Lenz & Staehelin
(The following information was supplied by the firm)
Managing Partners: Benoît Merkt (Geneva), Thierry Calame (Zurich)
Number of partners worldwide: 48
Number of other lawyers worldwide: 175
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish
Firm Overview:
Lenz & Staehelin is the world’s Swiss law firm, serving global clients from our Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich offices. Our 200+ expert lawyers cover all areas of business law, providing many of the world’s leading companies, organisations and private individuals with insightful – yet always pragmatic and practical – advice.
Main Areas of Practice:
Asset Management
Our pioneering, market-leading asset management lawyers unravel the sector’s increasingly challenging regulations to help client portfolios grow now and into the future. Understanding the implications for both direct and indirect asset management structures, we’re also experts in all regulatory and governance aspects of ESG – helping asset managers, institutional investors and issuers to choose the best path at every stage.
Litigation and Arbitration
Decades of experience combined with forensically thorough, creative thinking have made our 50-lawyer team a market leader for civil, administrative and criminal litigation, international arbitration and high-profile corporate investigations. Acting either as counsel or arbitrators, we work under all major arbitration rules including the ICC, Swiss Arbitration Centre, LCIA, UNCITRAL and SIAC.
Banking & Finance
Lenz & Staehelin is one of Switzerland’s leading practices with a focus on commercial banking and structured finance, financial services and regulatory, derivatives and private banking. We cover all client needs whatever a case’s size, intricacies or timescale – backed by long-established connections and engagement with the relevant authorities and professional organisations, plus excellent relationships with top tier law firms globally.
Capital Markets
Bringing both in-depth experience and fresh thinking to the table, we advise issuers, shareholders and investors, and financial institutions in all types of capital markets transactions including equity, equity-linked and debt capital markets. We’re at the forefront of developments including ESG, green and sustainability-linked bonds. And we also help clients make the most of new technology to execute capital markets transactions and lead industry efforts to embrace change.
Commercial and Contracts
From small- and medium-sized enterprises through to international giants, we cover the full range of commercial activity. We specialise in establishing and structuring all aspects of new business operations and cooperation schemes in and out of Switzerland, as well as helping businesses already up and running. We’re expert in all areas of traditional contract law, from drafting and negotiations through to implementation and enforcement.
Competition and regulated markets
One of Switzerland’s largest and most experienced antitrust and competition law teams, we cover all areas that come before the Swiss Competition Commission and Swiss courts. We regularly advise on high stakes matters across diverse industries spanning products, services and infrastructure. Our team delivers clear, succinct, practical advice that makes sense first time round.
Corporate & M&A
Our 70-strong team is Switzerland’s leading corporate and M&A practice. We advise on both domestic and cross-border matters, and are closely involved in many of Switzerland’s most important public and private corporate deals. Alongside assisting large corporations and private equity firms, we work for small and mid-size businesses throughout the corporate lifecycle. We also advise start-ups and university spin-offs, from early-stage activities right through to IPO or trade sale.
Data Protection and Privacy
Our Data Protection and Privacy practice brings together experienced lawyers from a wide range of disciplines including regulatory, technology, corporate, contract, business sourcing, IP, competition and employment law. An agile team of specialists, we ensure clients stay ahead of fast-evolving compliance requirements, leveraging strong links with regulators as they work with clients to design, draft, review, implement and update corporate privacy and security policies. We also advise on whistleblowing, responding to cyberattacks and cross-border data transfer.
Employment, Pensions and Immigration
Our Employment, Pensions and Immigration team brings deep experience and an expert understanding of corporate, tax, data protection, labour, immigration and intellectual property matters. Our track record has made us one of Switzerland’s leading employment sector law firms, advising employers, senior executives and employees in all areas of private employment law and public labour law, including litigation and arbitration. We also work cross-border through our extensive international network.
