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Employment & Pensions

For your business to be successful, you must manage your employees and their benefits as well as your employee representatives such as works councils and unions. Yet from executive contracts and equal opportunities to restructurings, transfer of business issues and restrictive covenants, employment and pension law in Europe is complex and, at times, contradictory. European directives, European court decisions, national laws, local cases and precedent must all be taken into account by your management team. Our 280-strong group of sector specialists can help you navigate the maze of HR regulations, policy documents and other legal complexities you must contend with on a daily basis.

If your business crosses borders, you will be faced with additional legal hurdles before achieving the outcome you need. With a global network covering 43 countries, we can help solve your problems across all the jurisdictions in which you operate − whether your issue relates to employment contracts, pension schemes, redundancies, M&A, trade union/staff representative relations or litigation.

 


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28/03/2024
CMS advised Vista Augenpraxis & Kliniken on the acquisition of Augenzentrum...
Zurich, March 2024 | Vista Klinik Holding AG, domiciled in Binningen (Switzerland), integrated into its network Augenzentrum Muttenz-Pratteln GmbH, a renowned provider of ophthalmological services in Baselland. The eye centre operates a total of three ultra-modern sites in the municipalities of Muttenz and Pratteln with first-class medical equipment, including state-of-the-art surgery facilities (focused on intravitreal injections). Founded over 30 years ago, Vista Augenpraxen & Kliniken has become a leading centre of excellence for ophthalmology in Switzerland. With its numerous locations, Vista has a broad network of eye clinics and eye practices. At all sites, specialised ophthalmologists offer all treatments and surgical interventions relating to the eye. In this way, Vista guarantees comprehensive and lifelong care for its patients. Forward-looking research activities and the continuous training of all employees ensure quality and sustainability at all sites. A team of CMS Switzerland, led by Stefan Brunnschweiler and Franziska Hammer, advised Vista Augenpraxen & Kliniken on all legal matters of the transaction. CMS Switzer­land­Stefan Brunnschweiler, Partner, Corporate / M&AFranziska Hammer, Counsel, Corporate / M&A          Christoph Willi, Partner, Life Science & HealthcareMiryam Meile, Associate, EmploymentRafael Gruber, Attorney Trainee
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
27/03/2024
CMS Switzerland recognised by The Legal 500 EMEA 2024
This year CMS Switzerland has been recommended by The Legal 500 in 21 categories in the European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) edi­tion. In addition, 6 of our lawyers are recognized individually for their expertise as "Leading Individuals" or "Next Generation Partner" in the areas of Competition, Insolvency & Corporate Recovery, Insurance, Public Law, Real Estate & Construction and TMT.
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
16/02/2024
CMS advises AEW on a participation in Partino Mobile Energie AG
AEW Energie AG has acquired a participation of 33% in Partino Mobile Energie AG and strengthens its powers in the area of e-mobility. The transaction announced in November 2023 has now been completed. Partino Mobile Energie AG, with registered office in Oberentfelden, is a renowned supplier of intelligent e-mobility solutions. Special focus is made on load management for charging points and the backend to operate charging points. In cooperation with Partino, AEW has fitted intelligent charging stations to several apartment buildings. AEW has built up comprehensive competences in the area of e-mobility and is a position to offer integrated solutions ranging from carsharing (Swiss E-Car) to mobility as a service. AEW Energie AG targets an active an leading role in the e-mobility sector and seeks to invest in integrated solutions and services. To that end, AEW has already been cooperating with Partino for some time. As a consequence of this successful collaboration, the parties have agreed to joining forces even closer. The participation in Partino rounds off AEW's portfolio in the area of e-mobility perfectly."The demand for innovative e-mobility solutions increase sharply. Thanks to the participation in partino, we can expand our competences and our offering in the area of e-mobility significantly. With Partino, we are in position to implement complex projects efficiently an to offer integrated dynamic load management systems, for example for apartment buildings", says Arian Rohs, Head Mobility Solutions at AEW.A team of CMS led by Alain Raemy and Florian Jung has advised AEW on all legal aspects of this transaction. CMS SwitzerlandAlain Raemy, Partner, CorporateFlorian Jung, Senior Associate, Cor­por­ateAl­ex­an­der Salamon, Attorney Trainee, CorporateMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxDavid Schuler, Senior Associate, TaxMiryam Meile, Senior Associate, EmploymentDirk Spacek, Partner, IP/IT
06/02/2024
CMS advises Bruker on the agreement to acquire Chemspeed
