Europe - Switzerland

Baker McKenzie

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Baker McKenzie’s ‘very reliable and proactive’ real estate transaction group has a strong focus on real estate M&A, corporate real estate, and real estate investment schemes. Head of the Geneva practice, Charles Gschwind advises domestic and international clients on asset deals, large-scale portfolio transactions, and the acquisition of real estate. The Zurich team is led by Samuel Marbacher who has a key focus on real estate transactions, including environmental matters, Lex Koller issues, and real estate financing. Other key team members include Alexander Wyss, who also advises domestic and international clients on cross-border and national real estate and corporate transactions, and Martin Furrer, who has special expertise in advising international clients on large real estate.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The reaction and processing time is fast and all actions are always well prepared and adapted to the situation. ’

  • ‘Highest availability, team resources, knowledge, creativity, efficiency, know what to focus on.’

  • ‘Availability, commitment, getting things done, efficiency.’

  • ‘Very reliable, always available, attentive and think ahead.’

  • ‘Samuel Marbacher is extremely reliable, highly committed, always thinks a step ahead, shows empathy and works diligently, always prepared to go the extra mile.’

  • ‘Knowledgeable, personable, on time and hands-on, all that you need.’

  • ‘Very competent, to the point expertise and still very personable.’

  • ‘Very proactive and fast. Charles Gschwind and Samuel Marbacher are very professional.’

Key clients

  • Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd
  • Beaumier
  • Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH
  • Edyn hospitality group
  • Galenica group
  • HOCHDORF Swiss Nutrition AG
  • PSP Swiss Property
  • Steiner AG
  • Swisscanto Anlagestifung
  • Swisscanto Real Estate Fund Responsible Swiss Commercial
  • Swiss Real Estate Investment Foundation
  • Variosystems AG
  • Zug Estates Holding AG

Work highlights

  • Advised PSP Swiss Property on the acquisition of the prime office property "Westpark" at Pfingstweidstrasse 60 in Zurich-West for CHF 216.5 million.
  • Advised PSP Swiss Property AG on the conversion of its CHF 1.8 billion bond portfolio to green bonds based on the company's Green Bond Framework.
  • Advised Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. ("Arab Bank Switzerland") on its purchase of the MixCity project, a first-class, multifunctional commercial development project in Renens in the Greater Lausanne area.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Samuel Marbacher

Samuel Marbacher

Baker McKenzie LLP

Samuel Marbacher is the co-head of the Firm’s  Real Estate practice as well as Banking & Finance practice in Zurich. He joined the Firm in January 2007 and was made partner in 2015.He graduated from the University of St. Gallen Law School and earned his LL.M. degree at the University of Sydney. Mr. Marbacher holds a bachelor's degree in business and finance from the University of Applied Science in Lucerne. Samuel Marbacher teaches at University of Zurich in the CUREM master and executive classes and at the IFZ Institute for Financial Services, Zug. Mr. Marbacher focuses on advising domestic and international client in the area of real estate transactions (including environmental and Lex Koller), real estate financing and syndicated debt financing (including export financing). He also advises on general banking and corporate matters as well as financing related aspects of private insurance law.

Next Generation Partners

Charles Gschwind

Charles Gschwind

Baker McKenzie LLP

Charles Gschwind is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Real Estate practice in Geneva and Zurich. Charles graduated from the University of Fribourg Law School with a bilingual degree and earned his MBA at London Business School. He is a recommended lawyer in real estate by both Chambers and Legal 500. Charles regularly publishes in his areas of expertise and has taught namely at the MBA Program of ZHAW and at SVIT School. He is also a member of the Committee of SVIT Romandie. Before joining the Firm in 2020, Charles spent most of his professional career at another major law firm in Zurich. Charles has broad experience in M&A with a particular focus on real estate transactions. He regularly advises domestic and international clients on asset deals, large-scale portfolio transactions, development projects, hotel transactions, acquisitions of real estate companies as well as on the financing of real estate portfolios. Related administrative law matters (e.g., Lex Koller and environmental law), general corporate, commercial and contract law as well as tenancy matters also belong to his areas of expertise. Together with the dispute resolution team, he further regularly advises on (pre-)litigation matters in the real estate sector.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Samuel Marbacher, Charles Gschwind

Other key lawyers

Alexander Wyss, Martin Furrer