Banking and finance: Geneva

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd

With demonstrable expertise across both transactional and regulatory mandates, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s arsenal of skills is known to encompass licensing of financial institutions, structuring of capital transactions, and regulatory change projects. Other strengths of the team involve aspects of fintech, investment management and market abuse legislation issues. Tarek Houdrouge and Grégoire Wuest jointly lead the team; Houdrouge excels in advising clients on the sales of regulated financial institutions, various finance transactions, and regulatory matters, while Wuest is a highly experienced practitioner in relation to multi-jurisdictional transactions. Caroline Clemetson is immersed in handling insurance mandates alongside the implementation of ESG investment policies. Also recommended is Grégoire Tribolet, who is entrusted with regulatory and corporate governance matters, and Christoph Vonlanthen, who harnesses his wide-ranging experience to handle buy-outs, rights offerings, and exchange offers.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Excellence of service, sophistication of the clients and position on the market.’
‘The team can anticipate the key challenges we could face so that we can manage them proactively. Also, I feel they demonstrate a very strong sense of integrity.'
'They are also very helpful in shaping our communication with the regulators in some strategic projects - which show that they are also used to dealing with regulatory authorities on a regular basis and has have strong business acumen and strategic vision.’
‘I particularly enjoy working with Tarek Houdrouge. His key strength is that he demonstrates both a very strong in-depth legal knowledge in each specific banking topic I addressed with him, and very good communication / strategy skills.'
'In all my interactions with Tarek Houdrouge, he has demonstrated both strong inter-personal skills and in-depth knowledge, which I feel is very rare. It makes it extremely efficient and pleasant working with him.’
‘Grégoire Wuest has technical knowledge that is second to none and is a lawyer you would want on your side.’
‘Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd stands out for its innovative approach and deep knowledge of the banking and finance sector. Their strength lies in their ability to combine sharp legal expertise with a keen understanding of commercial and regulatory challenges.'
'Potential clients would particularly appreciate their responsiveness and ability to provide tailored solutions, adapted to the specific challenges of both local and international markets. The team has implemented innovative collaborative processes, using cutting-edge technological tools to optimize the management of complex cases.'

Key clients

UBS
BNP Paribas
Raiffeisen Switzerland
Credit Suisse
Crypto Fund AG
Nord Anglia Education
Emeram
Bank Julius Baer
Futures Industry Association
Swiss Bankers Association
China Construction Bank
Reuss Private Group AG
Helvetische Bank AG
Bank Itau (Suisse) SA
Banco Santander
Banque Thaler
Bank Vontobel
Deutsche Bank SA
Diamond Capital Management (Switzerland) Ltd
EFG Bank
Mirabaud & Cie SA
UBP
Reichmuth Investment Management AG
CACEIS
Landolt Investment SICAV
Procimmo SA
Oxford Finance LLC
e-GTSA S. A
Standard Chartered
Leonteq
Barclays Bank PLC
International Swaps and Derivatives Association
Schroder & Co Bank
Pierer Mobility AG
Alpian SA
Lennox International
Computershare
Equatex
Aldo Group
LokRoll3 AG
Arsenal Capital Partners
CAT Financial Products Ltd.
1875 Finance
Norican A/S
Skullcandy, Inc.
Carne
AXA Investment Managers Schweiz AG

Work highlights

Advising AXA on the merger of its three real estate funds.
Advising Carne on the transfer of the third-party Fund Management Services from GAM.
Advised cleantech venture capital pioneer Emerald Technology Ventures on obtaining its FINMA license as asset manager of collective assets with the Swiss Financial Supervisory Authority.