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Stefan Brunnschweiler, LL.M.

Managing Partner

Portrait ofStefan Brunnschweiler

Stefan Brunnschweiler, LL.M.

Managing Partner

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

Stefan Brunnschweiler is the managing partner of CMS Switzerland and heads the CMS Corporate/M&A Practice Area Group Switzerland.

He was named one of the top 10 lawyers in Switzerland in the edition of “Who is Who” by Bilanz.

Stefan Brunnschweiler specialises in international and domestic M&A transactions, venture capital, corporate restructurings, corporate law and general contract matters (e.g. joint ventures, partnerships and shareholders' agreements).

He is experienced in a broad range of national and international transactions, both sell- and buy-side (including corporate auction processes) as well as the assistance of clients in their ongoing corporate and commercial activities. Stefan Brunnschweiler has engaged in competition law, including merger control filings for more than 10 years.

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Apart from having strong corporate law and M&A experience, Stefan Brunnschweiler displays ownership and accountability for getting a transaction done and managing open items in the aftermath. He has a diligent eye for detail plus the ability to take a helicopter view.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Commercial, Corporate / M&A, 2024

Stefan Brunnschweiler has strong negotiating skills.

Chambers & Partners, Global, Corporate/M&A, Switzerland, 2024

High level of commitment and collegial cooperation, especially with Stefan Brunnschweiler and Franziska Hammer. A great wealth of experience and in-depth expertise.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Commercial, Corporate / M&A, 2022

Stefan Brunnschweiler is "very competent, experienced, highly committed and client-oriented, as well as a solution provider and a pleasure to work with."

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2022

Stefan Brunnschweiler is an outstanding M&A lawyer, a real high-end expert in the field. But what
it makes really special to work with him is his ability to stay cool, empathetic and reliable
even in extremely stressful situations. The best companion to climb the highest peaks.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Commercial, Corporate / M&A, 2021

Stefan Brunnschweiler "Provides pragmatic and to-the-point legal advice" and has a "strong understanding of the commercial aspects in a transaction."

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2021

Stefan Brunnschweiler is pragmatic and solution-oriented.

The Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Switzerland, 2020

Stefan Brunnschweiler is "flexible to the clients' needs."

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2019

Gives a sense of calm and having things under control.

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2019

Understands the clients' needs and his approach to problems is very pragmatic and practical.

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2018

Very good management of transactions and good communication.

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2018

Apart from having strong corporate law and M&A experience, Stefan Brunnschweiler displays ownership and accountability for getting a transaction done and managing open items in the aftermath. He has a diligent eye for detail plus the ability to take a helicopter view.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Commercial, Corporate / M&A, 2024

Stefan Brunnschweiler has strong negotiating skills.

Chambers & Partners, Global, Corporate/M&A, Switzerland, 2024

High level of commitment and collegial cooperation, especially with Stefan Brunnschweiler and Franziska Hammer. A great wealth of experience and in-depth expertise.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Commercial, Corporate / M&A, 2022

Stefan Brunnschweiler is "very competent, experienced, highly committed and client-oriented, as well as a solution provider and a pleasure to work with."

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2022

Stefan Brunnschweiler is an outstanding M&A lawyer, a real high-end expert in the field. But what
it makes really special to work with him is his ability to stay cool, empathetic and reliable
even in extremely stressful situations. The best companion to climb the highest peaks.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Commercial, Corporate / M&A, 2021

Stefan Brunnschweiler "Provides pragmatic and to-the-point legal advice" and has a "strong understanding of the commercial aspects in a transaction."

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2021

Stefan Brunnschweiler is pragmatic and solution-oriented.

The Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Switzerland, 2020

Stefan Brunnschweiler is "flexible to the clients' needs."

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2019

Gives a sense of calm and having things under control.

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2019

Understands the clients' needs and his approach to problems is very pragmatic and practical.

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2018

Very good management of transactions and good communication.

