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Portrait ofChristian Gersbach

Christian Gersbach, LL.M.

Partner
Certified Specialist SBA Employment Law

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd
Dreikönigstrasse 7
P.O. Box
8022 Zurich
Switzerland
Languages German, English, French

Christian Gersbach is a Certified Specialist SBA Employment Law and the head of our employment and immigration law team.

He joined CMS in 2004 and advises a wide range of corporate clients in all areas of employment matters (e.g. drafting of employment contracts, employee representation matters, dismissals, dispute resolution). His focus lies on international and cross-border matters.

Christian Gersbach served from 2001 until 2005 as an ordinary judge with a part-time workload at the District Court of Aarau. In 2006/2007 he completed postgraduate studies at New York University (Master of Laws, LL.M.) and worked as a foreign associate in a major New York law firm before re-joining CMS in 2007.

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"Subject-matter expert in employment law; very responsive; treats others with respect."

IFLR 1000, client feedback, 33rd edition (2023/2024)

''He is diligent, very responsive, pragmatic and able to find solutions. It's easy to discuss things on the phone with him and he's very experienced. He's just a very good partner for me.''

Chambers & Partners, Europe, Employment, Switzerland, 2023

Christian Gersbach is the reason why we work with CMS. He is very pleasant to work with, competent and has the right approach.

Chambers & Partners, Europe, Employment, Switzerland, 2023

''I refer to Christian Gersbach for more complex questions as he is always super, on top of everything and fast. He has the right feeling for the level of detail that is necessary."

Chambers & Partners, Europe, Employment, Switzerland, 2023

"The cooperation with Mr Christian Gersbach was seamless and advice always precise and with view of the business needs."

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Employment, 2022

"He can think about complex and difficult issues in an extraordinarily short time and support the parties accordingly," notes one satisfied client.

Chambers & Partners, Europe, Employment, Switzerland, 2022

Christian Gersbach: outstanding work – very knowledgeable, responsive and pragmatic.

The Legal 500, Employment, Switzerland, 2020

CMS is known for its 'immediate', 'practical and reliable' service level in employment matters, ranging from day-to-day operational and policy queries to transactional and dispute resolution handling. 'Outstanding' team head Christian Gersbach provides 'very knowledgeable, responsive and pragmatic' counsel.

The Legal 500, Employment, Switzerland, 2020

"Very knowledgeable, responsive and hands-on' key partner Christian Gersbach regularly advises clients including Nike, Accenture and Corning"

The Legal 500, Employment, Switzerland, 2019

Christian Gersbach of CMS is recognised for his litigation experience in this area, and he also advises on contractual matters. Sources highlight him as being "really hands-on and knowledgeable."

Chambers and Partners, Employment, Switzerland, 2019

Christian Gersbach of CMS is ‘always very approachable’ and ‘quick to respond to requests,’ and is also ‘practical but with good knowledge.’

Chambers and Partners, Employment, Switzerland, 2018

CMS delivers ‘great service and clear, comprehensive answers’ to employment law and corporate policy issues, including advice on M&A-related employment and contentious matters. The ‘responsive, professional and very practical’ Christian Gersbach is a ‘pleasure to work with’.

The Legal 500, Employment, Switzerland, 2018

Relevant experience

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Memberships & Roles

  • Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
  • Swiss Bar Association (SBA)
  • Employment Law Practice Group of Zurich Bar Association
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Awards & Rankings

  • The Legal 500 | Employment, Switzerland, 2023 | Band 2
  • Chambers and Partners | Employment, Switzerland, 2023 | Europe | Band 4
  • Leaders League | Labor Litigation, Switzerland, 2023 | Excellent
  • Leaders League | Labor Advisory, Switzerland, 2023 | Highly recommended
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Publications

