Adrienne Hennemann is a Senior Associate in our Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property Group in Zurich. Her main areas of practice are domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration. She also advises on regulatory issues in various fields. Before joining Schellenberg Wittmer, she worked as a Law Clerk at the Commercial Court of the Canton of Zurich handling various types of disputes at all procedural stages, mainly relating to contract law, all kind of shareholder disputes, trademark and unfair competition law. She has profound expertise in procedural law and also acts as a Substitute Judge at various District Courts.
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Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
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Hall of fame
Alexander von Ziegler is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich and he also heads the firm’s Trade and Transport Group as well as the Insurance Practice Group. He also acts as mediator (accredited by SKWM, SAV and CEDR).
Experience:
Specialist in the field of export/import, shipping, aviation, he advises parties involved in international trade, commercial contracts, transportation and logistics (dispute resolution and transactional)
Specialist in the field of insurance and reinsurance law, he advises national and international insurers in high-profile defense or cover disputes and regulatory issues (dispute resolution and transactional)
Mediator (SKWM, SAV and CEDR)
Alexander Jolles is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution and Private Wealth Group and heads the Art and Entertainment Group in Zurich. His main areas of practice include domestic and international litigation and arbitration as well as succession, trust and estate planning and litigation. In addition, Alexander Jolles has a longstanding and extensive practice in the field of art and entertainment. He advises a broad range of clients from auction houses, galleries and dealers to museums, private collectors, artists and artist estates. He regularly advises on matters ranging from the sale and purchase of fine art; to title disputes; looted, stolen, forged and damaged art; shipping, import and export of art; structuring and managing of collections, foundations, loans, bequests and donations; attribution and authentication of art; art insurance; art as collateral; art funds; copyrights.Experience: Extensive experience in inheritance matters, estate and succession planning, complex trust and estate disputes, and in art law, including art-related litigation Serving both as arbitrator and as counsel to parties before arbitration tribunals, state courts, and regulatory authorities
Amalie Wijesundera is a Senior Associate in our Competition as well as Information and Communication Technology Groups in Zurich.
Experience:
Swiss and multinational merger control procedures
Experience in the Financial Services, Insurance, Health Care and Retail/Wholesale market sectors with reference to Competition and Data Protection Law
Internal Investigations
Cartel Investigations and Dawn Raids
Competition and Data Protection Law Compliance
Amanda Burnand Sulmoni is a Counsel in our Real Estate and Construction Group in Geneva.Experience: Advising individual and institutional clients in Real Estate transactions and Construction projects Drafting and negotiating agreements in Construction and Real Estate Representing clients in Litigation and Arbitration in these fields
Amanda Burnand Sulmoni is a Counsel in our Real Estate and Construction Group in Geneva.experience: Advising individual and institutional clients in Real Estate transactions and Construction projects Drafting and negotiating agreements in Construction and Real Estate Representing clients in Litigation and Arbitration in these fields
Andrea Dorjee-Good is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Private Clients and Estates Group in Zurich where she heads the practice. Her main areas of practice include domestic and international estate planning as well as trust and estate litigation.Experience: Advises private clients on all aspects of estate and succession planning including marital property agreements, wills, succession pacts, trusts and foundations Has extensive experience in complex trust and estate disputes and the administration of large international estates
Anita Schläpfer is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Banking and Finance Group in Zurich. Her focus is on banking and finance law, finance transactions, asset/investment management, collective investment schemes, and financial services regulation. She specializes in advising Swiss and international financial institutions and corporate clients on the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of domestic and cross-border acquisition finance and syndicated-lending transactions, securitizations, and other finance transactions and corporate matters. She also assists clients with all questions in connection with asset/investment management, onshore and offshore collective investment schemes and other financial products, including licensing and distribution-related issues and provides regulatory and transactional advice for technology driven solutions and providers in the financial services industry (Fintech).
Anne-Carole Cremades is Counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's International Arbitration Group in Geneva. She specializes in international commercial arbitration and has acted as counsel before international arbitral tribunals in a broad range of disputes involving share purchase agreements, oil & gas contracts, joint venture agreements, sales and distribution contracts, international construction contracts and investment disputes between states and foreign investors. In addition, she has served as arbitrator as well as secretary to arbitral tribunals in several ICC and ad hoc arbitrations. She has also represented parties before the Swiss Supreme Court in proceedings related to challenges of arbitral awards.
Anya George is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. As a trilingual and dual qualified lawyer, she represents clients in complex international commercial and investment arbitration matters, as well as in enforcement and setting-aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court.Experience: Has acted as counsel and arbitrator in over 60 arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, SCC, CAS, UNCITRAL and Swiss Rules, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. Main areas of expertise are energy infrastructure, natural resources, insurance and reinsurance contracts and manufacturing and sales agreements Has special expertise in arbitration-related litigation, including enforcement, interim relief and setting-aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court, in both French and German Advises clients on business and human rights issue
Arthur Magnin is a Senior Associate in our Taxation Group in Geneva.
Benjamin Borsodi is head of the Internal Corporate Investigations group in Geneva. His areas of practice are fraud and business crime, international mutual legal assistance, corporate investigations, asset tracing and recovery, as well as compliance.
