About

Provided by Walder Wyss Ltd

Walder Wyss’ Corporate & M&A team consists of roughly 70 professionals (21 partners, 3 counsels, 46 associates) and is the largest Corporate & M&A team in Switzerland. While the teams has been advising numerous listed multinationals, privately held companies, private equity firms and other financing institutions, it is also used to servicing visionaries and young entrepreneurs. The team has a longstanding expertise in assisting in the incorporation, organisation and restructuring of various types of business activities in Switzerland and can help its clients create suitable corporate governance structure. Its M&A practice focuses on the structuring and implementation of mergers, acquisitions and disposals of private or public companies, joint ventures, reverse takeovers, proxy contests / takeover defense, direct investment transactions, and any sort of carve-out transactions, in each case often involving multiple jurisdictions. In these transactions, the team develops ideal deal structures, conducts legal due diligence, drafts all relevant documents, leads or assists in the negotiation phase, secures or coordinates the approvals from the necessary authorities (including antitrust / merger control) and handles closing and post-closing matters. The team we can draw from a firm-wide network of around 240 practitioners specialized across a broad range of disciplines for any ancillary services relating to Corporate and M&A projects.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Corporate/M&A - Switzerland
2
Band 2
What the team is known for

Walder Wyss regularly advises domestic and international clients on the acquisition of Swiss companies. The law firm is particularly popular with clients for transactional and investment matters, including restructurings, investments and joint ventures. The practice represents shareholders in divestments and contentious takeovers. The team's client base includes companies from the banking, technology and pharmaceutical industries.

Work Highlights

Provided by Walder Wyss Ltd
  • Walder Wyss advised DSM on its cross-border merger with Firmenich.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
Urs Schenker
S
Urs Schenker
S
Senior Statespeople

Urs Schenker offers extensive expertise in acquisitions, divestments and restructurings.

Hans-Jakob Diem
1
Hans-Jakob Diem
1
Band 1

Hans-Jakob Diem is a highly esteemed M&A lawyer acting for corporates on public tenders, acquisitions and strategic partnerships.

"Hans-Jakob Diem is absolutely brilliant."

Urs P Gnos
2
Urs P Gnos
2
Band 2

Urs Gnos handles cross-border private and public M&A, including acquisitions, sales, carve-outs and reorganisations.

"Urs Gnos is one of the leading M&A lawyers in Switzerland, with high commercial awareness and negotiation skills."

"He is approachable and precise."

Markus Vischer
3
Markus Vischer
3
Band 3

Markus Vischer frequently handles complex transactional mandates, including cross-border acquisitions and carve-outs.

"Markus Vischer is an extremely sharp lawyer."

Alex Nikitine
4
Alex Nikitine
4
Band 4

Alex Nikitine regularly acts for Swiss clients, including listed companies, on cross-border M&A mandates.

"He is very quick and efficient. He recognises what is important for us and does not waste time on things."

Luc Defferrard
5
Luc Defferrard
5
Band 5

Luc Defferrard assists private equity firms and corporates with M&A and private equity investments.

"Luc Defferrard has a good mix of technical and commercial skills."

Ranked Lawyers at
Walder Wyss Ltd

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Switzerland

Corporate/M&A

Urs Schenker
S
Urs Schenker
S
Senior Statespeople
Hans-Jakob Diem
1
Hans-Jakob Diem
1
Band 1
Urs P Gnos
2
Urs P Gnos
2
Band 2
Markus Vischer
3
Markus Vischer
3
Band 3
Alex Nikitine
4
Alex Nikitine
4
Band 4
Luc Defferrard
5
Luc Defferrard
5
Band 5

Members

Provided by Walder Wyss Ltd

Alexander Gutmans

Alexandre Both

Dominik Hohler

Florian Gunz Niedermann

Reto Vonzun

Robert von Rosen

Stefan Knobloch

Thiemo Sturny