CMS Switzerland further improves its ranking with The Legal 500

CMS Switzerland further improves its ranking with The Legal 500

We are delighted to announce that CMS Switzerland is being recommended in 12 categories in this year's edition of The Legal 500, published in April 2019. We are particularly pleased to have reached top rankings in the three practice areas Real Estate & Construction, Healthcare & Life Sciences and Insurance.

The following practice areas of CMS Switzerland are awarded by The Legal 500 in 2019:

31 lawyers of our firm are mentioned with recommendations. In addition, Stefan Gerster and Clemens von Zedtwitz are identified as Leading Individuals in their respective fields (Real estate and construction as well as Insurance). Moreover, Marquard Christen is highlighted as Next Generation Lawyer in Competition.

These experts have been identified by means of extensive market research including interviews conducted by The Legal 500. Please find below a selection of what clients and The Legal 500 have said about our law firm and our lawyers:

Banking & Finance: Zurich

Multi-jurisdictional financing, regulatory matters and collective investment scheme advice constitute the three major focus areas at CMS. Kaspar Landolt, André E Lebrecht and counsel Dominique Gemperli are the key practitioners. 

Commercial, corporate and M&A

'Well-integrated law firm' CMS has 'a one-stop-shop attitude and uses straight-forward communication' while maintaining 'excellent legal quality and response times'. The team is best known for advising on cross-border transactions, frequently at mid-market level and in relation to private equity funds, while also focusing on directors' liability issues, W&I insurance matters and legal assistance to start-ups. 'Deeply knowledgeable' Stefan Brunnschweiler advised CCC Group on the €10m acquisition of a 70 per cent stake in fashion company Karl Vögele, while Pascal Favre advised France-based Michelin on the purchase of a minority interest in A.T.U. Auto-Teile-Unger.

Competition

With an 'excellent reputation for investigations and strength in merger control', CMS' 'stable competition law practice' provides 'an exceptionally high level of quality and responsiveness'. The team also handles first-instance administrative and appeal proceedings, as well as horizontal cooperation projects and antitrust compliance programmes. According to one client, another 'major asset is the international CMS network, which provides one solution out of one hand'. Team lead Patrick Sommer represents Bayer Switzerland in longstanding proceedings concerning price recommendations for erectile dysfunction medication traded over the counter, while 'pragmatic strategist' Marquard Christen, who 'has unique expertise in competition law combined with public procurement', reached a settlement for client Rimowa during a ComCo investigation regarding an alleged restriction on product exports from Germany to Switzerland. Geneva-based Pascal Favre advised Michelin on the competition aspects of its joint venture with A.T.U. Auto-Teile-Unger. Counsel Fabian Martens was a new arrival in 2019 from Borer Attorneys at Law.

Dispute resolution: litigation

CMS's 'skilled and motivated lawyers' are renowned for their 'intelligent, client-oriented services, clear strategic focus and constructive negotiation'. Apart from a general focus on commercial disputes, the practice further handles banking, corporate, construction, sports, insurance, as well as trust and estate litigation. Geneva partner Christian Lüscher represented art shipper and dealer Yves Bouvierin as respondent in a $1bn fraud claim by Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev. 'Highly capable and structured' Zurich managing partner Jodok Wicki was instructed by AIG Europe to act as defence counsel in a D&O policy coverage dispute against the SEC Securities and Exchange Commission, while Philipp Dickenmann assisted a Norwegian company with an award enforcement in Switzerland against its debtor, the owner of an offshore company. Philippe Grumbach, Olivier Carrard [...] are other key names. Niklaus Zaugg made partner in January 2018. Counsel Aline Wey Speirs and Aileen Truttmann are also recommended.

Employment

Contractual planning and dispute resolution are CMS' main areas of expertise in international employment law. 'Very knowledgeable, responsive and hands-on' key partner Christian Gersbach regularly advises clients including Nike, Accentureand Corning. He assisted ABB on the employment aspects resulting from its acquisition of Keymile.

Healthcare and life sciences

'Due to very good networking', CMS 'can provide know-how in a variety of matters', especially at a multi-jurisdictional level. Regulatory, compliance, financial benefits and pricing advice, as well as the negotiation of agreements and representation in court form the main areas of expertise. Team lead Patrick Sommer is representing Bayer in price recommendation proceedings concerning prescription-based erectile dysfunction medication, while Alain Raemy assisted Synlab International with the drafting and roll-out of a Swiss compliance programme. 'Competent and quick' associate Marion Wyler is also recommended. Felix Kesselring joined from VISCHER in October 2017. 

Insurance

'Competent and commercial' firm CMS houses 'a dedicated insurance group', which is 'very knowledgeable for insurance claims and contracts under Swiss law'. Focus areas include all aspects of the life cycle of insurance products, policies and broker agreements, as well as the representation of insurance and reinsurance companies in a broad range of proceedings before courts, arbitration tribunals and supervisory-law authorities. The 'talented, supportive and thorough' Clemens von Zedtwitz is experienced in professional, commercial and medical liability claims, as well as insurance policies in regulated sectors.

Leading firms: German-speaking Switzerland

International firm CMS has a strong reputation for competition law, dispute resolution, healthcare and life sciences, as well as insurance sector, employment law and real estate matters. Prominent practitioners include Stefan Gerster, Stefan Brunnschweiler, David Hürlimann, Marquard Christen, Clemens von Zedtwitz, Christian Gersbach, Jodok Wicki and Philipp Dickenmann. 

Private client

The internationally active private client practice at CMS focuses on assisting high-net-worth families and individuals with inheritance law, estate planning and litigation, with particular experience in matrimonial property matters, succession planning, philanthropy and disputes concerning trusts and estates. Team lead Tobias Somary and senior associate Louise Lutz Sciamanna are the key practitioners, supported by inheritance specialist Max Albers and tax partner David Hürlimann.

Real estate and construction

The real estate team at CMS focuses heavily on transactions, disputes and the development of shopping malls, hotels, retail buildings, offices and residential property. Sibylle Schnyder assisted Swiss Prime Site Immobilien with the multimillion-Swiss franc share-deal purchase of a mixed-use building in Winterthur, while Stefan Gerster advised Credit Suisse Investment Foundation on the development of Zurich-based Project Pergamin II, including handling the acquisition of land and the construction of the residential complex.

Sports law

CMS is renowned for its expertise in dispute resolution, M&A and commercial matters. Pierre Ducret assisted Ineos Football with its acquisition of FC Lausanne-Sport. Olivier Carrard and Philipp Dickenmann handle CAS arbitration and commercial sports litigation.

Tax

CMS impresses with its 'intimate knowledge of Swiss law and compliance prerequisites, as well as its goal-oriented advice'. Key areas of expertise include corporate taxation, such as reorganisation and tax planning, as well as wealth structuring and estate planning for high-net-worth individuals. David Hürlimann in Zurich and Andrio Orler lead the practice. Sarah Busca Bonvin joined the team from the Geneva Tax Administration in 2018.