Experience:
Representing one of the leading commodities trading company in a substantial criminal investigation regarding corruption allegations
Defending one of the major Brazilian construction company for the Swiss aspects of the Petrobras matter
Assisting a defendant in Swiss federal criminal proceedings in connection with alleged corruption practices of public officials in China
Defending the former employee of an Indian group active in the shipping and energy business in a high-profile money laundering investigation
Benjamin Gottlieb is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. His main areas of practice are international arbitration as well as domestic and international commercial litigation. He further specializes in and advises clients on the United Nations Convention for the International Sales of Goods (CISG).
Main areas of practice: international arbitration, domestic and international commercial litigation as well as the CISG
He was awarded the title of Arbitration Practitioner (ArbP) by the Swiss Arbitration Academy in 2010
Benno Strub is a counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's Restructuring and Insolvency Group and the Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. He advises clients in Swiss and cross-border reorganization and insolvency proceedings as well as in all aspects of debt enforcement and bankruptcy law. Benno conducts litigation in connection with insolvency proceedings, the enforcement and recognition of foreign bankruptcy proceedings and civil judgments, and in various matters of contract and tort law. He also assists clients in cross-border taking of evidence and service of process and advises on aspects of insolvency law in domestic and cross-border M&A and financing transactions.
Hall of fame
Bernard Vischer is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Geneva office, where he heads the private wealth group. Bernard advises private clients in private banking matters, trusts, estate planning and philanthropy. He especially advises entrepreneurs and families on governance, dispute prevention and succession in privately held/controlled businesses. He is a professional coach certified IDC. He also has extensive practical experience in corporate and transactional matters, with a focus on the shipping and aviation industries.
Caroline Clemetson is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Banking and Finance Group in Geneva and Zurich.Experience: Focus in banking and finance law, in particular financial services and financial regulation, asset management, collective investment schemes and other investment products, distribution of financial products, derivatives, trade finance, pension funds as well as insurance and insurance brokerage regulation Very experienced in corporate and transactional matters
Caroline Maria López Nagai is a Counsel in our Private Wealth Group in Geneva. She is specialized in cross-border estate / succession and wealth planning matters for individual clients as well as family enterprises including wills, lasting power of attorneys, guardianship. Her practice focuses also in advising and representing clients in matters related trusts, foundations, regulatory investigations (incl. administrative proceedings) and corporate transactions.
Catherine Weniger is a Counsel in our Employment Law Group.Experience: Advising employers of various industries in M&A transactions, business and workforce restructuring operations, TUPE regulation, collective redundancy, etc. Day to day advice to employers on all employment law matters (hiring and dismissal of individuals, termination agreements, recording of working time, sick and pregnant employees, incentive schemes, data protection, social security and pension plans, etc.) Providing contractual employment documentation (employment contract, staff handbook, internal policies, incentive schemes) to companies relocating in Switzerland as well as reviewing and updating existing contractual employment documentation of various Swiss companies, including affiliates to multinational groups
Charles Goumaz is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva. Specializing in white-collar and cybercrime defense as well as commercial litigation, Charles provides legal and strategic representation to high-profile individuals, corporate clients, and financial institutions in a wide range of matters involving sensitive issues and multi-jurisdictional aspects.
His practice also includes crisis and reputation management, international mutual legal assistance and enforcement proceedings, asset tracing and recovery, as well as internal investigations.
Charles is a Certified Specialist SBA (Swiss Bar Association) in Criminal Law.
Christian Girod is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution Group as well as in our Private Wealth Group in Geneva. His main areas of practice are commercial, banking and insurance litigation, as well as estate and trust disputes.Experience: Representation of a Swiss Foundation as defendant in relation to estates opened in 1928 and 1968 which involve artworks and other assets confiscated by the Nazis in the 1930's and are governed by the laws of different states Representation of an insurance broker sued by a former client in relation to a complex insurance scheme (claims totaling several tens of millions Swiss francs) Representation of a bank sued by a former client in relation to multiple transfers initiated by a person holding a proxy on the account Representation of a bank sued by a former client in relation to investment proposals made by the bank, their implementation and subsequent investments (claims totaling several tens of millions Swiss francs) Representation of an alleged debtor opposing to an attachment order obtained by a creditor on more than two dozens of accounts (claims totaling several hundreds of millions Swiss francs)
Christine Beusch-Liggenstorfer is Of Counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's Corporate and Commercial Group, Banking and Finance Group and Private Wealth Group in Zurich. Her core fields of practice are employment law and immigration law. Data protection, in particular in connection with HR related matters, is a further strong field of her activity. Moreover, she specializes in commercial contracts, in particular, in the catering trade and hotel business.
Christoph Vonlanthen focuses on mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets and finance.Christoph spent many years in London and New York advising buyers, sellers and financial advisers in public M&A and private equity across a wide range of industries, representing investment banks and issuers on a variety of market-leading securities law assignments and assisting clients on complex investments in funds, co-investments and secondary sale transactions.
