The team of ‘seasoned experts’ at Bär & Karrer Ltd. maintains an impressively varied practice, with capabilities that include advising on listed company and private M&A, public tender offers, other corporate transactions and ESG. The team is praised for its ‘strong subject matter expertise in combination with excellent commercial acumen’.  Rolf Watter leads the practice, with wide-ranging experience in corporate governance issues. Christoph Neeracher heads the private M&A and private equity department, while Mariel Hoch bolsters the practice with her knowledge of cross-border M&A, public takeover offers and corporate relocations. Ralph Malacrida demonstrates considerable expertise in handling M&A, while Dieter Dubs principally focuses on public tender offers. Martin Anderson leads the Geneva M&A practice and Paolo Bottini helms the Lugano practice. Other key names to note are Philippe Seiler and Raphael Annasohn.

Dieter Gericke spearheads the ‘very skilled, professional and reliable’ team at Homburger, which is capable of acting for a host of blue-chip clients, with established prowess in regulated sectors such as banking and insurance, life sciences, nutrition and telecoms. The team demonstrates expertise across a variety of complex transactions, including venture capital, private equity, public M&A and auctions. Frank Gerhard focuses on M&A within the chemical and life sciences sectors. David Oser and Daniel Hasler demonstrate vast capabilities in private equity matter, while Daniel Daeniker is well regarded for his expertise in corporate governance. Andreas Müller is well equipped to advise on corporate and securities law, among other issues. Anna Peter, who was promoted to partner in January 2024, is also recommended.

With capabilities across the financial services, chemical, life sciences and TMT sectors, Lenz & Staehelin utilises its bench strength to advise on public takeovers, private transactions and corporate governance matters. The team is recommended for its ‘experience, technical knowledge, commercial judgement and network among Swiss corporates’. Tino Gaberthüel and Andreas Rötheli co-helm the practice; the former is based in Zurich and the latter in Geneva. Stephan Erni is a strong choice for private equity and equity capital markets transactions, while Jacques Iffland is routinely engaged to handle transactions involving public companies. Matthias Wolf’s experience in the banking and financial sector further strengthens the practice, while Simone Ehrsam is trusted by clients from the public and private sectors.

Whilst expanding its network with the opening of a new Geneva office, Niederer Kraft Frey AG maintains a broad corporate offering across the life sciences, high-tech, industrials and manufacturing, and education sectors. The team possesses expertise in large-scale M&A transactions and private equity matters. Practice head Philipp Haas is well equipped to manage cross-border work. Thomas Brönnimann handles a wide variety of private and public M&A, while Philippe Weber excels in handling M&A and corporate crisis matters. Andreas Casutt is noted for his capability in shareholder litigation and Moritz Maurer’s broad range of expertise encompasses private equity, multi-jurisdictional reorganisations and private M&A matters. Other key names to note in the practice include Philip Spoerlé and Katalin Siklosi.

Utilising its global network of offices, Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG is particularly well versed in corporate matters in the private equity and industrial sectors and is well regarded for its ‘extremely diligent approach to requests, responsive communication and solution-focused attitude’. The practice is jointly led by Alexander Fischer, who advises clients on cross-border and domestic M&A, private equity and debt financing, and Jingjin Guo, who focuses on M&A, corporate matters and investments. Martin Furrer’s broad range of expertise incorporates private equity matters, corporate reorganisations and governance issues. Martin Frey and Alexander Blaeser are also recommended.

MLL Legal’s proficiency in the corporate and commercial arena extends from public tender offers and private equity transactions to asset and share acquisitions and corporate governance. The ‘extremely competent’ team covers a diverse range of sectors, including TMT, real estate and retail, among others. Practice co-head Alexander Vogel is experienced in handling distressed M&A and corporate finance, while fellow practice head Andrea Sieber's strengths lie in corporate governance and private equity, among other areas. Mona Stephenson and Daniel Schoch are also key members of the practice.

The ‘client-oriented’ team at Pestalozzi fields a broad offering that incorporates M&A, private equity, commercial matters and corporate reorganisations, among others. Co-lead Christoph Lang is particularly well versed in corporate law, as well as advising on M&A and joint ventures, while fellow practice lead Sébastien Roy focuses on private M&A and private equity transactions, utilising his trilingual capabilities. Petra Hanselmann’s strengths include pre-transaction restructurings, joint ventures and M&A, with Severin Roelli routinely engaged by clients on public tender offers and stock exchange law and regulations. Pascal Richard is another name to note.

Capable of advising clients across the full spectrum of industries, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd’s ‘exceptionally strong’ team is led by Lorenzo Olgiati and Jean Jacques Ah Choon, and demonstrates notable strengths in the venture capital arena and in handling debt and debt-funded transactions. Olgiati leads the Zurich team, with Ah Choon helming the Geneva practice. Oliver Triebold is routinely engaged by a variety of multinational clients, while Marcel Jakob is another key name to note.