  • Christian Gersbach/Christina Winter, Sozialpläne – Aktuelle Entwicklungen, in: Wolfgang Portmann/Gabriel Aubert/Roland A. Müller/Roger Rudolph (Hrsg.), Festschrift für Adrian von Kaenel, Zurich 2022, p. 161–171
  • Arbeitsvertrag, Werkvertrag oder Auftrag? Zürcher Wirtschaft 09/22
  • Nebentätigkeiten, Zürcher Wirtschaft 06/2022
  • Homeoffice aus arbeitsrechtlicher Sicht, Zürcher Wirtschaft 02/2022
  • Nachvertragliche Konkurrenzverbote, Zürcher Wirtschaft 01/2022
  • Stämpflis Handkommentar Arbeitsvertrag, june 2021, commentary on Art. 319 and 334 CO (co-author: Marcel Gross)
  • Personalabbau aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen - Massenentlassung und Änderungskündigung, personal Schweiz 02/2021 (co-author: Miryam Meile)
  • Offene Fragen zum Vaterschaftsurlaub, Zürcher Wirtschaft, 02/2021 (co-author: Miryam Meile)
  • Arbeitsrecht: Ist Ihr Arbeitsvertrag noch aktuell?, Zürcher Wirtschaft 08/2019
  • Befristete Arbeitsverhältnisse, Züricher Wirtschaft 03/2019
  • Arbeitsrecht: Kündigungsfreiheit – das war einmal?, Zürcher Wirtschaft 12/2017 
  • Arbeitsrecht: Nebenbeschäftigungen, Zürcher Wirtschaft 11/2015
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Lectures list

  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS - Aktuelle Rechtsfragen zum Thema Homeoffice, Lucerne 30 June 2022
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – Die wichtigsten Änderungen im Arbeitsrecht 2022, Zurich 18 January 2022, Basel 20 January 2022 / Berne 25 January 2022
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – Home-Office - Eine arbeitsrechtliche Betrachtung, Zurich, 9 September 2021
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – TREUHAND | TAKEOFF® – Neuerungen im Arbeitsrecht 2021, Webinar, 21 and 28 January 2021
  • Institut für Rechtswissenschaft und Rechtspraxis, Universität St. Gallen - St. Galler Tagung zum Arbeitsrecht 2020 "Sozialpläne – Aktuelle Entwicklungen", Lucerne, 10 September 2020
  • CMS Webinar "Aktuelle Rechtsfragen im Zusammenhang mit COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Fokus Schweiz", 9 April 2020
  • CMS Webinar "Aktuelle Rechtsfragen im Zusammenhang mit COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Fokus Schweiz", 19 March 2020
  • CMS Webinar "Internal investigations in HR cases - best practices", 3 March 2020
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – Die wichtigsten Änderungen im Arbeitsrecht 2020, Bern, 21 January 2020 / Zurich 23 January 2020
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – Update Arbeitsrecht, Zurich, 18 November 2019
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – Die wichtigsten Änderungen im Arbeitsrecht 2019, Bern, 22 January 2019 / Zurich 24 January 2019
  • Bundesverband der Arbeitsrechtler in Unternehmen BVAU (Deutschland) – Einführung in das Schweizer Arbeitsrecht, Frankfurt am Main, 19 November 2018
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – Update Arbeitsrecht, Zurich, 7 November 2018
  • Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS – Die wichtigsten Änderungen im Arbeitsrecht 2018, Bern, 23 January 2018 / Zurich 25 January 2018
  • Webinar "Work Smart, Not Hard – Legal Challenges in the Modern Workplace", 23 January 2018
  • Europa Institut an der Universität Zürich – Aktuelle Fragen zum Ferienrecht, Zurich, 27 June 2017
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Education