Christopher Boog is a Vice-Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group and co-heads the Sports Practice. He represents clients in complex international commercial, investment and sports arbitration matters as well as in setting-aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court. Chris is described as "one of the best in the business", “one of the superstars in Switzerland”, and "definitely a leader in the field" (Who's Who Legal). According to clients and peers, he is "outstanding", "just brilliant" and "one of the best advocates I have ever seen" (Who's Who Legal). The same directory remarks that “Chris belongs among the best arbitration counsel of his generation.” Other sources report that he is "brilliant and to-the-point", "has an impressive range of experience and his written advocacy is very strong" (Chambers Global), and that he "stands out for his international experience and presence in Asia" (Legal 500). Chris is ranked as one of a small number of Global Elite Thought Leaders by Who's Who Legal Arbitration recognizing lawyers "at the peak of the profession". He is the 2020 recipient of the ASA Prize for Advocacy in International Commercial Arbitration, awarded every two years to international arbitration counsel to recognize exceptional advocacy in international arbitration.Experience: Counsel and arbitrator in over 120 arbitrations seated in common law and civil law jurisdictions around the world Has handled arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB, WIPO, DIS, SCAI, VIAC, CAS, before the PCA, as well as ad hoc Main areas of specialization include construction and engineering, energy, commodities, investment and sports law, as well as the pharmaceutical, automotive and mining industries
Clara Poglia is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva. She is Co-Head of the firm's litigation practice. Experience: Representation of a company in a major Swiss investigation involving potential wrongdoing (allegations of corruption); Representation of a corporation in criminal proceedings targeting a large Ponzi scheme and in related bankruptcy proceedings and assets recovery; Representation of multiple individuals and corporations in large scale requests for mutual legal assistance in tax matters addressed to Switzerland by France, Spain and Netherland notably; Representation of Brazilian individuals and companies in Swiss criminal proceedings related to the lava jato Brazilian scandal; Representation and assistance to a former high ranking executive in proceedings conducted by a sports authority and authorities in Switzerland; Representation of European corporations targeted by a request of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters addressed by the U.S. Department of Justice to Switzerland and representation of the same entities in the related Swiss domestic criminal proceedings
Danielle Hostettler is a Counsel in our Taxation Group in Geneva. Danielle's practice involves all aspects of Swiss and international tax law for both private and institutional clients.Experience: Advising clients on executive compensation, national and international tax planning, stock options plans taxation and valuation of company's shares, as well as lump sum taxation Providing tax advice to private clients becoming Swiss residents Advising on tax compliance issues for employees of a large US-based multinational setting up a subsidiary in Switzerland Negotiating with the Swiss Tax Authorities on taxation of benefits deriving from shares and stock options plans Advising a US non-governmental association on Swiss the tax exemption procedures Advising private clients on lump sum taxation issues Advising Swiss and non-Swiss residents on tax regularization and compliance matters
Daniil Vlasenko is a Senior Associate in our International Arbitration Group. His practice concentrates on international commercial and investment arbitration, as well as on international sports disputes. Daniil has advised and represented clients in a number of international arbitrations under a variety of arbitration rules (including the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, SCC, ICAC and CAS/TAS Rules) and complex cross-border litigations in different jurisdictions.
David Mamane is a partner and head of Schellenberg Wittmer's Competition Group in Zurich. His main areas of practice are competition/antitrust law, telecommunications and energy regulation, public procurement, as well as license and distribution agreements. David regularly advises clients in proceedings before the Swiss Competition Commission and is experienced in all aspects of Swiss and European competition law, including national and multi-jurisdictional merger control procedures, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, dawn raids, internal investigations, compliance, e-learning, and leniency procedures. David has established himself as one of the most renowned Swiss competition lawyers at the international level due to his involvement in international conferences and matters. David is additionally highly specialized in the field of IT and is a co-founder of a legal consulting firm in the IT sector. With this unique expertise, David leads IT and Knowledge Management at Schellenberg Wittmer.
David Wallace Wilson is a Partner with Schellenberg Wittmer’s Private Wealth practice. He advises individuals and families on wealth structuring and estate planning for their personal and business assets.Experience: Advising individuals and families on wealth structuring, life-time and estate planning Specialist in complex family, guardianship and inheritance disputes Acting as executor in international successions Advising trustees and intermediaries on regulatory issues (AML, CRS etc.) Assisting clients with their fine-art and philanthropic ventures
Edmond Kohler is a Counsel in our Banking and Finance, Corporate & Commercial and Mergers & Acquisitions Group in Geneva. He specializes in banking and finance, in particular in the fields of financing, national and cross-border M&A, corporate law and commercial contracts.
Hall of fame
Elliott Geisinger heads Schellenberg Wittmer's International Arbitration Group. Since 1994, his practice has focused on international arbitration. He has acted as counsel and arbitrator in complex commercial disputes involving international construction contracts, consortia and joint venture agreements, sponsorship contracts, sales and distribution contracts, and consultancy contracts.
Experience:
Elliott has acted as counsel and arbitrator in complex commercial disputes involving international construction contracts, consortia and joint venture agreements, sponsorship contracts, sales and distribution contracts, among others.
He regularly represented clients in arbitration-related court proceedings, and several of his cases have been reported on in the official collection of Swiss Supreme Court cases and in arbitration journals
Fabio Elsener is a Senior Associate in our Banking and Finance Group in Zurich.
