Adrian Koller’s practice focuses on public and private M&A and on financing transactions, including complex acquisition and other structured financings. Adrian also advises on capital markets transactions and other corporate and commercial law matters.
Niederer Kraft Frey AG
Lawyers
Hall of fame
András Gurovits specializes in Technology (IT, Telecoms, Manufacturing, Regulatory) transactions (including acquisitions, outsourcing, development, procurement, distribution), Data Protection, Corporate, Dispute Resolution (incl. Administrative Proceedings) and Sports.
Andrea Giger’s practice focuses on complex international and domestic public and private M&A, capital markets and corporate finance transactions. Andrea also advises on corporate reorganisations, general corporate law matters, corporate governance and general securities regulation.
Andrea has extensive experience in international and domestic M&A transactions (acquisitions and divestitures, mergers, spin-offs) in many industries, including financial services, information technology, life sciences and health care, real estate, hotels, education, luxury goods, distribution, services and manufacturing.
Andreas Casutt’s practice focuses mainly on corporate law, corporate governance, employment law (compensation), mergers and acquisitions as well as stock exchange law issues. His fields of expertise includes litigation in particular shareholder and employment litigation. Andreas Casutt is described as “tactically skilled and pragmatic” and as “a savvy lawyer with a flash of genius about him” by Chambers and other directories. He is a member of the board of directors of various companies including chairman of listed Siegfried Holding AG.
Hall of fame
Andreas F. Vögeli heads the Real Estate team at Niederer Kraft Frey. His expertise covers the full lifecycle of real estate, providing a comprehensive and commercially pragmatic approach for his clients. Andreas F. Vögeli is recognised as a leading real estate lawyer in Switzerland.
Annina Fey is part of the Real Estate and Employment Team. She advises and represents domestic and international investors, financial institutions, companies and private clients mainly in the fields of real estate law, public law, construction and zoning law, environmental, procurement law, energy law as well as tenancy law. Her practice further includes matters of employment law.
Benjamin Humm practice focuses on corporate law (incorporation, restructuring of capital, liability of corporate bodies including shareholders’ disputes, dissolution and liquidation), M&A transactions (drafting and negotiation of share purchase agreements, transfer of assets) and commercial law generally. He also assists private clients and family offices in their investments and overall legal needs.
Bertrand Schott specialises in the regulation of financial services, investment funds and other investment vehicles in particular asset management and distribution, financial market infrastructures and the trading of derivatives and other financial instruments. Bertrand also focuses on corporate law and M&A, primarily in the financial sector. Bertrand Schott is a member of NKF’s Executive Committee.
Boris Vittoz is an expert in international arbitration, both as counsel and arbitrator, as well as commercial litigation, including debt collection and enforcement proceedings. He also advises clients in crisis management and in relation to sports as well as trust and estate disputes.
Catherine Grun mainly focuses on inheritance, estate and family law (including marital and marital property law), foundation law as well as employment, corporate and contract law. Her work also includes dispute resolution in these areas.
For more than 20 years Christina Rinne has specialised in national and international value added tax, customs and excise duties. She frequently lectures on Swiss and European VAT matters. Christina Rinne is distinguished by Chambers Global as a Leading Individual in Tax and as a Tax Expert with Foreign Expertise.
Christoph Balsiger specializes in the fields of banking, regulatory and capital market transactions. He regularly advises clients on all aspects of securities law and represents clients in listing, regulatory and enforcement proceedings before the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX) and in proceedings before the Swiss Takeover Board.
Clara-Ann Gordon is specialized in the areas of TMT/Outsourcing, data privacy, internal investigations/e-discovery, compliance and represents clients in these areas in court proceedings (including mediation/arbitration) and in transactions.
Daniel Eisele specializes in large and complex litigation and arbitration proceedings, commercial contracts and international business transactions in all kinds of industries, in particular in connection with trade and commerce, finance and banking and sports.