  • 2014 - Certified Specialist SBA Employment Law
  • 2007 - Master of Laws, LL.M., New York University in New York (USA)
  • 2004 - Bar Admission
  • 2001 - Lic. iur, magna cum laude, Universität Zürich (exchange studies at Université François Rabelais, Tours, France)
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27/03/2024
CMS advised Ypsomed on the sale of its pen needle and BGM businesses to...
Zurich, March 2024 | An international CMS team under the lead of Stefan Brunnschweiler and Florian Jung provided comprehensive advice to Ypsomed (SIX: YPSN) on all legal aspects regarding the sale of its pen needle and blood glucose monitoring systems (BGMs) businesses to Medical Technology and Devices S.p.A. (MTD). Ypsomed is supporting a reliable transition to ensure the supply of pen needles to people around the globe who inject insulin and other hormones. During a transition period, Ypsomed will produce pen needles as a contract manufacturer and provide certain services to facilitate a seamless transfer. The production equipment will be gradually moved to the MTD sites by mid-2025. The business with pen needles and BGMs to be transferred to MTD accounted for sales of CHF 52 million in FY 2022/23 and CHF 18 million in the first half of FY 2023/24. The closing of the transaction and thus the transfer of the business with pen needles and blood glucose monitoring systems is expected in summer 2024, after which the transition will begin, and is subject to customary respectively regulatory conditions. Ypsomed is the leading developer and manufacturer of injection and infusion systems for self-medication and a renowned diabetes specialist. The company will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024. As a leader in innovation and technology, it is a preferred partner of pharmaceutical and biotech companies for pens, autoinjectors and pump systems for administering liquid medications. Ypsomed presents and markets its product portfolios under the umbrella brand mylife Diabetescare directly to patients, pharmacies, and hospitals as well as under Ypsomed Delivery Systems in busi­ness-to-busi­ness operations with pharmaceutical companies. Ypsomed is headquartered in Burgdorf, Switzerland. The company has a global network of production facilities, subsidiaries, and distribution partners. Ypsomed has over 2,200 employees worldwide. CMS ZurichStefan Brunnschweiler, LL.M., Managing Partner, Head Corporate/M&AFlorian Jung, LL.M., Senior Associate, Corporate/M&ASamuel Felix Gang, LL.M., Senior Associate, Corporate/M&AAnna Mast, Associate, Corporate/M&AAlexander Salamon, Attorney Trainee, Corporate/M&AMarquard Christen, LL.M., MAS, Partner, Com­pet­i­tion­Sophia Rovelli, Attorney Trainee, Com­pet­i­tion­Nad­ine Anwander, Attorney Trainee, CompetitionDr Matthias Kuert, LL.M., Partner, Capital MarketsMark Cagienard, LL.M. VAT, Partner, TaxChristian Gersbach, LL.M., Partner, EmploymentDirk Spacek, LL.M., Partner, IT/IPCMS ParisAlexandra Rohmert, Partner, Corporate/M&AVincent Desbenoit, Associate, Corporate/M&ACaroline Froger-Michon, Partner, Em­ploy­ment­Ca­mille Baumgarten, Associate, Em­ploy­ment­Aliénor Fevre, Counsel, CommercialManon Fleury, Associate, Com­mer­cialJean-Hugues de la Berge, Partner, TaxWilliam Hamon, Partner, TaxCMS FrankfurtDr Heike Wagner, Partner, Corporate/M&ADr Tobias Kilian, Of Counsel, Corporate/M&ADr Reiner Thieme, Associate, Corporate/M&ACMS HamburgDr Heike Wagner, Partner, Corporate/M&A
14/03/2024
CMS Switzerland ranked in Chambers and Partners Europe Guide 2024
Awards & Rankings
22/02/2024
CMS advises Endeavor / On Location on strategic investment in event technology...
A cross-border team from CMS has advised On Location, the Endeavor-owned leader in premium experiences, hospitality, and travel, on its strategic investment in Wiz-Team, a leading event and data management technology solution. The investment will support integration of Wiz-Team’s technology and software across the On Location portfolio, with a focus on enhancing guest registration and communication, accreditation, accommodation, and access con­trol. Already, On Location has partnered with Wiz-Team to enhance guest management services across its marquee VIP experiences, travel, and hospitality offerings, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games (for which On Location is the official, exclusive hospitality provider through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games), Super Bowl, and the Aer Lingus Classic. A team of CMS Zurich and London, led by partner Dr Daniel Jenny and senior associate Florian Jung (both CMS Zurich) as well as partner Nick Crosbie and senior associate Lauren Wood (both CMS London) has advised Endeavor / On Location on this trans­ac­tion.  