Bär & Karrer Ltd.’s banking, insurance and finance team has extensive insurance sector-specific experience based on handling numerous M&A and financing transactions, licence and registration applications with FINMA, and other regulatory matters. It also regularly advises clients in insurance-related litigation and arbitration. Heading the team is renowned individual Peter Hsu, who focuses his practice on insurance, reinsurance, banking, financing, and capital markets. Other notable contact Eric Stupp specialises in advising banks, insurance companies, asset managers, and other financial intermediaries on regulatory matters and enforcement proceedings.
Insurance in Switzerland
Bär & Karrer Ltd.
Praxisleiter:
Peter Hsu
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Eric Stupp; Daniel Flühmann; Tiffany Ender
Kernmandanten
Allianz Suisse Versicherungs-Gesellschaft
Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
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gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd
The insurance and reinsurance team at gbf Attorneys-at-law Ltd regularly advises insurance and reinsurance carriers on a range of matters, standing out for its work in highly significant claims across Switzerland, including acting as first responder under insurance policies in time-critical cyber matters. It also represents insurers in high-value product liability proceedings. Notably, standout contact Lars Gerspacher often represents insurers and reinsurers in international arbitration proceedings. Other key individual Dominik Skrobala has extensive knowledge regarding the licensing of insurance and insurance intermediary business activities in Switzerland.
Praxisleiter:
Lars Gerspacher; Dominik Skrobala; Clemens von Zedtwitz; Nando Stauffer von May
Referenzen
‘The collaboration is very flexible and ranges from answering individual questions competently to managing cases. Always provides good input on the handling and resolution of cases.’
‘They know the market, the regulator, the laws, everything.’
‘Super experience.’
Kernmandanten
AIG Europe
Allianz Suisse
Allianz Commercial
AXA Insurance SA
AXA XL
Beazley Insurance DAC
Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Bupa, London
Chubb Insurance
CNA Hardy
Ergo Insurance
FM Insurance
HDI Global
Helvetia Insurance Co.
Markel Insurance SE Germany
Markel International Insurance UK
MedPro Group
MS Amlin AG
Tryg Forsikring A/S, Ballerup, Zurich Branch
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Prager Dreifuss AG
Prager Dreifuss AG’s insurance and reinsurance team has been involved in many high-profile insurance and reinsurance investigations and disputes – including both litigation and arbitration – in connection with professional indemnity as well as directors’ and officers’ liability. Christoph Graber heads the team and often represents domestic and foreign insurers in litigation and in Swiss or international arbitration proceedings. Hans-Ulrich Brunner has over 25 years of experience in defence litigation, in areas including malpractice insurance and credit and surety insurance. Reto M. Jenny specialises in insurance supervision matters, and Andrea Stäubli regularly represents domestic and foreign insurers in litigation and enforcement matters.
Praxisleiter:
Christoph Graber
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Hans-Ulrich Brunner; Reto M. Jenny; Andrea Stäubli
Referenzen
‘Extremely knowledgeable and very responsive team, led by Christoph Graber, one of Switzerland’s most renowned insurance specialists and advisors, seconded by Reto Jenny and Andrea Stäubli.’
‘The team is highly skilled and very dedicated to its clients, making it one of the leading providers in this field.’
‘Christoph Graber is a very experienced and highly regarded insurance lawyer with an excellent reputation for insurance and reinsurance litigation. He and his team are very dedicated. Reto Jenny is a junior partner at the firm with a brilliant academic background but is already very experienced.’
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Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
The insurance practice group at Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd has extensive experience on the dispute resolution side of insurance matters, as well as assisting clients with all issues relating to the regulation and establishment of reinsurers and reinsurance portfolios in Switzerland, and insurance intermediary activities. Key individual Olivier Favre often assists clients with regulatory requirements for inbound cross-border insurance business to the Swiss market. Tarek Houdrouge is an expert on various insurance topics including regulatory developments in this field.
Praxisleiter:
Alexander von Ziegler; Olivier Favre; Tarek Houdrouge
Kernmandanten
Uber
Baloise
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- Advised Switzerland’s largest health insurance provider CSS on setting up a digital health platform for patients and health service providers in a joint venture with various other players (online pharmacy, telemedicine providers etc.).
- Providing ongoing advice to a multinational insurance company on acquisitions and capital market transactions as well as on tax compliance aspects.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.
CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd.’s insurance practice group advises clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters in the sector, often working with other departments within the firm to provide a comprehensive offering for multidisciplinary issues. Jodok Wicki heads the practice and is a standout specialist in the market with extensive experience in leading major litigation for insurance and reinsurance clients. Kaspar Landolt often advises Swiss and global financial institutions, insurers, asset managers, and others on a variety of insurance-related issues.
Praxisleiter:
Jodok Wicki
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Kaspar Landolt
Referenzen
‘Good team with a strong international network.’
