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Key contacts
Managing Partner, Zurich: Thierry Calame
Managing Partner, Geneva/Lausanne: Benoît Merkt
Quick facts
Number of partners

52

Number of other fee earners

217

Network memberships

International Bar Association, Swiss Bar Association

Languages

English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish

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

While Lenz & Staehelin is acknowledged by most as Switzerland’s leading law firm, its connections and expertise span the globe. With over 200 lawyers, its ability to innovate and adapt to the ever-changing complexities of legal and regulatory environments in Switzerland and beyond, has attracted many of the world’s top corporations as well as private individuals.

Continuity, stability and a pragmatic understanding of the big picture have all played a significant part in the firm’s development and success - and in its ability to attract the best young talent. Swiss-orientated but globally attuned, Lenz & Staehelin is rightly recognized in Switzerland and abroad as “The world’s Swiss law firm”.

Client feedback

"First rate in all respects, responsive, worked to meet our schedule and did absolutely first-rate work in a novel, complex, multi-jurisdictional transaction."

"Very responsive and highly professional."

"[The M&A team is] able to find pragmatic solutions, still meeting the legal requirements, in an efficient way, [and is] very responsive and highly professional."

Key transactional practices
  • Asset finance
  • Banking
  • Capital markets: Debt/Derivatives/Equity/High yield
  • Competition
  • Covered bonds
  • Financial restructuring
  • FSR
  • Hedge funds
  • Investment funds
  • M&A
  • Private equity/funds
  • Real estate finance/funds
  • Restructuring and insolvency
  • Structured finance/securitisation
  • Trade finance
Sector expertise
  • Art
  • Accounting
  • Automotive
  • Aviation
  • Banking
  • Construction and materials
  • Consumer goods and services
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Energy
  • Financial services,
  • FinTech
  • Foundations and Philanthropy
  • Food and beverage
  • Government and public policy
  • Healthcare
  • Industrials
  • Insurance
  • Investment management
  • Media
  • Medical devices
  • Natural resources
  • Oil and gas
  • Pharma and life sciences
  • Real estate
  • Sports
  • Tech and telecoms
  • Transport
  • Travel
  • Utilities

View all our practices and sectors expertise: https://www.lenzstaehelin.com/practices-sectors/

Key practice contacts and recent transactional highlights

Corporate and M&A:

Tino Gaberthüel, Head Zurich
tino.gaberthuel@lenzstaehelin.com

Andreas Rötheli, Head Geneva
andreas.roetheli@lenzstaehelin.com

The firm has a leading position in domestic and cross-border private and public M&A transactions. As such it has been involved in many of Switzerland’s most important corporate deals. The firm advises, amongst others, on corporate takeovers, mergers, joint ventures, takeovers of listed companies, private equity and venture capital. Its services in corporate law include incorporation and administration of companies, corporate governance and compliance.

Banking and Finance:

Marcel Tranchet, Head Zurich 
marcel.tranchet@lenzstaehelin.com 

Shelby R. du Pasquier, Head Geneva
shelby.dupasquier@lenzstaehelin.com

Advising on regulatory issues, capital market transactions, investment products and services are part of Lenz & Staehelin’s core areas of expertise. Its clients are major Swiss and international banking/financial institutions. They benefit from the firm’s experience in matters of banking/securities dealers licences, asset securitisation, securities oerings, project and structured finance, investment funds, private equity, derivatives and other financial products.

Capital Markets:

Patrick Schleiffer, Head Zurich
patrick.schleiffer@lenzstaehelin.com

Jacques Iffland, Head Geneva
jacques.iffland@lenzstaehelin.com

Lenz & Staehelin has a number of accredited experts for the listing of securities on the SIX Swiss Exchange and delivers comprehensive and prompt advisory and support services for all types of capital markets offerings, including IPOs and rights offerings, bonds, convertible bonds, covered bonds, hybrid bonds and other securities transactions.