ESG
Our multidisciplinary team of highly experienced lawyers advises clients on the full range of ESG questions. This includes support across corporate and regulatory issues linked to ESG compliance, human rights, anti-bribery and corruption, corporate governance, shareholder engagement, reporting obligations, product disclosures, and, more generally, risk management processes and controls. It also extends to environmental law and climate litigation, as well as ESG advisory services for individuals, charities, private and public organisations.
Insolvency and Restructuring
Our highly experienced restructuring experts and insolvency litigators handle domestic and cross-borders cases in and out of court, representing both debtors and creditors. We can help you identify and address all insolvency-related risks. By appropriately structuring transactions, contract drafting and counselling creditors, we can tailor-make your pre-insolvency strategy – drawing on diverse expertise pooled across Banking and Finance, Corporate and M&A, Litigation and Tax practice groups.
Intellectual Property
Our Intellectual Property team help our clients handle any IP challenge they face, whatever the market and commercial sector, and throughout all areas of the Swiss courts, government agencies and arbitral tribunals. Deploying highly ranked, joined-up teams, we make the most of our experience, methodology and powerful use of legal technology throughout the full IP lifecycle – from first IP creation and prosecution right through to commercialisation and enforcement.
Investigations
Our respected, experienced Investigations team – one of Switzerland’s leading practices – provides insightful, proactive advice around strengthening compliance policies, practices, codes of conduct and whistleblowing programmes. We can help you respond to statutory, regulatory and disciplinary investigations. And, partnering with wider external teams including forensic accountants when needed, we can also help you answer external questions into antitrust, anti-corruption, sanctions or financial services matters, as well as support your own investigations.
Private Clients
As one of the largest Private Client teams in Switzerland – with a network that spans continents – we’re proud of our experience and long-standing relationships with high-net-worth individuals. Expert in estate planning and proactive tax strategies, we work across all family, inheritance and immigration law. We act as executors and tax advisors, as well as trustees through our own trust companies in Switzerland and Guernsey. And we advise on the formation and management of charitable organisations.
Public Procurement
Our highly specialised public procurement team acts for both contracting authorities and suppliers, offering a national and local perspective on all aspects of public procurement and administrative law. We practise throughout Switzerland at national and cantonal levels. And we advise clients on market access within Switzerland, foreign suppliers on access to the Swiss market, and Swiss suppliers on access to foreign markets based on international agreements.
Real Estate
Our experienced real estate practice covers everything from transactions, leases, developments, zoning and construction laws, and financing, through to sale and lease backs, regulatory, environmental, labelling and other matters. We advise on real estate developments, as well as the architect and supplier agreements behind them. And we’re as comfortable working with private clients as with commercial users, institutional investors and finance parties. We’re experts in the growing field of ESG-related real estate law.
Tax
At Switzerland’s largest law firm tax department, we pride ourselves on personalised service – drawing on our excellent national and international connections to ensure faster, smoother transactions. Our fully comprehensive tax portfolio covers all fields of Swiss and international tax law, enabling clients to achieve their personal and business goals tax efficiently. Our team’s agility and insight mean we can act quickly when clients are facing urgent demands.
Technology and Outsourcing
The specialised teams in our Technology and Outsourcing practice handle a wide range of transactional and regulatory work in all fields of technology and digitalisation across industries. From digital transformation and ICT projects, through to data protection and cybersecurity, distributed leger technology (DLT), media and telecoms, we offer a fully integrated technology law service. As demand for greater information regulation grows, so does our expertise in helping our clients respond and stay ahead.
