team lead Michael Buisset is a specialist shipping lawyer and often advises client on cases of general public importance for the shipping and commodities trading industries. Other key individual Sarah Hunt acts for a range of trading companies, charterers, and owners in international trade disputes.Practice head(s):
Michael Buisset
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Hunt; William Hold
Key clients
Privatisation Agency of Kosovo
Apix (Agency for Foreign Investment and Major Works of the Republic of Senegal)
Work highlights
Switzerland > Banking and finance: Geneva Tier 2
HFW‘s arsenal of skills include sustainability linked loans, trade law, and debt structuring issues. Leading the practice is Olivier Bazin, a noted trade finance expert who is capable of advising on a variety of funding and borrowing matters and is regarded for his ‘bespoke approach’. Other key team members include Jason Marett, who deploys his structured and commodity trade finance expertise, and Gibran Alaoui, who manages all facets of finance transactions, extending to syndicated lending.Practice head(s):
Olivier Bazin
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Olivier Bazin has a very bespoke approach, always focused on the most effective practical solutions.’
‘HFW Geneva is offering Trade Finance advice at an unparalleled level.’
Key clients
Sucafina SA
BGN
ADM International Sarl
BIC-BRED (Suisse) SA
ING Bank N.V. Lancy
Credit Agricole CIB
Natixis
Trafigura
UBS Switzerland AG
Nibulon
Work highlights
- Advised Sucafina on Swiss and English law aspects of its cross-border financial transactions, notably, its Borrowing Base Facility Agreement and Latin America facilities.
- Advised BGN on Swiss and English law aspects of its $100m debut ECA backed syndicated revolving credit facility backed by the Abu Dhabi Exports Office for the procurement of energy commodities for export from the UAE.
HFW > Firm Profile
The firm: HFW is a global, sector-focused law firm providing expert advice to clients in aviation, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance and reinsurance, and shipping.
The firm prides itself on the deep industry expertise of its lawyers, and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture. HFW has over 600 lawyers operating in 20 offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Areas of practice: Geneva is considered the most important centre in the world for physical commodity trading, and is home to trading companies, and is also a very important centre for trade finance and for chartering. Since the Geneva office opened in 2010, it has been integral to the continued development of the firm’s world-renowned shipping and commodities practices.
HFW is committed to supporting the trading and shipping interest active in Switzerland and this is reflected in the teaching and seminars the firm’s lawyers undertake in Geneva, Zug, Lugano and elsewhere.
The lawyers in the Geneva office include partners and associates qualified in England and Wales, Switzerland, Canada, France and Australia, who are familiar with the local business environment and have extensive experience in the legal systems within which their clients operate. They have experience in the international sale of goods and shipping, as well as in all those areas of law, which are nowadays vital to thriving trading companies: trade finance, corporate, commercial, regulatory, sanctions and compliance.
Many of the lawyers have worked in the trading and related industries and bring practical experience to the table as well as legal advice.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Arbitration | Michael Buisset | ||
| International Arbitration | William Hold | ||
| International Arbitration | Sarah Hunt | ||
| Corporate/commercial | Georges Racine | ||
| Dispute resolution | Michael Buisset | ||
| Dispute resolution | Sarah Hunt | ||
| International trade/commodities | Michael Buisset | ||
| International trade/commodities | Sarah Hunt | ||
| Shipping and transport | Michael Buisset | ||
| Shipping and transport | Sarah Hunt | ||
| Swiss law | William Hold | ||
| Trade finance and bank lending (investment grade debt and syndicated loans) | Olivier Bazin |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mr Olivier Bazin | Partner | View Profile |
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Mr Michael Buisset | Partner | View Profile |
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Mr William Hold | Partner | View Profile |
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Mme Sarah Hunt | Partner | View Profile |
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Mr Georges Racine | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 615 at this office : 15Languages
English French German Russian SpanishOther
Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Dubai Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : Houston Other offices : London Other offices : Melbourne Other offices : Paris Other offices : Perth Other offices : Piraeus Other offices : São Paulo Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Sydney Associations : Abu Dhabi Associations : Beirut Associations : Jakarta Associations : Kuwait Associations : Riyadh Associations : Singapore- Transport
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance: Geneva