The team further consisted of Samuel Gang (senior associate; corporate), Alexander Salamon (attorney trainee; corporate), Christian Gersbach (partner; employment), Miryam Meile (senior associate; employment), Mark Cagienard (partner; tax), Dirk Spacek (partner; IP/IT), Michelle Lindenman (associate; real estate; all CMS Zurich); Tetyana Dovgan (partner; corporate), Mariana Saienko (senior associate; corporate); Ihor Pavliukov (associate; corporate; all CMS Kyiv), Marco Casasole (partner; corporate; corporate), Francesco Capasso (Counsel; corporate), Giusy Lauro (counsel; employment; all CMS Rome), David Prync (partner; corporate), and Ségolène Regout (senior associate; corporate; both CMS Brussels). CMS ZurichDr Daniel Jenny, Partner, Corporate/M&AFlorian Jung, Senior Associate, Corporate/M&ASamuel Gang, Senior Associate, Corporate/M&AAlexander Salamon, Attorney Trainee, Corporate/M&AChristian Gersbach, Partner, EmploymentMiryam Meile, Senior Associate, EmploymentMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxDirk Spacek, Partner, IP/ITMichelle Lindenmann, Associate, Real EstateCMS LondonNick Crosbie, Partner, Corporate/M&ALauren Wood, Senior Associate, Corporate/M&ACMS KyivTetyana Dovgan, Partner, Corporate/M&AMariana Saienko, Senior Associate, Corporate/M&AIhor Pavliukov, Associate, Corporate/M&ACMS RomeMarco Casasole, Partner, Corporate/M&AFrancesco Capasso, Counsel, Corporate/M&AGiusy Lauro, Counsel, Employment CMS Brussels David Prync, Partner, Corporate/M&ASégolène Regout, Senior Associate, Corporate/M&A
16/01/2024
CMS advises Savills on the acquisition of VERBIER HOSPITALITY SA (Verbier...
Savills (Overseas Holdings) Limited, a group company of the Savills Group, acquires VERBIER HOSPITALITY SA, based in Verbier (Val de Bagnes). 
22/12/2023
CMS advises Shareholders of Boldt AG on the sale of their shares to BPI
CMS advised the shareholders of BOLDT AG, Zurich, on the sale of their shares to Bully Pulpit Interactive (BPI). BOLDT is a senior-led European business strategy, public policy and communication consulting firm with more than 50 professionals and offices in Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, London, Oslo as well as Zurich and advises some of the world's largest enterprises on their most critical issues. Boldt will keep its branding and become "BOLDT, a BPI Company". Boldt is focused on delivering business strategy, communications, and stakeholder engagement to transform organisations and performance. BPI is a US outcomes agency at the intersection of business, politics, and policy with offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC as well as two-time PRovoke Media Global Public Affairs Agency of the Year. In connection with the transaction, BPI will rebrand as Bully Pulpit International. With the acquisition of BOLDT, BPI enters into the European market and can offer to the customers of the combined enterprise transatlantic services. The combined company will have more than 250 employees in 10 offices in 6 countries. Against the background of pivotal elections in both the U.S. and Europe next year, the world’s most influential leaders and brands need a single best-in-class partner that can deliver a coherent bilateral strategy. With this investment, BPI introduces a bilateral public affairs, campaigning, and strategic communications offering to serve both American and European clients. As the pace of change increases, policy discussions evolve, and stakeholders demand engagement, brands require a cohesive approach across policy and corporate strategy in the U.S. and Europe. For Jeremy Galbraith, Managing Partner of BOLDT, it is an ideal time for BOLDT and BPI to join forces, given the political landscape and the pressures that businesses face to transform in Europe and in the U.S. BPI's and Boldt's service offering and culture are a natural fit. The introduction between BPI and BOLDT, which ultimately culminated in the acquisition of Boldt by BPI, was made by Jon Banner, Global Chief Impact Officer of McDonald's.A CMS team led by Daniel Jenny provided comprehensive legal advice to the shareholders of BOLDT AG in connection with the transaction. CMS ZurichDr Daniel Jenny, Partner, Corporate / M&AMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxChristian Gersbach, Partner, EmploymentDr Ferdinand Blezinger, Senior Associate, Corporate / M&ADr David Schuler, Senior Associate, TaxRafael Gruber, Attorney TraineeCMS LondonJohn Finnemore, Partner, Corporate / M&A