Bruker Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed US tech company, entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Chemspeed Technologies AG, a Swiss provider of vendor-agnostic automated laboratory R&D and QC workflow solutions. Chemspeed is focused on modular automation and robotics solutions for chemical research, pharma drug formulation, materials research for cleantech and consumer applications. The Chemspeed acquisition accelerates Bruker’s entry into lab automation, digitalisation and scientific software solutions. Chemspeed offers modular automation to enhance productivity in R&D and QC departments to achieve more in less time and without additional staff. Chemspeed complements Bruker’s vendor-agnostic plat­form SciY™ for software automation and digital transformation of R&D labs in the life science, biopharma and cleantech industries. An international CMS team headed by Stefan Brunnschweiler and Andrea Relly (Switzerland), in collaboration with the US law firm Nixon Peabody LLP advised Bruker on all legal aspects of the transaction. CMS Switzer­land­Stefan Brunnschweiler, Lead Partner, Corporate / M&AAndrea Relly, Counsel, Corporate / M&ASamuel Gang, Senior Associate, Corporate / M&AAnna Mast, Associate, Corporate / M&AMarquard Christen, Partner, Competition and ComplianceJulia Haas, Senior Associate, Competition and Com­pli­ance­Bernhard Lötscher, Partner, ComplianceSophie Weber, Associate, ComplianceDr Dirk Spacek, Partner, Intellectual PropertyDr Simone Brauch­bar-Birkhäuser, Partner, Intellectual PropertyOlivia Zingg, Associate, Intellectual PropertyMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxJens Lehmann, Senior Associate, TaxMiryam Meile, Senior Associate, Em­ploy­mentSibylle Schnyder, Partner, Real EstateReto Hunsperger, Partner, Com­mer­cialAl­ex­an­der Salamon, Attorney Trainee, Corporate / M&ASophia Rovelli, Attorney Trainee, Corporate / M&AElisabeth Suter, Attorney Trainee, ComplianceCMS BelgiumKai Neuhaus, Partner, Brussel, CompetitionDavid Rappenglück, Associate, Brussel, CompetitionCMS UKRussel Hoare, Partner, Lon­don, Com­pet­i­tion­Claire Barraclough, Associate, Competition
19/01/2024
CBAM: Just over a week to comply
As the deadline for the first Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) report approaches on January 31st, it is crucial for undertakings engaged in importing relevant goods into the European Union to...
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
31/10/2023
CMS advises Renaissance on the acquisition of the business operations of...
On 31 October 2023, Renais­sance, to­geth­er with industry expert Daniel Lippuner and the management of Heberlein AG, acquired the entire business operations of Heberlein AG. The acquired business will continue to operate unchanged at its current location in Wattwil with the existing management and all employees under the name Heberlein Technology AG. Heberlein was founded in 1835 and has established itself as a leading provider of nozzles for synthetic continuous yarns worldwide, developing, manufacturing, and distributing key components for the chemical fiber industry, with approximately 80 employees. Renais­sance, based in Lausanne, was founded by pension funds for pension funds and has been investing in unlisted Swiss SMEs for over 20 years.A team from CMS, led by Alain Raemy, provided comprehensive legal and tax advice to Renaissance in this transaction. CMS SwitzerlandAlain Raemy, Partner, Corporate / M&AAndrea Relly, Counsel, Corporate / M&AMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxDominik Penkov, Associate, Tax Dr. Simone Brauchbar Birkhäuser, Partner, IP / ITPhilipp Dickenmann, Partner, Dispute ResolutionReto Hunsperger, Partner, RestructuringDr. Marjolaine Jakob, Partner, Re­struc­turin­gOlivia Zingg, Associate, IP / ITHelena Loretan, Associate, Real EstateKatja Bertsche, Senior Associate, Real EstateDr. Miryam Meile, Senior Associate, Employment Anna Mast, Associate, Corporate / M&AAlexander Salamon, Lawyer Trainee, Corporate / M&A
11/10/2023
CMS advises US technology company Bruker on entering into equity-based...
Bruker Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed US tech company, has acquired a majority stake in MIRO Analytical AG, an innovative provider of fast, compact Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL)-based multi-gas analyzers for simultaneous, highest-pre­ci­sion monitoring of up to 10 trace gases. Based near Zürich, the Swiss start-up company MIRO serves atmospheric research and industrial customers, enabling fast, mobile, highest-pre­ci­sion air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis to advance climate science, air pollution and industrial process monitoring. MIRO complements the Bruker Optics gas-analysis spectroscopy portfolio with fast, compact, highest-pre­ci­sion QCL multi-trace gas analyzers. An international CMS team headed by Stefan Brunnschweiler and Andrea Relly (Switzerland) as well as Dr Hendrik Hirsch and Berrit Roth-Mingram (Germany) advised Bruker on all legal aspects of the transaction. CMS Switzer­land­Stefan Brunnschweiler, Lead Partner, Corporate / M&AAndrea Relly, Counsel, Corporate / M&AMark Cagienard, Partner, TaxMiryam Meile, Senior Associate, EmploymentAnna Mast, Associate, Corporate / M&AAlexander Salamon, Junior Associate, Corporate / M&ACMS Ger­manyDr Hendrik Hirsch, Lead Partner, Frankfurt/Main, Corporate/M&ADr Berrit Roth-Mingram, Counsel, Frankfurt/Main, Corporate/M&ADr Thomas Hirse, Partner, Dus­sel­dorf, In­tel­lec­tu­al PropertySven Krause, Senior Associate, Dusseldorf, Intellectual Property