Andrea Ziswiler is a specialist in corporate law, M&A, finance and capital markets. He has a strong track record advising international and domestic clients in various industries on complex corporate transactions, private M&A deals, bilateral and syndicated financings as well as debt securities offerings.
Andreas J. Bär advises private clients, families, single and multi-family offices as well as their counsels (such as banks, lawyers, etc.) in all aspects of domestic and international wealth planning as well as commercial and regulatory matters. Based on his experience, he has been asked to serve on the board of directors as well as on the investments committees of several single and multi-family offices. Andreas J. Bär also advises artists and cultural institutions, such as opera houses and music festival organizations with regard to commercial and organizational matters. Citywealth 2015 lists him as Leading Lawyer.
Andreas D. Länzlinger heads Bär & Karrer's Internal Investigations Practice Group and is one of the leading partners of the firm's Litigation/Arbitration Practice Group. He has extensive experience in handling complex banking/financing, commercial, corporate, contract and insurance litigations, both before Swiss courts and in cross-border proceedings. He and his team have conducted many large scale internal investigations at global enterprises in the financial, pharmaceutical and construction business. He has represented a number of Swiss clients in mass tort litigation cases before US courts. During the last years, he has regularly advised and represented Swiss corporate clients regarding compliance questions and in investigations, including proceedings before US authorities (Department of Justice, SEC and FED), especially in matters under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Aurélie Conrad Hari leads the civil litigation practice of Bär & Karrer in Geneva, where she has been a partner since 2017. She has a broad experience in handling complex multi-jurisdictional disputes in financial, banking and commercial disputes. She also specializes in private clients' assistance and representation. Her practice encompasses shareholders' and employment disputes, insolvency as well as asset recovery, with the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. She also frequently acts as counsel representing parties in commercial arbitration related to various industries, eg, sale, distribution, agency, construction (including power plants) and energy. Additionally, she conducts internal investigation on specific fact findings and compliance issues upon instructions from clients or supervisory authorities. Aurélie Conrad Hari is a regular speaker and publisher on topics of her expertise. She is co-chair of the officers of the commissions committee and member of the Extended Bureau of the International Young Lawyers Association and chairs the Expert Forum on Dispute Resolution established by the Geneva Bar Association in 2017. Who's Who Legal lists her as a leading lawyer in litigation, asset recovery and as a future leader in arbitration. She is also recognized by Chambers and Partners and Legal500 for her litigation practice as well as by Leaders League, the Global Elite Private Client Directory as well as Citywealth where she is featured in in the IFC Powerwomen Top 200 since 2018.
Basil Kupferschmied's practice focuses on national and international sports law as well as media and entertainment law. He also regularly advises clients on general commercial and employment matters. In 2024, Basil was recognized by The Legal 500 as a "Rising Star" in the field of sports law.
Cédric Chapuis heads Bär & Karrer's financial services team in our Geneva office. His practice focuses on advising banks and other financial institutions in regulatory, compliance and general business matters. In addition, he regularly advises Swiss and foreign clients in a variety of industries on domestic and international transactions, as well as general corporate and governance matters. He has served on the board of directors of Swiss companies in various industries and is currently a member of the board of several banks. In recent years, Cédric Chapuis has advised a number of financial institutions in connection with internal investigations on cross-border issues and has represented them before the U.S. Department of Justice. Who's Who Legal lists Cédric Chapuis in Banking (Finance and Regulatory) and in Corporate: Merger & Acquisition. Legal 500 points out his expertise in regulatory matters.
Cesare Jermini has extensive experience in court litigation as well as international and domestic arbitration, in which he specializes. He regularly acts as a party counsel before state courts and the Federal Tribunal (in civil, criminal and administrative matters) as well as in domestic and international arbitration proceedings. Cesare Jermini is often appointed as chairman, sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator in international and domestic arbitration proceedings, conducted under the ICC Rules, Swiss Rules, Rules of the Camera Arbitrale Nazionale e Internazionale di Milano, UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules as well as in ad hoc proceedings. Cesare Jermini also advises clients in commercial and company law, private international law, joint ventures, transportation, labor, administrative, real estate and inheritance law. He is a member of the executive board of GASI (Gruppo Arbitrato della Svizzera italiana – the Local Group Ticino of ASA, the Swiss Arbitration Association), the ASA Marketing Committee and the International and Domestic Panels of Arbitrators of several arbitral institutions.
Christoph Suter heads Bär & Karrer's tax team in Geneva. He advises corporate and private clients in complex national and international tax matters. Christoph Suter has broad experience in corporate taxation, in particular M&A, reorganizations, corporate finance, national and international tax planning as well as tax litigation work. He is also an expert in tax topics of the banking and asset management industry, such as the taxation of financial instruments. Christoph Suter is a frequent lecturer at national and international tax conferences and publishes articles on relevant taxation topics.
