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Key contacts
Partner: Frédéric Bétrisey
Partner: Paolo Bottini
Partner: Cedric Chapuis
Partner: Dieter Dubs
Partner: Dr. Daniel Flühmann
Partner: Mariel Hoch
Partner: Peter Hsu
Partner: Dr. Luca Jagmetti
Partner: Dr. Urs Kägi
Partner: Dr. Ralph Malacrida
Partner: Christoph Neeracher
Partner: Lukas Roesler
Partner: Thomas Rohde
Partner: Eric Stupp
Partner: Prof. Dr. Rolf Watter Rolf Watter
Markting Specialist: Angela Stapfer
Quick facts
Number of partners

58

Other qualified practitioners

120

Total number of practitioners

200

Languages

German, English, French and Italian

Key practice areas
Banking and finance
Capital markets : Debt
Capital markets : Equity
Financial and corporate
Financial services regulatory
Restructuring and insolvency
M&A
Firm overview

Bär & Karrer is a renowned Swiss law firm with more than 200 lawyers in Zurich, Geneva, Lugano, Zug, Basel and St. Moritz. Our core business is advising our clients on innovative and complex transactions and representing them in litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings. Our clients range from multinational corporations to private individuals in Switzerland and around the world.
We have offices in the German (Zurich, Zug, Basel and St. Moritz), French (Geneva) and Italian (Lugano) speaking parts of Switzerland. While our Zurich office is our main location, all our offices provide the full range of legal services.
We have an extensive international network of correspondent law firms, which are market leaders in their jurisdictions. Thanks to these close working relationships, we can seamlessly assist our clients on cross-border and international issues.
Bär & Karrer was repeatedly awarded "Switzerland Law Firm of the Year" by the most important international legal ranking agencies in recent years.

Key practice areas
  • Banking
  • Capital markets: Debt
  • Capital markets: Equity Competition
  • Financial services regulatory
  • Investment funds 
  • M&A
  • Private equity
  • Private equity funds
  • Restructuring and insolvency
Key practice contacts and recent case highlights

Banking:
Cedric Chapuis, cedric.chapuis@baerkarrer.ch
Daniel Flühmann, daniel.fluehmann@baerkarrer.ch
Peter Hsu, peter.hsu@baerkarrer.ch
Eric Stupp, eric.stupp@baerkarrer.ch

Capital Markets:
Dr. Ralph Malacrida, ralph.malacrida@baerkarrer.ch
Dr. Urs Kägi, urs.kaegi@baerkarrer.ch
Lukas Roesler, lukas.roesler@baerkarrer.ch

Financing:
Frédéric Bétrisey, frederic.betrisey@baerkarrer.ch
Ralph Malacrida, ralph.malacrida@baerkarrer.ch

Mergers & Acquisitions:
Rolf Watter, rolf.watter@baerkarrer.ch

Reorganization & Insolvency:
Thomas Rohde, thomas.rohde@baerkarrer.ch

Public M&A:
Dieter Dubs, dieter.dubs@baerkarrer.ch
Mariel Hoch, mariel.hoch@baerkarrer.ch

Private M&A/Private Equity:
Christoph Neeracher, christoph.neeracher@baerkarrer.ch

M&A/Corporate Transactions:
Urs Kägi, urs.kaegi@baerkarrer.ch
Ralph Malacrida, ralph.malacrida@baerkarrer.ch

Sector expertise
  • Automotive
  • Banking
  • Construction and materials
  • Consumer goods and services
  • Energy
  • Financial services
  • Food and beverage
  • Government and public policy
  • Healthcare
  • Industrials
  • Insurance
  • Investment management
  • Media
  • Natural resources
  • Pharm and life sciences
  • Real estate
  • Tech and telecoms
  • Transport
Other offices

12, quai de la Poste
1211 Geneva 3
Switzerland
T: +41 58 261 57 00
E: geneva@baerkarrer.ch

