Financial Services

Chambers

“Excellent and frequently recommended.”

Chambers

“Knowledgeable, friendly, forthcoming, hands-on and on top of things.”

Chambers

“Pragmatic, solution-oriented advice and high-quality services.”

Chambers

“Highly experienced lawyers in the fields of banking regulatory compliance and debt and equity financial products.”

Practice Group

Switzerland is one of the world's leading financial markets. Domestic and international banks, insurance companies, asset managers and other financial service providers based in Switzerland play a major role in the global financial industry, which has undergone massive regulatory changes in recent years.

Schellenberg Wittmer's activities in the financial industry are part of our core competencies and strengths. Our multidisciplinary and integrated Financial Services Group features experts and specialists across our various practice groups (such as Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Internal Investigations, White Collar Crime and Compliance, Taxation, and Dispute Resolution). Our extensive experience, profound market knowledge and commercial approach have earned us a strong recognition as a market leader in these areas. We are also active in industry associations and closely involved in legislative and regulatory projects. We regularly advise and represent major banks in their most complex disputes and investigations.

Expertise

Experience

Our group advises financial institutions, issuers, investors and other market participants in areas such as:

  • Financing transactions
  • Debt and equity capital market transactions
  • M&A transactions in the financial industry
  • Licensing of banks, securities dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions
  • Internal investigations and compliance issues
  • Enforcement proceedings before regulatory authorities (FINMA, SIX Swiss Exchange, etc)
  • Representation of financial institutions in civil and criminal proceedings
  • Lead counsel in the merger of TWINT (PostFinance) and Paymit (SIX), creating the leading Swiss mobile payment solution TWINT 2.0, together with Credit Suisse, UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, Zürcher Kantonalbank and Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
  • Adviser to Swiss Bankers Association in respect of derivatives regulation and documentation
  • Swiss counsel to ams AG in the placement of USD 350 million senior unsecured bonds due 2022 and EUR 600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2026, both convertible into new shares listed on SIX
  • Counsel to Credit Suisse Funds in connection with the set-up and approval process by FINMA of a newly authorised Swiss mortgage umbrella fund
  • Swiss lead counsel to Credit Suisse in offshore tax evasion investigation launched by the US authorities in 2011, and in the subsequent settlement reached between the bank and the US government
  • Counsel to EFG International in the acquisition of BSI SA from Banco BTG Pactual, for a preliminary purchase price of CHF 1.060 billion
  • Successful representation of UBS AG before theZurich Commercial Court and the Federal Supreme Court in a CHF 25 million lawsuit brought by a Swatch Group company for losses suffered through bond fund investments during the financial crisis
  • Representation of a Swiss bank in criminal proceedings and civil litigation in the context of a substantial claim brought by a foreign corporate client that claimed a lack of diligence in payment transactions and abetting of money laundering
  • Successful representation of a major Swiss bank in two cases in which the claimants requested information and disclosure of documents under data protection and contract law
  • Representation of several Swiss banks and/or senior management in enforcement proceedings conducted by FINMA in connection with alleged regulatory shortcomings

Contact

Partners

Full Team

Awards & Recognitions

Leading practitioners of the group are highly recognized in:

  • Chambers
  • Legal 500
  • Who’s Who Legal
  • Global Investigations Review GIR

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Publications

Monthly email with the latest updates and summaries of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court's case law in arbitration matters.
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