Located in Zurich, Advestra is a relatively new firm founded in 2020. Founders of the new firm came over from Bär & Karrer. The firm specializes in financial and corporate law. 


Highlights

The firm advised Novartis on the Swiss law aspects of a USD 6 billion multi-tranche notes offering comprising seven tranches, including six fixed-rate notes and one floating-rate note. Issued by Novartis Capital Corporation and guaranteed by Novartis AG, the transaction supported the group’s long-term funding strategy and access to international debt capital markets. The mandate included advice on Swiss legal, transactional and regulatory aspects of the issuance.

Advestra advised the Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners on the IPO of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group on SIX Swiss Exchange. The offering, comprising a secondary sale by existing shareholders, had a placement volume of up to CHF 1.04 billion including the over-allotment option. Advestra advised on Swiss law aspects of the transaction, including due diligence, prospectus and transaction documentation, and listing and regulatory requirements.

Testimonials

"Prompt offering of transparent fee quotes. Broad experience. Very good responsiveness. Fair pricing. Politeness and good sense for client expectations." - Banking and finance

"Strong, focused and dedicated team with clear responsibilities and high senior attention. Proactively manages their workstream with clear objective and understanding of the overall transaction context." - Banking and finance

"Advestra delivers high quality and is easy to work with. They are responsive and timely. The members of Advestra have a deep understanding of the Swiss capital markets environment and prevailing practice." - Capital markets: Equity

"They were very responsive, constructive and efficient." - M&A

"Speed of turn-arounds for client requests and deep M&A expertise." - M&A

"Highly competent in Swiss corporate law, experienced in private equity transactions, highly responsive and hard working team." - M&A

"Highly committed and in-depth understanding of M&A and financing. Ability to provide and develop solutions for complex situations. Strong negotiator with excellent commercial understanding. Good communicator." - Alexander von Jeinsen

"Pragmatic, yet excellent service and flawless legal advice. Good communication and drafting skills, pleasant character and excellent behaviour." - Alexander von Jeinsen

"Very responsive, always gives clear, knowledgeable advice." - Andreas Hinsen

"Annette Weber is very knowledgeable and is outstanding in client handling. She keeps you up to date on developments of the transaction." - Annette Weber

"Very sharp with insights. Great M&A experience showcased through key inputs for various scenario analysis." - Daniel Raun

"Very competent and experienced M&A lawyer, expertise in Swiss and German law as well as private equity transactions, fast and responsive." - Alexander von Jeinsen

 

Key Clients

Sandoz, Galderma, UBS Switzerland, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe

Bratschi is a Swiss law firm that is active in the financial and corporate space. It has seven offices across Zurich, Basel, Berne, Geneva, Zug, Lausanne, and St. Gallen. 

Highlights

The firm advised Scenic Group on the refinancing of its existing debt portfolio, providing Swiss law advice on the financing and security arrangements. The mandate included negotiating security documentation, preparing corporate approvals for 20 Swiss entities and obtaining a Swiss tax ruling to support the transaction.

The firm advised the 17 shareholders of A. Schönbächler & Co AG on the sale of the company to Plazza AG through a competitive auction process involving several of Switzerland’s largest real estate funds. The mandate combined M&A, real estate and construction law elements, as the transaction progressed alongside the development of the target’s largest property asset.

Testimonials

"Pragmatic approach, business-minded, solution-oriented." - Banking and finance

"Professional, accurate, efficient, timely." - Capital markets: Equity

"The Bratschi team is highly reliable and demonstrates strong professional expertise. We feel exceptionally well supported by this renowned law firm. The partners respond promptly and provide competent, well‑considered advice." - M&A

"Kevin Kengelbacher is highly reliable and demonstrates strong professional expertise." - Kevin Kengelbacher


Key clients

Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Bank of Montreal, Viking Cruise group, SPAR Handels

Buis Bürgi AG is a Zurich-based independent law firm specializing in banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, and dispute resolution. The firm advises a mix of corporate and private clients, with a notable international practice. 

Highlights 

The firm advised the borrower on amendments to a $50 million syndicated credit facility provided by UBS and Zürcher Kantonalbank, including the negotiation of covenant waivers and revisions following an anticipated leverage ratio breach.

Banking and finance


"Buis Bürgi is an exceptional boutique distinguished by a rare combination of deep technical expertise, strategic clarity and unwavering client focus. Eric Buis stands out as a master strategist in high-stakes banking matters - calm under pressure, incisive in his analysis and consistently ahead in anticipating counterparty moves. He has a remarkable ability to distil complex legal issues into clear, pragmatic strategies that are effective in practice, not just on paper."

"Highly competent team, pragmatic, fast, high quality output."

"Great expertise with a clear commercial judgement, they are identifying the key legal and factual issues quickly and giving realistic advice on merits."

Financial Service Regulatory

"Precise, diligent, focused, reliable, excellent judgment and client management skills."

"Buis Bürgi feature great lawyers and litigators with in-depth sector kow-how and the value added, hands-on experience you need to win a case."

"Very personal, very efficient and advice to the point."

M&A

"Very pragmatic, easy to work with, very experienced, great team work."

Lawyer Testimonials

Eric Buis

"Focused attention on strategy to achieve client goals. Scrupulous respect for client's equities. Effective formulation of ideas and work plans. Meticulous attention to sequencing to achieve success. Excellent communication skills and perfect integrity."

"Eric is known to everyone in the Swiss scene, very well connected and has extremely valuable insights to the industry."