Via Vegezzi 6
6901 Lugano
Switzerland
T: +41 58 261 58 00
E: lugano@baerkarrer.ch

Baarerstrasse 8
6302 Zug
Switzerland
T: +41 58 261 59 00
E: zug@baerkarrer.ch

Lange Gasse 47
4052 Basel
Switzerland
T: +41 58 261 50 50
E: basel@baerkarrer.ch

Via Maistra 2
7500 St Moritz
Switzerland
P: +41 58 261 50 90
E: st.moritz@baerkarrer.ch

Address:
Brandschenkestrasse 90
Zurich, 8002
Tel:+41 58 261 5000 Fax:+41 58 261 5001 Email:Contact Us Web Address:https://www.baerkarrer.ch/en
Rankings published in 2026
Banking and finance
Tier 1
22 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bär & Karrer
7 practice areas
View full profile
Homburger
8 practice areas
View full profile
Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
Niederer Kraft Frey
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Advestra
7 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
7 practice areas
View profile
Pestalozzi
8 practice areas
View full profile
Schellenberg Wittmer
8 practice areas
View full profile
Walder Wyss
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

CMS von Erlach Partners
7 practice areas
View full profile
Loyens & Loeff
8 practice areas
View full profile
MLL Legal
8 practice areas
View full profile
VISCHER
7 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

Bratschi
6 practice areas
View full profile
FBT Attorneys-at-law
3 practice areas
View full profile
Kellerhals Carrard
8 practice areas
View profile
Prager Dreifuss
9 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Plattner
8 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
View full profile
burckhardt Ltd
4 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

Buis Bürgi
2 practice areas
View full profile
Oberson Abels
4 practice areas
View profile
Capital markets : Debt
Tier 2
17 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Homburger
8 practice areas
View full profile
Niederer Kraft Frey
9 practice areas
View full profile
Walder Wyss
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Advestra
7 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
7 practice areas
View profile
Bär & Karrer
7 practice areas
View full profile
Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
Pestalozzi
8 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Kellerhals Carrard
8 practice areas
View profile
MLL Legal
8 practice areas
View full profile
Schellenberg Wittmer
8 practice areas
View full profile
VISCHER
7 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

CMS von Erlach Partners
7 practice areas
View full profile
Lindemann Law
1 practice area
View profile
Prager Dreifuss
9 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
View full profile
valfor Rechtsanwälte
8 practice areas
View profile
Capital markets : Equity
Tier 1
16 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bär & Karrer
7 practice areas
View full profile
Homburger
8 practice areas
View full profile
Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
Niederer Kraft Frey
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Advestra
7 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
7 practice areas
View profile
Walder Wyss
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Kellerhals Carrard
8 practice areas
View profile
MLL Legal
8 practice areas
View full profile
Pestalozzi
8 practice areas
View full profile
Schellenberg Wittmer
8 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

VISCHER
7 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

CMS von Erlach Partners
7 practice areas
View full profile
Prager Dreifuss
9 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
View full profile
valfor Rechtsanwälte
8 practice areas
View profile
Financial services regulatory
Tier 1
21 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bär & Karrer
7 practice areas
View full profile
Homburger
8 practice areas
View full profile
Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
MLL Legal
8 practice areas
View full profile
Niederer Kraft Frey
9 practice areas
View full profile
Pestalozzi
8 practice areas
View full profile
Walder Wyss
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

CMS von Erlach Partners
7 practice areas
View full profile
FBT Attorneys-at-law
3 practice areas
View full profile
Oberson Abels
4 practice areas
View profile
Schellenberg Wittmer
8 practice areas
View full profile
VISCHER
7 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Barandun
3 practice areas
View full profile
Kellerhals Carrard
8 practice areas
View profile
Künzi Hess MacNab
3 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
8 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Plattner
8 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

