CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. > Geneva, Switzerland > Firm Profile

‘The public law team at CMS von Erlach is comprised of highly experienced practitioners with deep expertise in all areas of public and administrative law. The team includes seasoned litigators as well as specialists in areas like regulatory compliance, public procurement, and government contracts. What makes them unique is their ability to seamlessly integrate legal expertise with a nuanced understanding of the public sector landscape. They are adept at navigating the complexities of government bureaucracy and building strong relationships with key stakeholders.’

‘Marquard Christen is widely regarded as one of the leading public law experts in the country. What sets him apart is his ability to distil complex regulatory and procedural issues into clear, pragmatic advice. He has an uncanny knack for identifying creative solutions that advance his clients’ interests while navigating the convoluted landscape of government decision-making. Marquard’s encyclopedic knowledge of case law and administrative procedures is impressive, but it is his strategic problem-solving skills and excellent client service that truly make him stand out.’

‘Julia Haas has proven herself to be an exceptional legal talent and a true rising star in the field. Julia is highly adept at navigating the intricacies of government decision-making and regulatory compliance. She has a deep understanding of the public sector landscape, and she uses this knowledge to develop creative strategies that align with her clients’ commercial objectives.’

‘The CMS team has provided advice to our company around various ESG/sustainability topics. All partners and associates were highly knowledgeable about legal requirements and recent regulatory changes and industry practices and offered practical, hands-on advice. They were eager to understand our industry and demonstrated process knowledge. Although we interacted with different teams, it always felt like “one team” and “one voice”. Response times were quick, documents prepared were immaculate and the personal interaction was professional and always very friendly.’

‘The client is always the focus. The consulting services are well-founded, business-oriented and holistic.’

‘Marquard Christen knows how to clearly describe the opportunities and risks and propose alternative solutions. Thanks to his broad network, comprehensive advice is guaranteed at all times.’

‘Working with Marquard Christen and Julia Haas, they have shown themselves to be highly experienced in their field of expertise, enabling them to provide reliable legal guidance even in new industries. They have proven to always be available for a call when urgent matters come up and pleasant collaborators all around. These demonstrated qualities are very valuable for clients working in a face-paced environment.’

‘The team are very knowledgeable in their field of expertise, not only with regard to specific legal questions but also in relation to other business implications. That way the team is able to provide business-oriented and pragmatic advice. The working relationship with the team is very collaborative and they have proven to be always available and reliable, even on a short notice.’

‘They are a great practice.’

‘My lawyer Marquard Christen fulfills my needs and knows how to translate the lawyer jargon so that it becomes comprehendible for me.’

‘Marquard Christen is active! He gives me relevant information on current business that affects me and responds to my needs in an uncomplicated way.’

‘Very good business acumen, provided a tailored solution for our needs.’

‘Very competent and nice to work with.’

‘Very customer oriented, demonstrate high competence and are approachable.’

‘The team has access to a wide range of international specialists they can bring in if required. Their way of working is extremely business-oriented.’

‘Marquard Christen is an outstanding, business-oriented and dedicated lawyer.’

‘Our go-to law firm for many years, since it provides the sort of services we are looking for: hands-on approach, pragmatic while still paying attention to all details, responsiveness, business acumen, reliable and most important – one feels they are in safe hands.’

‘Reto Hunsperger and Daniel Kinzer are both very knowledgeable, well versed in negotiations and knowledgeable of prevailing doctrine, precedents and practice.’

‘Very skilled litigators.’

‘A pleasure to work with both, very responsive, reliable, solution-oriented and an excellent understanding of our business and our aims.’

‘It was a wonderful team to work with. The teamwork was really strong.’

‘The team members are very welcoming, and they take their tasks very seriously for each dispute.’

‘Superb team, worked extremely well with the wider international team. Got on top of the detail extremely quickly.’

‘Very user friendly and built trust with the client.’

‘Specific expert know-how in retail.’

‘They were there when we needed them. They are not afraid to go the extra mile.’

‘The response time and care given to my requests is impressive. They know my business and are very practical when it comes to helping me resolve issues or design a strategy.’

‘Christian Gersbach has been very helpful to me, and is very responsive when I need him. He informs me of advice and information in a very practical and tangible way, which allows me to make decisions quickly and comfortably.’

‘Exceptional business partners on top of being excellent lawyers. Smart and knowledgeable professionals with genuine commitment and seamless availability.’

