Partner

Dr Stefan Gerster, LL.M., MRICS

Certified Specialist SBA Construction and Real Estate Law

Languages

German
English
French

Social media

Stefan Gerster is a partner with CMS Zurich since 2001. His practice focuses mainly on real estate law. He is the head of our internal practice group Real Estate & Construction.

Among the clients of Stefan Gerster are Swiss and foreign institutional real estate investors, companies with corporate real estate matters and individuals. He provides advice in real estate transactions, including acquisition and financing as well as the sale of real estate. In addition, he has many years of experience in portfolio transactions, investments in hotels, shopping and entertainment centres as well as real estate development projects.

In 1996 Stefan Gerster worked as a foreign associate in a major US law firm. He has been with CMS Zurich since 1991. He is one of the first lawyers to receive the title Certified Specialist SBA Construction and Real Estate Law.

Since 2019, Stefan Gerster acts as a part-time judge at the Commercial Court of the Canton of Zurich.

Awards & Recognitions

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Stefan Gerster has very good availability and service orientation. He is very pleasant to work with.

Chambers & Partners, Europe, Real Estate, Switzerland, 2024
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Professional, experienced, available.

IFLR 1000, client feedback, 33rd edition (2023/2024)
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Dr. Stefan Gerster: Exceptional track record in real estate institutional transactions Dr. Sybille Schnyder: Exceptional track record in real estate institutional transactions.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Real Estate and Construction, 2023
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Individuals to be mentioned: Stefan Gerster, Sibylle Schnyder, Thomas Zweifel.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Real Estate and Construction, 2023
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Stefan Gerster: Very competent and highly dedicated, very responsive and deal-oriented, able to deliver excellent results under pressure. Deep knowledge of the real estate industry.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Leading Firms: German-speaking Switzerland, 2023
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Stefan Gerster and Sibylle Schnyder are highly experienced, very responsive.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Real Estate and Construction, 2022
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Stefan Gerster and Olivier Carrard jointly head the team, which ‘distinguishes itself by an efficient and hands-on attitude‘.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Real Estate and Construction, 2022
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A client notes that he has "a very broad experience and is flexible and helpful."

Chambers & Partners, Europe, Real Estate, Switzerland, 2022
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Interviewees state that the highly-regarded Stefan Gerster is "very well known and has a good network." He gains particular recognition for his expertise advising investors on property purchase agreements. He is adept at handling transactions related to hotels, residential developments and leisure facilities.

Chambers and Partners, Real Estate, Switzerland, 2019
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The real estate team at CMS focuses heavily on transactions, disputes and the development of shopping malls, hotels, retail buildings, offices and residential property. [...] 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.

The Legal 500, Real estate and construction, Switzerland, 2019
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CMS is ‘driven by long-standing client relationships, which make for very effective collaboration’. The practice covers real estate transactions, developments, financing and litigation matters and packs a particular punch in assisting with hotel transactions, related management agreements and construction projects. The team advised Sunrise Communications on the sale of more than 2,000 telecommunication towers in Switzerland. Another key client is Swiss Prime Site, whom the group recently assisted with acquiring two campus facilities near Lake Geneva and in the Canton Valais per share deal. Team lead Stefan Gerster is recommended.

The Legal 500, Real estate and construction, Switzerland, 2018
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Stefan Gerster has a market-leading reputation among commentators, with one lauding his "long-standing and broad expertise in Swiss real estate law," and adding that "he has a very pragmatic approach to resolving matters, advising clients so they have a solution," and has "an excellent network." He excels in real estate transactions, with expertise in relation to hotel and retail developments. He assisted Credit Suisse Anlagestiftung with the purchase of land and subsequent construction of a residential development in Zürich.

Chambers and Partners, Real Estate, Switzerland, 2018
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“At CMS, Stefan Gerster and his team have extensive experience in hotel transactions and management agreements. Other recent work includes advising Acron regarding the acquisition of a shopping centre in St Gallen. Credit Suisse and SPS Immobilien are also clients.”

The Legal 500, Real estate and construction, Switzerland, 2015

Relevant experience

Advising the Pension Fund of the Canton of Zurich (BVK) in connection with the sale of the landmark building “Neue Börse” (Zurich), i.e. sale of a ground lease.
Advising Credit Suisse Investment Foundation in connection with the development and sale of a mixed-use residential, office, retail and hotel project in Zurich.
Advising Credit Suisse Investment Foundation regarding a portfolio transaction (asset swap) concerning nine commercial and residential buildings in seven cantons.
Advising co-owners of Sihlcity (a new “district” for shopping, residential, office, leisure), especially during the acquisition and construction phase and regarding ongoing operations.
Advising Swiss Prime Investment Foundation re acquisition of a start portfolio of 7 properties situated in 6 cantons and purchase of other real estate.
Advising investor regarding acquisition of a logistics building in the Canton of Aargau (distribution centre of a major Swiss retailer).
Advising a global IT company regarding the expansion of its Swiss offices (approx. 50,000 sqm, 3,000–4,000 additional work stations) at Europaallee near Zurich main station.
Advising investor regarding the acquisition of a new office building in Basel, used as a new headquarter of an international company.
Advising Swiss and foreign institutional investors in connection with the acquisition of properties in Switzerland, including commercial, logistic and hotel properties as well as sale & rent back transactions.

Publications

CMS Newsletter Immobilien Änderung des Raumplanungsgesetzes (RPG), 03/2013
CMS Newsletter Immobilien Zweitwohnungen, 09/2012
CMS Newsletter Immobilien Erdbebensicherheit, 07/2012
CMS Newsletter Register-Schuldbrief, 07/2011
Der Reiz des Besonderen, Finanz und Wirtschaft, 07/2011
Institutionelle Investoren als Bauherren, Modulor Magazin, 02/2009
Leichtere Übertragung von Immo-Pakteten, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 15/11/2005
Wie ein Abschluss per Handschlag, Immobilien Business, 06/2004

Memberships & Roles

Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
Swiss Bar Association (SAV)
Kammer der Fachanwälte SAV Bau- und Immobilienrecht
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Specialist judge at the Commercial Court of the Canton of Zurich

Awards & Rankings

The Legal 500 | Real Estate and Construction, Switzerland, 2025 | Leading Partner
The Legal 500 | Real Estate and Construction, Switzerland, 2022 | Leading Individual
Chambers and Partners | Real Estate, Switzerland, 2021 | Europe | Band 1
Who's Who Legal | Hospitality, Switzerland, 2021 | Thought Leader Global Elite
Who's Who Legal | Hospitality, Switzerland, 2021 | Global Leader
Who's Who Legal | Real Estate, Switzerland, 2021 | Global Leader
Who's Who Legal | Construction & Real Estate, Switzerland, 2021 | National Leader
Best Lawyers | Construction Law, Real Estate Law, Switzerland, 2023 | Lawyer of the Year

Lectures list

University of Zurich, CUREM (Center for Urban Real Estate Management at the Swiss Banking Institute of the University of Zurich, (www.curem.ch), subjects „Property Purchase Law“ and „Legal Due Diligence“
PropertyCom – Senior Executive Conference, various lectures

Education

2009 Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS)
2007 Certified Specialist FSA Construction and Real Estate Law, University of Fribourg
1997 Master of Laws, LL.M., University of Miami, USA, School of Law
1993 Admission to the bar, Zurich
1991 Legal studies, Dr. iur., magna cum laude, University of Zurich

Practice Areas

Real Estate Corporate / M&A

sectors

Hospitality, Travel & Leisure

Insights

Global Reach