373 Avocats & Associés
1 practice area
View profile
Advestra
7 practice areas
View full profile
Nobel & Partner
1 practice area
View profile
M&A
Tier 1
26 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bär & Karrer
7 practice areas
View full profile
Homburger
8 practice areas
View full profile
Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
Niederer Kraft Frey
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Pestalozzi
8 practice areas
View full profile
Schellenberg Wittmer
8 practice areas
View full profile
Walder Wyss
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Advestra
7 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
7 practice areas
View profile
CMS von Erlach Partners
7 practice areas
View full profile
Kellerhals Carrard
8 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
8 practice areas
View full profile
MLL Legal
8 practice areas
View full profile
VISCHER
7 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

Bratschi
6 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Plattner
8 practice areas
View full profile
id est avocats
3 practice areas
View profile

Tier 5

Prager Dreifuss
9 practice areas
View full profile
burckhardt Ltd
4 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

BMG Avocats
2 practice areas
View profile
Barandun
3 practice areas
View full profile
Eversheds Sutherland
1 practice area
View profile
Goldblum and Partners
5 practice areas
View full profile
Kasser Schlosser Avocats
1 practice area
View profile
valfor Rechtsanwälte
8 practice areas
View profile
Restructuring and insolvency
Tier 2
21 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Plattner
8 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Bär & Karrer
7 practice areas
View full profile
Homburger
8 practice areas
View full profile
Kellerhals Carrard
8 practice areas
View profile
Niederer Kraft Frey
9 practice areas
View full profile
Schellenberg Wittmer
8 practice areas
View full profile
Walder Wyss
9 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Baker McKenzie
7 practice areas
View profile
Prager Dreifuss
9 practice areas
View full profile
VISCHER
7 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

CMS von Erlach Partners
7 practice areas
View full profile
MLL Legal
8 practice areas
View full profile
Pestalozzi
8 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

Bratschi
6 practice areas
View full profile
Goldblum and Partners
5 practice areas
View full profile
Holenstein Brusa
1 practice area
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
8 practice areas
View full profile
Staiger Schwald & Partner
6 practice areas
View profile
Transliq
1 practice area
View profile
Linked Reviews
Financial and corporate

Bär & Karrer is a leading financial and corporate powerhouse on the Swiss market. It has accomplished lawyers across the German, French and Italian speaking parts of Switzerland, with offices in Zurich, Geneva, Lugano, Zug and Basel and St. Moritz. The firm mainly advises on transactions with international aspects, but also works on domestic and cross-border deals.

Highlights

The firm was instrumental in the high-profile acquisition of 100% of Credit Suisse by UBS Bank. This transaction was highly significant on the broader global financial markets and played a critical role in containing the threat of wider damaging financial consequences. The highly sensitive and demanding timeline of the transaction reflects the significant level of expertise the firm has.

In capital markets equity, the firm demonstrates innovative market first engagement assisting as lead counsel for Novartis and Sandoz on the Spin-off of Sandoz.

Testimonials

“Service-minded and easy to work with; more pragmatic than other Swiss law firms I have worked with.” (Financial service regulatory client)

“Bar-Karrer team is always ready to help and they are very approachable. They are key partner of our firm, and we owe a debt of gratitude to them for the excellent service they provide. They are all amazing attorneys who practice nothing but the best client care methods. We are always impressed with the level of quality on the work they produce. My firm is active in a rather quite new field, and we do not have always the easy questions. But we always know that our firm is in very good hands with Bar-Karrer. They definitely deserve to be recognized for the exceptional service they provide.” (Financial service regulatory client)