Daniel Bono's practice focuses on capital markets, derivatives and structured finance, corporate governance, general securities law matters as well as mergers and acquisitions. Daniel has represented investment banks, issuers and investors in a wide range of corporate and capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings, rights offerings, listings on the SIX Swiss Exchange, exchange offers and other liability management transactions, public offerings and private placements of debt securities, including regulatory capital instruments, asset-backed securities, high-yield bonds, and equity-linked debt securities.
Daniel Antognini specialises in private and commercial client work and advises national and international clients on inheritance and estate law, foundations law, contract, corporate and commercial law. His work also includes dispute resolution.
Daniela Schmucki specializes in Swiss and international tax law. She has devoted a substantial amount of time to large and complex domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, demergers and corporate reconstructions. She also does a lot of work for international sports organisations, high net worth individuals and provides tax advice in private equity and investment funds transactions.
Deirdre’s practice focuses on capital markets, M&A transactions and corporate governance. She has experience working with international and Swiss companies, investment banks and private equity firms in a range of equity, debt and M&A transactions, including IPOs, rights offerings and public and private acquisitions.
Ernst F. Schmid is the former head of the dispute resolution group of Niederer Kraft Frey. He regularly acts as counsel in national and international litigation and arbitration cases, and as arbitrator in ad hoc and institutional arbitration proceedings. In addition, he advises in contract, employment, banking and corporate law issues.
Fabiano Menghini is a partner of the Real Estate team at Niederer Kraft Frey. He advises on a wide range of real estate transactions including asset deals, share deals, sale-and-rent-back transactions, asset transfers, asset swaps, in-kind contributions and development projects. His expertise also encompasses other real estate-specific legal matters such as total contractor/general contractor agreements, EPC contracts, planning agreements, project development agreements, tenancy and lease law, environmental law, Lex Koller, Lex Weber and real estate financing. Beyond real estate, Fabiano advises on all areas of corporate law, including private M&A transactions.
Francois Bianchi specializes in the fields of banking regulatory and capital market transactions. He frequently advises and represents financial institutions in regulatory proceedings before the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). He is distinguished as a highly regarded Banking, Capital Markets and M&A lawyer by IFLR1000 and ranked in Legal500 (Banking & Finance; Capital Markets), in Who's Who Legal: Global Leader (Capital Markets) and National Leader (Capital Markets; Investment Management) as well as in other directories. For many years he advises larger Swiss banking institutions in connection with cross-border internal investigations. Commentators are impressed with his "fantastic work on the debt side" as well as with his "broad expertise in structured products work".
Frank acts as counsel before arbitral tribunals as well as state courts. He regularly sits as co-arbitrator, sole arbitrator and chairman. He also assists parties in pre-arbitration or pre-litigation phases, as well as in annulment proceedings against awards before the Swiss Supreme Court. His cases relate among others to M&A, joint ventures, distribution, agency, licensing, service agreements and international sales.
Gaudenz Zindel specializes in corporate and commercial law, particularly the law on corporations and limited liability companies and construction law. He advises public and privately held companies as well as private clients. He focuses on shareholders meetings, board of directors and corporate governance issues. His experience includes mergers, joint ventures and reorganisations, including corporate successions, of private and listed entities. He is the former editor-in-chief of Swiss Lawyers Journal (SJZ/RSJ) and regularly publishes articles on corporate and commercial law. From 2004 to 2017 Gaudenz Zindel was head of the annual Conferences on Corporation Law at the Europe Institute at the University of Zurich.
Jacques Bonvin’s practice focuses on transactions (M&A, corporate finance, private equity and venture capital) and general corporate/commercial law matters (corporate governance, joint ventures, restructurings, key commercial agreements, etc.). He has an extensive experience in numerous industries and sectors and a deep understanding of all phases of the life cycles of companies, in particular technology and life science companies. He often acts as lead negotiator and external general counsel to groups and companies, and has experience negotiating deals on all continents.
Jacques Pittet advises on all aspects of Swiss and international tax law. He specialises in VAT, customs law, tax litigation as well as criminal tax law.