Key Contacts
Managing Partner, Zurich:
Thierry Calame
[email protected]
Managing Partner, Geneva
Dr. Benoît Merkt
[email protected]
Firm Rankings
Administrative & Public Law
Band 1
Arbitration
Band 1
Banking & Finance
Band 1
Capital Markets
Band 2
8.7
Capital Markets: Debt
Band 2
8.0
Capital markets: Equity
Band 1
Capital Markets: Structured Finance
Band 2
8.0
Competition/Antitrust
Band 1
Corporate/M&A
Band 1
Data Protection
Band 1
Energy
Band 2
8.0
FinTech
Band 2
8.0
Funds
Band 1
Insurance
Band 2
8.0
IP
Band 1
IP: Patents
Band 2
8.0
IP: Patents: Contentious
Band 1
IP: Patents: Transactions
Band 3
6.0
IP: Trademarks
Band 1
IP: trademarks: Contentious
Band 1
IP: Trademarks: Prosecution
Band 2
8.0
Labour & Employment
Band 2
8.0
Life Sciences
Band 2
8.0
Litigation
Band 1
Private Client
Band 1
Private Wealth Law
Band 2
8.0
Real Estate
Band 1
Restructuring & Insolvency
Band 1
Sports Law
Band 1
Tax
Band 1
TMT
Band 3
7.0
White-Collar Crime
Band 2
8.0
Leading Lawyers
Articles
In a historic ruling, the European Court of Human Rights (“Court”) found that the European Convention on Human Rights (“Convention”) encompasses a right to effective protection by the State authorities against the adverse effects of climate change. The Court found that Switzerland had failed to act in a timely and sufficient manner to adopt and […]
Switzerland continues aligning its sanctions regime to the European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia. On 29 February 2024, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (DEFR) adopted further measures against Russia, in line with the 13th sanctions package adopted by the EU. Alongside, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has updated its […]
On January 31, 2024, the Federal Council has published the final implementing provisions to the Collective Investment Schemes Act (“CISA“). As a result, a new category of funds, reserved for so-called qualified investors under CISA, will be available to the Swiss asset management industry as of March 1, 2024. As a reminder, the Limited Qualified […]
The Swiss Federal Council continues aligning the Swiss sanctions regime to the EU sanctions against Russia. On 31 January 2024, the Swiss Fed-eral Council adopted further measures against Russia, in line with the 12th sanctions package adopted by the European Union (EU). This follows a move on 21 December 2023 where the Federal Department of […]
In a newly published guidance, FINMA provides clarity on the treatment under Swiss financial market law of staked digital assets from a balance sheet and licensing perspective. Importantly, it provides a path for banks to hold staked client assets off-balance sheet and clarifies the regulatory perimeter for non-bank digital asset service provider. Staking On 20 […]
On 14 December 2023, the Council of the EU and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CSDDD”). This directive will mandate comprehensive due diligence from large EU and non-EU companies, targeting actual and potential adverse impacts on human rights and the environment of their business operations, including those […]
On December 21st, Switzerland and the United Kingdom entered into an agreement on the mutual recognition of financial services (the Berne Financial Services Agreement). This Agreement is largely based on mutual recognition of the equivalence of national legislations and regulations. It aims at fostering competitiveness and cooperation between these two jurisdictions which, while being both […]
On 22 November 2023, the Federal Council decided to maintain the activation of the safeguard clause established in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (“AFMP”) with regard to Croatian workers in 2024. Consequently, a maximum of 1,204 B permits and 1,053 L permits may be issued to Croatian workers between January 1 and […]
On November 1, 2023, the SIX Swiss Exchange published amendments to its rules on disclosure of management transactions and ad hoc publicity. While the principal amendments focus on the scope and modalities for management transactions, the amended ad hoc publicity rules are also relevant for companies that have only debt securities listed on SIX. The […]
On September 22, 2023, the Swiss Federal Council announced its key guiding principles for amending the Swiss corporate sustainability reporting obligations. After previously signaling its ambition to align the Swiss reporting requirements with international standards, it does not come as a surprise that the Federal Council affirmed its intention to further align the Swiss reporting […]
The Swiss government wants to encourage the use of biosimilars and generics with the aim of decreasing the costs of healthcare. Recent regulatory and legislative changes will make it easier to replace reference products by biosimilars and incentivize patients to choose generics and biosimilars when available. A. Background On September 22, 2023, the Swiss Federal […]
