Recommended for being ‘client-focused and commercial’, Niederer Kraft Frey AG’s breadth of expertise encompasses debt, equity and hybrid capital market products. The team routinely handles large-scale IPOs and public tender offers alongside a host of other complex transactions. The firm’s new Geneva office, which opened in January 2023, expands the team’s capabilities in this area. Daniel Bono, who assists clients with a diverse scope of issues from equity capital market transactions to finance transactions, and Thomas Brönnimann, who is particularly experienced in handling matters for listed entities and other large enterprises, are key contacts in the practice. Philipp Haas is entrusted by clients to handle equity and convertible debt transactions and market conduct rules, while Philippe Weber is geared to handle IPOs, rights offerings and asset-backed securities.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Client-focused and commercial. Well reputed, respected and dynamic.'
‘Andrea Giger and Philip Spoerlé are very knowledgeable, client-focused and commercial. Deirdre Ni Annrachain has a broad experience across different sectors and is very good at prospectus drafting.'
‘Great team commitment, 24/7 availability.’
‘Philipp Haas is a great guy; he is fully committed, no matter how chaotic it may occasionally get.'
'Great mix of different characters in partnership, with Thomas Brönnimann complementing Philipp Haas's practice in certain areas perfectly.’
‘Accurate, excellent co-operation and a large track and relevant track record.'

Key clients

Axpo Holding AG
Bain and Cinven
Bank Julius Baer Ltd.
Banking syndicate consisting of Berenberg, Zürcher Kantonalbank and Commerzbank
Banking syndicate led by BofA Securities, SVB Leerink and Credit Suisse
Bell Food Group
China International Capital Corporation (UK) Limited
CLSA Limited
CoinShares
Credit Suisse AG
Digital Realty
Dr. Ing. H.c. F. Porsche AG
EQT, VFS Group
Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.
Gategroup
Global Blue Group Holding AG
Goldman Sachs International
Gotion High-Tech Co., Ltd.
Helvetische Bank
Huatai Financial Holdings, Guotai Securities
Idorsia Ltd
Industry Standard Opinions for Repos and Securities Lending
ING Bank N.V. Singapore Branch
Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co KG, Commerzbank AG
Julius Baer Group Ltd.
Kernkraftwerk Leibstadt AG
Macquire Group Limited (MGL)
Meyer Burger Technology AG
Sportradar Group AG
Swiss Confederation
Swiss Finance & Property AG
Swiss Re, Glencore, JP Morgan, Citibank, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch International, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, Natwest, UBS Limited, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered
Swiss Steel Group AG
UBS AG
UBS Switzerland AG, Credit Suisse (Switzerland) Ltd., Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., NATIXIS, Zürcher Kantonalbank
Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd.

Work highlights

Acted as Swiss counsel to Porsche on its international initial public offering and listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange, being the largest IPO ever carried out in Europe in terms of the market capitalisation of around EUR 78bn.
Advised the Swiss Confederation on the conclusion of a Loss Protection Agreement (LPA) with UBS Group AG. The loss protection guarantee governed by the LPA is a cornerstone element of the merger between UBS and Credit Suisse and became effective with the completion of the merger on 12 June 2023.
Acted on each of the inaugural issuances of global depository receipts (GDRs) under the newly launched China-Switzerland Stock Connect programme, taking four Chinese companies public on SIX Swiss Exchange.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Philippe Weber

Hall of fameNiederer Kraft Frey AG

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.

Leading individuals

Daniel Bono

Niederer Kraft Frey AG

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.