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Portrait ofLouise Lutz Sciamanna

Louise Lutz Sciamanna, LL.M.

Counsel
Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law

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

Louise Lutz Sciamanna is a specialist in inheritance law. She advises private clients in the areas of wealth and estate planning, estate administration, national and international matrimonial and inheritance law, business succession, and charitable foundations. She provides advisory and litigation services.

Louise Lutz Sciamanna has been practicing as a lawyer in the Private Clients field since 2009. In 2015, she joined CMS Zurich. Prior to that, she worked for several years in a renowned business law firm in Zurich, as an inheritance advisor in an international bank, and as a court clerk at the Zurich District Court.

In addition to her legal practice, she is a lecturer in inheritance law at the University of Zurich. She regularly gives lectures and publishes in her field of expertise.

Louise Lutz Sciamanna is a certified specialist lawyer in inheritance law (SAV) and a member of the Successio Association (Association for the Promotion of Swiss and International Inheritance Law). Louise Lutz Sciamanna has been recommended by Who's Who Legal, Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, and Citywealth (Top 35 Private Client Litigators - Europe 2020).

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Louise Lutz Sciamanna is a "brilliant lawyer in her field" according to sources who consider her "a rising start" thanks to her remarkable inheritance expertise.

Who's Who Legal, Switzerland - Private Client 2021

Louise Lutz Sciamanna handles national and international succession and estate planning for high net worth clients. She is also able to assist with inheritance disputes. A market insider says: "Louise has a good practical sense and is not only solution-driven but also hard-working."

Chambers and Partners, HNW, Switzerland, Private Wealth Law, 2020

Louise Lutz Sciamanna is a “true expert in the field” with “phenomenal analytical skills and broad experience” in estate planning and inheritance disputes.

Who's Who Legal, Switzerland - Private Client 2020

Tobias Somary and Louise Lutz Sciamanna both have a strong analytical approach. They have strong communication skills as well as enormous readiness for action.

The Legal 500, Private Client, Switzerland, 2020

Louise Lutz Sciamanna advises on all aspects of private client law for wealthy individuals and families. Her experience includes both domestic and international matters and she is praised for being "very intelligent and quick to grasp all the issues." She also handles estate administration as well as inheritance and succession disputes. A lawyer comments: "She handles clients very well, even when they are hard work. She keeps everyone up to date and is very responsive."

Chambers and Partners, HNW, Switzerland, Private Wealth Law, 2019

Memberships & Roles

  • Lecturer at the University of Zurich in matrimonial property and inheritance law
  • Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
  • Swiss Bar Association (SAV)
  • Zurich Bar Association, Inheritance Law Section
  • Successio (Association for the Promotion of Swiss and International Inheritance Law)
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Publications

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Lectures list

  • 10 November 2023, St. Galler Erbrechtstagung 2023, Zurich Marriott Hotel, Zurich, "Besonderheiten von Nutzniessungslösungen in der erbrechtlichen Planung"
  • 1 December 2022, training and further education at the Higher Court of the Canton of Zurich, "Gesetzesrevision – Das neue Erbrecht"
  • 5 October 2022, Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS, half day seminar on "Revision of Swiss inheritance law and ease of business succession" (together with Roxana Bollinger-Bär)
  • 23 November 2021, St. Galler Eherechtstagung 2021, Grand Casino Lucerne, "Effects on the revision of the inheritance law on family law II"
  • 28 October 2021, Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS, day seminar on "Successful Estate and Emergency Planning" (together with Tobias Somary)
  • 26 August 2021, 16. Schweizerischer Erbrechtstag, Hotel Schweizerhof, Lucerne, "Yesterday, today and tomorrow in estate planning: Initial findings on the revision of the inheritance law"
  • 30 November 2020, St. Galler Erbrechtstagung, online-event, lecture "Nachlassplanung im Vorfeld der Erbrechtsrevision: Gestaltungsüberlegungen aus der Praxis"
  • 5 November 2020, Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS, day seminar on "Successful Estate and Emergency Planning" (together with Tobias Somary)
  • 31 October 2019, Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS, Hotel Marriott, Zurich, day seminar on successful estate and emergency planning (together with Tobias Somary)
  • 7 February 2019, Hotel Baur au Lac, Zurich, "Paradigm Change in Inheritance Matters" (lecture together with Tobias Somary and Jasper Stallmann, CMS von Erlach Poncet Ltd.)
  • 14 November 2018, Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS, Hotel Marriott, Zurich, day seminar "Erfolgreiche Nachlass-, Notfall- und Güterplanung" (together with Somary and Jasper Stallmann, CMS von Erlach Poncet AG)
  • 13 September 2018, Bildungszentrum KV Zürich Business School, Weiterbildung für Assistierende von Mitgliedern des Zürcher Anwaltsverbands, "Erbrecht – Was ich wissen wollte!" (together with the lawyers Gabrielle Mazurczak and Tobias Somary)
  • 19 October 2017, Schweizerische Treuhänder Schule STS, Hotel Marriott, Zürich, Tagesseminar Erfolgreiche Nachlass-, Notfall- und Güterplanung
  • 14 and 15 March 2017, Podium des Zürcher Anwaltsverbands im Casinotheater Winterthur und im Kongresshaus Zürich, Referat zum Thema „Plötzlich urteilsunfähig! Vorsorgeaufträge für Jung und Alt“
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Education

