Private Wealth Law
High Net Worth Guide 2024 : Switzerland
Band 1
About
Provided by Baker McKenzie
Our private client and global wealth management practice in Switzerland specialises in providing US, UK, Swiss, and international tax and legal advice to individuals and institutional clients, handling matters with cross-border and multi-jurisdictional elements, including:
- Providing tax, internal governance and compliance advice to individuals, families, family offices, trust companies, insurers, banks, asset managers, investment advisers, and pension plans;
- Acting as outside trusted counsel and assisting multigenerational families and their private businesses in navigating impact of complex and ever-changing tax, regulatory, and asset-disclosure rules through compliance and structuring of their personal and business assets; and
- Resolving inquiries, audits, investigations and compliance disputes through voluntary disclosure programs, amnesties, settlement, and litigation.
We work with private clients to ensure structures are compliant with local and cross-border tax and regulatory requirements, limiting unnecessary exposure that would put family members at risk. In addition, we coordinate tax and legal input from our network of offices to devise holistic and comprehensive solutions and multijurisdictional legal and tax advice addressing particular business and personal needs and goals, with emphasis on governance and administration of family businesses and personal assets.
Chambers Review
Baker McKenzie's wealth management practice in Switzerland operates from a strong global platform that sees it regularly handling cross-border tax and legal matters for private individuals and families. It is particularly adept at dealing with US, UK, Swiss, European/CIS and Middle Eastern wealth structuring and regulatory matters.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Baker McKenzie are an excellent international firm and can easily handle complicated matters. They are highly familiar with the situations of international families."
"The depth of experience of the Baker McKenzie team allows them to offer unique solutions to complex issues. They are also adept at navigating complexity in a fast-moving, changing environment."
"The Baker McKenzie team is excellent at delivering cutting edge advice to resolve complex issues, and bring an unparalleled level of service to solve clients' issues."
"Baker McKenzie are an excellent international firm and can easily handle complicated matters. They are highly familiar with the situations of international families."
"The depth of experience of the Baker McKenzie team allows them to offer unique solutions to complex issues. They are also adept at navigating complexity in a fast-moving, changing environment."
"The Baker McKenzie team is excellent at delivering cutting edge advice to resolve complex issues, and bring an unparalleled level of service to solve clients' issues."
Notable Practitioners
Marnin Michaels is an experienced private wealth practitioner with a solid international background and a global client base. He is particularly skilled at handling US-Swiss tax and wealth planning matters, including FATCA compliance issues.
"Marnin Michaelshas unparalleled ability to distil complex legal issues into understandable and actionable advice."
"Marnin is an expert in his field when it comes to solving global tax issues for complex families with ownership of assets across different jurisdictions."
"Marnin is one of the top of the private client lawyers in the world, not only in Switzerland. He is very creative and very knowledgeable in the laws of many jurisdictions."
Elliott Murray frequently assists non-US high net worth clients with links to the US, as well as US clients, with a variety of tax, trust and estate planning matters.
"Elliot is an excellent lawyer withexcellent commercial awareness and a high level of expertise."
"Elliot is very, very responsive. He takes very complex issues, explains them well, has a good client focus and is very user-friendly."
"Elliott Murray is attentive and responsive. He acts as shepherd on behalf of his clients when collaborating with other professionals to execute tasks allowing the client to focus on their business."
Lyubomir Georgiev holds a strong reputation for his cross-border tax and wealth management practice in Zurich, and frequently handles US, UK and Swiss-based private client matters. He has further experience advising both individuals and institutions in jurisdictions including Liechtenstein and ones in Eastern Europe.
"Lyubomir Georgiev is client-minded, technical and experienced."
"Mr. Georgiev has extensive and very strong expertise in cross-border taxation and regulatory compliance. His advice is always both in-depth and highly practical."
"Lubo Georgiev is an expert in his field but offers a pragmatic approach. He is exceptionally accessible which prevents projects from stalling."