Frank Bremer is a Counsel in our Competition and Antitrust Group and in our Information and Communication Technology Group in Zurich. He has represented clients in complex antitrust investigations and merger notifications in a variety of areas such as construction tendering, sports broadcasting rights, postal services and aircraft manufacturing.Experience: Cartel Investigations, Leniency, Settlements, Dawn Raids Swiss and Multinational Merger Control Procedures Swiss Internal Market Freedoms and State Aid Administrative Law and Procedural Rights Energy, Telecoms and Postal Regulation Acquisition and Marketing of Sports Broadcasting Rights Supply and Distribution Contracts Business Secrets and Data Protection Compliance and Internal Investigations
George Ayoub is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva and a member of the White-Collar Crime and Compliance Team.Experience: Business crime defense work, asset-tracing and recovery, international mutual assistance in criminal and administrative matters Regulatory and compliance issues Complex litigation involving an international component and multi-jurisdictional aspects
Giulia Marchettini is a Counsel in our Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva.
Grégoire Wuest is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Geneva office and Co-Head of our Banking and Finance Group. His practice focuses on banking and finance, in particular in the fields of private banking, where he advises banks and financial institutions on regulatory and clients' matters, and complex finance transactions. He also advises private clients on all aspects of trusts and international estate planning.Experience: Advising international and Swiss banks, financial institutions and financial intermediaries and insurance companies on regulatory, business and legal matters, such as the implementation of new regulations Counsel to banks and financial institutions on their restructuration and extension of services (e.g. sales and acquisitions of client portfolios, opening of branches or subsidiaries in Switzerland or abroad, development of new products and services offered to clients, digitalization), covering both the regulatory side (with FINMA approval) and the corporate/contractual aspects Advising banks on complex cross-border finance transactions, with a focus on transactions secured by unusual assets such as business jets, yachts, art, etc. Extensive experience in corporate and transactional matters, focus on the shipping and business aviation industries Advising private clients on all aspects of trusts and international estate planning
Grégoire Tribolet is a Partner in our Banking and Finance Group in Geneva. He specializes in banking & finance, and advises banks and financial service providers on all types of regulatory and corporate governance matters as well as on finance transactions. Data protection and the conduct of internal investigations are further strong fields of his activity.
Guillaume Grisel is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Private Wealth group. He assists high net worth individuals and families, including entertainers, art collectors and philanthropists. Guillaume Grisel regularly advises banks, wealth managers, family offices and professional trustees in compliance and regulatory matters too. He is the author of the only comprehensive textbook on trust law in Switzerland (Le Trust en Suisse).
Experience
Estate and tax planning for high net worth individuals and families
Trust law, taxation of trusts
Regulation of financial institutions
Anti-money laundering law
Mutual assistance and automatic exchange of information in tax matters (CRS, FATCA)
Jean Jacques Ah Choon is a Partner and head of Schellenberg Wittmer's M&A group. He regularly advises both Swiss and international clients on all types of mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, takeovers, joint ventures, and general corporate matters. He also advises clients on financing issues.Experience: Swiss counsel to a pre-existing investor of Bravofly Rumbo Group in the Initial Public Offering of Bravofly Rumbo Group B.V. Swiss counsel to Synergy Health in the acquisition of ID-Track-and-Trace SA Swiss counsel to Services Industriels de Genève in the acquisition of a minority stake in Energiedienst Holding AG
Jean-Frédéric Maraia is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Taxation Group in Geneva. He advises clients on all tax matters, at both domestic and international levels. His areas of expertise include M&A and real estate transactions, lump-sum taxation, estate planning, taxation for art related matters and tax litigation.Experience: Advising Foncia Groupe France and Foncia Switzerland SA in the acquisition of Brollliet Holding SA and Brolliet SA in Geneva, one of the oldest and most important real estate groups in Geneva Advising a multinational company and a leading Swiss bank in the sale of land and a building owned respectively by two different entities. This involved discussions on the structure and analysis of the VAT issues and the negotiation of the tax clauses in the SPA Providing tax analysis to a multinational construction company regarding any indirect tax responsibility in relation with the purchase of a target company
Joane Etienne is a Counsel in our Banking & Finance Group. Her main areas of practice are asset management and collective investment schemes, financial market regulations, anti-money laundering, sustainable finance and corporate law. Based in Geneva and Zurich, she advises clients on structuring their business, implementing and complying with financial market regulations, setting up funds and distribution structures, financing transactions, investment projects as well as automatic exchange of information and FATCA.
Josef Caleff heads Schellenberg Wittmer's Real Estate Group in Zurich and is a partner in the Construction Group as well as the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. Experience: He possesses special expertise in real estate transactions, in particular sale and purchase of single properties and portfolios, real estate financing, construction and commercial leases Advising clients in all types of corporate and M&A transactions Counsel of Dolce & Gabbana in the negotiation of a long-term high-end lease agreement at a prime location on Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich Counsel of the Barana Group in the sale of an office building in Zurich for CHF 128m to the city of Zurich
Julie Raneda, FCIArb is Partner in our International Arbitration Group in Singapore. She is specialized in international commercial and investment arbitration and has acted as counsel in complex disputes in civil and common law jurisdictions. She is also the co-chair of the firm's Sanction Group.