"Eric Buis combines the instincts of a top-tier strategist with the precision of a seasoned practitioner and the judgment of a trusted advisor. He excels in high-stakes, complex banking and enforcement matters, maintaining absolute composure under pressure and bringing clarity to situations that are often legally and commercially intricate. What sets him apart is his ability to identify the decisive issues quickly and frame them in a way that drives outcomes. He cuts through complexity with remarkable efficiency, aligning legal analysis with commercial realities so that his strategies are not only technically sound but also executable and results-driven. His advocacy is measured yet highly persuasive - he knows when to be forceful and when to be pragmatic, always with a clear objective in mind."

Daniel Juri

"Incredibly fast while delivering outstanding quality."

Burckhardt is a Swiss boutique law firm, founded in 2010, that is active in the financial and corporate space. The firm has an office in both Basel and Zurich.


Highlights

The firm is best known for its work in the banking and M&A practice areas. In banking and finance, the firm mainly advises administrative agents and arrangers in acquisition financing and works on the lender-side in financing transactions.

In M&A the firm often represents buyers and sellers in mostly joint venture project. A recent notable M&A transaction that the firm advised on last year involves the acquisition of the Frama Group companies, involved in the fracking and folders/inserters sector, by Quadient, a French listed company.

Key clients

Bernard Houche, Quadient

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 played a crucial role in advising Holcim on its successful spin - off and public listing of its North American business, Amrize. This transaction was one of the largest new listings on the SIX Swiss Exchange and recorded as the largest spin-offs in Switzerland ever.

In banking and finance, the firm advised United Grinding Group on its EUR 800 million acquisition of the GF Machining Solutions business unit of Georg Fischer. This marks a strategically significant expansion for the clients operations and growth.

Testimonials

"Highly solution-oriented, practical and of high quality." - Financial service regulatory

"Fast response, very detail oriented yet pragmatic work. In-house expertise across M&A/Tax." - M&A

"Their technical competence and pragmatic approach." - M&A

"They possess an exceptionally high level of expertise in their respective fields. They are very easy to reach, and working with them is always a pleasure, as we collaborate as equals." - M&A

"High quality work, easy to work with, fast responses." - M&A

"The efficiency combined with being absolutely on point. They never miss an important point and have excellent oversight over processes and the key points along the way." - Private Equity

"Always available, constructive advice in different areas, fair pricing." - Restructuring

"Highly professional and expert support and services. Very flexible and efficient. Our matters were dealt with very promptly." - Restructuring

"Highly solution-oriented, practical and of high quality" - Eric Stupp

"Very client-oriented, pragmatic but opinionated approach." - Luca Jagmetti

"He possesses excellent expertise in the field of M&A and is a creative drafter of contracts. He is always available, and working with him is a pleasure. He is deeply committed to his clients’ interests." - Luca Jagmetti

"Constructive and decisive advice, very good knowledge, explaining different routes to pursue" - Luca Jagmetti

"Very professional, dedicated and forward-thinking. He understands our situation very well and quickly comes up with effective solutions." - Luca Jagmetti

"He is a very skilled professional with a deep knowledge of M&A and goes beyond the mere legal aspects of a deal." - Andrea Ziswiler

"Frédéric Betrisey is a top tier lawyer. He is very knowledgeable in virtually any Swiss legal matters. Always available. Works very hard. Always gentle and relevant which is qualities that we most appreciate." - Frédéric Betrisey

"Extremely well versed across all relevant topics for private equity investors." - Raphael Annasohn

Key clients

UBS Switzerland, Banca Credinvest, Sygnum Bank, Bank Vontobel,
Amrize, SK Capital, L’Oréal

CMS is an international law firm with a focus in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional mandates in the financial and corporate space, with over 75 offices worldwide. In Switzerland, the firm has offices in Zurich and Geneva.

The firm operates at a top tier level advising leading financial service institutions in the financial service regulatory sector and growing capital markets and M&A practices.

Highlights

The firm advised Novelis, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, on the Swiss law aspects of a US$1.25 billion term loan refinancing and a US$750 million notes offering. Both transactions required complex cross-border financing and capital markets expertise, reflecting Novelis’s significant Swiss operations and highlighting the team's capabilities in large-scale corporate financings, refinancing transactions and debt capital markets mandates for multinational industrial groups.


The firm advised Float Lending AB on the legal and tax aspects of the FLOAT tokenised debt programme, one of Europe’s first private debt asset tokens issued under Switzerland’s DLT framework. The mandate highlights the team's expertise in digital assets, fintech and innovative capital markets products at the forefront of tokenised finance.

Testimonials

"Availability, efficiency, knowledge and quality of the team." - Baking and finance

"Deep expertise in digital assets, tokenization, and crypto." - Financial service regulatory

"I like their availability and efficiency, its always a pleasure to work with Matthias, who always supports us and also gives the best legal advice, finding ways and solutions that are solving the problem immediately with the most client focus." - Financial service regulatory

"Fast, efficient, top work." - Insolvency

"They demonstrated a high level of professionalism, delivered timely and insightful feedback, remained highly responsive, and approached matters proactively with strong strategic awareness. Working with them was efficient, seamless, and thoroughly pleasant." - M&A

"Professionalism, availability, skills." - Private equity

"Mr. Levrat was particularly supportive and helpful during this time when the MV SANTE group was collapsing. He understood the situation and, through his knowledge and pragmatic approach, offered solutions." - Project development


Key clients

Novelis, AS Citadele banka, Aequitec, Novelis, Klarna Bank, Sygnum Bank, Tupperware France

FBT Attorneys-at-law is a multi-disciplinary law firm founded in 1993 with offices in Geneva and Paris.   