Insolvency and Restructuring:

Tanja Luginbühl, Head Zurich
tanja.luginbuhl@lenzstaehelin.com

Insolvency and Restructuring:
Roman Graf, Head Geneva
roman.graf@lenzstaehelin.com

The firm oers a leading full-service insolvency practice encompassing the complete range of issues typically encountered in complex insolvencies. It advises and represents creditors (some of which are banks or other financial institutions), liquidators, receivers in insolvency proceedings. It also provides advice to companies in need of financial restructuring.

See all deals and cases.

Other offices

Route de Chêne 30
CH-1211 Geneva 6
T: +41 58 450 70 00
F: +41 58 450 70 01
geneva@lenzstaehelin.com

Avenue de Rhodanie 40C
CH-1007 Lausanne
T: +41 58 450 70 00
F: +41 58 450 70 01
lausanne@lenzstaehelin.com

Address:
Brandschenkestrasse 24
CH-8027 Zurich
Tel:+41 58 450 80 00 Fax:+41 58 450 80 01 Email:Contact Us Web Address:http://www.lenzstaehelin.com/welcome/
2026 Edition
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
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Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
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Niederer Kraft Frey
9 practice areas
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Tier 2

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

Tier 3

CMS von Erlach Partners
7 practice areas
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Loyens & Loeff
8 practice areas
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MLL Legal
8 practice areas
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VISCHER
7 practice areas
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Tier 4

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

Buis Bürgi
2 practice areas
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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
Capital markets : Structured finance and securitisation
Tier 2
8 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

Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
Pestalozzi
8 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

MLL Legal
8 practice areas
View full profile
Schellenberg Wittmer
8 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

Kellerhals Carrard
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
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Loyens & Loeff
8 practice areas
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Wenger Plattner
8 practice areas
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Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
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Notable

373 Avocats & Associés
1 practice area
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Advestra
7 practice areas
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Nobel & Partner
1 practice area
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M&A
Tier 1
26 firms ranked
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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
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Notable

BMG Avocats
2 practice areas
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Barandun
3 practice areas
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Eversheds Sutherland
1 practice area
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Goldblum and Partners
5 practice areas
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Kasser Schlosser Avocats
1 practice area
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valfor Rechtsanwälte
8 practice areas
View profile
Project development
Active
4 firms ranked
View full list

Notable

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

Active

Lenz & Staehelin
9 practice areas
View full profile
Wenger Vieli
10 practice areas
View full profile
Restructuring and insolvency
Tier 1
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
Established in 1991 with the merging of Zurich and Geneva-based firms, Lenz & Staehelin has subsequently grown with a third office in Lausanne. The Lenz & Staehelin team comprises of 171 lawyers with coverage in English and Swiss law. The team has extensive experience on a wide range of practice areas including banking, financing, project development and financing to capital markets and M&A.


Highlights



The firm acted as lead counsel to Baloise on the merger of Baloise Holding AG and Helvetia Holding AG created Helvetia Baloise Holding AG, the second-largest insurance group in Switzerland. This transaction represented one of Switzerland's most significant recent public M&A transactions.

Lenz & Staehelin advised GravelPoint Holding AG on the financial restructuring of Swiss Steel Group, involving financing arrangements in excess of CHF 1 billion. The transaction included new shareholder funding and the extension of key group financing facilities to 2029. Lenz & Staehelin acted as lead counsel, structuring and negotiating the overall restructuring package across multiple creditor groups, supporting the group’s refinancing and long-term strategic plan.

Testimonials 2026


"Good knowledge in all areas of law, pragmatic, collaborative." - M&A

"Pragmatic approach which is deal oriented but also very detail oriented." - M&A

"Great intellectual flexibility and an ability to propose compromises that help move discussions forward and overcome deadlocks." - Project development

"L&S has a deep CH market/transaction knowledge/experience to support us and shows a high level of support commitment." - Banking and finance

"Managed with great precision, punctual responses, and well-structured feedback throughout the process." - Project development

"Available and reactive. Very good knowledge." - Cécile Berger

"Best M&A lawyer in Switzerland." - Tino Gaberthüel

"Strategic oversight and live contractual negotiations." - Cecile Berger Meyer

"His knowledge and background is a big gain for our Company. His customer focus and support dedication (24/7) is unique." - Marcel Tranchet