A ‘professional and goal-oriented team’, Walder Wyss Ltd.’s capabilities encompass the full suite of corporate matters, ranging from private and public M&A to due diligence tasks, while utilising its strengths in the capital markets sphere. Alex Nikitine and Stefan Knobloch jointly lead the practice; the former’s wide-ranging experience includes public tender offers, IPOs and venture capital transactions, while the latter is particularly well versed in M&A, public takeovers and corporate governance issues, among others. Urs Gnos demonstrates proficiency across areas including public tender offers, buy-outs and stock exchange regulations, while Luc Defferrard is noted for his expertise in private equity and venture capital transactions. Ramona Wyss stands out for her expertise in transactions in regulated industries and the energy sector. The team was also strengthened significantly at senior level in September 2023 with the arrival of Hans-Jakob Diem, an expert in M&A, corporate and securities law, from Lenz & Staehelin.

‘Responsive, professional, and practical’, Advestra is trusted by an array of clients with corporate and M&A work, particularly in the TMT sector. Thomas Reutter's strengths lie in M&A transactions, while Daniel Raun contributes his expertise in a range of corporate transactions to the practice. Beda Kaufmann is extremely well versed in M&A and private equity transactions. The firm’s offering was also strengthened by the arrival of private equity and venture capital expert Andreas Hinsen from Loyens & Loeff in February 2023.

Well regarded by high-end and mid-market clients, Bratschi Ltd fields a strong offering that includes expertise in the IT, finance and energy sectors, among others. Thomas Peter leads the team, with other key names in the practice including Etienne Gard and Kevin Kengelbacher. Jvo Grundler joined the team from Prager Dreifuss AG in March 2023, and Orlando Meyer and Marco Giavarini joined from Lexportal in October 2022.

Drawing on its global network, the ‘very dedicated’ CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. acts for a stellar client roster across a diverse array of sectors, from energy and financial services to life sciences and technology. Key areas of expertise for the practice include private equity, transaction risk insurance and an extensive range of M&A. Stefan Brunnschweiler and Daniel Jenny, who are based in the Zurich office, and Pascal Favre and Jérôme Levrat, who are based in the Geneva office, spearhead the practice. Brunnschweiler is routinely entrusted to advise on strategic investments and M&A, while Jenny is well known for his capabilities in private equity and cross-border transactions. Favre enjoys a strong reputation with clients across the manufacturing, pharma, media and transport sectors, among others, and Levrat’s strengths lie in M&A and venture capital transactions, among others. Alain Raemy is also recommended.

Capable of advising clients on multi-jurisdictional deals, Eversheds Sutherland AG maintains a varied corporate offering that includes private equity and venture capital transactions and corporate restructurings. Marc Nufer, the founding partner of the Swiss office, possesses a wealth of experience in multi-jurisdictional transactions and restructurings; he helms the team with deputy head Oliver Beldi, who is particularly active on the transport and energy side of the practice. Daniel Bachmann is particularly well versed in M&A, succession planning and restructuring transactions, while Michael Mosimann is accomplished in venture capital financing and private M&A. Alexander Schütz is also recommended.

Capable of handling a diverse range of corporate and M&A issues, Kellerhals Carrard is particularly noted for its expertise in the life sciences, technology and leisure sectors. The team is led by Beat Brechbühl, Ines Pöschel, Edgar Philippin, Emanuel Dettwiler and Massimiliano Maestretti. Together, they maintain a strong practice advising across commercial law issues, private matters and equity transactions, among others.

With an active practice across the TMT, real estate and life sciences sectors, Loyens & Loeff’s practice possesses vast experience of advising multinationals, private equity funds and listed companies with respect to a host of commercial and M&A matters. Leading the practice is Marco Toni, who holds notable expertise in private and public M&A, corporate governance and general corporate matters. Gilles Pitschen handles matters pertaining to the life sciences, digital and tech fields.

Spearheaded by Jürg Luginbühl, Gian-Andrea Caprez and Damien Conus, VISCHER’s ‘pragmatic and very service-oriented’ practice regularly undertakes work in the life sciences, ICT, energy and luxury goods sectors. Luginbühl is particularly proficient in managing M&A and private equity transactions, while Caprez contributes his experience in private M&A, corporate governance and venture capital to the practice. Both are based in the firm’s Zurich office, while Conus, who is based in Geneva, acts for a diverse client base in private equity transactions. Matthias Staehelin is noted for his expertise in the life sciences industry and Robert Bernet is well versed in handling an array of corporate transactions.

Acting for a diverse client base that includes investors, start-ups and SMEs, Wenger Vieli Ltd‘s ‘exceptional’ practice maintains a broad corporate and M&A offering with particular expertise in cross-border transactions. Steering the practice is Marc Walter and Martin Berweger, with the former handling a considerable workload of private M&A, venture capital and ESG matters. Beat Speck is routinely engaged to advise on cross-border M&A, among other issues.