Katherine Bell is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group and heads the Construction Practice Group in Zurich. Her main areas of practice are domestic and international litigation and arbitration. She advises clients front-end to back-end on complex construction and infrastructure projects and specializes in the resolution of disputes arising out of complex construction, engineering and infrastructure projects as well as commercial tenancy and lease agreements across a variety of industries. She acts as counsel and arbitrator in arbitral proceedings and represents parties in litigation proceedings before Swiss courts as well as before dispute boards and in other types of alternative dispute resolution procedures. In addition to her disputes practice, Katherine regularly advises clients on public procurement matters, contract drafting and negotiation, contract and claims administration and dispute avoidance.
Experience
Has acted as counsel and arbitrator in arbitrations under the ICC, DIS, CEPANI, VIAC, CAS and Swiss Rules
Has represented clients in litigation proceedings before Swiss courts including before the Swiss Supreme Court
Main areas of specialization include construction and engineering as well as sales and commercial tenancy and lease agreements
Partner
Lorenza Ferrari Hofer is a Partner in our Intellectual Property and Life Sciences Groups. She specializes in intellectual property, unfair competition, data law and contract law. She has profound knowledge in respect of the development, licensing and distribution of technology products, among others therapeutic and food products. Also, she has broad experience in media, advertising, marketing and sponsoring matters. Her life sciences practice also includes regulatory matters and product liability defense. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer advises her clients on intellectual property related deals and transactions and represents them in legal proceedings in front of Swiss courts, arbitral tribunals and administrative authorities.
Experience
Legal counsel to Locarno Film Festival
Advised leading manufacturer of medical devices in the update of post marketing surveillance obligations (clinical studies) following MDR
Advised leading consumer group in the renegotiation of several sponsoring agreements following the cancellation of events (Covid-19)
Advised global foodstuff group in its marketing and advertising campaigns and branding matters
Represents pharmaceutical global leader in several patent litigations (among others SPC infringements)
Assisted ophthalmic leader in the tender for the acquisition and licensing of intellectual property rights and marketing authorization for orphan drugs
Assisted pharmaceutical global leader in the review of its rebate and pricing system, and related legal and regulatory issues
Represented major manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip prostheses in product liability proceedings
Lorenza Ferrari Hofer is a Partner in our Intellectual Property and Life Sciences Groups. She specializes in Dispute Resolution, intellectual property, unfair competition, data law and contract law. She has profound knowledge in respect of the development, manufacture, licensing and distribution of technology products, among others therapeutic, food products and automotive technologies. Also, she has broad experience in media, advertising, marketing and sponsoring matters. Her life sciences practice also includes regulatory matters and product liability defense. Lorenza Ferrari Hofer advises her clients on intellectual property related deals and transactions and represents them in legal proceedings in front of Swiss courts, arbitral tribunals and administrative authorities.
Experience
Legal counsel to Locarno Film Festival
Advised leading car manufacturer in the launch of e-cars and related support services in Switzerland
Assisted global manufacturer of medical devices in unfair advertising proceedings
Advised leading manufacturer of respiratory devices in respect of long-term distribution relationships
Represents pharmaceutical global leader in several patent litigations (among others SPC infringements)
Assisting medical device leader in the set-up of EMEA distribution chain after EU-CH MRA expiry
Assisted medical device global leader in the review of its pricing system for surgery robots and related legal and regulatory issues
Represented major manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip prostheses in product liability proceedings
Lorenzo Olgiati heads Schellenberg Wittmer’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group in Zurich. His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, public takeovers, securities and stock exchange regulation, private equity transactions and other significant corporate and commercial matters, including advice on corporate governance matters and shareholder activism.Experience: Counsel to German private equity firm EMERAM and the management shareholders in the sale of leading Swiss 3D people counting sensor and software solutions provider Xovis Holding AG to Swiss private equity firm Capvis Counsel to SIX Group on the carve-out and sale of SIX Payment Services into a strategic partnership with Euronext-listed Worldline at a total consideration of CHF 2.75 billion, partially paid in newly issued Worldline shares Swiss counsel to SIX-listed ams AG in its acquisition of Heptagon Advanced Micro-Optics Pte. Ltd., Singapore, for up to USD 855 m in cash and newly issued shares Counsel to Canton of Graubünden and Axpo Holding AG, main shareholders in SIX-listed electric power company Repower AG in connection with Repower's strategic repositioning, delisting and CHF 170 m capital increase subscribed by EKZ and UBS-CEIS
Louis Burrus is a Partner and the co-head of the Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva. He is dual-qualified in Switzerland and in England & Wales (Solicitor of the Senior Courts). Louis specializes in domestic and international commercial litigation, in particular in banking and financial disputes. He advises clients in cross-border multi-jurisdictional disputes and has extensive experience in conducting corporate internal investigations, including white-collar matters.Experience: Lead counsel to a SIX-listed company in a post-transaction dispute further to the acquisition of a new subsidiary (price-adjustment mechanisms, enforcement of warranties, etc.) Acted for a European energy company in enforcing a several hundred million arbitration award (ICC, seat in NYC), including by way of an attachment order (worldwide enforcement case) Advising a major Swiss bank participating into the United States Department of Justice’s (DoJ) Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target Letters for Swiss banks (co-Project Manager role)
Luc Thévenoz is professor at the University of Geneva and the dean of the Faculty of Law. Before his appointment as dean, he was the director of its Centre for Banking and Financial Law. He is Of Counsel in our Banking and Finance Group. His areas of expertise include contracts and trusts. He is often asked to provide a second opinion or specialized advice in litigation disputes and has served in many international arbitration panels as arbitrator or chair.