"She is sharp and decisive, quickly understanding complex topics, summarizing them clearly, and taking appropriate action." - Cécile Berger

"His interpretation and judgment of the situation." - Cécile Berger



Key clients


SoftwareOne, BNP Paribas Group, Revolut, HSBC, Baloise Holding
29 results29 results
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Deal Highlights
76 results76 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
EUROFIMA - Bond Issue
2021-12-01
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
Bond issue
EUROFIMA
Issuer
SIX SIS - Bond Issue
2021-12-01
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
Bond issue
Credit Suisse, UBS, Zürcher Kantonalbank
Underwriter
Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - M&A
2022-02-22
Lenz & Staehelin
United States (National)
M&A
Alexander Wille, Lukas Aebi, Matthias Wolf, Pascal Hinny, Tino Gaberthuel
Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Buyer
Citadele banka - M&A
2022-01-24
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Ann Weibel, Robin Hauser, Stefan Breitenstein, Tino Gaberthuel
Citadele banka
Seller
beqom SA - M&A
2022-04-12
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Andreas Rotheli, Didier Nsanzineza, Floran Ponce, Lara Alec, Patricia Pinto, Ralph Kaufmann, Sevan Antreasyan, Sophie Moine
beqom SA
Target
Focus Financial Partners Inc. - M&A
2022-04-29
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Bertrand Donze, Christophe Cavin, Fedor Poskriakov, Frederic Neukomm, Roman Graf, Stanislas Cramer
Focus Financial Partners Inc.
Buyer
Bank of America Merrill Lynch - Bond Issue
2022-02-01
Lenz & Staehelin
United States (National)
Bond issue
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Issuer
Bank of America Merrill Lynch - Bond Issue
2022-03-01
Lenz & Staehelin
United States (National)
Bond issue
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Issuer
ING Bank - Bond Issue
2022-02-01
Lenz & Staehelin
Netherlands
Bond issue
ING Bank
Issuer
ING Bank - Bond Issue
2022-03-01
Lenz & Staehelin
Netherlands
Bond issue
ING Bank
Issuer
Promedical AG - M&A
2022-07-14
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Andreas Rotheli, Roman Graf
Promedical AG
Buyer
JBF Finance SA - M&A
2022-07-25
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Ariel Hattar, Jacques Iffland, Xavier Grivel
JBF Finance SA
Buyer
Unilabs AB - M&A
2022-11-03
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Andreas Rotheli, Ann Weibel, Benoit Merkt, Celine Stahelin, David Di Rosa, Elena Nauer, Federico Togna, Johana Cau, Raoul de Montpellier, Roman Graf, Vera Vallone
Unilabs AB
Buyer
Telsys SA - M&A
2022-11-08
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Frederic Neukomm, Pierrick Sunier, Roman Graf
Telsys SA
Target
Octium Group - M&A
2022-11-28
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Andreas Rotheli, David Di Rosa, Federico Togna
Octium Group
Buyer
Felfel AG - M&A
2022-12-19
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Ann Weibel, Louis Probst, Stephan Erni
Felfel AG
Buyer
Navegar - M&A
2023-01-01
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Simone Ehrsam, Tino Gaberthuel, Xavier Grivel
Navegar
Buyer
IMC - M&A
2023-01-02
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Patrick Scharli, Patrick Schleiffer, Peter Ling, Stephan Brandner, Stephan Erni, Xavier Grivel
IMC
Buyer
Arkema SA - M&A
2023-01-03
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Benjamin Moret, Benoit Merkt, David Ledermann, Flavio Samson
Arkema SA
Seller
Unilabs AB - M&A
2023-01-13
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
M&A
Alexandre Chomety, Andreas Rotheli, Emilie Jacot-Guillarmod, Eugenia Huguenin-Elie, Federico Togna
Unilabs AB
Buyer
3
of
4
ESG
Companies in neighbouring Switzerland need lawyers who are up to date with the changing regulations as the EU relaxes its ESG requirements
M&A
The Zurich-based M&A lawyer explains why he likes the collaborative nature of his job and why finding balance is essential
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