Europe - Switzerland

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd

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Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is skilled in an array of contentious and non-contentious matters, with extensive experience working with tax authorities, at both the federal and cantonal levels. Jean-Frédéric Maraia, who advises individual and corporate clients on all tax matters both at the domestic and international level, and Michael Nordin, whose focus is transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, and restructurings, head the Geneva and Zurich teams, respectively. Pietro Sansonetti has skill in negotiating with tax authorities on delicate and high-value matters. Danielle Hostettler‘s key focus is on private client taxation. At the associate level, Roland Wild and Arthur Magnin are key names.

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Key clients

  • Barana Group
  • CIR - Compagnie Industriali Riunite S.p.A.
  • Credit Suisse
  • European Broadcasting Union
  • HSBC
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Julius Bär
  • Swiss Re Group
  • Vontobel
  • Scor
  • AXA
  • Schroder Bank
  • Banco Santander
  • Swiss Life
  • Sowind Group
  • Reyl & Cie

Work highlights

  • Advising a major non-Swiss bank on negotiations with the Swiss Federal Tax Administration regarding the refundability of withholding taxes in connection with capital market transactions; the topic is beneficial ownership.
  • Advising a major Swiss bank on possible mitigations of the significant over taxation of Swiss financial institutions with the introduction of the minimal tax based on the OECD initiative "Pillar 2".
  • Advising a client and representing them in tax proceedings regarding reorganisations claimed to trigger Swiss taxes in the amount of more than USD 100 million.

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.

Michael Nordin

Michael Nordin

Hall of fameSchellenberg Wittmer Ltd

Michael Nordin is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Zurich office, where he heads the taxation group. Michael focuses on transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and restructurings, and those related to financing and capital markets. Generally, Michael has a strong focus on the Finance Industry. Further, Michael conducts Internal Corporate Investigations focusing on tax related matters. In addition, he also advises high net worth individuals (HNWI). Experience: Counsel to a large bank on an internal business reorganization including the negotiation of the tax treatment of an offshore structure with the tax administration Counsel to a multinational Swiss company in a major acquisition and reorganization Representation of a large Swiss financial institution in major tax litigation Advising on the structuring of a complex financial transaction involving a Swiss and a foreign bank, including the coordination with foreign advisers and tax authorities

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Jean-Frédéric Maraia , Michael Nordin