Christoph Neeracher specializes in international and domestic M&A transactions (focusing on private M&A and private equity transactions, including secondary buyouts, public to private transactions and distressed equity), transaction finance, venture capital, startups, corporate restructurings, relocations, corporate law, general contract matters (e.g. joint ventures, partnerships and shareholders agreements) and all directly related areas such as employment matters for key employees (e.g. employee participation and incentive agreements). He is experienced in a broad range of national and international transactions both sell and buy side (including corporate auction processes) and the assistance of clients in their ongoing corporate and commercial activities. Additionally, Christoph Neeracher represents clients in litigation proceedings relating to his specialization. Chambers Global and Europe rank him as a leader in the field of M&A (since 2010) and IFLR 1000 lists him as one of the leading lawyers in Switzerland (since 2012). The International Who's Who of M&A Lawyers lists Christoph Neeracher as one of the world's leading M&A lawyers. The Legal 500 (2012) describes him as "extremely experienced in M&A matters and very strong in negotiations" and ranks him among the leading individuals. Christoph Neeracher is ranked first in Mergermarket's Profile League Table for 2016's most prolific individual DACH legal advisors.
Cinzia Catelli's preferred area of practice focuses on domestic and international arbitration and litigation. She also acts as arbitrator in ICC and SCAI proceedings. Her practice encompasses commercial disputes in various industries, including real estate development contracts, distribution agreements, sales contracts, lease agreements, labour law, and corporate law disputes litigation. Cinzia Catelli is admitted to all Swiss courts since 2010. Since 2014 she is a member of Bär & Karrer's litigation and arbitration practice teams in Zurich, working regularly also with the litigation practice in Ticino. She holds a degree from the University of Zurich, an LLM degree from Harvard Law School and passed the New York Bar Exam in 2013.
Claudia Götz Staehelin's practice focuses on complex investigation and litigation matters at the intersection of civil, criminal and regulatory proceedings. Claudia leads large-scale internal investigations, supports her clients in crisis management and advises them on all aspects of their compliance framework. She represents and advises her clients in domestic and cross-border litigations, in international judicial and administrative assistance matters and in internal and regulatory investigations led by Swiss and foreign authorities. One of her industry focuses is the Healthcare & Life Sciences industry, where she advises clients on pharma regulatory and all compliance matters. Based on her experience as former Head of Litigation at Novartis, Claudia regularly supports companies with multi-jurisdictional projects requiring innovative thinking. She has extensive international experience in litigation and investigation risk assessment, and in assisting clients with strategic decision-making. Her many years in-house and with corporate investigations have given her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of ESG issues for companies.
Corrado Rampini heads the real estate department of Bär & Karrer. He has broad experience in M&A and capital market transactions but specialises in real estate transactions of all types, including asset deals and large-scale portfolio transactions, acquisitions of real estate companies and IPOs and other capital market transactions of listed real estate companies. He also assists lenders and borrowers in financings of real estate portfolios, enforcements and restructurings of defaulting borrowers in the real estate sector. Beyond M&A and real estate, Corrado Rampini is also considered an expert in data protection and privacy law. Chambers & Partners ranks Corrado Rampini in tier 1 of the leading lawyers in Switzerland for Real Estate. Legal 500 lists him among the leading individuals in the category Real Estate & Construction. He was awarded "Lawyer of the Year 2016" for Real Estate in the Zurich area by Best Lawyers.
Cyrill Diefenbacher has broad experience in national and international corporate tax matters. He advises clients on tax-related questions in the area of M&A transactions / restructurings / financing, but also has broad experience in advising clients in the area of tax compliance. He frequently works on M&A transactions (buy-side or sell-side advice over all stages of the transaction, advice on management incentive schemes), restructurings and reorganizations and provides advice on various national or international corporate tax matters. His area of expertise includes Swiss VAT. Cyrill Diefenbacher regularly speaks in the area of M&A tax / corporate tax law and publishes specialist articles in the field of taxes. He is a lecturer at the EXPERTsuisse Swiss Certified Tax Expert education program and regularly speaks at different tax seminars.
Daniel Flühmann's practice focuses on banking, insurance and financial market laws as well as on the area of collective investment schemes. He assists Swiss and foreign banks, investment managers, securities firms as well as insurance companies and other financial services providers in regulatory and contract law matters and in the context of licence application proceedings before the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA. A special focus of Daniel Flühmann's work lies on fintech, advising both financial innovators and established market participants. Furthermore, he advises clients on general corporate and commercial matters as well as on M&A transactions. Daniel Flühmann has authored various publications in his areas of expertise and regularly speaks on topics in the area of financial services at expert conferences.
Daniel Bader provides national and international tax, social security and legal advice to individuals and corporate clients. He comprehensively advises private clients, executives and entrepreneurs in tax and legal-related questions including successions planning, compensation plans and private wealth structures. Daniel Bader develops solutions, particularly related to cross-border structuring and to corporate and private relocations from and to Switzerland. He assists clients in questions regarding income and wealth tax, estate and gift taxes, real estate tax and social security. Daniel Bader is a frequent speaker at national and international tax and private clients conferences, and acts as board member of Family Offices. He is president of the Swiss branch of the International Fiscal Association IFA. He is listed as a leading lawyer by Chambers, Legal 500 and Citywealth. Furthermore, Who's Who Legal 2018 recognizes him as expert in the practice areas "Private Client" and "Corporate Tax".
Daniel Leu advises private clients and family offices on wealth and succession planning, on the handling of estates, in connection with foundations and trusts and on questions in connection with the place of residence. Other areas of work include advising clients who buy or sell real estate in Switzerland and art law. Daniel Leu is a Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law and publishes regulary in the field of inheritance law. He has published extensively and frequently lectures on trust and estate matters in Switzerland and abroad. In addition to his practice, Daniel Leu is a lecturer at the University of Muenster, Germany (Master of Law in Inheritance Law & Corporate Succession). Daniel Leu is recommended by Chambers and Partners, Who is Who Legal, Legal 500 as well as by the Legal Week Private Client Global Elite Directory.
