Rolf Watter has broad experience in all types of M&A transactions, including defence mandates. He also specializes in corporate governance questions and capital market transactions. He is a board member of the listed AP Alternative Portfolio and of the privately held Faber Castell (Holding). He used to be chairman of PostFinance AG (2012/2021), CEVA Logistics (2018/2019) and of Nobel Biocare (2012/2014; member 2007/2012); further he was a board member in a number of other Swiss listed companies, namely Aryzta, Zurich Insurance Group, Syngenta, Centerpulse, and Forbo. In addition, he is a member of the Regulatory Board of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Rolf teaches as a professor at the University of Zurich since 1996 and is an editor of the GesKR and the Basler Kommentare on the Code of Obligations II, the Financial Infrastructure Act, the Banking and the Merger Act. He regularly publishes in his fields of work. In Chambers Global and Europe, Rolf Watter is consistently ranked in tier 1 of the leading lawyers for Corporate/ M&A in Switzerland. Rolf Watter is recognized as a leading lawyer in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. He is listed among the top 30 corporate governance practitioners in the world by Expertguides. Rolf Watter won the ILO Client Choice Awards Switzerland in the category M&A (2016 and 2018) and Capital Markets (2014); WWL has ranked him in 2019 as best Corporate Governance lawyer.
Bär & Karrer Ltd.
The team of ‘seasoned experts’ at Bär & Karrer Ltd. maintains an impressively varied practice, with capabilities that include advising on listed company and private M&A, public tender offers, other corporate transactions and ESG. The team is praised for its ’strong subject matter expertise in combination with excellent commercial acumen’. Rolf Watter leads the practice, with wide-ranging experience in corporate governance issues. Christoph Neeracher heads the private M&A and private equity department, while Mariel Hoch bolsters the practice with her knowledge of cross-border M&A, public takeover offers and corporate relocations. Ralph Malacrida demonstrates considerable expertise in handling M&A, while Dieter Dubs principally focuses on public tender offers. Martin Anderson leads the Geneva M&A practice and Paolo Bottini helms the Lugano practice. Other key names to note are Philippe Seiler and Raphael Annasohn.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is capable of managing any M&A topic at lightening speed.’
‘Seasoned experts in the field of M&A and PE, with a formidable track record of successful execution.'
- 'A broad and diverse team, which allows them to swiftly and professionally carry out transactions with exceptional efficiency.’
‘One of the best and most experienced teams.’
‘Strong subject matter expertise in combination with excellent commercial acumen, which is a rare combination and a must in driving forward due diligence and negotiations during complicated processes.'
‘Raphael Annasohn was an absolute pleasure to work with. He combines deep legal and technical understanding with sound judgement, commercial acumen and pragmatism. Without Raphael, it would have not been possible to progress the project at such a speed.'
‘The M&A team of Christoph Neeracher is unique in the way he has managed to build a broad group of M&A experts consisting of several partners and associates that clearly stand out in terms of their expert knowledge, high level of commitment and responsiveness.'
‘What makes this practice unique is its deep understanding of the IT industry, combined with extensive private equity transaction structuring capabilities. The lawyers are up to date on the latest trends and technologies, and they are able to provide practical and strategic advice to clients.'
Key clients
- AC Immune SA
- Advent International
- Alibaba
- Allreal Holding AG
- Altana AG
- Ardian
- Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd.
