Our M&A team focuses on takeovers under private law within the scope of company acquisitions, mergers and capital increases. Our advice includes the structuring and planning of share deals as well as takeovers of businesses (asset deals), support in initial discussions with potential buyers or sellers, the split-off of assets before execution (pre-closing carve-outs), the performance of due diligence reviews, and preparation of the necessary documents and negotiations.

We work closely together with our colleagues from other fields of law, in particular tax law, who support us in structuring transactions. We represent a wide range of domestic and foreign clients, including strategic and financial investors such as private equity funds and venture capitalists, international corporate groups, family businesses, start-ups and their founders.

We advise and represent institutional collectors, museums, galleries, art insurers and fine art shippers in the following areas:

• Stolen art, restitution claims
• Authenticity, art forgeries
• Intellectual property
• Loans of art and purchase/sale of art
• Cultural property
• Inheritance/charitable foundations
• Art as a collateral

We have a profound knowledge of the art market and can access a broad network of art market specialists.

Sales have stalled. You’re spending more than you’re making. The seller goes bankrupt before delivery. Newspapers report hard times. Invoices cannot be paid on time. The root causes must be identified quickly and eliminated using appropriate measures.

In economic crisis situations of a company, not only economic assessment but also legal support is required. We can offer these services. We assist you in complex debt collection, restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings, take over restructuring or liquidations and represent creditors in the corresponding proceedings. To this end, we conduct insolvency proceedings such as tracing of estate assets, separation, appeal, collocation, dismissal of objection, arrest and help to negotiate with debtors, other creditors and authorities.

We advise and support you in the purchase, sale and restructuring of your real estate. We offer all notarial services in connection with real estate and easements, and also support you in the event of legal disputes in connection with real estate.

We regularly represent defendants and insurers in proceedings to

• defend themselves against liability claims of public and private hospitals, clinics, medical practices, dental practices and midwives against clinical negligence( medical liability and medical malpractice claims
• defend themselves against liability claims of cantons, municipalities and state authorities (state liability in tort and liability for judicial activity claims)
• defend themselves against liability claims of law firms (lawyer’s liabilitiy)

We prepare expert opinions for defendants and their insurers to assess complex, high-value and sensitive cases and to develop appropriate defence strategies.

Furthermore, we are the first point of contact in crises when medical personnel, public service employees or lawyers are confronted with accusations.

In liability proceedings, we exclusively work for defendants and their insurers. We closely work with colleagues that are experienced criminal defence law.

Our primary focus is on corporate law issues faced by corporations in connection with their business activities in Switzerland, such as the formation and restructuring of subsidiaries, and intra-group financing.

We assist you in preparation for general meetings and in matters of corporate governance, compensation for board members and their liability.

In addition, we strengthen small and medium-sized companies in their day-to-day business and offer a comprehensive range of notarial business services.

We advise you with and take you through the setting up and organization of non-profit institutions such as foundations and associations. Our many years of international experience in the fields of health care, culture, humanitarian affairs and nature conservation enable us to support you strategically not only in legal matters but also through our understanding.

We support you in negotiating and preparing financing documentation for a variety of purposes, such as general corporate financing, acquisition financing and refinancing, as well as real estate, project and infrastructure financing. This includes preparing and implementing collateral security agreements for all types of assets.

In the field of leasing and asset finance, we successfully represent lessors, lessees and manufacturers. We have in-depth experience in the financing of movable assets including aircraft, ships and vehicles.

We advise you on structuring your assets and on estate and succession planning in Switzerland, taking into consideration your needs and the tax implications. We advise on and register pension claims, wills and nuptial and inheritance contracts. We handle inheritances with due regard to the expert and amicable execution of inheritance distribution. Where an amicable division of the estate is not possible, we are available to settle disputes (also as mediators) and represent you in court proceedings.

We support you in further developing and offering your products and services in accordance with the applicable regulations. Our advice includes in particular the preparation and implementation of a data protection concept as well as the preparation and negotiation of data protection declarations, order processing and data transfer agreements. We provide support in relation to the Swiss revised data protection act and to the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).