Janine Reudt-Demont is a life sciences and healthcare specialist at Niederer Kraft Frey. Her experience covers the regulation of all aspects of the medtech and pharmaceutical industry, including clinical trials, product classifications, authorizations, market access, promotion and marketing, compliance (including data privacy questions) as well as transparency and anti-corruption. Janine also advises on regulatory and compliance matters concerning other regulated products such as cosmetics, foodstuffs, tobacco and CBD-products.
Janine further possesses specialist knowledge and experience in all areas of commercial law, with main focus on distribution, franchising, e-commerce as well as product liability and product safety matters (including recalls). She also has an IP background and often advises on licensing, R&D and supply agreements as well as on unfair competition and advertising law.
In addition to her advisory expertise, Janine regularly represents clients in court proceedings, arbitration, mediation and before administrative bodies.
Juerg Bloch’s practice focuses on advising companies and individuals on corporate internal and regulatory investigations, white collar crime, crisis management, corporate governance, compliance and international civil and criminal judicial assistance matters. Much of Juerg’s work is international and involves regular contact with regulators and prosecutors in Switzerland and the United States.
Karim specialises in M&A transactions, with a focus on private equity and venture capital transactions involving startups and SMEs. He also advises on corporate governance, remuneration matters and other corporate and commercial law matters.
Katalin Siklosi’s practice focuses on advising on international and domestic M&A transactions and financing. Katalin also advises on private equity and venture capital transactions and general corporate matters. Katalin has advised clients throughout various industry sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, financial services and industrials.
Livia Keller represents clients in employment, in contractual as well as in commercial and corporate disputes before cantonal courts and the Federal Court. She also advises on various aspects of employment law, e.g., on employment agreements, employee handbooks, working time regulations, bonus schemes, terminations, domestic and international personnel lending, and employment law issues in connection with domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and restructurings, including employment due diligence, transfer of employees and mass dismissals.
Lukas Beeler has extensive experience in dispute resolution. He specializes in domestic and international litigation and arbitration proceedings, with a particular focus on international and cross border matters. He also frequently represents clients in administrative and regulatory litigation, in particular enforcement proceedings.
Manuel Werder’s practice focuses on corporate law and M&A, including private equity and venture capital transactions, in particular with an Asian aspect. He has expertise in large, complex, cross-border acquisitions, mergers, divestitures and corporate restructurings. His M&A expertise crosses all industries, including financial, industrials and services.
Marc advises on international and domestic transactions, including M&A and real estate transactions. He also has significant experience in energy matters. Over the last years, he has advised large corporations in various commercial contract and M&A matters, has assisted clients in energy infrastructure projects and also advised various private and institutional investors in real estate transactions (asset or share deals).
Marcel Meier specialises in domestic and international tax law for corporate and individual clients.
Marco Häusermann is a partner in the NKF banking, finance & regulatory team and a specialist for banking & finance (regulatory and transactional) matters, debt capital markets transactions and restructuring and insolvency law matters. He frequently advises domestic and international financial institutions and corporates on syndicated debt financings, leveraged finance, asset and project finance and other structured finance transactions as well as in work-out and restructuring situations. He devotes a substantial amount of time in advising arrangers and issuers on debt capital markets transactions, including public offerings and private placements of innovative debt securities, high yield bonds, regulatory capital instruments, hybrid instruments and EMTN programmes.
Markus Kronauer specializes in all matters of tax advice for corporations, in particular bank financing transactions, domestic and cross-border M&A (including corporate reorganisation), equity capital market transactions and capital market products, including collective investment schemes and charitable institutions. He advises individuals in all matters of tax law, in particular transfer of domicile, lump sum taxation, real estate transactions, inheritance tax and ongoing income and wealth taxes. He further focuses on international administrative assistance in tax matters proceedings as well as types of securitisation transactions.
Mirjam Vögeli advises and represents high net worth individuals, families, and family offices in national and cross-border matters relating to inheritance law, private wealth and estate planning as well as the execution of the division of estates.
