Insurance And Reinsurance In Switzerland: Overview

All persons who work or reside in Switzerland are generally subject to the Swiss social security system, including health insurance.

On 16 September 2026, the Swiss National Council voted for an amendment to the Swiss Insurance Supervision Act ("ISA") exempting, in particular, untied reinsurance intermediaries from mandatory registration and supervision...

The Federal Insurance Contract Act (ICA) and, subsidiarily, the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO), govern the contractual relationship between insurance undertaking, policyholder and insured (Article 100 paragraph 1 ICA).

A single premium life insurance policy is a life insurance contract with a cash surrender value in which the entire premium is paid upfront in a one-time lump sum, unlike traditional...

Insurance products of the Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV («SERV»), the Export Credit Agency («ECA») of Switzerland, have become increasingly popular as a component of large project finance

The shift to digital is set to give insurance services a significant boost, providing customers with more personalised insurance choices and lowering the risk of fraud in the process.

In the world of art transactions, safeguarding your investment is paramount. Whether you are a collector, dealer, or investor, understanding the art escrow process is essential...

With the entry into force of the revised Insurance Supervision Act and the revised Insurance Supervision Ordinance, insurance intermediation in Switzerland will be subject to new regulation ...

In its decision of 16 June 2017 the Swiss Federal Supreme Court held that the obligation to account for and pass on retrocessions to the client under the law on mandates...

Determining the correct social security status of an employee on a foreign assignment is fundamental. The employee's nationality, the duration of the assignment...

The regulatory environment in Switzerland to date continues to be investor-friendly for the following three main reasons: (i) limited investment restrictions (a notable exception being the Federal Law on Acquisition of Real Estate (the so-called Lex Koller)...

The FCPA enforcement pause ordered in February 2025 by President Trump is over. The new FCPA enforcement guidelines signal a more targeted enforcement approach by the DOJ, which may potentially be more vigorous than before...

On March 10 2017, the Federal Council of Switzerland opened a hearing procedure for the amendment of the Lex Koller, the law restricting the acquisition of real estate by persons abroad.

All of the standard transaction strategies to acquire portfolio companies are commonly used in Switzerland. We assume that regular leveraged buyouts have accounted for the majority of the transactions in recent years. In 2025, the total deal volume in the private equity sector remained stable...

Switzerland continues to be one of the leading jurisdictions for fintech innovation, offering a stable legal framework, a sophisticated financial market and a technology-neutral regulatory approach.

Generally, interest paid on loans are not subject to Swiss Withholding Tax ('WHT'). Interest on bonds and bank interest, however, are subject to 35% Swiss WHT

Bär & Karrer, a Swiss law firm, provides comprehensive legal and business solutions. Contact their Zurich office for expert assistance with legal advice, business inquiries, and professional services tailored to your needs.

Medicinal products are products of chemical or biological origin which are intended or claimed to have a medicinal effect on the human organism, in particular in the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of diseases...

The Swiss Federal Supreme Court has validated minimum wage regulations in Zurich and Winterthur, overturning lower court decisions and affirming that municipalities possess constitutional autonomy to establish local wage floors. With minimum wages of CHF 23.90 and CHF 23.00 per hour respectively now set to take effect, the ruling settles a key question about the division of legislative powers between cantonal and municipal authorities in Switzerland's federal system.

Swiss Banks and Swiss branch offices or representative offices of foreign banks are subject to prudential supervision by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).