 

Focusses / specialisms 


The firm’s practice covers banking and finance and financial services regulatory. 

The banking and finance team is experienced in providing advice to clients on all Swiss banking and financial regulations, particularly banking, securities dealers and market infrastructures, collective investment schemes and money laundering, and advises frequently on cross-border issues. The team also advises clients throughout licensing procedures and in enforcement against FINMA. 

 

Homburger is a leading Swiss firm founded in 1957 that has established itself as a go-to firm on the market for corporate transactional work. Homburger is one of the largest Swiss law firms and has more than 150 professionals. The scale of the firm is bolstered by its leading market impact in financial and corporate practices including banking and finance, capital markets, financial services regulatory and M&A. 

Highlights

The firm advised Thermo Fisher Scientific on the Swiss law aspects of its CHF 1.425 billion bond issuance, comprising five tranches and representing the largest Swiss franc bond issuance by a US corporate issuer to date. The bonds are governed by Swiss law and were admitted to trading on SIX Swiss Exchange.

The firm also played a crucial role in advising BioVersys, a Basel-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, on its IPO on SIX Swiss Exchange, which raised approximately CHF 80 million.

Testimonials

"Highly competent and timely completion of tasks. They are not only well-versed in the law, but also have a deep understanding of the market." - Banking and finance

"Spot on, very responsive and approachable, also strategically valuable input." - Banking and finance

"Very professional and knowledgeable with a good insight into the industry and best practice." - Banking and finance

"Homburger impressed us with their exceptional responsiveness and their readiness to truly fight for our interests throughout the transaction." - Capital markets: Debt

"Extremely hands-on and solutions oriented." - Capital markets: Equity

"Efficient communication and unconditional availability when it matters. Unmatched expertise in Swiss AT1 landscape and not shy of taking a position and giving clear recommendations. High familiarity with developments in the market and proactive suggestions while looking for pragmatic/short solutions." - Capital markets: Debt

"Homburger is extremely professional and very responsive. They act within short deadlines and deliver on time." - Capital markets: Debt

"Homburger is second to none when it comes to structuring and implementing novel and cutting-edge structures and financial instruments. Their know-how and ability to think outside the box is unparalleled in the Swiss market. The strong bench of junior and senior associates guarantee a flawless performance and delivery on time even in times of high demand." - Capital markets: Equity

"Homburger stands out for its combination of technical excellence and commercial pragmatism. The team has a strong grasp of complex real estate and investment structures and is particularly effective in developing bespoke contractual solutions for sophisticated investor constellations. Their advice is clear, solution‑oriented and business‑focused, and the team is highly responsive and constructive in negotiations, making them a trusted partner for complex, time‑critical transactions." - Financial service regulatory

"Homburger shows an excellent understanding of the underlying problem and its potential consequences, which helps anticipate risks and design practical solutions. They respond thoughtfully to guidance and feedback, adapting quickly without losing momentum. Their work is very thorough and clearly articulated, with precise, well-structured writing that makes complex issues easy to grasp." - Financial service regulatory

"Outstanding quality of work, availability and professionalism throughout the transaction." - M&A

"Alexander is particularly strong in translating complex commercial and structuring concepts into clear, workable legal solutions. He has a very good grasp of sophisticated real estate and investment structures and is able to think through valuation, exit and governance mechanics pragmatically, while keeping documentation robust and execution‑ready. He communicates clearly, is highly responsive, and engages constructively in structuring discussions, helping to anticipate and resolve issues early. His ability to bridge legal detail with commercial objectives makes him especially effective on complex, investor‑driven transactions." - Alexander Wherlock

"Benjamin is an exceptional capital markets lawyer — an absolute expert in his field with an impressive depth of knowledge that inspires confidence throughout a transaction. He is highly responsive, always available when needed, and consistently goes the extra mile for his clients without being asked." - Benjamin Leisinger

"Benjamin Leisinger is extremely responsive and knowledgeable in capital markets matters. He is one of the establised capital markets lawyers in Switzerland and a "go to" person. His pragmatism and cleint handling is valuable and allows differentiated views." -
Benjamin Leisinger



"Daniel Hasler is a very experienced and skilled lawyer, fully understanding his clients needs and executing relentlessly." - Daniel Hasler

"Incredible knowledge about all relevant subjects and good relationship over the years." - Benjamin De Zordi

"He is very knowledgeable, has a wealth of experience, and is calm and a pleasure to work with." - Stefan Bindschedler

"Always willing to help at any time, extensive expertise in his fields of work, especially Digital Assets and Payment Services / Systems" - Stefan Kramer

"Stefan is a very reliable, pragmatic and proactive lawyer who delivers on his promises. He combines excellent technical skills combined with the ability to think outside the box and the ability to communicate expert advice in a clear and understandable manner." - Stefan Kramer


Key Clients

UBS Switzerland, Alchemy US Holdco 1, ING Bank, Cerberus, Logitech, J.P. Morgan, Roche, Raiffeisen, Avolta, EQT, Galderma, Liberty Global, Meyer Burger, BioVersys, Goldman Sachs, ZKB, Swiss Structured Products Association (SSPA)

Founded in 2006, Kasser Schlosser Avocats is a boutique law firm located in Lusanne. 

Focuses / Specialisms 

The firm specialises in intellectual property, commercial and coprorate law, real estate and construction and M&A. 

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

"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

Loyens & Loeff is an international law firm with 11 offices across Europe, Asia and in the US. The Zurich office focuses on finance, corporate, investment and tax advisory work.  The Switzerland office is best known for its work in M&A, with notable banking and finance and debt capital market practices as well. The banking and finance practice was established in 2018 and advises lenders in debt restructuring and borrowing lessors in refinancing and green financing transactions.