Proper drafting of the articles of association of Swiss listed companies can improve the board’s ability to resist activists with no meaningful economic exposure to the company. One notable aspect of the Swiss corporate law reform in 2023 was the introduction of measures allowing Swiss listed companies to limit so-called “empty voting”, i.e. the exercise […]
On 1 September 2023, the revised Data Protection Act (“revDPA”) and its implementing Ordinance (“revDPO”) entered into force, concluding a six-year long legislative process. The revision responds to technological advancements, aligns Swiss data protection law with today’s international data protection standards, including the GDPR, and shall allow Switzerland to uphold its status as a country […]
Challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI in M&A Transactions need to be addressed with an interdisciplinary team. This Insight newsletter addresses some key issues dealmakers must keep in mind. Since the launch of Dall-E and ChatGPT last year, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in general and Generative AI (GAI) in particular are omnipresent. The […]
The June 2023 ruling by the Swiss Commission for Fairness, finding FIFA’s communications on carbon neutrality at the World Cup 2022 misleading to consumers, has attracted global attention. This decision acts as a strong reminder for companies to carefully evaluate their commercial communications, ensuring verifiable evidence supports environmental assertions. It foreshadows a wave of forthcoming […]
Geneva has published an evolution of its practice on taxation of employee stock and option grants, extending in particular for employees of startups and SMEs the possibility to realize a tax-free capital gain upon exit. Download document in English (PDF / 139 KB)
As of July 12, 2023, the European Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) will apply. The European Commission can now examine concentrations that meet the filing thresholds for subsidies from non-EU Member States distorting the internal market. This review is in addition to the merger control procedures and foreign investment screenings. The FSR also introduces a comprehensive subsidy control for public procurement […]
Switzerland and certain EU and EFTA countries have signed a new framework agreement on social security coordination rules to facilitate cross-border teleworking. This framework agreement will be applied by Switzerland from 1 July 2023, and allows cross-border employees to telework up to 49.9% of their working time in their country of residence, while remaining subject, for […]
On January 1, 2023, the revised corporate law entered into force. The revision requires companies, among other things, to amend their articles of incorporation to reflect the new corporate law. Despite a two-year transition period, the vast majority of public companies listed on SIX Swiss Exchange has already amended their articles of incorporation at this […]
The Swiss government aims at a partial revision of the Swiss Cartel Act. Now that the consultation process is completed, the Federal Council has unveiled its draft legislation. The revision aims at modernizing merger control and strengthening private damage litigation. The draft legislation remarkably also provides for a re-introduction of the effects test for hardcore […]
In addition to amendments to the Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act (DEBA) and the Criminal Code (SCC), the Federal Act on Combating Abusive Bankruptcy also brings important changes to the Code of Obligations (CO) and the Commercial Register Ordinance (CRO). The new Act aims at increasing the hurdles for a company to release its debts […]
The Swiss Federal Council continues aligning the Swiss sanctions regime to the EU sanctions against Russia. On January 25, 2023, the Swiss Federal Council enacted further sanctions against Russia, in line with the 9th sanctions package adopted by the European Union (EU). The new measures relate to bans on product testing, advertising, market research and opinion […]
The last quarter of 2022 saw two notable advances in relation to ESG reporting in Switzerland and in the European Union. In Switzerland, the Federal Council adopted an Ordinance on Climate Disclosures to complement the non-financial reporting rules that apply for the first with respect to the financial year 2023. In the EU, the co-legislator […]
Press Releases
Lenz & Staehelin has, once again, ranked amongst Switzerland’s Most Attractive Employers – named the most sought-after law firm in Universum’s highly respected survey. This is the sixth year in a row that we have received this recognition, which reflects the strength of our brand as an employer. We believe our commitment to creating a […]