16/08/2023
Whistleblower protection and reporting channels in Switzerland
1. Is there a law on whistleblowing in your country? In Switzerland, there is no explicit law on whistleblowing. In 2020, the proposal of the Federal Council for Legislation on Whistleblowing was rejected...
Comparable
28/06/2023
Cost-cutting and restructuring in times of crisis
A tough global economic outlook is driving many employers to review their operational costs. Across businesses, hard questions are being asked about where efficiencies can be made – and ultimately what...
12/04/2023
CMS Switzerland recommended by The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 Edition
11/04/2023
CMS advises Saint-Gobain on the divestment of the Swiss Glassolutions business
Saint-Gobain, a leader in light and sustainable construction, has signed a binding agreement for the sale of its glass processing business Glassolutions in Switzerland to the privately owned German group AEQUITA. CMS Switzerland acted as legal advisor and EY acted as M&A, tax and carve-out advisor to Saint-Gobain. The sale of this division, expected to close by the end of May 2023, is part of Saint-Gobain's ongoing strategic plan to optimize its business profile. The CMS team led by partner Alain Raemy provided comprehensive legal advice to Saint-Gobain on the spin-off of the Glassolutions division and on the sales transaction. CMS TeamAlain Raemy, Partner, Corporate/M&AMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxChristian Gersbach, Partner, EmploymentDr Sibylle Schnyder, Partner, Real EstateTanja Schaub, Counsel, TaxAndrea Relly, Senior Associate, Corporate/M&AThomas Zweifel, Senior Associate, Real EstateHelena Loretan, Associate, Real EstateAnna Mast, Associate, Corporate/M&ARafael Gruber, Attorney Trainee, Real EstateAlexander Salamon, Attorney Trainee, Corporate/M&ANatalie Németh, Corporate Administration
19/03/2023
CMS Switzerland recommended in the Chambers Europe Guide 2023
Chambers and Partners has pub­lished its rankings of Europe's lead­ing law firms and lawyers in the Europe Guide 2023. Our firm and our lawyers are listed in both rankings for Switzerland.
15/01/2023
CMS advises the owner family on the sale of a majority stake in SCHURTER...
The Swiss investor Capvis, which specialises in medium-sized investments, acquires a majority stake in the Lucerne-based SCHURTER Group. The founding and previous owner family continues to hold a stake in the company and is represented on the board of directors by Thomas Schurter.
02/12/2022
CMS advised Aon Switzerland on a cooperation entered into with GLOBAZ
Neuchâtel , 2. Dezember 2022Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, and GLOBAZ SA, a leading 1st pillar pension administration software provider, announced they will enter into a strategic cooperation around a 2nd pillar pension administration IT solution. Aon Switzerland is handing over MULTI-Pension – its 2nd pillar IT solution – to GLOBAZ. This cooperation, which takes effect on 1 January 2023, reflects the major strategic goal of the two entities to enhance and develop 1st and 2nd pillar management solutions designed to provide an overall overview of pension provisions to the insured. For Aon, a global leader for risk management and wealth solutions for businesses, this step enhances its range of digital services as part of its pension fund management operations. In this perspective, Aon and GLOBAZ will pool their competencies in order to energise digital services and, especially, MULTI-Pension, the 2nd pillar software solution, for the benefit of pension funds, the insured and companies in the Swiss pension market. A CMS Switzerland team led by Dirk Spacek advised Aon on all legal aspects of the transaction. CMS Switzer­land­Dr Dirk Spacek, Partner, TMC/IPDr Christian Gersbach, Partner, EmploymentSarah Keller, Associate, EmploymentLucien Monnerat, Trainee