Highlights

The firm advised Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH and its Swiss subsidiary, Cheplapharm Schweiz GmbH, on the issuance of €750 million senior secured notes due 2031. The financing involved a complex, multi-jurisdictional security package encompassing Swiss and German law security interests alongside English and New York law guarantees, and was supported by a syndicate of leading international banks including Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan.

During the research cycle, the firm also advised Authentic Brands Group as Swiss legal and tax counsel on its US$1.4 billion acquisition of Guess?'s intellectual property, a transaction that established a new Swiss entity to own and license the global Guess? brand portfolio. Under the deal, Authentic acquired a 51% stake alongside Guess?'s founder shareholders, supporting the expansion of one of the world's leading brand management companies.

Testimonials

"Florian Willi is a standout support to our law firm as well as the end client. He is thorough but commercial in his delivery. He is great at jumping on a call to cut through the regulatory noise in written advice. A very positive person to work with all round." - Investment funds

"Nicolas from Loyens has a great commercial understanding of life sciences transactions so he was able to give us practical advise on things that really matter. Loyens was the one-stop shop for all of our needs in the transaction. They were very responsive, worked through Christmas and new year holidays and were a great team to have on our side." - M&A

"Top-tier capability with a pragmatic, business-first mindset. Loyens & Loeff handled a highly complex, structured case with a level of commercial precision that most Swiss firms cannot match. Gilles Pitschen is a standout — responsive, sharp, and exceptionally easy to work with. His M&A experience and instinct for what clients need keep every process smooth. The team around him is close-knit and clearly loves what they do." - M&A

"Loyens & Loeff Switzerland: very pragmatic and solution driven for a Swiss firm. Willing to think out of the box and accommodate syndicate. Works well with US investors as well. Loyens & Loeff Netherlands: their investment funds team is fully integrated (tax, legal, regulatory in one group) which is unique in the field." - Private equity

"The team is responsive, clear and commercial in their advice." - Financial service regulatory

"Florian is an excellent lawyer, with standout interpersonal skills. As I see it, his best quality is the ability to package complex concepts and regulatory requirements into commercial, client-friendly advice." - Florian Willi

"Highly perceptive and solution-oriented. Delivers on time. Maintains high quality. Commercially sharp, and keeps fee expectations clear and controlled." - Gilles Pitschen

"Available, pragmatic. He understood where we wanted to go with the syndicate and managed that process efficiently. Good understanding of commercial needs." - Gilles Pitschen

"Strong communication skills and a practical mindset." - Florian Willi

Key clients

Cheplapharm Arzneimittel, J.P. Morgan Securities, Dawson Partners
British Columbia Investment Management (BCI), European Investment Bank, Authentic Brands Group

MLL Legal Ltd. has a strong reputation for its advisory in transactional work. The firm has offices in Zurich, Geneva, Zug and Lausanne and works with an international network of other law firms worldwide. The firm’s Geneva office has a long history dating back to 1882. The team is led by leading expert lawyers across a range of practice areas and industries.


Highlights


The firm acted as exclusive legal adviser to Swiss Credit Partners on its establishment as a new Swiss lender focused on SMEs, helping to address the financing gap created by changes in the Swiss banking market following the integration of Credit Suisse into UBS. The transaction highlights the team's strengths in financial institutions, regulatory matters and the establishment of new lending platforms.

The firm advised Sixth Street on the Swiss law aspects of its $300 million structured equity and growth debt investment in Essential Pharma, as part of the company’s wider €900 million recapitalisation. The transaction showcases the team’s expertise in sponsor-backed financings, cross-border security structures and sophisticated private capital solutions in the healthcare sector.

Testimonials

"MLL Legal stands out through its exceptional responsiveness and consistently fast turnaround times. In situations where timing is critical, the team is highly available, pragmatic, and able to deliver high-quality advice without unnecessary delay." - Banking and finance

"Very professional, client related, goal-oriented, on time." - Capital markets: structured finance and securitisation

"MLL Legal has a great deal of experience in these areas, which makes the service they provide to us exceptional. What’s more, they have a very thorough understanding of our company and how it operates." - Capital markets: equity

"What distinguishes MLL is the combination of deep technical expertise and commercial pragmatism. Many firms can identify legal risks; MLL consistently helps clients navigate them and move projects forward." - Financial service regulatory

"Extremely experienced, work as a team, high quality work delivered." - Financial service regulatory

"A very professional team providing top-notch legal services." - M&A

"Professionality and availability from the small task to the most complicated project." - M&A

"Excellent competence, deep knowledge, great stakeholder management and communication and speed and solution-oriented approach." - M&A

"MLL Legal is my "law firm to go", as they are highly responsive, staffed lean, highly skilled lawyers, but with extraordinary sense of underlying commercials and industry understanding, bridging the gap between sellers and buyers with deal making spirit." - Private equity

"What stands out about MLL Legal is the combination of excellent legal expertise and a highly personal approach. The team is very responsive, approachable, and builds a strong relationship based on trust and confidence. We appreciate their practical advice, attention to detail, and ability to navigate complex regulatory matters efficiently." - Private equity

"Goal-oriented, pleasant to work with, pragmatic approach, supportive, very experienced with excellent track record." - Wolfgang Müller

"Very pleasant in all interactions, very knowledgeable, fast reaction on inquiries." Wolfgang Müller

