Banking & Finance
Global Guide 2024 : Switzerland
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+41 22 849 6040About
Provided by FBT Attorneys at Law
Categories of clients:
- Banks and securities dealers
- Investment funds, fund managers, fund management companies, representatives and investor groups
- Distributors of funds, structured products and insurance products
- Commercial and industrial companies and international organisations in their financing problems
- Independent asset managers
- Trustees, audit companies and fiduciary companies
Areas of specialisation :
- Banking and Financial Regulations
- Collective Investment Schemes and other similar strutures
- Regulations on the Supervision of Private Insurance
- Asset Management
- Financing
Types of work handled :
- Pre-Enforcement and Enforcement proceedings (FINMA)
- Banking & Finance Litigation
- Company Mergers and Mergers by Absorption
- Licence under the new Financial Institutions Act
- Banks' Due Diligence
- Cross-border banking activities
Recent work highlights :
- Appointment by FINMA to investigate the activities of a Swiss company
- Advice to a borrower on a syndicated credit facility agreement
- Assist bank clients and portfolio managers in financial civil litigations
- Assist a portfolio manager in licensing process under the Financial Institutions Act (FinIA)
- Advice with regard to ESG
- Verify the annual compliance of a Swiss bank in its role as custodian of foreign investment funds
- Represent a bank in a complex multiparty set of proceedings in Ireland
- Advice to a bank in a transaction involving the OFAC sanction issues
Chambers Review
Based in Geneva, FBT Attorneys at Law assists domestic and international banks and other financial institutions with regulatory advisory matters. The team advises on anti-money laundering regulations, bank share capital issues and the setting up of funds, as well as on Swiss and cross-border licensing matters. The practice also defends clients in banking litigation and assists with financing transactions.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They not only have outstanding legal skills but also experience and good judgement."
"The team know and understand the fund industry perfectly well and have an excellent understanding of both contractual and regulatory issues. Whatever the complexity and sophistication of the matters we have submitted to FBT, they have always been able to assist us brilliantly."
"The feedback was quick and efficient, and the value for money was very proportionate."
"They not only have outstanding legal skills but also experience and good judgement."
"The team know and understand the fund industry perfectly well and have an excellent understanding of both contractual and regulatory issues. Whatever the complexity and sophistication of the matters we have submitted to FBT, they have always been able to assist us brilliantly."
"The feedback was quick and efficient, and the value for money was very proportionate."
Notable Practitioners
Frédérique Bensahel is renowned for her expertise in banking and finance regulatory matters, such as assisting with compliance with new regulations and licensing processes. She advises financial institutions on anti-money laundering regulations, funds issues and banking litigation.
"Frédérique Bensahel is bright and responsive, with an incredible understanding of the asset management industry. She is brilliant and pragmatic, and a great asset to us."
"She is a great professional with excellent knowledge of banking. She is very responsive, solution-oriented and a good return on our money."
"Frédérique Bensahel is very smart and knows Swiss regulation very well."