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Florian Schönknecht_Partner_CMS Switzerland
Partner

Florian Schönknecht, LL.M., EMBA UZH

Head of Investigations and Compliance Practice Group

Languages
  • German
  • English
  • French
Social media

Florian Schönknecht is a Partner at CMS Switzerland and heads the Investigations and Compliance team.

He advises clients on compliance matters, conducts internal investigations, supports the implementation of preventive measures and represents clients in regulatory proceedings.

In addition, he assists clients in their dealings with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, advises on its expectations and approach, and represents clients in FINMA inquiries and proceedings.

Based on his many years of experience in senior roles at FINMA, most recently as Head Investigations, Florian has extensive experience in investigations as well as in compliance and financial market law matters.

Prior to joining FINMA, Florian worked as an attorney at a renowned Swiss commercial law firm in the areas of investigations and litigation. As a Senior Associate, he led complex internal investigations for financial institutions and industrial companies.

Florian has published and spoken on topics within his areas of specialization. He holds an LL.M. from the University of Sydney as well as an Executive MBA from the University of Zurich.

Before working as an attorney and at FINMA, Florian served as a law clerk, including at the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and the Commercial Court of Zurich.

Relevant experience

  • Internal investigation at a bank in connection with the Switzerland–US tax dispute.
  • Internal investigation at a bank in connection with an investment fraud scandal.
  • Internal investigation at an industrial company in relation to suspected private bribery.
  • Internal investigation at a life sciences company in relation to potential sanctions violations.
  • Various FINMA investigations involving Swiss financial institutions and individuals, including in the areas of AML, corporate governance, risk management, suitability and “fit and proper” requirements.

Publications

  • Florian Schönknecht, in: Zulauf/Wyss (eds.), Finanzmarktenforcement, 3rd ed., Bern 2022, pp. 65–92 and 107–113
  • Friedmann/Kuhn/Schönknecht, Enforcement, in: Sester/Brändli/Bartholet/Schildknecht, St. Galler Handbuch zum Schweizer Finanzmarktrecht, Finanzmarktaufsicht und Finanzmarktinfrastrukturen, Zurich/St. Gallen 2018
  • Florian Schönknecht, Der Einlagebegriff nach Bankengesetz, in: GesKR 2016, p. 316 et seq.

Memberships & Roles

  • Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
  • Swiss Bar Association (SAV)

Lectures list

  • The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA and its Enforcement Practice, guest lecture as part of an Executive Education Programme of the Faculty of Business Administration[CMS vEP1] , University of Zurich, 7 November 2025
  • Compliance-Verstösse bei Finanzinstituten und Enforcement der FINMA, guest lecture as part of the seminar Corporate Scandals: Compliance-Krisen und Krisenmanagement in Unternehmen, University of St. Gallen, 28 October 2025, 29 October 2024 and 7 November 2023
  • Use of Internal Investigations Reports in FINMA Enforcement, Economic Crime Prevention Conference Switzerland, 6 April 2022
  • Auswirkungen der Durchführung einer internen Untersuchung auf Enforcementansatz der FINMA, kick-off event of the ZAV specialist group “Compliance & Investigations”, 2 September 2021
  • Fairness für alle in der internen Untersuchung – gibt es den gemeinsamen Nenner?, panel discussion, 7th Conference on Internal and Regulatory Investigations – Fairness, Cooperation and Criminal Investigation, 1 October 2020

Education

  • 2022 – Executive MBA in General Management (Focus: Digital Transformation), University of Zurich
  • 2008 – Master of Laws (LL.M.), University of Sydney
  • 2003 – Admitted to the bar, Zurich
  • 2000 – Licentiate in Law, University of Zurich

Insights by Florian

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