"He is available to us at all times, 24/7, which is greatly appreciated. He also has a wealth of specialist knowledge, which we really value in him." - Wolfgang Müller

"Deep technical expertise across a wide range of financial products and services. Thorough understanding of the digital assets and tokenization industries to deliver quality, commercially driven advice." - Reto Luthinger

"Killian combines exceptional legal expertise with strong commercial judgment. What stands out most is his ability to quickly understand complex business objectives and provide practical, actionable advice." - Kilian Schärli

"She is very experienced and has a strategic approach, thinks ahead, thinks like an entrepreneur , emotional intelligence, excellent negotiator." - Andrea Sieber

"She is a mastermind when it comes to M&A transactions. Working with Andrea is always a pleasure." - Andrea Sieber

"Andrea is a highly skilled lawyer, with a great deal-making spirit, highly responsive, entepreneurial mind-set - she can deal not only with large corporate clients, but also with individual owners, family offices, private equity funds and "speaks there language". Her advise is always to the point and client focused." -
Andrea Sieber


Key clients

UBS AG, Calida Holding AG (listed on Swiss Stock Exchange), Santander, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO), Allreal, Burkhalter, Calida, Liontrust, Novavest, Matrixport Backed Finance AG/Backed Assets GmbH),Pyth Data Association, Bank of Singapore, Artex MTF AG 

Niederer Kraft Frey, founded in 1936, is a Zurich-based law firm with a strong reputation in domestic and international transactions across all practice areas within financial and corporate. The firm has a strong reputation advising leading international financial service institutions on highly significant mandates in the Swiss market and demonstrating clear legal expertise and innovative approaches to complex deals.

 

Highlights


The firm advised on SMG Swiss Marketplace Group's IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange, which was the largest IPO in Europe in 2025 at the time of listing. The transaction highlights the team's capabilities on landmark equity capital markets mandates, advising on high profile public offerings for major clients in the European market.


The firm also acted for the arrangers and agent on Sandoz Group AG's refinancing, including a new USD 2 billion revolving credit facility used to repay spin off term loans following Sandoz's separation from Novartis. This marked one of the largest financing transactions in the Swiss market in 2025.

Testimonials


"Niederer Kraft Frey stands out through its strong strategic guidance, deep industry knowledge and highly responsive team. They combine excellent technical expertise with a thorough understanding of the commercial and regulatory context in which we operate. The team acts as a true strategic partner, proactively identifying issues, offering pragmatic solutions and supporting us throughout complex transactions and strategic legal matters. Availability, reliability and continuity in key relationships are outstanding, and advice is always clear, precise and tailored to our needs." - Asset finance

"NKF team has been responsive, diligent in follow up, providing sharp expert advice, and keeping momentum to support our plans." - Banking and finance

"Daniel Bono and his team are exceptional lawyers. Daniel is very innovative and able to come up with new financing solutions which work for clients." - Banking and finance

"NKF combines outstanding legal expertise with a strong commercial understanding of the financial services industry. What stands out is their ability to provide pragmatic, solution-oriented advice. Their lawyers are responsive, well coordinated across practice areas, and able to distill complex legal issues into clear and actionable recommendations. They are particularly strong in regulatory and compliance matters where both legal precision and practical judgment are required." - Banking and finance

"Their expertise was instrumental in helping us navigate the uncertainty of an IPO, a process the whole organisation was not familiar with. We also valued that their advice extended beyond the typical legal scope, contributing meaningfully to overall project management and coordination." - Capital markets: equity

"Professional, friendly, and highly competent, with a strong ability to explain complex legal matters clearly and concisely." - M&A

"What stands out about them (especially for M&A) is not one single factor, but a combination top-tier M&A track record, strong mix of Swiss law depth and international capability, commercial and pragmatic approach, partner-led agile teams and good fun." - M&A

"Marco Hausermann is the principal person with who I have worked and would be the first point of contact on any matter requiring Swiss law support in this area. He is very responsive, detailed and thoughtful. He is very hard working too." - Restructuring

"Fabiano Menghini excels through his strong strategic mindset and excellent overall perspective. He consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of the broader transaction and business context and thinks solutions through from the client’s point of view. His advice is highly strategic, commercially driven and focused on what truly matters for the client." - Fabiano Menghini

"Excellent expertise and explanations, responsiveness, and relationship management, both with us as client as well as facilitation of relationship with regulators." - Sandro Abegglen

"Bertrand combines excellent legal expertise with a highly pragmatic and commercial approach. He is particularly effective at navigating complex regulatory quickly identifying the key issues and providing clear, actionable advice. He is responsive, solution-oriented, and able to communicate complex legal concepts in a concise and practical manner. His strong understanding of the financial services industry allows him to deliver advice that is both legally sound and commercially relevant." - Bertrand Schott

"He combines professionalism with a friendly, approachable manner and a high level of efficiency." - Patrik Peyer

"He is very responsive, commercially minded and practical, as well as very good at steering us through the deal. He is also a very persuasive and strong negotiator." Moritz Maurer


Key clients

UBS, Julius Baer, Bank of America, Société Générale, Sygnum, EQT, Goldman Sachs, Clariant, Swiss Steel, Global Blue Group, Georg Fischer, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Zürcher Kantonalbank

Pestalozzi is one of the oldest established Swiss law firms on the market. Founded in 1911, it is known for its corporate, financing, and capital markets advisory for a mix of both domestic and foreign clients. The firm has offices in Geneva and Zurich and is a member of the Lex Mundi international network of independent firms that embeds the firm in a wider community of lawyers in multiple jurisdictions globally.


