Leading Associates

Insurance in Switzerland

Bär & Karrer Ltd.

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.

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


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