FBT Attorneys-at-Law

The firm: FBT Attorneys-at-Law (FBT) is a multidisciplinary law firm, based in Geneva and Paris, which operates in the financial and commercial sectors as well as in niche activities, with a predominantly cross-border dimension.  FBT was founded in 1993 in Geneva by Serge Fasel, Jean-Luc Bochatay and Jean-Louis Tsimaratos. Nowadays, FBT counts ten partners out of a total of 33 lawyers. From a generalist Swiss law firm, FBT opted back in the 90s to specialise in four, now six, specific legal domains.

FBT also decided from the very beginning to provide its clients with specialised advice on cross-border transactions with France. From this perspective, it chose to work closely with another law firm in Paris. A few years later, FBT decided to open its own offices in France with the French lawyers that had accompanied the Swiss firm successfully from the beginning of its special focus on Swiss-French cross-border issues. Besides this special  focus on Swiss-French cross-border issues, FBT has developped a network of lawyers around the world, enabling it to mobilize and coordinate specialized teams in many countries.

Areas of practice: FBT is organised in six specialised and complementary legal teams which advises its Swiss and foreign clients on domestic and cross-border issues in the following areas:

Banking and finance:

• Banking and financial regulations, including authorizations  and FINMA enforcement procedures
• Collective investment schemes and other similar structures
• Private insurance
• Asset management
• Financing
• Financial litigation

Tax:

• Individual taxation, including top executives taxation
• Corporate taxation
• Taxation related to financial activities
• Real estate taxation
• Tax procedures and litigation, including international assistance in tax matters

Corporate and commercial:

• Corporate affairs
• Entrepreneurs’ legal framework
• Shareholders’ legal framework
• Contractual law
• Corporate asset protection
• Assistance to companies in critical financial situations

Litigation and arbitration:

• Commercial litigation
• Banking and financial litigation
• Arbitration
• Forced execution
• Economic crime
• Mutual assistance in criminal and administrative matters

Labour and social insurance:

• Individual and collective litigation
• Collective labour agreement
• transfers and relocation
• Work permits

Family estate:

• Wealth structuring and estate planning
• Unions (marriage and partnerships)
• Philanthropic activities
• Succession
• Residence transfer (expatriation and impatriation)

Each group is led by a partner highly experienced in the group’s field of activity. A constant exchange among the practice groups allows the sharing of up-to-date information in each field of specialisation. Depending on the case, FBT sets up a ‘multidisciplinary legal team’ capable of devising a pragmatic overall approach to the various aspects of the case, responding rapidly while maintaining a high degree of legal safety and ensuring optimal cost control.