- Armira Beteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG
- AS Equity BidCo GmbH
- Astorg
- BeyondBytes Ltd
- Bregal Unternehmerkapital
- Capvis (C.I.) Limited
- Castik Capital Partners
- Chubb Limited
- Cognita
- CVC Capital Partners
- Deutsche Beteiligungs AG
- Deutsche Börse AG
- Deutsche Private Equity
- Die Schweizerische Mobiliar
- Deutsche Invest Capital Partners GmbH
- Dr. Urs Spitz
- EGS Beteiligungen
- ELCA Informatique
- EQT Partners
- Equistone
- Farner International AG
- Firmenich
- FNZ
- GENUI II GmbH & Co. KG
- GIMV
- GRO Capital
- H2 Energy AG
- HARTING Group
- Home Instead
- IK Investment
- Jacobs Holding AG
- KKR
- Linden Capital Partners
- Lonza Group AG
- Maxburg Capital Partners
- Medbase
- MET Holding AG
- Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund
- Montana Capital Partners AG
- Norline
- Novartis AG
- Open Systems
- Partners Group AG
- Patrimonium
- Proventis Partners AG
- PWC
- Quaestor Coach
- SK Capital Partners
- Stirling Square
- Sumeru Equity Partners
- Sportradar
- Swarovski
- Swiss Life
- Swiss Re AG
- TA Associates
- terreActive
- Triton V
- UBS Group AG
- Ufenau
- Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA
- Valora Holding AG
- Verium AG
- Vifor Pharma
- Vitruvian Partners LLP
- Waterland Private Equity
Work highlights
- Advising UBS on an all-share transaction for the acquisition of 100% of Credit Suisse.
- Advising CVC and Partners Group on an agreement for Partners Group to increase its stake in leading Swiss watchmaker Breitling AG.
- Advising Novartis on the planned spin-off of Sandoz.
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.
Leading individuals
Christoph Neeracher specializes in international and domestic M&A transactions (focusing on private M&A and private equity transactions, including secondary buyouts, public to private transactions and distressed equity), transaction finance, venture capital, startups, corporate restructurings, relocations, corporate law, general contract matters (e.g. joint ventures, partnerships and shareholders agreements) and all directly related areas such as employment matters for key employees (e.g. employee participation and incentive agreements). He is experienced in a broad range of national and international transactions both sell and buy side (including corporate auction processes) and the assistance of clients in their ongoing corporate and commercial activities. Additionally, Christoph Neeracher represents clients in litigation proceedings relating to his specialization. Chambers Global and Europe rank him as a leader in the field of M&A (since 2010) and IFLR 1000 lists him as one of the leading lawyers in Switzerland (since 2012). The International Who's Who of M&A Lawyers lists Christoph Neeracher as one of the world's leading M&A lawyers. The Legal 500 (2012) describes him as "extremely experienced in M&A matters and very strong in negotiations" and ranks him among the leading individuals. Christoph Neeracher is ranked first in Mergermarket's Profile League Table for 2016's most prolific individual DACH legal advisors.
Philippe Seiler has broad experience in international and domestic private M&A transactions in various industries with a special focus on life science and health care transactions (incl. medtech, pharma, healthcare providers in various industries, suppliers to healthcare providers etc.). Philippe Seiler does not only cover big size transactions and takeovers but also focuses on small- and mid-size M&A transactions, private equity transactions as well as venture capital and startup transactions. Furthermore, he advises clients on regulatory matters relating to life science and health care law outside of M&A transactions. Philippe Seiler is praised for his pragmatic and solution-oriented advice while at the same time having an excellent technical knowledge. Due to his extensive transaction experience he has a fast and good understanding of the business and the process. Legal 500 ranks Philippe Seiler as a Key Contact for Healthcare and Life Sciences transactions and Who's Who Legal lists him in M&A and Governance. In addition, Philippe Seiler was listed as a "Rising Star in Corporate/M&A/Private Equity" by Legal Media Group. Philippe Seiler has frequent speaking engagements on M&A-related topics and teaches regularly at a number of private and public Universities (e.g. LL.M. of the University of Zurich, Switzerland; Executive MBA University of St. Gallen).
Next Generation Partners
Raphael Annasohn has broad experience in international and domestic M&A transactions in various industries focusing on private M&A and private equity, corporate reorganizations and restructurings as well as corporate law and general contractual matters, in particular shareholders' agreements. Furthermore, he specializes in the fields of venture capital and startups and assists clients in their ongoing commercial activities.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Rolf Watter, Christoph Neeracher, Mariel Hoch, Dieter Dubs, Ralph Malacrida, Martin Anderson, Paolo Bottini