Daniel U. Lehmann has broad experience in Corporate taxation, in particular M&A, Corporate reorganizations and restructurings, Corporate Finance (including capital market transactions, ICOs), collective investment schemes, international tax planning, tax litigation, real estate transactions. Advising entrepreneurs and private clients on complex national and international tax planning. Speaker at national and international conferences.
Dieter Dubs has broad experience in M&A transactions with a focus on public tender offers, having represented several target companies in unfriendly takeover situations. In addition, Dieter Dubs advises listed companies on corporate and regulatory matters.
Dominik Infanger has specialized in construction and real estate law. In this area, he acts as a Certified Specialist SBA in an advisory and litigation capacity for real estate and construction companies as well as other companies in the construction industry. He also has extensive experience in commercial, business and corporate law as well as debt collection and bankruptcy law. As a notary public, he covers company law (company formations, reorganisations and mergers), property law (property purchase and pledge agreements and the establishment of condominium ownership) and matrimonial and inheritance law (wills, marriage and inheritance contracts).
Emanuel Cortada's practice focuses on media and entertainment law, privacy and data protection as well as national and international sports law. In 2024, Emanuel was recognized by The Legal 500 as a "Rising Star" in the field of sports law.
Faton Aliu's practice focuses on complex cross-border (bilateral and syndicated) financing transactions, including structured and acquisition finance, project and infrastructure finance as well as re-financings. He has also broad experience in domestic and cross-border private M&A and complex corporate reorganizations and restructuring transactions. In addition, he advises clients on capital market and other corporate and commercial law matters. As such Faton represents and acts for large international and domestic banks, private equity investors and other sponsors, as well as for borrowers and issuers across all industries.
Frédéric Bétrisey has a long standing practice in banking and finance. He advises banks and borrowers on all types of banking and finance transactions, including trade and commodity finance, acquisition finance, equipment financing, financial lease and syndicated lending. He also advises financial institutions on a variety of regulatory aspects and assists financial intermediaries in connection with their securities lending and derivative transactions, with a particular focus on the legal issues and documentation relating to netting arrangements and the issuance and distribution of collective investment schemes and structured products. In recent years, Frédéric Bétrisey has also assisted originators, arrangers and trustees in connection with the securitisation of Swiss law receivables, in particular in respect of residential mortgages (RMBS transactions), consumer credits and leasing agreements. Frédéric Bétrisey is a visiting lecturer at the University of Fribourg, where he gives a course on acquisition financing, and at the Swiss Training Centre for Investment Professionals (AZEK), in Geneva.
Gadi Winter's practice focuses on banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and corporate governance. He advises banks, financial institutions, fintechs and other companies in regulatory, corporate and commercial law matters and represents them before courts and other authorities. Furthermore, he assists companies in internal investigations, especially with regard to regulatory enforcement-proceedings and cross-border white collar crime matters. The Legal 500 2020 describes Gadi Winter as a "Rising Star" in the FinTech space.
Jonas Bornhauser mainly advises clients on information technology law and data protection law as well as on intellectual property matters (esp. copyright, trademark and licensing law).
Laura Widmer's practice focuses on advising Swiss and foreign individuals and entities on various aspects of Swiss employment law, in particular with regard to individual and mass dismissals, reorganizations, compensation plans, employment litigation and transactions. Furthermore, she regularly represents clients in employment disputes before state courts.
Luca Jagmetti has specialized in national and international private M&A transactions in different industries, venture capital investments, corporate restructurings and general corporate, commercial and employment matters, including related litigation and administrative proceedings. During his practice, he gained particular experience in complex asset deals, management participation schemes, up-/cross-stream topics, large outsourcing and procurement projects and regarding the logistics industry in general. Luca Jagmetti has several speaking engagements on asset transactions, legal due diligence and other M&A topics (e.g. Akademie der Treuhand-Kammer; Seminar on Mergers & Acquisitions for practitioners; Course on Commercial Law of the University of St. Gallen). According to The Legal 500 2016 he is "very knowledgeable and speedy". IFLR 2018 lists him as noticeable practitioner. Luca Jagmetti is jointly ranked first in Mergermarket's Profile League Table for 2016's most prolific individual DACH legal advisors.
Lukas Roesler is a banking and finance practitioner. He specialises in advising lenders and borrowers on all aspects of financing and capital markets transactions and related products. He, further, advises in restructuring and insolvency matters.
Mani Reinert’s practice covers all aspects of antitrust law in a wide range of industries. He routinely represents clients in merger control filings before the Swiss Competition Commission and coordinates multijurisdictional merger control filings. Furthermore, Mani Reinert advises and represents clients in administrative proceedings before the Swiss Competition Commission. In addition, he assists clients in dawn raids as well as in the implementation of compliance programs and advises clients regarding the administration of distribution networks. In Chambers Europe, Mani Reinert is ranked in band 1 of the leading lawyers for Competition/Antitrust. Mani Reinert is recognised as a leading lawyer in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame in Switzerland in the area of competition law.