Due to her many years of practice and expertise in the areas of M&A, corporate, commercial and contract law, her practice includes corporate and business succession, family and corporate governance, and the reorganization of private companies and family-owned businesses.
Mirjam has extensive knowledge of foundation law and the law governing associations.
Moritz Maurer focuses on mergers & acquisitions, in particular as buyer’s advisor of privately held companies in various industries (especially retail). Other areas of work include joint ventures, venture capital and private equity transactions as well as corporate law.
Myriam specialises in white-collar crime and international legal assistance in criminal matters. She has extensive experience in complex cases with cross-border issues, essentially at the Swiss federal level. Her expertise also covers asset tracing and recovery, corporate investigations, compliances issues as well as banking and commercial litigation.
Nicolas Birkhäuser advises undertakings in the field of Swiss and European competition law, merger control, horizontal and vertical restraints, exchange of information, distribution, parallel imports, cooperation, licensing, joint ventures, dominance, compliance, risk management, investigation proceedings, including dawn raids and leniency programs. Nicolas Birkhäuser combines this with a strong expertise in IP.
Nicolas is an expert in litigation and dispute resolution, handling cases relating typically to banking and asset management, distribution agreements, construction, employment and service agreements, debt and judgement enforcement, asset recovery, bankruptcy and white-collar crime. Besides, he often acts as expert on all kinds of contractual and procedural matters in Swiss and foreign proceedings.
"Excellent real estate lawyer” (Legal 500 2022) Oliver Zbinden specialises in real estate and construction law. As a Specialist SBA Construction and Real Estate Law, his expertise covers the entire life cycle of real estate. He advises and represents domestic and international investors, financial institutions, companies and private clients on all aspects of real estate and construction law, particularly real estate transactions, tenancy law, private construction law, public construction and zoning law, environmental law and Lex Koller issues. Oliver Zbinden is recognised as a “rising star” in real estate and construction (Legal 500 2023).
Paloma Alcántara has broad international experience on Antitrust & Competition matters and focuses her practice on transactional matters, merger control, investigations, compliance and general antitrust counselling.
Patrik Peyer is the co-head of NKF’s Corporate and M&A team. He is a corporate law specialist with a focus on complex M&A transactions, private equity, venture capital and corporate governance. He has broad experience in and a deep understanding of all phases of the private equity and venture capital investment life cycle. He provides innovative legal solutions to help companies of all sizes to achieve their commercial and growth objectives. Patrik was the managing partner of Niederer Kraft Frey from 2021 until 2024.
Prof. Forstmoser specializes in Corporate Law (in particular Law of Stock Corporations and Limited Liability Companies, Law of Cooperatives), Banking & Finance legislation, Stock Exchange Law, Collective Investment Schemes Regulation and the Liability of Corporate Directors and Officers. He is working as advisor, legal expert and arbitrator and is member or chairman of the boards of several listed and unlisted corporations and foundations.
Peter Isler uses his broad legal experience in various areas of law, in particular corporate and banking law, domestic and transnational M&A transactions, takeovers and financial transactions as well as arbitration. He has been named "outstanding" and "one of the best lawyers in the country" by Chambers and other directories.
Phidias Ferrari specializes in corporate and M&A transactions (with a focus on private equity and venture capital), as well as corporate governance and commercial contracts. His practice also covers banking, finance & regulatory matters.
Philip is a corporate finance specialist with a focus on complex debt and equity-linked financing structures, capital markets transactions and international and domestic public and private M&A. He also advises on the issuance of financial instruments, private equity and venture capital investments and general corporate and commercial matters.
Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets.
Philipp Candreia, Partner, specializes in M&A transactions with a focus on the finance industry and further regulated markets, as well as in regulatory enforcement matters and white collar investigations.