‘Among other topics they have demonstrated remarkable strengths and professionalism on complex employment matters.’

‘Good team with a strong international network.’

‘Jodok Wicki is a tenacious litigator who understands the insurance industry.’

‘Excellent and longstanding track record of keeping promises.’

‘Commitment to the common cause.’

‘Kaspar Landolt is our key advisor in the country. He is always responsible and provides the advice we need when we need it.’

‘I have been working with Jodok Wicki for years on various matters. He is very experienced and knowledgeable on matters of insurance law, and pursues the interests of his clients vigorously and persistently.’

‘Profound specialist knowhow.’

‘I have been working closely with Tobias Sommary and Louise Lutz Sciamanna. They truly understand the client’s urgencies, and work focused on their needs. It is a great pleasure to work with them as they are attentive, thoughtful, and deeply experienced on multijurisdictional cases.’ 

‘Keys strengths are ability to deal with complex/cross-border issues and overall great breadth of experience’

‘Responsiveness – Experience – Great technically but ability to focus on practicalities (Lukas Brugger in particular)’ 

‘Tobias Somary in Zurich is my primary contact. He has a keen understanding of what makes clients tick, and how best to realize their vision, in addition to possessing technical expertise in cross-border estate administration and estate planning. Very practical. ’

‘The team stands out for their knowledge in the field of cross-border estate planning and foundation law issues; with Lukas Brugger who joined the team recently, they gained an additional expert in the field of foundation law. ’

‘Tobias Somary stands out for his expertise in cross-border estate planning. He enjoys an excellent reputation among the inheritance law specialists in Switzerland. The same is true for Louise Lutz Sciamanna, who is an absolute pleasure to work with’

‘The CMS private client team is a pleasure to work with. They have a broad expertise in cross-border matters, particularly at the intersection of Switzerland and Germany.’

‘CMS distinguishes itself from others in the legal community through its depth of experience and client-oriented service.’

‘Attorneys of the firm excel with their specialised knowledge in real estate and construction law through which they manage complex legal problems with effectiveness and insight.’

‘Thomas Zweifel has a very responsive work ethic and always puts the client’s interest first. In complex transactions, he stands out by quickly finding effective solutions for problems and supporting his clients in negotiations with in-depth knowledge of different legal topics across his areas of expertise. He rightly enjoys a great reputation in the field of M&A and real estate law.’

‘Comprehensive legal services from very experienced professionals.’

‘Specialised expertise with a client-focused approach.’

‘Outstanding partners and associates.’

‘Recognised for their leadership and client commitment.’

‘Client service with an exceptional, proactive approach.’

‘Nice to work with and professional.’

‘We value the both client-friendly and professional attitude of Dirk Spacek.’

‘CMS has always processed enquiries and requests quickly and competently.’

‘Dirk Spacek has great knowledge and expertise in the field of technology and IP. He is very responsive and gets things done.’

‘Assertive, precise and diligent.’

‘The expertise of CMS is always cutting-edge and the efficiency of his advice remarkable.’

‘Vaïk Müller is by far the most important business partner for our company.’

‘Vaïk Müller’s legal and regulatory expertise, his global and accurate vision of the sector’s challenges and his commitment are essential to the smooth running of our business.’

‘Very fast, very responsive and to the point.’

‘They have excellent M&A lawyers. Always available und very responsive with a practical yet professional approach.’

‘The team is very responsive, customer and solution-orientated. Even in hectic times, we can always rely on the team. We greatly appreciate the trusting cooperation.’

‘The team offers excellent advice and have a sophisticated ability to understand international client’s priorities and perspectives while ensuring those interests are protected in Swiss transactions.’

‘Partner Daniel Jenny offers remarkable expertise in Swiss M&A, providing pragmatic solutions informed by sophisticated understanding of Swiss corporate law.’

‘Our go-to law firm since many years, since it provides the sort of services we are looking for: Hands-on approach, pragmatic while still paying attention to all details, responsiveness, business acumen, reliable and most important. Deal makers and not deal brakers. Billing always within our expectations.’

‘The CMS team stands out for its deep expertise, responsiveness, and client-focused approach. They offer tailored solutions, seamlessly managing complex cross-border transactions. Their innovative use of technology enhances efficiency and transparency in deal execution.’

‘The individuals I work with at CMS demonstrate exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and a strong commitment to client success.’