Key clients

Novartis AG, UBS Group AG, Sandoz Group AG, Lonza Group AG, DSM - Firmenich AG

23 results23 results
1
of
2
Deal Highlights
226 results226 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
Crayon - M&A
2024-12-19
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Mariel Hoch, Christoph Neeracher, Urs Kägi, Fabienne Perlini-Frehner, Marlene Lienau, Jorim Braun
Crayon
Target
Communardo GmbH - M&A
2024-12-17
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler, Luzius Bill, Silvio Halter, Susanne Schreiber, Fabian Capt, Julian Hodel, Jonas Bornhauser, Marc Paronitti
Communardo GmbH
Bidder
Aebi Schmidt Holding AG - M&A
2024-12-16
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Urs Kägi, Rolf Watter, Linus Zweifel, Shu Zhang, Vera Naegeli, Marie-Cristine Kaptan, Ann-Kathrin Bühler, Mani Reinert, Tim Meyer, Susanne Schreiber, Elena Kumashova, Laura Widmer, Thomas Stoltz, Julia Eiholzer
Aebi Schmidt Holding AG
Bidder
KWC Group AG - M&A
2024-12-03
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler, Carlo Hunter, Djawad Kleist, Nicolas Meier, Susanne Schreiber, Anke Stumm, Ariane Menzer, Markus Wang, Christian Kunz, Mani Reinert, Tim Meyer
KWC Group AG
Seller
Empira AG - M&A
2024-12-03
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler, Luca Jagmetti, Thomas Rohde, Fabienne Perlini-Frehner, Elisabeth Rinderknecht, Benjamin Grunwald, Romina Lauper, Lazar Lepir, Yascha Fengler, Nick Aschwanden, Kai Bajka, Björn Wegberg, Susanne Schreiber, Fabian Capt, Ariane Menzer, Daniel Flühmann, Christina Werren, Christian Kunz, Mani Reinert, Tim Meyer
Empira AG
Target
Sieber Transport AG; Raben Group NV - M&A
2024-11-26
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler, Thomas Rohde, Lazar Lepir, David Mark, Luca Jagmetti, Jonas Bornhauser, Marc Paronitti, Rocco Rigozzi, Patrick Neher, Tim Meyer
Sieber Transport AG, Raben Group NV
Seller
Gonet & Cie SA; Arab Bank plc (London) - M&A
2024-11-19
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Martin Anderson, Teymour Bakhtiar, Christoph Suter, Alice Johnson, Laura Widmer, Marc Paronitti
Gonet & Cie SA, Arab Bank plc (London)
Bidder
GBA Gesellschaft fuer Bioanalytik mbH - M&A
2024-11-14
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Philippe Seiler, Romina Lauper, Benjamin Grunwald, Carlo Hunter, Patrick Zumsteg, Kai Bajka, Susanne Schreiber, Martin Leu, Luljeta Morina, Rocco Rigozzi, Corina Moschen, Faton Aliu, Christine Schweikard
GBA Gesellschaft fuer Bioanalytik mbH
Bidder
Netrics Biel AG - M&A
2024-11-11
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler, Lazar Lepir, Luzius Bill, David Mark, Susanne Schreiber, Fabian Capt
Netrics Biel AG
Bidder
Diploma plc - M&A
2024-10-31
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Luca Jagmetti, Sacha Kanoff, Floris Zuur, Susanne Schreiber, Martin Leu, Mani Reinert, Tim Meyer, Corrado Rampini, Rocco Rigozzi
Diploma plc
Seller
United Grinding Group AG - M&A
2024-10-30
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Ralph Malacrida, Tim Salz, Dominique Simmen, Susanne Schreiber, Alessia Suter, Fabian Capt, Markus Wang, Christine Schweikard, Mani Reinert, Tim Meyer, Patrick Neher, Laura Widmer, Manuel Schmid, Ruth Bloch-Riemer, Stefan Bollinger, Özden Omürcan, Kevin Kögler
United Grinding Group AG
Bidder
UBS AG - M&A
2024-10-21