Highlights


The firm advised Ringier AG on the IPO of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group on the SIX Swiss Exchange, acting for one of the company's key shareholders in what became Europe's largest IPO of 2025. The transaction highlights the team's expertise in high-profile equity capital markets mandates, advising on landmark listings involving major technology and digital platform businesses.


A highlight includes firms role on Coca-Cola HBC AG’s US$2.6 billion acquisition of a 75% stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) from The Coca-Cola Company and Gutsche Family Investments, one of the most significant M&A transactions in the African consumer goods sector.


Testimonials


"Top notch, pragmatic and commercial thinking, accessible, great value for competitive rates." - Banking and finance

"Great response time, thinking for the client, top expertise." - Capital markets: structured finance and securitisation


"Highly knowledgeable and competent." - Capital markets: equity

"The team is highly collaborative and seamlessly integrates expertise across regulatory, corporate and transactional matters, providing a truly holistic service. Andrea Huber in particular stands out for her strategic mindset, calm authority and ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders, including at board level. Overall, Pestalozzi combines technical excellence with commercial awareness in a way that clearly differentiates them in the Swiss market." - Financial service regulatory

"The team at Pestalozzi stands out for a rare combination of deep regulatory expertise, strong commercial awareness, outstanding client service and a genuinely trusted partnership approach. The firm has an exceptional understanding of complex and constantly evolving financial services and investment funds regulation, combined with the practical experience required to apply these rules effectively in sophisticated real-world situations." - Financial service regulatory

"Pestalozzi stood out for their pragmatic and solution-oriented advice. They demonstrated strong technical expertise combined with a clear commercial understanding of the deal dynamics, which made their input highly actionable. The team was responsive, well-coordinated, and able to explain complex Swiss law issues in a concise and business-friendly manner. Their ability to anticipate potential issues and propose workable solutions added real value to the transaction process." - M&A

"Pragmatic, very responsive, on top of his game." - Oliver Widmer

"Long-standing expertise. Broad financial services knowledge but also corporate law. Transaction savvy." - Oliver Widmer

"Highly competent and knowledgeable, strong technical background and highly commercial/pragmatic approach to problem solving." - Christian Leuenberger

"Andrea Huber combines exceptional technical mastery of Swiss financial services regulation with rare strategic clarity. She has an outstanding ability to dissect highly complex regulatory frameworks and distil them into precise, actionable advice that can be implemented at senior management and board level. What truly sets her apart is her forward-looking approach – she anticipates regulatory expectations and risks before they materialise, enabling clients to act proactively rather than reactively. Her calm authority, responsiveness and sound judgment in high-stakes situations make her an indispensable adviser on our most critical matters." - Andrea Huber

"Andrea Huber excels at navigating highly complex financial services regulatory & investment fund matters with a rare combination of technical precision, strategic judgment and commercial awareness. She has an exceptional ability to analyse intricate regulatory frameworks and identify the decisive issues quickly, even in novel or high-pressure situations involving cross-border investment fund structures, licensing questions, governance issues, regulatory investigations or sensitive interactions with FINMA." - Andrea Huber

"Beat Schwarz combines strong technical expertise with a very pragmatic, solution-oriented approach. He is able to quickly distill complex Swiss law issues into clear, actionable advice that is aligned with the commercial objectives of the transaction. He is responsive and hands-on, particularly in critical phases, and shows good judgment in balancing legal risk with practical deal execution. His coordination of the broader legal workstream is efficient and helps keep the process moving forward smoothly." - Beat Schwarz

Key clients

Coca-Cola, Intrum, UBS Switzerland, Swiss Life, Revolut, Metso

Founded in 1980, Prager Dreifuss is a recognised Swiss law firm active across financial and corporate transactional advisory. The firm, which has offices in Zurich, Bern, Zug and Brussels, advises both domestic and international clients, assisted by their relationships with other law firms globally.  The firm has presence in corporate M&A, banking and finance, capital markets, restructuring and insolvency and financial service regulatory work.
Highlights

The firm is best known for its work in restructuring and insolvency, but also has notable banking and finance, capital markets and M&A practices. In banking and finance, the firm represents lending and borrowing clients in senior financing and facility agreements. 

In capital markets, the firm advises on initial coin offerings and cryptocurrency mandates.  

In M&A, the firm advises sellers and buyers in acquisitions in the media, asset management and energy industries. 

In restructuring and insolvency, the firm advises bondholders and indentures trustees in insolvencies and bankruptcies. 

Testimonials

"Diligent approach, very quick and reliable, top service, I can delegate all issues to them and they deal responsibly with them." - Banking and finance

"Professionalism, practicality, availability, prompt responses." - M&A

"Prager Dreifuss is the go to firm especially for complex insolvency matters." - Insolvency

"Excellent service and attitude." - Daniel Hayek

"High-precision, professional and prompt advice on exit from a JV." - Guy Deillon

"Mark is very hands-on and his knowledge on insolvency law is the best you can get. Also he is a real pleasure to work with." - Mark Meili
  

Schellenberg Wittmer is a leading Swiss law firm. It has offices in Zurich, Geneva and Singapore and regional desks in Southeast Asia, Brazil and Africa.

Highlights

The firm acted as Swiss counsel to The Coca-Cola Company and Gutsche Family Investments on the sale of a controlling stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa to Coca-Cola HBC AG, in a transaction valuing Africa's largest Coca-Cola bottler at USD3.4 billion. The deal formed part of a broader strategic reorganisation of Coca-Cola's African operations and included arrangements for Coca-Cola HBC to acquire the remaining 25% stake over time.