‘The team has a strong international privacy practice and provides commercially focused advice.’

‘Dirk Spacek is commercial, responsive and provides excellent service.’

‘This team is characterised first and foremost by its absolute reliability. The members of the team work well together, are very efficient and effective in their advisory capacity, and, in addition, are very successfully interlinked to deliver above-average solutions.’

‘We are always impressed and value our cooperation very much.’

‘They always go the extra mile.’

‘Dirk Spacek’s commitment is outstanding. His in-depth expertise and many years of experience, combined with his extraordinary network, allow him to be extremely effective.’

‘Dirk Spacek works proactively and with a long-term orientation, which always gives us a competitive advantage and puts us on a solid footing. Dirk is an exceptionally strong negotiator.’

‘People are fantastic. Collaboration is great.’

‘Oversight, diligence, excellent business acumen.’

‘International network which allows quick access to lawyers based in other jurisdictions.’

‘Very skilled people, highly reactive and to the point.’

‘Christoph Willi: Fast response times, puts the customer at the centre.’

‘Highly responsive, always available, excellent collaboration.’

‘Excellent access to employees. Proactive and forward-thinking partner with whom the critical issues could be addressed.’

‘Very good specialist knowledge. Showed a high level of empathy and understanding of the customer’s situation. This also helped us to discuss unusual suggestions or ideas.’

‘Our cooperation is mainly based on foreign proceedings, which take a lot of time due to the recognition of Swiss law. Our experience to date has been very positive.’

‘Our previous experience with the firm and its partners has been excellent.’

‘The team excels at handling complex domestic and international matters with a strong focus on business impact. Their proactive communication and responsiveness ensures that clients are well guided at every stage, building client confidence. By continually integrating new technologies and approaches, they are constantly striving to deliver even better results for clients. The CMS team’s strong collaboration and extensive network allows it to draw not only on diverse expertise, but also on all jurisdictions.’

‘Marjolaine Jakob stands out for her diligence and unique strategic thinking. She has extensive expertise in cross-border restructuring cases and international insolvency law. Her work advising foreign insolvency practitioners in cross-border insolvency proceedings is impressive.’

‘Reto Hunsperger’s in-depth commercial knowledge and business-oriented approach make him an outstanding advisor. He is highly engaged and proactive, ensuring that no detail is overlooked and constantly striving for the best outcome for his clients.’

‘Very easy to reach, good availability, quick support.’

‘Cover all areas of expertise needed.’

‘Well connected on Swiss market.’

‘The CMS von Erlach Partners IP team provides superior brand protection services.’

‘The clarity and succinctness of their communications set their services apart.’

‘Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser is an experienced and thoughtful lawyer, and judicious about her involvement out of concern for cost.’

‘Highly professional team, very timely responses to requests, broadly connected to other specialists.’

‘Main contact is David Hürlimann who is very professional, very competent in Swiss, German and French tax law and with a high degree of social competence. Impressive personality.’

‘The team is very experienced and customer-oriented. I appreciate the fast turnaround time. The quality of the work is exceptional, and the cooperation is very professional.’

‘A high level of motivation, a great deal of specialist knowledge and a very quick grasp of things. The collaboration is always very efficient and extremely pleasant.’

‘Mark Cagienard is a very dedicated partner with deep legal knowledge. He provides excellent legal advice in a business-oriented and pragmatic manner.’

‘Business acumen and overall tax expertise (even on very technical topics).’

‘Very high level, quick and flexible.’

‘They are very proactive and creative in terms of tax planning.’

‘Niklaus Zaugg and his team were very persuasive in presenting their client’s case in the written submissions. The case was very complex. The CMS team convinced with the excellent quality of their work.’

‘As a client of the team, you always have the feeling of being very well looked after and receiving an excellent basis for decision-making.’

‘The team works very transparently and, especially in matters with deadlines, with perfect time planning that prevents any hectic rush.’

‘Jodok Wicki works very precisely and is able to familiarise himself with complex technical issues in a very short time. In doing so, he develops an understanding that impresses every expert in the field.’

‘The team in Zurich enjoys both breadth (several high-quality practitioners at all levels) and depth (expertise in several areas, including construction and insurance and reinsurance).’

‘Stand-out partner for general commercial and construction disputes: Niklaus Zaugg.’

‘Experts in their respective areas of practice.’

‘Very professional team and extraordinary capabilities.’