On February 27, 2024, enthus Group GmbH, a German IT solution provider with operations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, acquired Global IT group, another IT solution provider based in Neerach, Switzerland. With the acquisition, enthus will significantly expand its market share in Switzerland. The seller has re-invested in the buyer’s owner and will remain with […]
On 19 March 2024, Holcim (Suisse) SA, the Swiss entity of the Holcim Group, announced its acquisition of the group Cand-Landi, a large industrial group active in the production and distribution of building materials, the exploitation of gravel pits and landfills as well as in the recycling and logistics. The family-owned Cand-Landi group, with more […]
Wednesday, 24th January saw our firm secure another big win at Citywealth’s IFC Awards 2024 in London – with Gold in the ‘Law Firm of the Year – Switzerland’ category. This honour is even more special as we were judged Gold for the second year running – and the fourth time since 2019 – by […]
Unilabs, a leading international provider of diagnostic services, has acquired ADUS Radiologie, an esteemed radiology company with three centres in Dielsdorf, Kloten, and Affoltern am Albis. This strategic move follows the successful integration of RIMED, acquired in 2022, further reinforcing Unilabs’ commitment to expanding its presence and advancing medical diagnostics in Switzerland. Lenz & Staehelin […]
Transmutex SA, a nuclear engineering company based in Geneva, Switzerland, raised over CHF 20M in the extension of its Series A funding to further develop its pivotal solution to a safer, lower-cost, proliferation-resistant nuclear energy technology. The round was led by Union Square Ventures and Steel Atlas with participation from new and existing investors including […]
Lenz & Staehelin is proud to have won the Mondaq Autumn 2023 Award for Thought Leadership. This is a great honour as we aim to provide valuable insights and expertise and inform our clients about industry trends and changes in regulation and best practices. The Awards showcase the most popular articles in terms of total […]
Vencora, an indirect subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc. whose shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and CREALOGIX, a global leader in digital banking technology, jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive transaction agreement, under which Vencora agreed to submit an all-cash public tender offer to acquire all publicly held registered […]
In its judgment of October 31, 2023, the Federal Administrative Court confirms that Sunrise (formerly UPC) abused its market dominance by refusing to supply Swisscom with broadcasts of live ice hockey games. The Court imposes a fine in the amount of CHF 29.1 million on Sunrise. The Swiss Competition Commission had opened an investigation against […]
Metall Zug and Miele have signed an agreement under which Metall Zug will contribute Belimed AG and Belimed Life Science AG, and Miele will contribute the Steelco Group into a new joint venture to be established. Metall Zug will participate in the joint venture based in Zug with 33% and Miele with 67%. The joint […]
Autoneum Holding AG, headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol AUTN, completed on 2 October 2023 its rights offering launched on 14 September 2023, with net proceeds of approximately CHF 100 million. The net proceeds will be used to partially repay the bridge loan which Autoneum entered […]
On October 4, 2023, Novartis completed the spin-off of Sandoz through a dividend-in-kind distribution of Sandoz shares to the holders of Novartis shares and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Sandoz shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Lenz & Staehelin (Tino Gaberthüel and Patrick Schärli) advised Gordon Dyal & Co., financial advisor to Novartis, in […]
Lenz & Staehelin successfully represented a Lebanese-owned telecommunications operator as defendant in proceedings before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in which the Republic of South Sudan was seeking to set aside an arbitral award rendered in a Geneva-seated ICC arbitration. The sole arbitrator had found in a decision dated 10 November 2022 that he had […]
Latour Capital successfully completed its acquisition of Gutor Electronic from Schneider Electric SE. Headquartered in Wettingen, Switzerland, Gutor is the world leading manufacturer of UPS for industrial applications. UPS systems ensure operational continuity during power outages and contribute to the safety of the most critical installations, such as nuclear power plants, power generation, rail signaling, […]
On June 22, 2023, Komgo SA, the trade finance blockchain company, successfully closed a strategic equity investment by Banco Santander. With this investment, Santander becomes a shareholder of Komgo alongside other major corporate and financial players including ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, Citi, Consensys, Crédit Agricole, Gunvor, ING, Koch Supply & Trading, Macquarie, Mercuria, MUFG, Natixis, […]