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Vera Naegeli, Rolf Watter, Linus Zweifel, Matthias Tanner, Fabian Schlegel, Morris Rigling, Susanne Schreiber, Cyrill Diefenbacher, Fabian Capt, Martin Leu, Daniel Flühmann, Christina Werren, Mani Reinert, Martin Werner, Lukas Roesler, Cinzia Catelli, Predrag Sunaric, Yves Tjon-A-Meeuw, Laura Widmer
UBS AG
Seller
Sudarshan Chemical Industries Ltd - M&A
2024-10-11
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Philippe Seiler, Susanne Schreiber, Ronny Schmid, Kai Bajka, Fabian Capt, Donjeta Beka
Sudarshan Chemical Industries Ltd
Bidder
xFarm Technologies SA - M&A
2024-10-09
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Raphael Annasohn, Massimo Vanotti, Bryan Bruschi, Lukas Bründler, Sandro Gaggini, Matthias Bizzarro, Silja Fontana, Rocco Rigozzi
xFarm Technologies SA
Target
Hero Group AG - M&A
2024-09-18
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Corrado Rampini, Corina Moschen, Jennifer Walde
Hero Group AG
Seller
EQT Partners AB - M&A
2024-09-18
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Luca Jagmetti, Philippe Seiler, Romina Lauper, Lazar Lepir, Sacha Kanoff, Floris Zuur, Susanne Schreiber, Fabian Capt, Alessia Suter, Anke Stumm, Ariane Menzer, Mani Reinert, Tim Meyer, Markus Schott, Ralph Malacrida, Markus Wang, Jonas Bornhauser, Manuel Schmid, Ruth Bloch-Riemer, Rocco Rigozzi, Rehana Harasgama
EQT Partners AB
Seller
Groupe Circet SA - M&A
2024-09-13
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Raphael Annasohn, Lukas Bründle, Julian Lindt, Luana Stämpfli, Fabian Capt, Aron Liechti, Rocco Rigozzi, Luljeta Morina, Laura Widmer, Ruth Bloch-Riemer, Julia Eiholzer, Rehana Harasgama, Leotrim Berisha
Groupe Circet SA
Bidder
Renewable Energy Systems Ltd - M&A
2024-09-02
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Mariel Hoch, Marlene Lienau, Fabienne Perlini-Frehner, Jorim Braun, Joshua Baisch, Nathalie Lehmann, Ben Tschigg, Jonas Bornhauser, Raoul Stocker, Patrick Schmid, Ruth Bloch-Riemer, Stefan Bollinger, Laura Widmer, Manuel Schmid, Micha Schilling, Mani Reinert, Tim Meyer
Renewable Energy Systems Ltd
Bidder
Systabuild Software Group GmbH - M&A
2024-08-26
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler, Thomas Rohde, Patrick Zumsteg, Dominique Nguyen, Yannick Wohlhauser, Raoul Stocker, Anke Stumm, Fabian Capt, Markus Wang, Christine Schweikard, Ruth Bloch-Riemer, Laura Widmer, Nicola Schön, Thomas Stoltz, Fabian Turtschi
Systabuild Software Group GmbH
Bidder
Paragon Partners GmbH - M&A
2024-08-08
Bär & Karrer
Switzerland
M&A
Christoph Neeracher, Philippe Seiler, Elisabeth Rinderknecht, Benjamin Grunwald, Susanne Schreiber, Martin Leu, Micha Schilling, Faton Aliu, Nikolaus Lange
Paragon Partners GmbH
Seller
10
of
12
IFLR1000
Interact Media Group, publisher of Nau.ch, acquired Zeitungshaus AG, which publishes 22 regional free newspapers in Switzerland.
IFLR1000
Bär & Karrer advised BofA Securities, Inc. and the Joint Book‑Running Managers on a successful placement of USD 1.7 billion notes issued by the Viking Cruises Group.
All the winning deals, teams, individuals and firms were revealed at IFLR’s ceremony in London on April 4
IFLR1000
Frédéric Bétrisey of Bär & Karrer in Geneva provides an overview of the legal framework of Switzerland’s financial centre
IFLR1000
Laura Widmer of Bär & Karrer in Zurich provides an introduction to the business environment in Switzerland
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