‘A well-oiled machine’, Lenz & Staehelin is regarded as a tour-de-force in the banking and finance field, with its capabilities spanning a multitude of issues, from acquisition and sustainability-linked financings, to refinancings and restructurings. The team is well-positioned to advise a varied roster of clients, including domestic and international based clients. The team is helmed by Shelby R. du Pasquier, who is routinely entrusted by a plethora of private equity, hedge funds, and fund managers with regulatory issues and internal investigations, while François Rayroux principally focuses on regulatory developments. Another key name to note is Olivier Stahler, who is highly experienced in managing domestic and international financing transactions, and David Ledermann is well-versed in complex equity financing and M&A transactions. Fedor Poskriakov is well-positioned to advise on banking, securities, and finance law particularly within the remit of fintech. Other recommended names include Valérie Menoud, Laurence Vogt Scholler, and Isy Isaac Sakkal.

With demonstrable expertise across both transactional and regulatory mandates, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s arsenal of skills is known to encompass licensing of financial institutions, structuring of capital transactions, and regulatory change projects. Other strengths of the team involve aspects of fintech, investment management and market abuse legislation issues. Tarek Houdrouge and Grégoire Wuest jointly lead the team; Houdrouge excels in advising clients on the sales of regulated financial institutions, various finance transactions, and regulatory matters, while Wuest is a highly experienced practitioner in relation to multi-jurisdictional transactions. Caroline Clemetson is immersed in handling insurance mandates alongside the implementation of ESG investment policies. Also recommended is Grégoire Tribolet, who is entrusted with regulatory and corporate governance matters, and Christoph Vonlanthen, who harnesses his wide-ranging experience to handle buy-outs, rights offerings, and exchange offers.

While routinely representing clients in debt financings, Bär & Karrer Ltd. also deploys its expansive range of skills to advise clients on financing projects, white-collar crime, and multi-faceted structured derivative transactions. The practice is jointly led by Cédric Chapuis, who is a strong choice for banks, insurances, and financial institutions in relation to a variety of corporate, regulatory, and governance matters, and Frédéric Bétrisey, who has vast experience across the full gamut of banking and finance transactions. Martin Anderson frequently handles matters pertaining to financial products, asset management, and regulatory matters, while Andrew Garbarski bolsters the practice with his strengths that span white-collar crime, financial litigation, and insolvency. Christoph Suter is also recommended.

Frédérique Bensahel heads up the ‘highly recommended’ offering at FBT Attorneys-at-Law with his wealth of experience in investment funds, financial regulation, and a host of financial disputes. The team represents a litany of clients, such as foreign banks, insurance companies, and collective asset managers, in relation to banking, securities dealing, market infrastructure, and derivatives mandates, to name a few. Other names to note in the practice include Marco Villa, who demonstrates considerable proficiencies in relation to banking contract law and financial regulations, Michel Abt, and Jean-Marie Kiener, who is well-versed in the realm of financial disputes.

HFW‘s arsenal of skills include sustainability linked loans, trade law, and debt structuring issues. Leading the practice is Olivier Bazin, a noted trade finance expert who is capable of advising on a variety of funding and borrowing matters and is regarded for his ‘bespoke approach’. Other key team members include Jason Marett, who deploys his structured and commodity trade finance expertise, and Gibran Alaoui, who manages all facets of finance transactions, extending to syndicated lending.

MLL Legal pairs its experience on a domestic and international level with its deep expertise in real estate and acquisition financing to represent a diverse array of financial institutions, funds, and investors; the team is also well-versed in matters arising from the fintech sector. Steering the practice is Dmitry A Pentsov, an experienced practitioner when it comes to syndicated loans and pre-export financing, and Mona Stephenson, who possesses a strong grounding in private equity, debt financing, and corporate governance. Thierry Amy joined from Bianchischwald in May 2024, strengthening the group with his knowledge in complex regulatory banking mandates.

Counting a multitude of financial institutions and investors among their key roster of clients, the ‘dynamic and pragmatic’ OBERSON ABELS SA demonstrates notable knowledge in relation to banking and finance regulation and the obtaining of licenses. The team is led by Antoine Amiguet and ‘valuable ally’ Philipp Fischer; the former is noted for his work for banks, securities houses, and insurance companies, to name a few, and the latter demonstrates vast expertise across an array of Swiss banking, financial, and data protection regulation mandates. Another name to note in the group is Sonia De la Fuente.

