OUR CORE AREAS

We build the bridges for you

We combine legal expertise with personal advice and entrepreneurial thinking.

OUR CORE AREAS

We build the bridges for you

We combine legal expertise with personal advice and entrepreneurial thinking.

BANKING & FINANCE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
PRIVATE CUSTOMERS / FAMILY OFFICES

Banking &
Finance

The financial services sector is one of the most strictly regulated sectors of the economy. The changes in the global financial markets constantly present financial service providers with new challenges. You need to optimize business processes and products to differentiate yourself from the competition while meeting current and future regulatory and legal requirements. This is especially true if you want to operate on the international financial market. We advise companies such as banks, asset managers, funds, insurance companies, family offices and private clients and help them to be optimally positioned in international markets with a focus on Europe and the Middle East.

Banking &
Finance

The financial services sector is one of the most strictly regulated sectors of the economy. The changes in the global financial markets constantly present financial service providers with new challenges. You need to optimize business processes and products to differentiate yourself from the competition while meeting current and future regulatory and legal requirements. This is especially true if you want to operate on the international financial market. We advise companies such as banks, asset managers, funds, insurance companies, family offices and initiators of capital investments and help them to be optimally positioned in international markets with a focus on Europe and the Middle East.

Banking &
Finance

SERVICES

Investment law

Our expertise in investment law includes investment-specific and tax advice on the conception, establishment, management and sale of investment funds as well as representation in the licensing and registration procedures of capital management companies vis-à-vis the authorities.

We also advise on the structuring and documentation of fund products, as well as on questions of prospectus and prospectus liability law as well as securities and securities custody law.

Supervisory law

We support our clients throughout the entire process of founding and setting up credit or financial services institutions, branches and representative offices, and we obtain the necessary banking regulatory approvals from the responsible banking supervisory authorities. We also advise on the implementation of and compliance with regulatory requirements and other follow-up obligations when providing banking, financial and payment services.

As one of the few law firms in Zurich, we also specialize in the implementation of exemption procedures that grant Swiss credit institutions and regulated asset managers market access to Germany. Thanks to our experience with the banking supervisory authorities in both countries, we can ensure that our clients’ applications are processed efficiently. In 2017, we obtained the first granted exemption in the so-called “simplified exemption procedure” for a Swiss private bank in Germany and are now one of the most experienced law firms in this field.

General banking and stock exchange law

We advise on all matters relating to the business relationship between credit and financial service institutions and their customers – for example, on questions of banking contract law, banking secrecy, payment transactions, money laundering prevention and deposit insurance. We advise on the client onboarding process, as well as on the necessary educational and disclosure obligations during consultations. In addition, we draft and review contracts, general terms and conditions and other commercial documentation. Other specialties include advice on e-money, payment methods on the Internet and consumer protection law.

In the area of stock exchange law, we advise our clients on all legal aspects of public capital procurement and support them in particular with due diligence, drafting the issue and account assignment prospectuses, and drafting the contract documentation.

Financial Technologies (FinTech)

Against the background of ongoing technological changes in the financial industry, one of our consulting focuses is in the field of financial technologies (FinTech). FinTech includes a wide range of innovative technology-based financial services, such as electronic currencies, e.g. crypto currencies, crypto exchange, crypto brokerage, crowdfunding, digital payment systems, blockchain technologies and much more.

Above all, our service includes checking compliance with the regulatory framework through new business models, representing our clients in regulatory approval procedures, legal advice on start-ups and the implementation of financing rounds using ICO/TGE (Initial Coin Offering / Token Generating Event) as well as advice in connection with compliance in the area of money laundering law. We also support our clients in data protection issues and in the area of IT law.

Our services in this area are aimed primarily at traditional financial service providers, but also at technology companies, investors and promising FinTech startups.

M&A in the financial sector

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) advice in the financial sector is another of our areas of expertise. We advise transaction-related institutes and investors on acquisitions, mergers, and portfolio transfers as well as internal company restructuring and capital increases or reductions. This includes conducting due diligence, with a particular focus on industry specifics, and drafting, reviewing and negotiating bespoke share purchase agreements and asset purchase agreements.

We also advise on all corporate law issues that arise, such as the liability and responsibility of management bodies and extensively on compliance-related issues. We pay particular attention to the necessary regulatory communication with authorities.