On June 7, 2023, Inflexion and Gyrus Capital announced the completion of the acquisition by Inflexion of a majority stake in dss+, a leading provider of operations management consulting services with a purpose of saving lives and creating a sustainable future. Gyrus and dss+ management retain a significant minority. The Inflexion investment is being made […]
On June 22, 2023, Komgo SA, the trade finance blockchain company, successfully closed a strategic equity investment by Banco Santander. With this investment, Santander becomes a shareholder of Komgo alongside other major corporate and financial players including ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, Citi, Consensys, Crédit Agricole, Gunvor, ING, Koch Supply & Trading, Macquarie, Mercuria, MUFG, Natixis, […]
Union Investment sells its property «Westpark» in Zurich-West On June 1, 2023, the international real estate company Union Investment with headquarters in Hamburg, closed the sale of its multi-tenant property «Westpark» located in Zurich-West to PSP Real Estate AG for CHF 216.5 million. Lenz & Staehelin advised Union Investment in this transaction. The team included […]
On May 15, 2023, Emergent BioSolutions, the New York Stock Exchange listed developer and manufacturer of vaccines, completed the sale of its travel vaccine business to Bavarian Nordic for an upfront payment of USD 270 million. Lenz & Staehelin advised Emergent BioSolutions in this transaction. The team included Tino Gaberthüel and Simone Ehrsam (both partners Corporate […]
Partner One, one of the fastest growing enterprise software conglomerates, announced that it had successfully acquired Stromasys SA, the world-leader in enterprise-class emulation solutions for legacy systems. Lenz & Staehelin acted as legal advisor to Partner One on this transaction. The Lenz & Staehelin team included partner Lukas Morscher (Technology and Outsourcing) as well as […]
On March 29, 2023, Swiss Prime Site AG signed an agreement to sell its Wincasa group company to Implenia for an enterprise value of CHF 235 million. Subject to regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter and the economic interest will be transferred retrospectively as of January 1, 2023. Lenz & […]
Tanja Luginbühl, head of Restructuring and Insolvency and partner in the Private Client group, has been awarded the gold award in the category Woman of the Year – Switzerland at the Powerwoman Awards 2023 by Citywealth. Judges cited that she “exhibits skill and a reflective manner that make her an asset to any client. With a […]
On 3 March 2023, CargoRoll AG, Lucerne, a freight wagon portfolio company managed by Reichmuth & Co Investment Management, closed a EUR 135 million facilities agreement with a syndicate of renowned financial institutions led by UBS Switzerland AG acting as original lender, arranger, agent and security agent. Schellenberg Wittmer acted as Swiss legal counsel to […]
SCCF Structured Commodity & Corporate Finance (“SCCF”), the Swiss-based trade finance expert, has issued short term tokenized notes to refinance a loan to a commodity trading firm active in biofuels. The notes were tokenized using the CMTAT smart contract framework published by the Capital Markets and Technology Association (CMTA), with the help of Taurus SA. […]
On March 22, 2023, Sika announced that it agreed to sell MBCC Group’s chemical admixtures assets in England, the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand (Disposal Perimeter) to private equity firm Cinven. The divestment of the Disposal Perimeter is part of the required remedy process for the approval of Sika’s acquisition of MBCC Group […]
On March 29, 2023, Swiss Prime Site AG signed an agreement to sell its Wincasa group company to Implenia for an enterprise value of CHF 235 million. Subject to regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter and the economic interest will be transferred retrospectively as of January 1, 2023. Lenz & […]
With over 370 furniture stores in 13 European countries, the XXXLutz Group is one of the three largest furniture retailers worldwide. The XXXLutz Group continues its expansion and buys Conforama (Confo) Schweiz with 20 stores. Lenz & Staehelin is advising CAFS Invest GmbH and Sems CH 2 AG (associated with the XXXLutz Group) on antitrust […]
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court decided on the dispute about “Commune de Champagne PDO” in two judgements (December 23, 2022, 2C_407/2021; March 22, 2022, 2C_381/2021). The Canton de Vaud had introduced, in January 2021, a PDO “Commune de Champagne” for still white wines of the Chasselas grape grown in the municipality of Champagne. The Comité […]