Baker McKenzie > Geneva, Switzerland > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie > The Legal 500 Rankings

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Zurich Tier 1

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG offers a full service with a particular strength in regulatory matters. The team advised various financial institutions on the new economic sanctions connected to the current war in Ukraine and has played an active role in advising industry players in the implementation of the new Finance Services Act and the Financial Institutions Act. Other practice areas include acquisition finance, asset finance, and financial restructuring. Samuel Marbacher, who specialises in syndicated lending and real estate financing, and Markus Wolf, who has extensive experience in advising on multijurisdictional leveraged acquisition, both head the team. Another key team member is Lukas Glanzmann who plays an active role in advising financial creditors on complex financings.

Switzerland > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1

International firm Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG is best known for its expertise in handling complex financial restructurings that often involve cross-border issues. The ‘outstanding’ team also contributes regularly to thought leadership in this area with its weekly blog on international restructuring and insolvency matters. The practice is headed by Lukas Glanzmann, who often utilises his banking and finance expertise to advise financial creditors in complex financial restructurings, and Alexander Fischer, whose practice covers distressed M&A transactions. Markus Wolf represents both domestic and foreign creditors and debtors in Swiss and cross-border restructurings and formal insolvency procedures.

Switzerland > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Baker McKenzie’s ‘very reliable and proactive’ real estate transaction group has a strong focus on real estate M&A, corporate real estate, and real estate investment schemes. Head of the Geneva practice, Charles Gschwind advises domestic and international clients on asset deals, large-scale portfolio transactions, and the acquisition of real estate. The Zurich team is led by Samuel Marbacher who has a key focus on real estate transactions, including environmental matters, Lex Koller issues, and real estate financing. Other key team members include Alexander Wyss, who also advises domestic and international clients on cross-border and national real estate and corporate transactions, and Martin Furrer, who has special expertise in advising international clients on large real estate.

Switzerland > Capital markets Tier 2

Entrusted to assist clients with a range of domestic and international transactions, Baker McKenzie’s ‘responsive and pragmatic’ team is well-equipped to advise on matters pertaining to equity and debt transactions, derivatives, securitisation and structured finance. Practice head Matthias Courvoisier is especially knowledgeable in equity capital market transactions and equity linked debt, such as IPOs and public takeovers. Ansgar Schott specialises in structured products and investment funds, to name a few. Yves Mauchle, who has recently been promoted to partner, advises clients with complex mandates that involve IPOs, GDR offerings and high yield bonds. Tanja Schmid is another key figure to note in the practice.

Switzerland > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Utilising its global network of offices, Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG is particularly well versed in corporate matters in the private equity and industrial sectors and is well regarded for its ‘extremely diligent approach to requests, responsive communication and solution-focused attitude’. The practice is jointly led by Alexander Fischer, who advises clients on cross-border and domestic M&A, private equity and debt financing, and Jingjin Guo, who focuses on M&A, corporate matters and investments. Martin Furrer’s broad range of expertise incorporates private equity matters, corporate reorganisations and governance issues. Martin Frey and Alexander Blaeser are also recommended.

Switzerland > Competition Tier 2

‘Technically savvy’, Baker McKenzie’s wide-ranging experience extends from cartel investigations and immunity applications to merger control filings and market dominance advice. ‘Solution-oriented’ Roger Thomi and Boris Wenger jointly helm the practice, with the former’s knowledge comprising a significant range of antitrust law issues, and the latter involved in precedent-setting cases in a number of courts, such as the Swiss Supreme Court. Philippe Reich maintains a strong practice in the sphere of antitrust compliance, and is regularly engaged by clients across a diverse spectrum of sectors.

Switzerland > Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

Utilising its expansive global network, ‘pragmatic’ Baker McKenzie routinely manages international data transfers and GDPR issues, as well as technology-related privacy and compliance programmes across multiple jurisdictions. The team represents market leaders across telecoms and banking sectors, and is well-regarded for ‘exploring and finding defensible solutions for challenges’. Alessandro Celli spearheads the team, handling GDPR compliance programmes and implementation projects, with Johanna Mösch demonstrating prowess in the sphere of data protection law.

Switzerland > Employment Tier 2

International firm Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG supports multinational clients on the full spectrum of employment-related matters including employment benefits, mass dismissals, litigation, global mobility of employees, and pension funds. Team head Christoph Stutz advises and represents corporate clients on complex labour issues. Peter Reinert has a special focus on executive compensation, business transfers, and other forms of restructuring. Serge Pannatier regularly represents governmental clients and multinational companies in employment matters. At the associate level, Andreas Becker and Kaspar Projer support the team with their dispute resolution expertise.

Switzerland > Intellectual property Tier 2

While it provides a particularly strong offering in the copyrights and digital media area, ‘pragmatic’ Baker McKenzie maintains a balanced practice that encompasses the entire life cycle of IP rights and significant transactional mandates in this space. Alongside this, the team is noted for its strength in IP litigation, handling trade mark enforcement and a variety of disputes for blue-chip clients. ‘Dedicated’ Eva-Maria Strobel heads up the department with her considerable expertise in drafting and negotiating a diverse array of IP agreements. Michael Treis leverages his 30 years of experience to assist clients with the full gamut of IP protection issues.

Switzerland > Private client Tier 2

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG excels at advising on cross-border wealth management matters for private individuals, families, trust companies, and investment advisors, among others. The firm is also particularly skilled at handling various international taxation matters across numerous jurisdictions, including the UK and the US. The team’s experience ranges from asset-disclosure regulations and inheritance tax to investigations and audits. The team is co-led by Marnin Michaels, Lyubomir Georgiev, and Elliott Murray. Other standout members of the team include Gregory Walsh who regularly advises on tax compliance matters.