Mariel Hoch is one of Bär & Karrer’s leading M&A partners and co-head of the Public M&A department. She has broad experience across a wide range of industries and focuses on listed companies and public takeover offers. In addition, she specializes in M&A related litigation and advises listed companies on corporate and regulatory matters. She leads complex transactions for industrial clients as well as private equity investors. Mariel is highly regarded by her sophisticated clients, peers and international law firms. With Mariel Hoch, Bär & Karrer has successfully maintained its leading market position in Public M&A, as she exhibited strong leadership skills and ability to develop talent within listed companies and Public M&A practice.
Markus Wang heads the intellectual property team and co-heads the life sciences group of the firm. His practice covers a wide range of contentious and non-contentious patent, trademark, copyright and other IP-related issues, in particular in the pharmaceutical, biotech and IT sector. He frequently drafts and negotiates license, outsourcing and R&D agreements. Furthermore, he specializes in regulatory matters in the fields of life sciences and health care. Markus Wang lectures on intellectual property law at the University of Fribourg. He has written two books on design protection and contributed chapters to the latest commentary on Swiss trademark law and to several books on other IP, IT and life sciences topics. Further, he has published several articles for periodicals in these fields. Markus Wang is recognized as a leading practitioner in the field of intellectual property in professional and life sciences publications and listings such as Chambers Europe, European Legal Experts, Who's Who Legal, WTR 1000: The World's Leading Trademark Professionals and IAM Patent 1000.
Markus Schott has broad experience in all kinds of regulatory and administrative law matters including governmental supervision, public procurement, and administrative sanctions. He advises and represents clients in the life science and food, banking, finance and insurance, transportation and infrastructure sectors. He also drafts expert opinions in these fields. Markus Schott is also specialized in representing clients in administrative and civil litigation proceedings as well as international administrative and legal assistance proceedings. He teaches public economic law at the University of Zurich and he publishes regularly in his fields of interest.
Martin P. Werner's practice focuses on Swiss and European competition law. He represents and assists clients in investigations and merger control proceedings before the Swiss Competition Authorities and in the coordination of antitrust and investment screening in multijurisdictional transactions. In addition, Martin advises companies on the implementation of compliance programs, the administration of distribution systems as well as on cooperation projects, licensing agreements and dawn raids. Since 2020, Martin is Research Coordinator for Digitalization at the Centre for Intellectual Property and Competition Law (CIPCO) at the University of Zurich. In 2023 and 2024, Martin was recognized by The Legal 500 as a "Rising Star" in the field of competition law.
Martin Anderson's practice focuses on domestic and international M&A transactions (acquisitions and divestures in public and private companies, mergers), private equity transactions (assistance to investors, sellers and management teams in MBOs, venture capital and start-ups) and general corporate law (corporate governance, shareholders' agreements, joint ventures, restructurings, executive incentive arrangements). Martin Anderson also regularly assists banks and other financial institutions on financing transactions (including structured financings), derivatives and financial products, asset management and regulatory matters. Chambers (Global and Europe) and Legal 500 rank Martin Anderson as one of the leading lawyers in Switzerland in the areas of Corporate/M&A and Banking, and he has been recognised in the Legal 500 "Hall of Fame" for having received constant praise by clients for continued excellence for at least seven consecutive years. Martin Anderson graduated in both law and business administration at the University of Geneva and was an assistant lecturer in finance at the University of Geneva. He lectures on the legal aspects of M&A transactions at the University of Fribourg and is also a regular speaker at conferences and seminars dealing with corporate law and banking/finance topics.
Martina Athanas is a member of the firm's internal investigations practice group and its litigation team. Her practice is focused on conducting and advising on all aspects of internal investigations into bribery, fraud and compliance. Martina also regularly advises on white collar crime and cross-border legal issues (including Swiss blocking statutes and data privacy laws), and is often involved in proceedings for international mutual legal assistance and administrative assistance. During a secondment at the Swiss financial regulator, FINMA, Martina was able to work on regulatory matters from the government enforcement perspective. She also gained valuable insight into legal matters from a client's perspective during her secondment at the Litigation & Investigations team at UBS.
Massimo Vanotti's work focuses on corporate, commercial and banking law. He also advises private clients on legal and tax matters. Other areas of work include advising clients in real estate transactions and in the frame of relocations. Massimo Vanotti is regularly involved in corporate and M&A transactions related in particular to the banking industry.
Massimo Chiasera's practice focuses on white-collar crime, internal investigations, domestic and cross-border litigation as well as international judicial and administrative assistance. He advises and represents clients in internal and regulatory investigations led by Swiss and foreign authorities, in complex compliance matters (including money laundering as well as anti-bribery and corruption) and in criminal proceedings. Massimo Chiasera has an in-depth knowledge of the financial services industry, based on his prior experience as a Litigation & Investigations Counsel at a major Swiss bank where he managed a wide range of internal investigations, white collar and whistleblowing proceedings. In parallel to his work at Bär & Karrer, he was a former prosecutor of the Office of the Swiss Armed Forces Attorney General and now acts as a presiding judge within the Swiss Military Justice Corps. He is listed as a "Rising Star" in the white-collar crime category by Euromoney Legal Media Group (2020, 2021 and 2022).