  • 2019 – Fachanwalt SAV Erbrecht / Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law
  • 2012 – King's College London, Master of Laws (LL.M., with distinction; Dickson Poon School of Law Prize for best student on the LL.M. in International Business Law)
  • 2008 – Bar Admission (Zurich)
  • 2005 – University of Zurich (lic.iur., magna cum laude)
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Feed

12/04/2023
CMS Switzerland recommended by The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 Edition
14/07/2022
CMS Switzerland recommended in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2022
Chambers and Partners has pub­lished its rankings of leading law firms and lawyers in the High Net Worth Guide 2022. Our firm and our lawyers are listed in both rankings for Switzerland.
01/07/2022
Marriage for all
Since the Swiss Civil Code entered into force in 1912, Swiss marriage and family law has evolved during time due to the shifting views regarding equality between the parties involved. The introduction of the registered partnership in 2007 created a special civil status for registered same-sex couples. While this was a progress, it did not lead to an equal treatment compared to matrimony. Therefore, a parliamentary initiative was launched in 2013 and called on the legislator to open the marriage to all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation. On 26 September 2021, the marriage for all won thumping approval of the Swiss electorate. This makes Switzerland the 30th country worldwide – and one of the last in Western Europe – to extend civil marital status to male-male and female-female couples. As of 1 July 2022, matrimony is open to same-sex couples in Switzerland. It is no longer possible to establish new registered partnerships. Nevertheless, existing registered partnerships will continue to exist, provided they are not converted into a marriage by the couple's joint declaration at a civil registrar of their choice. As a default rule of law, registered partnerships were subject to the rules of separation of property (absent overriding contractual provisions agreed-upon by the couple). Under the new law, the regime of participation in acquired property shall apply to same-sex marriages as a standard rule of law. As a result, the position of the surviving spouse is strengthened. If a registered couple converts their partnership to marriage, the rules on participation in acquired property will apply retroactively unless the couple has previously entered into a nuptial agreement or, alternatively, changes the application of the statutory law by contract. Hence, an existing nuptial agreement remains valid beyond the conversion. With the possibility to marry, same-sex couples acquire full adoption rights. They may adopt the child of their partner and may also adopt jointly. Finally, the simplified naturalization procedure is now also open to married same-sex couples. 
11/04/2022
CMS Switzerland recognised by The Legal 500
Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 edition
14/04/2021
CMS Switzerland ranked by The Legal 500
Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 edition CMS Switzerland is recommended in 18 categories in this year's Europe, Middle East and Africa edition of The Legal 500, published in April...
21/01/2021
Contingency planning with proxies in Switzerland
1. Are proxies used in contingency planning? A person capable of acting, i.e. anyone who is at least 18 years of age and has capacity of judgement, may grant a proxy. In Switzerland, proxies are frequently...
Comparable
01/01/2021
New Counsels at CMS
We are pleased to announce that Louise Lutz Sciamanna, Dr David Hofmann and Dr Fabien Liégeois have been appointed as Counsels, respectively within the Public Law, Tax and Private Clients departments...
15/04/2020
New rankings from "The Legal 500" for CMS Switzerland
New rankings from "The Legal 500" for CMS Switzerland CMS Switzerland is being recommended in 16 categories in this year's edition of The Legal 500, published in April 2020. We are particularly pleased...
16/04/2019
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...
13/03/2019
Neue Regeln im internationalen Ehegueterrecht