Madeleine Simonek is a professor of law and holds the Chair for Swiss and International Tax Law at the University of Zurich. She is Of Counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's Taxation Group in Zurich. She regularly provides clients as well as tax authorities with tax legal opinions on unsolved question and mainly serves clients in complicated tax litigation cases and tax structuring.
Marcel Jakob is a Partner in our Mergers & Acquisitions Group in Zurich. He focuses on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions including asset deals and restructuring transactions. He regularly advises entrepreneurs and startups as well as venture capital and private equity investors. Marcel has a focus on transactions involving highly regulated businesses (in particular financial institutions and life science companies) and technology driven business models.
Before joining Schellenberg Wittmer, Marcel gained experience in the tax department of an international audit firm, in a startup company as well as in the legal department of a securities dealer.
Experience
Swiss counsel to Arsenal Capital Partners in its acquisition of ATP Group.
Counsel to TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL) in its acquisition of ERNI Group AG.
Counsel to prop-tech startup PriceHubble on a USD 34 million Serie B round.
Counsel to Open Mineral, which operates a global digital trade platform for commodities, in its USD 33 million equity financing round led by Mubadala Investment Company.
Counsel to Axpo Holding on the sale of Avectris AG, Baden, a Swiss IT service provider, to GIA Informatik AG.
Counsel to group of Swiss private investors on their acquisition of furniture and home appliance retailer Conforama Switzerland from its French parent company Conforama Holding.
Counsel to the shareholders of Xovis Holding AG (including investment company EMERAM Capital Partners GmbH) in its sale to a fund advised by the Swiss private equity firm Capvis AG.
Counsel to Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company Santhera Pharmaceuticals in licensing transactions.
Counsel to EFG International AG in its acquisition of the Swiss bank BSI SA from Banco BTG Pactual S.A. for a purchase price of approx. CHF 1.328 billion.
Hall of fame
Michael Nordin is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Zurich office, where he heads the taxation group. Michael focuses on transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and restructurings, and those related to financing and capital markets. Generally, Michael has a strong focus on the Finance Industry. Further, Michael conducts Internal Corporate Investigations focusing on tax related matters. In addition, he also advises high net worth individuals (HNWI).
Experience:
Counsel to a large bank on an internal business reorganization including the negotiation of the tax treatment of an offshore structure with the tax administration
Counsel to a multinational Swiss company in a major acquisition and reorganization
Representation of a large Swiss financial institution in major tax litigation
Advising on the structuring of a complex financial transaction involving a Swiss and a foreign bank, including the coordination with foreign advisers and tax authorities
Michael Hess is a Counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's Corporate and Commercial Group as well as its Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on employment law and on international and domestic commercial litigation.
Oliver Triebold is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Mergers & Acquisitions Group in Zurich. He specializes in cross-border and domestic M&A transactions, private equity and venture capital investments, corporate governance matters, corporate restructurings and commercial business transactions.Experience: Advised ZKB in its sale of Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd. (London) to Deutsche Börse Group’s Clearstream Advised MoneyPark and its shareholders in Helvetia Group's acquisition of 70% of the shares in MoneyPark Advised Schroder & Co Bank in the sale of its Eastern European private banking business to Compagnie Bancaire Hélvétique
Hall of fame
Olivier Favre is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Banking and Finance Group in Zurich. Olivier focuses on derivatives, structured finance and capital markets transactions and advising clients on financial services, securities, commodities, fund and insurance regulation. He also advises clients on fintech solutions and legal aspects of asset management activities. Olivier acts for a broad range of clients, including financial institutions, buy-side firms, issuers, insurance companies and industry associations. Olivier is an authorized representative at the SIX Swiss Exchange.Experience: Acted as legal counsel to a working group of industry association in charge of preparing a Swiss law governed master agreement for derivatives transactions and related documentation (e.g. agreement to exchange variation margin, PRDR agreement, resolution stay acknowledgment) Advised on the implementation of the regulatory obligations arising under the Swiss Financial Market Infrastructure Act Advised market participants on implementation of indirect clearing arrangements for derivatives transactions Advised on the issuance of tokens and on the setup of a crypto-assets brokerage activity Advised foreign insurance companies on Swiss licensing requirements for cross-border activity into Switzerland Prepared for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) the netting and collateral enforceability opinion for international financial organizations established in Switzerland
Olivier Hari is of Counsel in our Corporate & Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets and Restructuring & Insolvency groups. He specializes in general corporate law, transactional matters, finance transactions and private fundraising, companies restructuring, distressed refinancing, and complex national and cross-border insolvency and restructuring proceedings, and related litigation proceedings.Experience: Advised a secured creditor (enforcement of a pledge with cross-border aspects) Swiss counsel in the framework of a financial reorganization of a group of companies Advised creditors of Alevo (restructuring and distressed M&A) Advised a distressed watch making company (restructuring and sale) Advised creditors in bankruptcy proceedings (Ethical Coffee Company, Privatair etc.) Advised minority shareholders (post-closing litigation) FINMA appointed liquidator of Zenith Vie SA, Compagnie d'assurance sur la Vie Court-appointed trustee of several distressed businesses
Pascal Hubli is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Mergers & Acquisitions Group in Zurich. His practice focuses on M&A and capital markets transactions, public takeover law, corporate restructurings as well as on general corporate and commercial law, contract law as well as stock exchange law. Pascal Hubli has extensive experience in advising national and international, listed and non-listed companies and multinational groups of companies as well as entrepreneurs and investors in various industries.