Matthew Reiter heads Bär & Karrer’s litigation practice. He specializes in litigation and arbitration. He has extensive experience in a wide range of state court and administrative proceedings, including criminal investigations, white collar crimes, enforcement proceedings and international judicial assistance, but focuses on the resolution of large domestic and international commercial disputes.Matthew Reiter has successfully represented clients in numerous domestic and international arbitrations, both in ad hoc and institutional proceedings (primarily ICC, ZCC/Swiss Rules), especially relating to joint ventures and shareholders' agreements, large construction contracts, M&A transactions and supply agreements. Recent highlights include the successful defense of EnBW in a CHF 1 billion arbitration proceeding concerning the Thermoselect technology.Clients of Matthew Reiter include individuals as well as listed and non-listed domestic and foreign companies from various sectors such as the banking and services industry as well as the pharmaceutical, chemical, energy, automotive, aviation and construction industries.The Legal 500 recommends Matthew Reiter in dispute resolution matters (since 2012).
Matthias Bizzarro is a certified tax expert and a lecturer in tax law at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). Matthias Bizzarro's practice focuses on all aspects of domestic and international corporate tax law and tax planning for Swiss and foreign private clients. He also advises in matters of general contract law, corporate and commercial law, regularly providing advice on corporate transactions (including start-up financing rounds). Matthias Bizzarro is also experienced in advising private clients in civil legal matters, with a focus on estate and wealth planning, as well as relocations to Switzerland. Finally, in the past ten years he has gathered broad experience in representing corporate clients and individuals in front of Cantonal and federal courts, in particular in tax and administrative cases. He regularly speaks and publishes articles on topics within his practice areas.
Michael Trippel's main areas of focus are capital markets, M&A, private equity and joint ventures. He regularly advises issuers and underwriters in capital market transaction such as rights and convertible bond issues and has a broad experience in advising national and international companies on listing as well as general corporate and commercial matters. Michael Trippel works in both our Zurich and Zug offices.
Michele Bernasconi advises on a broad range of sports, media, energy, telecom and IT matters, acting for both domestic and international clients. He has particular expertise in international litigation and arbitration as well as in commercial and transactional work relating to such industries. His recent experience includes advice on outsourcing and joint venture projects, broadcasting and sponsorship agreements, ambush marketing, regulatory and antitrust work in both the telecom and sport sector, software licensing, electricity transmission and distribution, doping matters as well as international transfers of football players. Michele Bernasconi lectures on international sports law at the University of Zurich. He regularly speaks and publishes articles on topics within his practice areas. He is Co-director of the UEFA Football Law Programme. Michele Bernasconi is recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers and Legal 500 further lists him in the Hall of Fame for his excellent work. Legal 500 and Who's Who Legal have listed him among the leading lawyers in Switzerland in the sports as well as in the technology, media and telecommunications sector for years. In 2018 Who's Who Legal recognized Michele Bernasconi with the global award "Sports Lawyer of the Year" as well as "Thought Leader" for the sports and data protection sector. In 2016 Who's Who Legal ranks him among the nine "Most Highly Regarded Individuals" for Sports & Entertainment worldwide. In its 2013 edition, the International Who's Who of regulatory communication lawyers described Michele Bernasconi as one of the "10 Most Highly Regarded Individuals Worldwide".
Nadja Jaisli co-heads Bär & Karrer's arbitration practice and and specializes in international commercial arbitration and litigation. She has extensive experience in representing clients before Swiss courts and in international arbitrations (both ad hoc and institutional, primarily ICC and Swiss Rules), involving a wide array of matters. She has gained particular experience in the banking and finance, the pharmaceutical and the transportation industries and handled complex disputes arising from M&A transactions, joint ventures and shareholders' agreements, the sale of goods as well as license and supply agreements. In addition to her work as party counsel, Nadja Jaisli also sits as arbitrator (in particular under ICC, Swiss and DIS Rules). Nadja Jaisli is a member of the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) and regularly speaks and publishes in the field of international dispute resolution. She is ranked as "Up and Coming" in Chambers Global (Litigation) and Chambers Europe (Litigation and Arbitration), listed in Who's Who Legal's Switzerland Arbitration and Future Leaders Arbitration ranking and as a "Rising Star" in the Commercial Arbitration category by Euromoney Legal Media Group (Expertguides, LMG Rising Stars). In addition, she was shortlisted for the Europe Women in Business Law Award 2017 as "Rising Star Litigation" and ranked amongst the four most highly regarded Future Leaders Arbitration 2018 and 2019 in Europe by Who's Who Legal.
Paolo Bottini has broad experience in advising large multinational corporations on tax and legal matters, particularly in establishing and moving international and regional headquarters in and out of Switzerland. Furthermore, he is very experienced in coordinating legal and tax advice in M&A projects, in particular due diligence procedures and the preparation of contractual documentation. He also regularly assists private clients in legal and tax matters. Paolo Bottini is a Board member of Helsinn Holding SA, a privately held pharmaceutical company and worldwide leader in supportive cancer care products, where he serves as chairman of the audit committee.
Pascal Hachem's practice focuses on contentious and non-contentious commercial matters as well as corporate internal investigations. He further assists clients with claim-management and the gathering, securing and evaluation of evidence. Pascal Hachem represents clients in state court, arbitration and in front of domestic and foreign authorities. He has acted as sole arbitrator and member of an arbitration panel. Pascal Hachem holds law degrees from Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg i.Br. (Germany) and the University of Basel. Pascal Hachem is a frequent speaker at international conferences in his areas of expertise, contributes to leading commentaries on international sales law and treatises on corporate internal investigations and has authored and co-authored books and articles in the field of general contract and sales law. Who's Who Legal lists him as Future Leader in Arbitration.
