Corporate/M&A
Europe Guide 2024 : Switzerland
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+41 58 800 8000About
Provided by Niederer Kraft Frey
Niederer Kraft Frey enjoys a global reputation as one of Switzerland’s leading business law firms. We are regularly involved in many of the largest, most complex and demanding transactions in and outside of Switzerland.
Our Corporate/M&A practice is a core practice of Niederer Kraft Frey. We rank top-tier in independent legal directories and our lawyers are regularly rated as leaders in their field. In 2018, NKF received the Transatlantic M&A Team of the Year (Large Deal) Award by the American Lawyer. We have repeatedly contributed to major evolutions in Swiss corporate law in order to advance the interests of our clients. Among other things, for Actelion Ltd in its USD 30 billion takeover by Johnson & Johnson, NKF devised a dual deal structure consisting of the takeover and the demerger and spin-off to shareholders of Actelion’s drug discovery and early clinical development business which commentators described as “quantum leap” in Pharma M&A.
We counsel both public and private companies, advising on a wide range of corporate matters, including:
- Domestic and international mergers and acquisitions
- Private Equity and Strategic Investments
- Public M&A and Contests for corporate Control
- Corporate Governance and General Corporate Advice
- Corporate Reorganizations and Spinoffs
- Startups and Venture Capital
Chambers Review
Niederer Kraft Frey's esteemed M&A team advises international and domestic companies on a range of transactions. The practice is particularly popular with clients from the financial services sector and private equity funds. The law firm also has several clients from the TMT and life sciences industries, and represents clients in joint ventures and in defence against hostile takeovers.
Work Highlights
- Niederer Kraft Frey acted for FEMSA on its public tender cash offer to acquire all of Valora’s publicly held registered shares.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"We have used NKF on a number of complex M&A issues and the lawyers gave us excellent advice on all aspects."
"They are at the top in terms of complexity and high stakes."
"The lawyers always have a good solution for complex problems."
"The lawyers allocate the work appropriately and they go the extra mile. However, what I value most is their thinking ahead for the business. They are more than just lawyers to me."
"We have used NKF on a number of complex M&A issues and the lawyers gave us excellent advice on all aspects."
"They are at the top in terms of complexity and high stakes."
"The lawyers always have a good solution for complex problems."
"The lawyers allocate the work appropriately and they go the extra mile. However, what I value most is their thinking ahead for the business. They are more than just lawyers to me."
Notable Practitioners
Philippe Weber is one of the leading M&A lawyers, frequently advising on high-value and cross-border acquisitions and sales. His recent clients include prominent names in the IT and banking sectors.
"Philippe Weber is very strong."
Philipp Haas garners respect from market sources for his assistance with a range of complex transactions, including high-value mergers and acquisitions. He is also well versed in handling defence against hostile takeovers.
"Philipp Haas has seen us through tremendously novel and complicated situations."
"He's very responsive and smart. He tackles problems head on and is very business-savvy."
Ulysses von Salis is an established M&A lawyer with a broad transactional practice. He regularly advises corporates and private equity groups on M&A transactions.
Andreas Casutt is recognised for his experience in advising clients on acquisitions, mergers and carve-out sales. He frequently assists both corporate and private equity firms.
Jacques Bonvin is recognised for his work on M&A transactions and venture capital matters.
Manuel Werder is noted for his assistance with a range of acquisitions and sales. He frequently acts on cross-border majority-stake sales and asset deals.
"I can highly recommend Manuel Werder. He is a very pragmatic lawyer."
Patrik Peyer assists with acquisitions, sales and investments. His clients feature large international banks as well as private equity firms.
"He is a strong lawyer that can push your agenda as well as reach agreements with the other side."
Thomas Brönnimann is noted for his advice on high-value domestic and cross-border acquisitions and sales.
Ranked Lawyers at
Niederer Kraft Frey
Switzerland
Members
Provided by Niederer Kraft Frey