Hall of fame
Philippe Weber has vast experience in high profile corporate/M&A and capital markets transactions and regularly acts on many of the largest Swiss deals. He also regularly advises companies, boards and other parties on takeover law, governance and compliance and represents clients in such matters before regulators, including the SIX Swiss Exchange, the Swiss Takeover Board, the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority FINMA and other Swiss and foreign regulators. He regularly receives national and international recognition of his work. Recent awards include Swiss Corporate and M&A Lawyer and Swiss Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year 2022 by Legalcommunity, Swiss Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year 2021 by WWL and winner of the Lexology Client Choice Award 2021 for Capital Markets Switzerland.
Rolf Sethe's practice focuses mainly on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance as well as banking and capital market law issues. He is ordinary professor for civil law, commercial and economic law at the University of Zurich.
Roman Sturzenegger advises domestic and international clients on corporate law and corporate governance, complex corporate reorganisation, insolvency and restructuring, domestic and cross-border M&A transactions (including private equity, venture capital and distressed M&A transactions), corporate financing and general commercial law. He represents clients in corporate and commercial disputes.
Hall of fame
Sandro Abegglen advises leading Swiss and international banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, fund providers, investment foundations, insurers/reinsurers and institutional investors on a broad variety of regulatory, civil law and other critical laws, such and blocking statutes and KYC/AML regulations. He as also a leading role in advising on upcoming new financial services regulations, such as the Swiss Financial Services Act (FIDLEG) and the Swiss Financial Institutions Act (FINIG). Represents clients in regulatory and civil law proceedings, and conducts internal investigations for banks, both in national and international contexts. Sandro further advises in financial services, M&A. As a board member of a leading institutional asset manager, and external counsel to senior management of major banks and other financial institutions, he has a thorough understanding of the key aspects of his clients' business and transactions. Sandro was appointed by the Swiss Finance Department to advise on the design of the new Swiss Financial Services Act.
Simon Bühler is a banking and regulatory specialist who advises Swiss and international clients on a broad spectrum of regulatory matters and financial transactions. His expertise covers advising banks, insurance companies and financial institutions on licenses (including FinTech), regulatory, civil law and compliance matters. Simon also supports clients in internal investigations and represents them in contentious regulatory matters, such as enforcement.
Hall of fame
Thomas Graf specializes in national and international tax law. He has a special emphasis on the financial services industry and UHNWIs with entrepreneurial background. He has devoted a substantial amount of time to advising individual athletes and international sports organisations. Thomas Graf is distinguished as a leading tax lawyer by a number of legal directories.
Thomas Sprecher is recognised for his expertise in foundation law, association law and law of succession. He also has substantial experience advising in litigation, bankruptcy and restructuring law and on commercial issues. He regularly advises companies and institutional clients with regard to general corporate law issues, contracts as well as litigation. In his employment law practice, Thomas Sprecher advises employers and employees on all issues of private labour law. He has a notable media law practice.
Thomas Hochstrasser advises private clients on all matters of commercial, corporate, banking, finance and regulatory law as well as sports law. He also regularly acts as counsel and represents clients in complex litigation proceedings. In addition, Thomas is a member of the board of several corporations. Thomas has been ranked in his working field by Legal 500 2021 as recommended key lawyer.
Thomas Brönnimann advises issuers, banks and institutional investors in capital market and M&A transactions, on stock exchange and takeover law matters as well as on debt financing transactions.
Thomas Frick specializes in counselling Swiss and foreign banks and other financial institutions in various legal and regulatory issues, with a particular focus on customer contracts, interbank contracts and syndicated finance. He advises on numerous FinTech projects and is the editor of the FinTech Law Review. Furthermore, he advises and regularly publishes on competition law.
Ulysses von Salis specialises in private equity, M&A and corporate transactions as well as financings, with a particular focus on large companies and financial institutions. He advises investors, private equity sponsors, managers and target companies on private equity transactions. He is distinguished as a leading Corporate/M &A and Banking & Finance lawyer by Chambers and other legal directories.
Valerie Meyer Bahar specializes in commercial litigation and arbitration as well as employment law. She regularly represents clients in litigious matters, focusing on corporate, commercial and shareholder disputes, and renders advice in the area of employment law, in particular with regard to corporate employment law and compensation matters.