Switzerland > Regulatory, compliance and investigations Tier 2

‘Very competent and experienced’ Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG advises clients on a full spectrum of regulatory, compliance and investigations matters, encompassing complex multijurisdictional mandates that entail anti-bribery, data privacy and regulatory enforcement issues. Zurich-based practice head Christoph Kurth contributes his wide-ranging experience across a host of cross-border criminal and regulatory issues to the team, and Geneva-based practice head Simon Ntah is esteemed in the white-collar crime realm. Philippe Reich principally focuses on trade compliance, international trade and regulatory and foreign investments.

Switzerland > Tax Tier 2

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG tax group regularly advises multinationals and major Swiss companies on domestic and international tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, and tax litigation, among a range of other issues. Team head Kilian Perroulaz covers both contentious and non-contentious tax matters, with strength in advising on M&A, and corporate reorganisations. Hans Koch advises international clients on tax aspects of a range of corporate, private equity, and capital markets transactions. The team benefits from the expertise of Susanne Liebel-Kotz who was promoted to partner in July 2023. Other key members include Mario Kumschick, Andrea Bolliger, and tax director Balthasar Denger.

Switzerland > TMT Tier 2

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG has a special focus on providing comprehensive legal advice to international clients on legal compliance for new products in the areas of distribution lines and internet-based sales and services. Drawing on its global network, the team supports on the structuring and implementation of new technology related privacy and compliance programs across multiple jurisdictions. Practice head Alessandro Celli has expertise in Swiss data protection and GDPR compliance programs and related implementation projects. Eva-Maria Strobel advises clients on IP-related matters. The team is supported by telecommunication law expert Johanna Mösch, Muriel Binder who has a particular focus on new technologies, copyright specialist Sandra Marmy-Brändli , Nadine Charrière who focuses on IP, and data protection specialist Nicole Schön who joined the team in May 2023 from MLL Legal.

Switzerland > WTO Tier 2

Baker McKenzie’s team advises both domestic and international clients on regulatory and trade compliance matters in the fields of customs law, sanctions, export restrictions, and trade remedies. Pablo Bentes, who heads the team, specialises in representing sovereign clients before the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. Serge Pannatier regularly advises clients on a wide range of trade-related matters including trade remedies and customs matters. Claude Chase and Hayley Ryerson handle the full spectrum of matters regulated under WTO treaties.

Switzerland > Banking and finance: Geneva Tier 3

Full-service firm Baker McKenzie provides advice on a broad range of banking and finance matters, including sanctions affecting financial institutions, debt financing transactions, loans and leveraged acquisition finance, and structured finance. Practice head Jingjin Guo advises banks and borrowers on financial transactions, loans and credit facilities, including trade finance, aircraft financing, securitization, and debt listing. Other key team members include Diana Bellido Gomes and Tatiana Ayranova.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

‘Very knowledgeable and reactive’ Baker McKenzie is regularly engaged by clients to assist with multifaceted infrastructural matters, energy and sports law disputes. Alongside this, the team is well-versed in contentious trust matters and director liability disputes. Zurich based Urs Zenhäusern and Joachim Frick , and Geneva-based Luca Beffa and Simon Ntah lead the group. Christoph Kurth‘s expertise lies in compliance, regulatory and investigation matters.

Switzerland > Fintech Tier 3

Manuel Meyer, Ansgar Schott and Yves Mauchle jointly lead Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG‘s fintech practice, which leverages its expansive global network to effectively advise financial institutions, global digital leaders and start-ups on a variety of legal and regulatory issues in the fintech arena. Meyer counts a diverse array of domestic and international investors in his client roster, while Schott advises clients throughout the lifecycle of regulated businesses. Mauchle is noted for his ability to assist financial intermediaries with regulatory matters and demonstrates prowess in relation to fintech business models.

Switzerland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG leverages its international network to assist clients with a broad range of issues, including licence and employment agreements, and clinical trail strategy. The practice is jointly led by Olha Demianiuk and Julia Schieber. Demianiuk has a great deal of expertise in multi-jurisdictional M&A and health product portfolio acquisitions. Noted for her ‘profound‘ industry knowledge, Schieber primarily focuses on IP and IT related issues, including the exploitation of IP rights, and collaboration and R&D agreements. Matthias Courvoisier leads the firm’s capital markets team, acting in a number of public takeovers and IPOs.

Switzerland > Insurance Tier 3

Operating for insurers, reinsurers, financial institutions and a host of corporate entities, Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG maintains a varied offering that is comprised of contentious insurance work, regulatory and contractual matters, as well as expertise in designing and advising financial products. The practice is jointly led by Joachim Frick, who is vastly experienced in regulatory proceedings and coverage disputes, and Lyubomir Georgiev, who is able to advise clients on life insurance products.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 4

Capitalising on the firm's global network, Baker McKenzie‘s arbitration team possesses a capacity to handle disputes originating in complex infrastructural matters, post M&A and sports disputes, among others. The group counts multinationals, well-known banking institutions, individual shareholders and investors in its varied client roster. The ‘very experienced, sharp-minded’ Urs Zenhäusern and ‘excellent’ Luca Beffa, who is praised for his ‘great analytical skills’, jointly steer the practice. Joachim Frick is another key name to note in the practice.