Oliver Künzler leads Wenger Plattner‘s corporate and commercial department, which is capable of implementing M&A transactions under the Swiss Merger Act, as well as possessing considerable knowledge of Swiss-related asset and M&A transactions. Marc S Nater principally advises clients on public and private M&A, private equity and commercial law, while Benjamin Dürig bolsters the practice with his thorough knowledge of M&A and corporate finance transactions.

Advising a diverse array of clients from start-ups to SMEs, Bonnard Lawson assists with the full gamut of commercial and corporate issues, and is often engaged to manage contractual matters and transactions, as well as related litigation and arbitration. Lausanne-based Loïs Hainard and Geneva-based Marie Flegbo-Berney utilise their considerable experience in this area to lead the team.

With a strong reputation for managing M&A, venture capital and private equity transactions, the ‘business-minded’ team at id est avocats sàrl excels in the tech sphere as well as in relation to ESG issues. The practice, which is capable of advising major corporations and SMEs, is led by Michel Jaccard and Marina Castelli-Joos. Jaccard possesses a wealth of experience in corporate finance and M&A deals, while Castelli-Joos is noted for her capabilities in M&A, financing transactions and general corporate law.

The ‘sharp’ and ‘effective’ team at Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC acts for a multitude of clients across an extensive range of corporate matters, including the full gamut of M&A-related work. The practice principally focuses on the fields of financial services, healthcare and IT, but also has an increasing emphasis on areas such as aerospace and luxury goods. Practice head Fabien Aepli thrives in matters across the corporate and commercial spectrum, routinely handling shareholders' agreements, consulting agreements and company formations. Joël Chevallaz also contributes his real estate expertise to the practice.

MME Legal | Tax | Compliance leverages its expertise in legal, tax and compliance issues to handle corporate advisory and transactional work, particularly in the tech sphere. The firm acts for a diverse variety of private individuals and companies. Peter Kuhn and Alex Enzler lead the practice from the firm’s Zurich office, and Andreas Rudolf, Samuel Bussmann and Thomas Müller lead from the Zug office.

Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte's 'very efficient' team’s experience encompasses an extensive range of industries, including manufacturing, real estate and technology, among others. Markus Alder and Arlette Pfister jointly front the practice, with the latter demonstrating proficiency in relation to domestic and cross-border M&A and reorganisations, among other issues. Thomas Loher principally focuses on corporate and employment-related matters, and Michael Bösch is accustomed to advising clients on corporate issues.

Valfor Attorneys-at-law possesses in-depth expertise in private M&A, joint ventures, public procurement projects and in advising entrepreneurs on company successions. Spearheading the practice is Thomas Schmid, who is regularly engaged by clients to advise on merger control, restructurings and joint ventures. Marc Metzger's diverse experience encompasses commercial and corporate law, as well as public procurement law. Stefan Scherrer is sought after by strategic buyers and private equity investors for assistance with private M&A transactions.

Chabrier Avocats advises clients on the full gamut of commercial, contractual and corporate matters, including leveraged buyouts, business acquisitions and regulatory issues. Manuel Bianchi della Porta’s wide-ranging expertise covers corporate transactions, financing rounds and restructurings, among other issues. Karim Khoury and Thomas Goossens are other key contacts in the practice.

With demonstrable expertise in the luxury and health sectors, Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés regularly assists clients with corporate advisory and transactional work on a domestic and international scale. The practice is jointly steered by Damien Cand, Nicole Fragnière Meyer and Christian Valentini. Another key name to note is Alexandre Steiner, who is experienced in M&A matters.

A team that is active across the banking, pharma and IT industries, among others, OBERSON ABELS SA possesses a range of capabilities in M&A and contractual matters, as well as advising a variety of organisations on their legal structure, status and governance. Co-lead Sébastien Bettschart advises on legal and regulatory issues surrounding commercial transactions and acquisitions. Fellow co-lead Stefan Eberhard has a notable focus on M&A, and is well versed in matters arising from the renewable energy, pharma and retail sectors, to name but a few.

Prager Dreifuss AG is geared to assist companies with set-ups, restructurings, and contract drafting and negotiations, as well as cross-border relocations. The team also possesses demonstrable expertise in regard to M&A and venture capital transactions. Andreas Moll and Daniel Hayek lead the department; the former is active in the energy and infrastructure realm, while the latter is particularly experienced in M&A, alongside financial and real estate transactions. Guy Deillon is well versed in M&A and private equity transactions.

Steered by Yasemin Varel, Staiger Attorneys at Law Ltd maintains a strong practice in the energy and financial services fields, routinely acting for SMEs and entrepreneurs. Varel’s multifaceted experience encompasses private M&A, corporate governance issues and private equity transactions, among others. Andreas Von Erlach is also recommended.