Peter Hsu is Bär & Karrer's key contact for the practice area of banking and insurance. His practice focuses on banking, insurance, financing and capital markets. He regularly advises Swiss and foreign banks, securities dealers, insurers and other financial intermediaries as well as fintech businesses with regard to a wide range of regulatory, contract law and corporate law matters. Moreover, he often advises clients on M&A transactions.Peter Hsu has published several books and articles on topics in banking, insurance and capital markets and is regularly invited to speak on these topics.Peter Hsu is ranked as a leading individual in the practice areas of Banking & Finance as well as Insurance & Reinsurance and listed as "most highly regarded" practitioner in Insurance & Reinsurance (Who's Who Legal 2018). The Legal 500 2014 refers to him as a "key individual within the banking and insurance sector" and recommends him for insurance advice. In Who's Who Legal, he is quoted as "the 'go-to guy' for clients in need of insurance and reinsurance regulatory advice" (2013, 2018) and "key player in the Swiss insurance and reinsurance regulatory field" (2014) and wins praise for his "unparalleled abilities". In addition, he is described as "extremely knowledgeable" in insurance and regulatory matters, lauded for his "business oriented approach" (2016) and it is further noted that "he is not only an expert on regulatory topics, but also has a very profound understanding of other legal areas". Moreover, he is praised for "his pragmatic approach to resolve legal issues" (2018). In IFLR 1000, a client characterizes him as "very knowledgeable, detail-oriented and very open to novel solutions and approaches" (2016).
Philippe Seiler has broad experience in international and domestic private M&A transactions in various industries with a special focus on life science and health care transactions (incl. medtech, pharma, healthcare providers in various industries, suppliers to healthcare providers etc.). Philippe Seiler does not only cover big size transactions and takeovers but also focuses on small- and mid-size M&A transactions, private equity transactions as well as venture capital and startup transactions. Furthermore, he advises clients on regulatory matters relating to life science and health care law outside of M&A transactions. Philippe Seiler is praised for his pragmatic and solution-oriented advice while at the same time having an excellent technical knowledge. Due to his extensive transaction experience he has a fast and good understanding of the business and the process. Legal 500 ranks Philippe Seiler as a Key Contact for Healthcare and Life Sciences transactions and Who's Who Legal lists him in M&A and Governance. In addition, Philippe Seiler was listed as a "Rising Star in Corporate/M&A/Private Equity" by Legal Media Group. Philippe Seiler has frequent speaking engagements on M&A-related topics and teaches regularly at a number of private and public Universities (e.g. LL.M. of the University of Zurich, Switzerland; Executive MBA University of St. Gallen).
Ralph Malacrida specializes in M&A and corporate finance transactions, including venture capital transactions, structured and acquisition finance as well as capital markets. He has extensive experience in complex corporate restructurings. Ralph Malacrida is co-head of the M&A practice and heads the Finance practice. He has a strong track record advising clients on domestic and international M&A and finance transactions, successfully executing deals for sellers, buyers, finance providers, borrowers and issuers. Ralph Malacrida is a member of the board of directors of several Swiss companies. He is ranked as a leading lawyer in IFLR 1000, Legal 500, Chambers Europe and Chambers Global.
Raoul Stocker has broad experience in all taxation matters and advises both corporations and individuals. His focus lies on cross-border structuring of corporate transactions and businesses as well as transfer pricing. He is specifically experienced in international tax litigation such as mutual agreement procedures and advanced pricing agreements. Raoul is honorable professor for tax law at the University of St. Gallen and director at the Institute for Financial Law and Economics (IFF) at the University of St.Gallen.
Raphael Annasohn has broad experience in international and domestic M&A transactions in various industries focusing on private M&A and private equity, corporate reorganizations and restructurings as well as corporate law and general contractual matters, in particular shareholders' agreements. Furthermore, he specializes in the fields of venture capital and startups and assists clients in their ongoing commercial activities.
With over ten years of experience, Rehana Harasgama is an expert in domestic and international data, data protection and cybersecurity law. She also has a deep understanding of and advises clients on information, media and technology law as well as other regulatory topics such the use of artificial intelligence, platform regulation, advertising, FinTech and life sciences. Rehana Harasgama advises clients on complex data, data protection and cybersecurity questions, such as major cross-border disclosure requests, the adoption and implementation of privacy-by-design in new technologies and business models, data protection due diligences, the monetization of data, the implementation of data breach response plans, the outsourcing of data (processing activities) and the handling of employee personal data. She regularly holds internal and external training sessions and seminars in data protection law as well as other current developments in her field of expertise. In the past, Rehana Harasgama worked at one of the big four focusing on compliance with the EU GDPR and the implementation of new processes under the EU GDPR for EU and Swiss companies, where she also acted as the interim internal data protection officer. Rehana Harasgama is a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) where she teaches data protection law. She also regularly publishes academic articles, newsletters and briefings and is an author in the "Basler Kommentar zum Datenschutzgesetz" a leading commentary on the revised Swiss data protection act as well as the "Online Kommentar" of the revised law. Rehana is on the advisory board of the newly founded Swiss IT Women Lawyers Association (Schweizer IT-Juristinnen Verein) where she is also the head of the data protection sector. During her doctorate (Ph.D. in Law) at the University of St. Gallen she contributed to an international and interdisciplinary research project "Remembering and Forgetting in the Digital Age" in collaboration with – among others – the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law school where she also spent one summer as a visiting researcher to focus on US privacy law. The research project was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Rocco Rigozzi's practice focuses on real estate, M&A and corporate law. He specializes in real estate transactions of all types, including asset deals, share deals, large-scale portfolio transactions and real estate related M&A-transactions. He has special experience in the field of the Swiss legislation on acquisition of real estate by persons abroad (Lex Koller) and the associated restrictions for international investors. Tenancy law and environmental law form also part of his practice. In addition, Rocco Rigozzi advises corporations on commercial and corporate law, in particular in connection with all types of corporate reorganizations, carve-out transactions, incorporations, shareholders' agreements, as well as capital increases and reductions.