‘Jodok Wicki is a tenacious litigator who understands the insurance industry.’
‘Excellent and longstanding track record of keeping promises.’
Kernmandanten
AIG
Axa XL
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- Advised a large international insurance company on a complex cyber breach claim with respect to coverage.
- Advised a large international insurance company on a claim against a tower of insurers regarding a claim under a PI policy in the financial markets industry.
- Advised on policy interpretation regarding aggregation under several treaties relating to COVID claims, involving particular complexities as Swiss law does not specifically regulate reinsurance contracts.
Homburger
The insurance practice group at Homburger has a reputation for providing advice on complex regulatory issues and for taking part in pioneering work related to new insurance products and solutions. The team stands out for its strength in assisting insurance companies with tax matters. Notably, team head Hansjürg Appenzeller often represents insurance and reinsurance companies on M&A and capital market transactions as well as on licensing and regulatory matters.
Praxisleiter:
Hansjürg Appenzeller
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Fabrice Eckert
Kernmandanten
Helvetia
wefox
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- Advising insurtech wefox on its cross-border financing transactions and restructuring efforts.
- Advising Swiss global insurance group Helvetia on the privacy-related aspects in US litigation and arbitration.
- Advising a global insurance group on potential cross-border relocation to Switzerland.
Kellerhals Carrard
The insurance and liability team at Kellerhals Carrard is particularly strong in all matters relating to D&O claims, property damage matters, and professional indemnity cases. The team is co-headed by a number of recognised specialists, including Pascal Grolimund, who has broad experience in the resolution of insurance disputes.
Praxisleiter:
Christoph Frey; Pascal Grolimund; Thomas Eichenberger; Nicolas Gillard; Ivan Paparelli
Kernmandanten
KPT Versicherungen AG
Visana Services AG
Baloise Insurance Ltd
Chubb Insurance (Switzerland) Limited
AXA Insurance Ltd
AIG Europe S.A., Luxembourg; Branch Opfikon; Zürich Glattbrugg
Swiss Re International SE, Luxembourg, Zurich Branch,
Swiss Mobiliar Insurance Company Ltd
Swiss Life Ltd. Zurich
Allianz Suisse Insurance Company Ltd
Helvetia Swiss Insurance Company Limited
Catlin Europe SE, Cologne, Zurich Branch
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- Representing a Swiss insurer regarding the coverage of business interruption losses resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Advising a Swiss company in the healthcare sector on coverage for a ransom payment in a cyber incident (amount in dispute CHF 1.5 million).
- Advising a foreign insurer in the context of an excess insurance policy in the area of product liability (amount in dispute over CHF 10 million).
Lenz & Staehelin
The insurance team at Lenz & Staehelin often works with the firm’s banking and finance and corporate and M&A practice groups to provide well-rounded advice to major Swiss and foreign insurance and reinsurance companies. It covers a comprehensive range of insurance-related services, including transactions, regulatory, commercial, and dispute resolution matters. Olivier Stahler co-heads the team and often acts for a broad range of Swiss and foreign financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies and fund managers. Fellow co-head Lukas Morscher stands out for his expertise in the insurance aspects of corporate M&As and wider financial services.
Praxisleiter:
Olivier Stahler; Lukas Morscher
Referenzen
‘An excellent firm – I have always been impressed by the consistency and quality of their advice.’
‘Lukas Morscher gives clear and reliable advice on Swiss insurance issues.’
Kernmandanten
Baloise Insurance Holding
Consimo
Caterpillar Insurance Company
Generali
Liberty Mutual
Octium Group
Resolution Life
Resolution Re
Schweizerische Mobiliar Versicherungsgesellschaft
TransRe
Unilever Reinsurance
Vaudoise Assurances Holding SA
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- Advising a global reinsurer on the cross-border marketing of insurance-linked funds to various types of investors in Switzerland.
- Advising the captive insurance carrier of a world-leading construction and mining equipment manufacturer on all legal, regulatory and contract aspects of new custody arrangements for its Swiss entities.
- Acting as Swiss counsel to an international banking group on a multi-year stop-loss transaction to provide funding to a Swiss reinsurance company.
Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG
Nater Dallafior Rechtsanwälte AG‘s insurance and reinsurance disputes practice group focuses exclusively on insurance-related litigation, arbitration, and administrative and criminal proceedings in business matters. The team represents both claimants and defendants, and acts for and against large financial institutions. Notably, Benjamin Schumacher specialises in all aspects of insurance and reinsurance disputes, and has particular experience in cases concerning business and professional liability insurance. Roberto Dallafior also focuses his practice on the areas of insurance litigation and arbitration.
