Lenz & Staehelin advises and represents employers and senior employees in a range of contentious and non-contentious matters including executive compensation, immigration, and transfer of undertakings. In Zurich, Dominique Müller and Matthias Oertle head the team, whilst Sara Rousselle-Ruffieux and Daniel Tunik lead the Geneva team. Rousselle-Ruffieux has expertise in both individual employment relationships, such as company regulations, secondments, and bonus plans, and collective labour relations, namely hiring of services and business transfers. White-collar experts Müller and Tunik support in employment litigation matters, whilst Oertle advises on cross-border restructurings, business transfers and the compensation of executives in public and private companies. Anja Affolter Marino assists and represents clients in such matters in proceedings before Swiss courts and administrative authorities.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The practice is unique because it combines the expertise of different individuals in offering exhaustive services in Swiss employment law and ancillary, but complex matters such as Swiss pension funds regulations.’
- ‘Rousselle-Ruffieux has contributed her remarkable legal expertise to the many and diverse challenges we have been confronted with. Equally important, and on numerous occasions, she has helped us improve our managerial decisions and capabilities through her discretion, emotional intelligence, and tact.’
- ‘The practice has a strong team focused on delivering high quality and value advice to its customers. Each situation is thoroughly analysed, and the available options clearly presented. The team is sensitive to inclusivity issues and always close to its customers, making sure difficult legal journeys proceed in a supportive and active way.’
- ‘Lenz & Staehelin offers services in all legal areas and has a well-established international network of corresponding law firms.’
- ‘Anja Affolter Marino is a pleasure to work with; responsive and commercially-focused on the end result.’
- ‘Our main point of contact is Sara Rousselle-Rouffieux and it is a pleasure to work with her. She is clearly an experienced professional and I trust her advice completely. We often have quite complex cases and set-ups, and her know-how and pragmatic approach are a real asset.’
- ‘Broad-based, highly professional and in-depth knowledge of executive employment and compensation matters.’
- ‘Friendly people with very good expertise and counselling skills. Good pragmatism and able to give good recommendations.’
Key clients
- Autoliv – Automobile Industry
- Bain Capital/Cinven – Private Equity - Pharmaceuticals
- Bristol – Myers Squibb – Pharmaceuticals
- CACEIS – Bank
- Carlo Gavazzi Holding AG – Electronic
- Elanco – Animal Health
- FIVE Group – Hospitality
- Gyrus and DuPont Sustainable Solutions (DSS) - Consulting services
- Hyundai Motor Company - Automobiles
- Insight Partners - Financial services
- Nomad Foods Ltd. – Food Industry
- NovImmune – Pharmaceuticals
- Pfizer – Pharmaceuticals
- Roca Sanitario – Bathroom Space Products
- Salt – Telecommunications
- Sika AG – Specific Products for Construction
- SoftwareONE - Consulting services
- Sunrise – Telecommunications
- Swiss Prime Site AG – Real Estate
- Tetra Pak – Food Packaging
- Unilabs, Laboratoire d'analyses médicales SA
Work highlights
- Advised CACEIS on bonus plans and other incentive matters, re-characterising agency contracts as employment contracts as well as social security and pension matters.
- Advised Emergent BioSolutions on employment topics in this transaction included incentive matters as well as social security and pension matters.
- Advised Schaeffler on employment matters in this transaction, including as to compensation and related topics.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Dominique Müller, Matthias Oertle, Sara Rousselle-Ruffieux, Daniel Tunik