Rolf Watter has broad experience in all types of M&A transactions, including defence mandates. He also specializes in corporate governance questions and capital market transactions. He is a board member of the listed AP Alternative Portfolio and of the privately held Faber Castell (Holding). He used to be chairman of PostFinance AG (2012/2021), CEVA Logistics (2018/2019) and of Nobel Biocare (2012/2014; member 2007/2012); further he was a board member in a number of other Swiss listed companies, namely Aryzta, Zurich Insurance Group, Syngenta, Centerpulse, and Forbo. In addition, he is a member of the Regulatory Board of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Rolf teaches as a professor at the University of Zurich since 1996 and is an editor of the GesKR and the Basler Kommentare on the Code of Obligations II, the Financial Infrastructure Act, the Banking and the Merger Act. He regularly publishes in his fields of work. In Chambers Global and Europe, Rolf Watter is consistently ranked in tier 1 of the leading lawyers for Corporate/ M&A in Switzerland. Rolf Watter is recognized as a leading lawyer in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. He is listed among the top 30 corporate governance practitioners in the world by Expertguides. Rolf Watter won the ILO Client Choice Awards Switzerland in the category M&A (2016 and 2018) and Capital Markets (2014); WWL has ranked him in 2019 as best Corporate Governance lawyer.
Ruth Bloch-Riemer’s practice focuses on domestic and international tax law. She regularly advises Swiss and foreign high net worth individuals in all taxation matters. In particular, she supports clients with regard to wealth and succession planning, the structuring of charitable contributions, questions in the context of the taxation of art and artists, and questions within the field of the domestic and international structuring and coordination of their pension and social security. Furthermore, Ruth Bloch-Riemer is advising domestic and international companies and managers in all taxation and social security matters particularly in the context of compensation, i. a. within employee participation schemes, and in the development and implementation of complex domestic and cross-border pension solutions. In her areas of practice, Ruth Bloch-Riemer supports clients both in the context of compliance work and non-contentious procedures as well as in the context of litigation vis-à-vis domestic administrative and judicial authorities. Ruth Bloch-Riemer regularly publishes and speaks at conferences on tax and social security matters. She serves as an expert for the oral Swiss tax expert examinations.
Saverio Lembo heads Bär & Karrer's White Collar Crime practice group. He has extensive experience in white collar crime, commercial and financial litigation, international judicial assistance (civil and criminal), arbitration and insolvency. During recent years, he has been involved in a number of complex commercial litigation proceedings, has served as a party representative or arbitrator in various domestic and international commercial arbitrations and has assisted clients in Swiss and foreign criminal proceedings. He regularly represents clients before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Saverio Lembo's practice also extends to pharmaceutical litigation, inheritance law, employment matters and enforcement of foreign judgments and awards. Saverio Lembo is ranked in tier 1 of the leading lawyers in White-Collar Crime Switzerland by Chambers & Partners. He was awarded "Lawyer of the Year for Switzerland" in the categories "Business Crime Defence" and "Investigations" at the Who's Who Legal Awards in 2020 as well as "Lawyer of the Year 2016" in the categories Criminal Defence and Litigation in the Geneva area by Best Lawyers. Since 2012, the International Who's Who lists him among the world's leading practitioners in the areas of Business Crime Defence, Asset Recovery Lawyers and Commercial Litigation. In The Legal 500, Saverio Lembo has been listed among the leading individuals in Switzerland in Dispute Resolution since 2010.
Stephanie Walter's practice focuses on banking, insurance and financial market laws as well as on the area of collective investment schemes. She assists Swiss and foreign banks, asset managers, managers of collective investment schemes, insurance companies and other financial institutions in regulatory matters and proceedings (including before U.S. authorities) as well as in FinTech and contract matters. Furthermore, she advises clients on M&A transactions and large-scale internal investigations. Drawing from her secondments at Goldman Sachs and at FINMA's Fintech-Desk as well as her former professional activities for various companies, Stephanie has practical experience in the financial services and blockchain industry and understands the client's needs also from a market and customer-oriented perspective. As a former law clerk at the Swiss Federal Administrative Court she has expertise in proceedings before administrative authorities and in dealing with regulators.