Praxisleiter:
Benjamin Schumacher; Roberto Dallafior
Referenzen
‘The Nater Dallafior team is very knowledgeable about Swiss insurance law as well as Swiss court and arbitral procedures. We’ve worked with them on two significant and complex insurance coverage matters, and from what I can tell they are at the highest level of Swiss lawyers.’
‘We’ve worked mostly with Roberto Dallafior and Benjamin Schumacher. Both are responsive, knowledgeable, intelligent, skilled lawyers who are a pleasure to work with.’
‘Roberto Dallafior’s work as an arbitrator gives him great insight into how arbitrators (or judges) will view a case or an argument.’
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Pestalozzi
The insurance department at Pestalozzi is active in advising clients on insurtech matters and innovative business models working towards digitalisation, such as the legal implications of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence in the insurance sector. Notably, Christoph Lang has a focus on corporate governance and insurance law, and Andrea Huber regularly represents clients in the sector in proceedings before FINMA. Other key individual Beat Schwarz is an expert in insurance-related transactional work.
Praxisleiter:
Christoph Lang; Andrea Huber; Beat Schwarz; Lukas Rusch; Markus Winkler
Referenzen
‘Pestalozzi are very knowledgeable in the insurance regulatory and insurance M&A areas. They are my go-to firm in Switzerland for this work.’
‘Beat Schwarz – very knowledgeable and commercial when it comes to dealing with corporate matters. He has an easygoing style and always goes above and beyond to understand and meet the client’s expectations and needs.’
‘Markus Winkler is very knowledgeable when it comes to insurance and financial services regulatory matters. He has considerable industry experience and expertise which translates well into his advisory practice. He gets the law right and is commercial – a rare skill.’
Kernmandanten
AIG
AXA Climate
AXA XL
AXIS
Bolttech (i-surance AG)
Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse Insurance Linked Strategies AG
Howden
Hyperion Insurance Group
Sompo International
Swiss Life
EcoHub
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
HanseMerkur
Standard Chartered Bank
HBX Group
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- Advised 23 major Swiss insurers and brokers (including Swiss Life; AXA; Mobiliar; Allianz Suisse; and Zurich) in connection with their insurtech joint venture EcoHub AG.
- Advised AXA XL on strategic and transactional matters in Switzerland.
- Advised SwissLife on corporate and transactional matters in Switzerland.
VISCHER
The VISCHER insurance department advises insurance companies, brokers, and insured parties on coverage issues relating to financial lines, D&O, property and professional liability insurance policies. Notably, Daniele Favalli regularly represents parties in coverage litigation, and is retained by insurance companies to represent insured parties in covered disputes under the respective insurance policy. Other key contact Selim Keller specialises in reviewing insurance policies relating to financial lines.
Praxisleiter:
Daniele Favalli
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Adrian Dörig; Selim Keller
Kernmandanten
AIG
MCH Group, Art Basel Hong Kong / Art Basel Miami Beach
T-Systems (Deutsche Telekom)
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Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG
The insurance team at Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG applies local industry and commercial knowledge to provide comprehensive legal services in dealing with the regulatory authorities and advising on regulatory issues related to various insurance matters. Key individual Joachim Frick has over 25 years of experience representing Swiss and international insurance and reinsurance clients and brokers in regulatory matters and proceedings as well as in coverage disputes and corporate transactions.
Praxisleiter:
Joachim Frick; Lyubomir Georgiev
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Marnin Michaels
Referenzen
‘The experience and long-term stability of the most senior partners along with a global world view and desire to truly solve problems makes the practice unique.’
‘The working relationship with Marnin Michaels is unique in that he is available for all queries big and small and has the breadth of experience to truly guide and assist us to develop new solutions, as well as deal with complex legal issues that are multi jurisdictional. He is a force to be reckoned with.’
Kernmandanten
Swiss Re
Zurich Insurance
Generali
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Eversheds Sutherland AG
Eversheds Sutherland AG‘s insurance law practice group has many years of experience in coverage and liability claims, and is instructed by major insurers to handle claims on behalf of their insureds. Peter Haas co-heads the team and focuses his practice on national and international insurance-related litigation and arbitration as well as related contract issues.
Praxisleiter:
Barbara Klett; Peter Haas
Referenzen
‘The partners and team members have in-depth and very good knowledge of the insurance industry and insurance law. They are in a position to provide quick and high-quality answers or offer assistance at any time. They are ideally qualified for complex and difficult questions, including in connection with litigation.’
‘Collaboration with the team is very straightforward and solution-oriented. It is like working together in a team – everyone does their best and respects other opinions and integrates them in order to achieve the goal in the best possible way.’
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Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte
Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte‘s insurance team often advises companies on insurance and liability law. Key contact Martin Bürkle has almost 20 years of experience in all aspects of insurance law. Other notable individual Simon Hohler is a specialist in state court litigation with a focus on insurance matters.
Praxisleiter:
Martin Bürkle
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Simon Hohler