Often engaged by a plethora of banks, securities firms, and asset managers, Pestalozzi‘s core streams of work encompass commodities trade financing, acquisition financing, and mezzanine financing, among others. The department is also regarded for its regulatory capabilities, civil banking claims, and fraud investigations work. At the forefront of the practice, Sébastien Roy demonstrates prowess in relation to financing, M&A transactions, and private equity, while Christophe Emonet operates for a consortium of clients on matters surrounding banking disputes and regulatory issues. Ludivine Boisard is more than capable of advising on cross-border transactions, and Nicolas Herren principally focuses on banking disputes with facets of contractual and regulatory issues.

Patrick Vogel heads up the offering at ‘client-oriented’ Walder Wyss Ltd., a team that is routinely entrusted by banks, securities, financial institutions, and fintech clients with a multitude of complex litigation, multi-faceted financial transactions, and regulatory compliance mandates. Vogel has recently been involved in an array of cross-border M&A transactions situated within the banking and finance remit, while Hubertus Hillerström‘s wide-ranging expertise extends from structured finance through to trade finance mandates. Adriano Antonietti frequently advises regulated financial institutions on banking litigation, regulatory compliance, and the implementation of legislation, while Liburn Mehmetaj is especially knowledgeable across anti-money laundering, sustainable finance, and payment systems.

While demonstrating considerable proficiencies in regulatory based mandates, Baker McKenzie is also well-positioned to handle acquisition finance, asset finance, and financial restructuring, to name a few issues. The practice is led by Jingjin Guo, who possesses a wealth of expertise across aircraft financing, securitisation, and group restructuring. Another name to note is Tatiana Ayranova, who routinely advises banks, borrowers, and financial intermediaries on a diverse range of transactions.

Chabrier Avocats is well-versed in managing trade and project financing, corporate finance, and securities trading work for an array of banks, trading companies, and portfolio managers. ‘Extremely bright’ practice leader Thomas Goossens excels at handling regulatory issues as well as complex disputes for a plethora of clients, while Marc Gilliéron is fully immersed within the commodities industry. Karim Khoury contributes his bank lending and debt issuance experience to the group and Corinne Antille primarily operates within the commodities, finance, and real estate industries.

Spearheaded by Vaïk Müller and Pascal Favre, CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. is noted for its strengths in insurance, anti-money laundering, and derivatives products alongside debt financing transactions. Müller brings his capabilities in fintech and blockchain based matters to the practice, while Favre enjoys considerable experience in managing project financing, syndicated lending, and collective investment schemes. Müller is regarded for his ‘global and accurate vision of the sector’s challenges’.

Counting top banks among its key roster of clients, Eversheds Sutherland AG is regarded for its structured trade finance loans expertise. Patrick Eberhardt steers the practice with his particular capabilities in relation to international trade and trade finance and is also well-positioned to advise on matters arising from the commodity sector. Tigran Serobyan principally focuses on banking and sanctions matters.

Counting fund managers, trustees services companies, and other financial institutions among its key roster of clients, Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés routinely advises on regulatory implementation, financial investment transactions, and sanctions mandates. The practice is jointly headed by Géraldine Badel Poitras, who possesses a strong grounding in fintech, anti-money laundering, and equity investments, among other areas, and Damien Cand, an experienced practitioner who is capable of handling pension funds, collective investment schemes, and M&A.

Bringing its extensive dispute capabilities to the table, LALIVE‘s expertise spans a diverse multitude of litigation, regulatory, compliance, and investigations work within the banking and finance remit. Nicolas Ollivier, whose strengths encompass bank bankruptcy, financial frauds, and structured products, leads the practice. ‘Standout’ Sandrine Giroud and Benoît A. Mauron are also recommended. Alexander Troller left the firm.

Fabien Aepli steers the ‘open-minded’ practice at Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC, which harnesses its expertise in financing loans, bond issuances, and crypto-related projects. Aepli is highly experienced in regulatory authorisations, asset management, and anti-money laundering, as well as outsourcing by financial institutions, while seasoned litigator Grégoire Mangeat is well-positioned to advise on an array of financial crime and investigations.