The firm advised the joint lead managers, including BNP Paribas, Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank, on Danaher’s CHF 1.25 billion bond issuance, comprising five tranches of guaranteed bonds issued by DH Switzerland Finance S.à r.l.

Testimonials

"Schellenberg Wittmer stands out for a rare combination of deep Swiss banking/regulatory expertise and strong strategic and communication skills. For complex projects (e.g., group restructurings, governance changes, FINMA licensing matters, capital management and digital banking initiatives), they anticipate key issues early, propose regulator-proof yet workable solutions, and align their advice with the business and cultural realities of a privately owned private bank." - Banking and finance

"We highly appreciated the quick turnaround times, easy interaction with the team and the expertise brought in from different areas such as finance, tax, competition law." - Banking and finance

"Experimented teams giving very helpful feedbacks in a timely manner." - Banking and finance

"Very experienced about market standards, propose customised and innovative solutions, take initiatives and manage process effectively." - Capital markets: Debt

"Very qualified team; they know also very well how a bank works from the inside." - Capital markets: Debt

"The partner we worked with on the assignment is remarkably knowledgeable, has an impressive expertise combined with a strategic vision." - Insolvency

"Very proactive, solution-oriented and has a very good understanding of our business." - M&A

"Tarek Houdrouge is exceptionally strong at combining deep, technical Swiss banking/regulatory expertise with strategic judgement and communication skills—which is rare." - Tarek Houdrouge

"Manage process efficiently, solution orientated, very good commercial acumen; highly experienced." - Christoph Vonlanthen

"Very knowledgeable. Knows how a bank works internally. Anticipates internal blockages and tries to solve them beforehand." - Philippe Borens

"Great at finding solutions and does not see only problems. Very proactive and has a great business acumen." - Oliver Triebold

"Fast and comprehensive understanding or our expectations." - Jakob Marcel

Key clients

Deutsche Bank New York Branch, BNP Paribas, Temenos, L'Oréal, Temenos

Founded in 1993, Transliq is headquartered in Zurich. The firm was established by partners with expertise in insolvency and estate proceedings. 

Focus / Specialisms 

The firm primarily specialises in debt collection law, bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings and restructuring and estate administration. 

The Swiss firm VISCHER draws on the over 160-year legacy of its constituent firms, Gloor & Christ and Pestalozzi Haegi & Partner. Today, the firm boasts three offices in the crucial Swiss markets of Zurich, Basel and Geneva and is active across challenging mandates in the financial and corporate space. The firm has a specialized focus in tax and regulatory matters and commercial corporate transactions in Switzerland and globally.

Highlights

The firm advised Paprec Holding on a series of high-yield debt capital markets transactions, including a €850 million Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of senior secured notes due 2030 and 2032, as well as a subsequent €275 million tap issuance. The proceeds supported the French recycling group's general corporate and acquisition financing needs.

The firm advised Kelun-Biotech, Harbour BioMed and RTW Investments on the Swiss law aspects of the launch of Windward Bio, a Basel-based immunology-focused biotechnology company, and its USD 200 million Series A financing led by leading healthcare investors including OrbiMed, Novo Holdings and Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities.

Testimonials

"Always available, responsive, and highly professional, open to a pragmatic approach." - Restructuring

"Availability of the team and knowledge for the project." - Banking and finance

"Very much to the point advice, smart and pragmatic at the same time; work results were delivered on short notice in due time; Partner was always reachable." - Leveraged finance

"In my opinion, they are extremely responsive with a high business acumen. Always solution-driven and providing a broad choice of different legal options so that the management can choose their best fit." - Banking and finance

"Christian Schneiter stands out. He is technically sharp, commercially aware and very approachable. He has the ability to get to the centre of a legal issue quickly and to explain Swiss law points in a way that is immediately useful. He is the type of counsel you want on the other end of the line when a complex Swiss finance question arises." - Leveraged finance

Key Clients

AFINUM, Matignon Group, Blue Owl, Oculis Holding, Medartis

The Swiss firm Walder Wyss boasts six locations across the country in Basel, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano and Zurich. The firm focuses its specialism in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance, competition law and intellectual property. The firm is known for its active work in banking and finance, capital markets and the M&A sector.

Highlights

The firm advised Cembra Money Bank and Zürcher Kantonalbank on the establishment of Cembra’s CHF 1 billion Auto Covered Bond Programme and the inaugural CHF 150 million bond issuance, creating only the second Swiss covered bond programme backed by auto lease receivables and leased vehicles

The firm also advised Helvetia Holding AG on its merger of equals with Baloise Holding AG, creating Helvetia Baloise Holding AG, one of continental Europe’s largest insurers with a combined market capitalisation of approximately CHF 18 billion. The transaction represents a landmark consolidation in the Swiss insurance sector and highlights the team's expertise in complex public M&A.