Experience:
Represented Julius Baer Group Ltd in connection with the acquisition of several Swiss asset management companies
Counsel to EFG International AG in its acquisition of the Swiss bank BSI SA from Banco BTG Pactual S.A.
Counsel to SIX Swiss Exchange-listed ams AG in its acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Heptagon Advanced Micro-Optics Pte. Ltd.
Counsel to global biotechnology company Shire plc. in the closing in Switzerland of the global sale of its oncology business to Servier S.A.S.
Paul Gully-Hart is Of Counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva, where he heads the White-Collar Crime and Compliance Group. He has developed a strong practice in complex litigation that frequently involves an international component and multi-jurisdictional aspects. He has specialized in regulatory and compliance issues, asset-tracing, business crime defense work, and international mutual assistance in criminal and regulatory matters. Paul Gully-Hart is active in banking and commercial disputes and involved in major litigation. He is familiar with common law and often requested to advise on multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Peter Georg Picht is a professor of law and holds the Chair for Business and Commercial Law at the University of Zurich and is the chair of the Center for Intellectual Property & Competition Law (CIPCO). He is Of Counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's Competition Group and IP Group. He regularly advises and represents clients in the areas of competition law, intellectual property law, private international and procedural law, and arbitration.
Hall of fame
Peter Burckhardt leads Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich, as well as the White-Collar Crime & Compliance and the Internal Corporate Investigations teams. Peter has developed a strong practice in complex criminal, regulatory and civil litigation matters, often involving multi-jurisdictional components. He is also frequently retained to conduct internal investigations for a broad range of topics.Experience: Defending a global Swiss bank in a money laundering investigation related to foreign corruption Representing a German car manufacturer against consumer mass claims in the context of the Diesel affair Lead counsel to a major Brazilian construction group for the Swiss aspects of the Petrobras matter, which settled in a trilateral deal (BR/US/CH) Swiss lead counsel to a global bank headquartered in Switzerland in the U.S. tax dispute Defending a major bank in a Ponzi scheme fraud investigation and related civil and regulatory action Defending a member of top management of a global bank in criminal and regulatory proceedings by Swiss and U.S. law enforcement Defending an ousted head of state in a corruption and money laundering investigation
Philip Andrea Berti is a Senior Associate in our Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. His main area of practice is domestic and international commercial litigation.
Philipp Groz is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution Groups. He represents clients in litigation before Swiss courts and in international arbitrations, and also sits as an arbitrator. He specializes in the fields of intellectual property, unfair competition, licensing and distribution and also advises clients on non-contentious matters in these fields. Philipp also assists clients in regulatory matters, particularly concerning life sciences, foods and consumer goods.
Experience:
Represented pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in various international arbitrations arising out of licensing and/or distribution agreements
Represented medical device manufacturer in patent entitlement dispute before the Swiss Federal Patent Court
Acted as counsel to telecommunication companies in various unfair competition proceedings before Swiss courts and authorities
Advised consumer goods companies on various aspects of Swiss regulatory law (such as advertising, labeling, product liability, product recalls)
Philippe Borens is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Zurich office where he heads the Banking and Finance Group. His main areas of practice are banking and finance law, including the regulation of financial intermediaries and financial services, equity and debt capital markets, investment law, and corporate law.Experience: Advising Swiss and international banks, investment firms, asset managers, insurance companies, and corporates in finance transactions, including loans, acquisition finance, rights issues, bonds and notes issues, securitizations, collective investment schemes, hedge funds, derivatives and structured products, as well as securities listings and regulatory issues Swiss counsel to ams AG in the placement of senior unsecured bonds in an aggregate nominal amount of USD 350 million and convertible into 3.27 million ordinary no par value bearer shares listed on SIX Swiss counsel to BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse and UBS in their capacity as joint lead managers in CHF 400m bond issue by Republic of Argentina, with bonds issued under NY law and listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (Swiss Franc Bond of the Year 2017 (IFR Awards 2017))
Philippe Bärtsch is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Geneva Office, and a Vice-Chair of the firm's International Arbitration Practice Group. He is also a member of the firm's Management Committee. Philippe has extensive experience handling complex international commercial arbitrations. Philippe has successfully represented clients in setting aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court. He also advises clients on the enforcement of awards, on Swiss contract law and on international trade sanctions.
Experience:
Counsel and arbitrator in more than 100 complex commercial arbitrations seated in common law and civil law jurisdictions worldwide, involving a wide array of matters and under many different laws
Main areas of specialization include post M&A disputes, energy, construction / engineering, commodities, pharmaceutical, consumer goods and sports
Counsel in close to 100 different proceedings before sports arbitral institutions and adjudicative bodies of sports federations, including in some of the highest profile sports cases in recent history
Philippe Nicod is a counsel in Schellenberg Wittmer's Corporate and Commercial Group and Mergers & Acquisitions Group in Geneva. His main areas of practice are corporate and contract law and banking and finance.