Chambers Global Guide, Switzerland, Corporate/M&A 2018

Relevant experience

  • ABB: on the acquisition of all shares in Cassantec Ltd, a software company operating out of Zurich and Berlin.
  • ABB: on the sale of its hydro generator service business to Andritz and on the acquisition of KEYMILE's communication networks business.
  • agta record: on the sale of the majority stake in agta record to the Swedish group Assa Abloy (valuing agta record's share capital at EUR 933m).
  • ALPORA AG: on the sale of a majority stake to Serafin Asset Management.
  • Alstom: on the sale of parts of its gas turbine business to Ansaldo Energia.
  • Argolite AG: on the sale of Argolite AG to SWISS KRONO Group.
  • Argos: on the acquisition of Arthur Flury AG.
  • Aurelius: on the acquisition of the trade operations of the listed Swiss Valora Group and of Publicitas, an international advertising marketing agency from the listed Switzerland-based PubliGroupe, and on the sale of the Swiss ICT service providers connectis AG and Softix AG to the French SPIE Groupe.
  • Bucher-Motorex-Group: on the acquisition of Circle K in Poland (previously Statoil Fuel & Retail).
  • Bruker: on the acquisition of Prolab Instruments.
  • Bruker: on the acquisition of PMOD Technologies LLC, a provider of research-use-only software for preclinical and molecular imaging.
  • CCC Group: on the acquisition of the majority stake in Karl Vögele AG, Uznach.
  • Colibrys SA: on the sale of Colibrys SA in a multi-seller transaction.
  • Comdat Xeroprint AG: on the acquisition of the Smartec Group.
  • CTS EVENTIM: on all legal aspects of the acquisition of the majority stakes in Gadget Entertainment and wepromote.
  • Deutsche Beteiligungs AG: on the acquisition of the Romaco businesses owned by Robbins & Myers, Inc.
  • Dover: on its USD 285m acquisition of the Swiss Maag Group and on its sale of Bowl Chopper Product Line by Tipper Tie Alpina GmbH.
  • DP World: on the acquisition of a 44% stake in swissterminal Holding AG.
  • EMS-Group: on the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary EMS-PATVAG (s.r.o.), a specialist in the development and production of pyrotechnic igniters for passive safety devices headquartered in the Czech Republic, to Hirtenberger Holding GmbH which is based in Austria.
  • FLACHGLAS Wernberg GmbH: on the sale of Flachglas Schweiz Group
  • FLACHGLAS Wernberg GmbH: on its acquisition of companies of the Pilkington Group.
  • FlexLink: on the acquisition of SSS-Fördertechnik.
  • Gemalto: on its acquisition of the secure document business from Trueb AG.
  • GIA Informatik AG: on the acquisition of Avectris AG.
  • Grapha-Holding AG: on the acquisition of all shares in POLYDATA/PIDAS Group in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
  • Heraeus: on the acquisition of the Swiss precious metals processor Argor-Heraeus.
  • LCP Europe Limited: on the sale of LCP Libera AG to Paros Capital AG.
  • Merbag: on the acquisition of Mercedes-Benz Milano from Mercedes-Benz Italia (Daimler Group), on the acquisition of Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg S.A. from Daimler AG, on the acquisition of the Austrian Wiesenthal Handel und Service GmbH as well as on the sale of locations in central Switzerland.
  • Nano Dimension Ltd.: on the acquisition of ESSEMTEC AG.
  • Nikkiso America, Inc.: on the acquisition of Cryogenics Industries for USD 483m.
  • Playtomic: on the acquisition of GotCourts.
  • RUAG: on the sale of RUAG Environment to Thommen Group AG.
  • Schaeffler Switzerland: on the sale of its fine-blanking business.
  • Schibsted: on the sale of its 50% stake in Swiss Classified Media AG (internet platforms tutti.ch and car4you.ch) to Tamedia AG.
  • Syncona: on CHF 35 million investment in Anaveon AG, a new immuno-oncology company.
  • Vista Augenpraxen & Kliniken: on the acquisitions of Klinik ZüriSeh, Augenklinik Bucher as well as Aivla Group.
    Vista Augenpraxen & Kliniken: on three transactions (Augenzentrum Brugg AG, Augenklinik-Seefeld AG and PD Dr. Eisenmann Praxis für Augenheilkunde AG).
  • Weidmann Group: Advice on the sale of its North American Diagnostic Laboratory business and InsuLogix® monitoring product line to the Megger Group.
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Memberships & Roles

  • Zurich Bar Association
  • Swiss Bar Association
  • Swiss Private Equity & Corporate Finance Association
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Education

  • 2003 – Master of Law (LL.M.), University of San Diego (USA)
  • 2000 – Bar Admission, Zurich (Switzerland)
  • 1997 – University of Zurich and Geneva (Switzerland)
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Expertise

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