Testimonials

"Outstanding competence and advise, also in relation to complicated circumstances and tight timelines, very reliable work and solutions that tackle complicated issues." - Capital markets: Equity

"Walder Wyss combines deep market knowledge with practical execution capabilities. Urs Hofer is highly experienced in complex fund structures." - Investment funds

"A significant contribution to thinking through issues and asking critical questions about the business, very responsive service." - M&A

"Very experienced, agile, creative and empathic lawyers who supported us perfectly along the whole transaction process." - M&A

"They are very knowledgeable and confident in articulating market terms and norms and they have considerable expertise in Swiss law matters. They are incredibly responsive." - M&A

"Excellent ability to understand where a German lawyer comes from regarding legal background/legal system and adapt to Swiss environment; great expertise in breaking down legal aspects to economic decisions to be made." - Restructuring

"Availability, pragmatic and to-the-point advice." - Iliana Djagova

"Outstanding negotiation skills and capability to steer the team through a difficult issue and case; excellent lawyer." - Urs Gnos

"Urs Hofer is extremely professional and brings a reassuring presence to complex matters. He provides clear direction and inspires confidence." - Urs Hofer

"An excellent direct point of contact at the C-level, who efficiently coordinates the appropriate contacts within the firm." - Urs Gnos

"Very experienced, creative and emphatic. Strong combination to find solutions and convince sellers in a buy-side process!" - Robert von Rosen

"Outstanding lawyer. First rate client care. Real gravitas in front of boards and very well connected." - Alexander Gutmans

Key clients

UBS / Credit Suisse, Banque J. Safra Sarasin SA, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Citibank, Inflexion, PostFinance, KomGo SA, Cequr AG

Wenger Plattner is an established Swiss law firm active in M&A and restructuring transactional work, as well as in advisory roles. The firm counsels on both international and domestic from its four offices in Basel, Berne, Geneva and Zurich Despite the firm being independent, it has a wide ranging international network with law firms.

Highlights

Wenger Plattner advises Corden Pharma on the establishment of a new peptide manufacturing facility at the GETEC Industrial Park in Muttenz, Switzerland. The project includes the creation of a new Swiss subsidiary, negotiation of a building rights agreement and related site agreements, as well as legal support on construction and development matters. The mandate combines real estate, construction and corporate structuring aspects in support of a significant investment in Switzerland’s life sciences sector.

Testimonials

"We had contact with Dr. Denise Jagmetti, who handled the matter with great competence and efficiency. Regardless, working with her was a very pleasant and friendly experience." - Restructuring

"Quick response and meeting deadlines of the transaction. also drafts were of a very good standard." - Financial restructuring

"Very responsive and focused." - Urs Reinwald

Key Clients

ING Belgium SA, Novocure Ltd., Jersey, CENTRUM Group. Health Care Royalty Partners, EnBW, Audi AG, Novartis Pharma Ltd., Bank Hottinger & Cie AG, Publicitas AG in bankruptcy liquidation, Swissair Group, The Enzian Shipping / Swiss Chem Tankers Group, Petroplus

Wenger Vieli is a Swiss law firm focused primarily on tax and business law, though it is also active in the financial and corporate advisory space. It has offices in Zurich and Zug.  
  
Focusses / specialisms   


The firm is recognised for its work in the banking and finance and M&A, in addition to boasting notable capital markets and project development practices.  


In banking and finance, the team advises borrowers and lenders on bilateral loans, debt financing, real estate, project and acquisition financing transactions. The firm also advises startups on financing rounds.  


The firm’s capital markets group is active on both equity and debt-side transactions, though it emphasises the representation of equity-side issuers.  


In M&A, the firm advises international and domestic bidders, selling shareholders, investors and buyers for acquisitions in a range of sectors, including real estate, renewable energy, private equity and retail.  


The project development team represents clients largely in the energy industry on project acquisitions, financings and development-related matters.  


Key clients   


Among the firm’s key clients are Unigestion,Klingel Medical Metal, Vontobel Holding, Jakob Müller, Kandou,Frontify, Left Lane, Burckhardt Compression, Molten Ventures, NLS Pharmaceutics, Sygnum Bank and Turnqey.  


Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024) 


Financial services regulatory     

“Prompt response, ability to deliver practical solutions.”

 

Investment funds           

“They are very experienced with Swiss law and regulations and have a very pragmatic approach to handling situations.”

 

M&A    

“Accurate understanding of clients' needs and objectives and effective implementation into the deal structure. 

“Highly experienced, broad oversight and command of corporate and M&A matters, very business minded, forthcoming and client-oriented thinking, no budget overruns.”

 

Private equity  

“They were answering quickly, were available, of good advice and business-oriented.

“Knowledgeable, high quality, timely, reliable, responsive, solution oriented.”

 

Project development    

“Wenger & Vieli are highly experienced lawyers, able to present complex legal advice in a client friendly manner and to support company's management in identifying compliant and business-oriented solutions to legal issues.”

 

Project finance

“Very pragmatic, quick in understanding, responsive.”

 

Restructuring   

“Quick response and good accessibility at partner level. professional negotiation and good preparation for the case.”

 

Andreas Hünerwadel    

“Very experience in project finance, restructuring.”

 

Martin  Peyer   

“Very responsive and able to assist on variety of matters in quick, cost efficient and effective manner.”

“Very knowledgeable, client and solution oriented, highly responsive and reachable, very good work quality, good communicator, well managed process, very reliable.”

 

Beat Speck         

“Beat is excellent in what he does – I’ve known and worked with him for the past 17 years. He is attentive, honest, open, and finds great solutions. His passion is very visible, and he has made a lasting effect on our company.”


“Very good knowledge of business relevant topics and solutions.”

“Highly experienced, calm and business-minded; client-centered thinking, quick, analytic, forthcoming.”


“Beat is highly knowledgeable and experienced, always striving to provide high quality advice in a way which is user friendly and business oriented. He always meets deadlines and is very accessible.”

 

Marc Walter     

“Competent, friendly, multilingual, effective, honest and straightforward.”

“He is of good advice and business-oriented.”

 

Daniel S. Weber

“Daniel developed all the procedures for risk management around regulation, compliance and transactions, and managed the compliance regulation structure related to ethics and anti-bribery.”


Georg Zondler

“Clear and fast communication for urgent problems - and don't forget the cost implications.”