Pietro Sansonetti is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Geneva office, where he heads the Taxation Group. He advises clients on all tax matters, both domestic and international. He has in-depth knowledge of complex tax situations and extensive experience in dealing with tax authorities and enforcement matters including international exchange of information. He is active in corporate matters, in particular reorganizations such as mergers and real estate transactions, as well as on non profit entities including international non-governmental as well as official organisations. He also works with individuals on family businesses, on partnership and private clients-related tax matters such as trusts and inheritance related issues as well as on tax litigation including investigations and enforcement procedures.
Roland Mathys is a Partner and head of Schellenberg Wittmer’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Group. He advises clients in outsourcing transactions and major technology projects, particularly in the finance, life science and retail industries. He also renders advice in all matters related to emerging technologies (e.g. IoT, blockchain, AI). Data protection, both under Swiss law and the EU General Data Protection Regulation, technology related compliance issues and ICT dispute resolution are further strong fields of his activity.Experience: Counsels Bayer for various matters related to data privacy in the health and medtech sector Advises Coop, one of the largest Swiss retailers, in ICT and data protection matters Counsels Manor, Switzerland's largest department store chain, in ICT related matters Advises several large Silicon Valley technology companies in data privacy, telecommunications and regulatory matters under Swiss law
Roland Wild is a Partner in our Taxation Group in Zurich. He has experience in all aspects of tax law, particularly in corporate tax law.
Roland Ryser is a Counsel in our Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich and a member of our White-Collar Crime and Compliance Team.Experience: Extensive experience in advising and representing individuals and corporate clients as defence counsel in regulatory and business crime investigations Assisted clients in mutual legal and administrative assistance proceedings Advised clients in anti-money laudering, anti-bribery and trade compliance matters Represented companies as private claimants in criminal investigations for fraud, misappropriation, mismanagement and bribery
Stefan Leimgruber is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. His main areas of practice are domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration. He acts as counsel and as arbitrator in international arbitrations, ad hoc and institutional, in particular in post-M&A and shareholder disputes as well as in disputes relating to joint ventures, license, purchase, and distribution agreements. Stefan represents parties before Swiss courts with a particular focus on banking and financial disputes, post-M&A and corporate litigation, interim measures and enforcement of foreign judgments. He also advises and represents sport federations, officials and athletes in sports law matters.
Tarek Houdrouge is Co-Head of our Banking and Finance Group in Geneva and a Partner in our Mergers and Acquisitions Group. He specializes in banking and finance, national and cross-border M&A, corporate law and commercial contracts, including corporate restructurings, corporate governance matters, finance transactions, private equity and venture capital.Experience: Assisted banks and investors in acquisitions/disposals of banks and clients' portfolios and in merger projects in the banking sector Advises Swiss and foreign banks and financial institutions in all regulatory matters and in lending transactions Counsel to Swiss and foreign banks and financial institutions in cross-border activities, including distribution of financial products Swiss counsel to Procter & Gamble International Operations SA in the sales of Select Specialty P&G Beauty brands to Coty Inc. and of the Duracell business to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Regular assistance to clients, including multinational groups of companies, on corporate law and corporate governance
Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. His main areas of practice are domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration as well as pre-litigation strategic advice. Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny acts as counsel before Swiss courts and arbitral tribunals in a wide range of commercial disputes. He has also been a secretary to arbitral tribunals in major disputes under the ICC and Swiss Rules. Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny has special expertise in banking litigation, having acted as counsel to financial services providers in numerous disputes with private and institutional clients, and in corporate law disputes (including liability of directors and officers and joint ventures) as well as the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, asset recovery and international legal assistance.
Hall of fame
Vincent Jeanneret is Of Counsel in the Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva, where he heads Schellenberg Wittmer's Restructuring and Insolvency team. He was the Managing Partner of the firm from 2009 to 2014. He specializes in commercial and banking litigation with a focus on international and complex cases. He has been described as one of the few specialists who deals with major insolvency cases on the Swiss and international levels. He is regularly appointed by FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, either as receiver or liquidator. He is frequently retained as counsel or expert in connection with white-collar crime cases at the federal or state level, as well as with international legal assistance or embargo law proceedings.
Vincent Carron is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Geneva office, where he heads the employment law group.
Experience:
Extensive experience representing clients before the labor courts and advising them on all employment law matters (including review of contracts, employee handbooks, termination agreements, unilateral and collective dismissals, business transfers and assistance in M&A transactions, structure of severance payments, aspects of international employee transfers, international social security coordination, lease of services, restructuring of remuneration and bonus schemes, work schedule reductions, recording of working time, employer’s liability, due diligences)
Advising and representing clients in matters related to pension funds, covering both litigation and corporate aspects
Yves Jeanrenaud is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Geneva office where he also heads the firm's real estate and construction group. His main areas of practice include property law, real estate investments and transactions (both domestically and internationally), hotel projects and transactions, sale and leaseback operations, commercial leases, ground leases, total and general work contracts, real estate financing and structuring, due diligence procedures, environmental law, energy law and art law. Yves has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating property contracts, such as acquisition contracts, as well as agreements in the art industry. He advises Swiss and foreign clients on various contractual matters. He also handles litigation and arbitration within these fields.
Hall of fame