Susanne Schreiber is a partner at Bär & Karrer AG and co-heads the tax department. Susanne Schreiber has extensive experience in international corporate tax matters, in particular in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and reorganizations. She advises on tax aspects of financing, acquisition structuring as well as capital market transactions and management incentive schemes. She frequently works on vendor or buy-side transactions, both for private equity clients, multinationals or individuals, covering due diligence, pre-deal structuring as well as carve-outs and post-merger integration from a tax perspective. Furthermore, Susanne Schreiber regularly supports Swiss multinationals in their tax planning work, including tax advice on restructurings, financing and tax litigation work. Susanne Schreiber is an attorney-at-law and tax advisor as well as a Swiss certified tax expert. Before joining Bär & Karrer she worked for an international law firm in Germany and for one of the big four companies in Zurich where she last headed the Swiss M&A tax department. She regularly speaks on tax-related topics in the area of M&A / corporate tax law and publishes specialist articles as well as commentaries in the field of taxes. Susanne Schreiber is an Officer of the IBA Taxes Committee, a member of the Exam Commission for Swiss Certified Tax Experts, the tax chapter of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, the International Fiscal Association and EXPERTsuisse tax commission. Susanne Schreiber won the award "Rising star: Tax" at the IFLR Europe Women in Business Law Awards 2016 and is listed as a Woman-in-Tax Leader in the International Tax Review. Legal 500 listed her as Leading Individual in the category Tax Switzerland. She has recently been awarded for outstanding quality client service with the Client Choice Award 2020 for Corporate Tax in Switzerland.
Co-heading Bär & Karrer's reorganization and insolvency practice, Thomas Rohde focuses on corporate restructurings and reorganizations as well as the representation of creditors in Swiss insolvency proceedings. Furthermore, he regularly advises clients on all types of M&A transactions (with a particular emphasis on real estate transactions) as well as on general corporate and commercial matters.
Thomas Stoltz heads the notarial services as well as the employment, migration and social security practice areas of Bär & Karrer. He manages the Zug office. Thomas Stoltz advises national and international clients mainly located in the Zug business area on all legal issues related to corporate, commercial and employment law. He also specializes in questions of Swiss migration law. In his capacity as civil law notary, Thomas Stoltz is regularly responsible for the notarial acts in the various national and cross-border M&A transactions and IPOs assisted by Bär & Karrer. Who's Who Legal lists Thomas Stoltz as an expert in the practice area Corporate Immigration (since 2014).
Tina Wüstemann heads the private client team. She advises Swiss and foreign private clients, executives as well as entrepreneurs regarding complex estate and succession planning matters including trusts, prenuptial agreements, wills and relocations to Switzerland. Tina Wüstemann also advises charitable foundations and represents clients in contentious trust and estate matters as well as the administration of large international estates. Tina Wüstemann publishes regularly and frequently lectures on trust and estate matters in Switzerland and abroad. She is chair of the Zurich Annual Conference on International Trust and Inheritance Law Practice and serves as board member in several international charitable organizations, as member of the advisory board of the Department of Economics, University of Zurich and as board member of the ETH Zurich Foundation. The STEP Private Clients Awards recognized Tina Wüstemann 2022 as "Trusted Advisor of the Year". She was further awarded with the Europe Women in Business Law Award 2022 as 'Best in trusts & estates', marking the sixth time she has received this recognition following 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017 and 2014. In Chambers and Partners HNW Guide 2022, Tina Wüstemann is listed in Tier 1 for Private Wealth Law in Switzerland. Tina Wüstemann has been awarded by Who's Who Legal as Private Client Lawyer of the Year 2021 (global) and Lawyer of the Year 2019 (Switzerland), and she is listed as Thought Leader in Global Elite 2021 (Private Client), Global Leader 2021 and National Leader Switzerland 2021 (Private Client). Furthermore, Citywealth names Tina Wüstemann as Women of the Year 2021 at the Citywealth The Magic Circle Awards 2021 and in 2020 as one of the Top 100 trust litigators and lists her among the Top Ten Powerwomen Trust Litigators worldwide. Citywealth further awarded her in 2018 with gold as "Woman of the Year - Leadership (Professional Services)".
Urs Brügger’s main areas of practice are financial market regulations including governance and disclosure obligations of listed companies, banking and corporate finance, and transactional services, including public and private M&A. Urs Brügger has extensive experience in advising Swiss public companies in governance, disclosure and related reporting obligations, and financial intermediaries in all kinds of regulatory matters. He represents listed companies, financial intermediaries and investors in regulatory enforcement proceedings. He has also advised the board of directors of several listed companies in their takeover defences.
Urs Kägi advises listed and non-listed companies on a broad range of corporate and regulatory matters. A main focus of his work is on M&A transactions (both in a domestic and a cross-border setup), including mergers, spin-offs, public offers, joint ventures, complex intra-group restructurings, relocations, as well as private equity and family succession transactions, on corporate restructurings of financially distressed companies, and on corporate governance (including "Minder"/compensation issues) and securities laws issues. Urs has advised a number of Swiss blue chips and major multi-national clients. Apart from his transactional work, he provides ongoing corporate advice to a number of listed companies, including several Swiss-domiciled clients with a primary or secondary listing abroad. He has in-depth expertise of the financial services sector, in particular banking, insurance and stock exchanges. In the context of his expertise in connection with cross-border bank reorganizations and resolution actions, he has recently been invited to speak as a panelist by the Financial Stability Board's Legal Experts Group.
Vera Naegeli is experienced in international and domestic M&A transactions and in general corporate and regulatory matters. She has a special focus on M&A transactions in regulated industries. She regularly advises clients on compliance, environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics and regarding corporate governance matters. Further, Vera Naegeli specializes in representing companies across various industries and individuals in white collar crime, administrative criminal and regulatory enforcement proceedings. Vera Naegeli teaches at the MAS Economic Crime Investigation at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and regularly contributes to publications in her areas of expertise.
