Switzerland - Jurisdiction Review

Wenger Vieli

Firm overview

Wenger Vieli advises companies and individual clients on matters of domestic and international law and taxation. Our wealth of experience and expertise in all areas of commercial law allow us to deliver precisely what our clients need.

We are a member of Meritas, one of the largest international associations of independent law firms, and collaborate with WTS Global.

Although our offices in Zurich and Zug are deeply rooted in the heart of Europe, we operate internationally. Whether we are working with companies or individual clients in Switzerland or overseas, our team always speaks the right language.

Lenz & Staehelin

Firm overview

Lenz & Staehelin is one of the largest law firm in Switzerland with over 200 lawyers forming its legal staff. Internationally oriented, the firm offers a comprehensive range of services and handles all aspects of international and Swiss law. Languages spoken include English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Lenz & Staehelin’s tax team is one of the largest among Swiss law firms with more than 25 tax attorneys offering a full range of tax advice in its three offices in Geneva, Zurich and Lausanne. Practice areas include M&A, restructurings and buyouts, financing, financial products and derivatives, estate and tax planning for executives including employee share and stock option plans, investment funds, private equity funds, property (acquisition and development), value added tax, internal investigations and tax litigation.

Tax Expert International

Firm overview

TAX EXPERT International AG is an unique and highly recognized practice. Our Certified Tax Experts focus on national and international taxation affecting both business entities and individuals.

We offer a comprehensive range of tax planning services that encompass tax-free mergers, spin-offs, restructuring, reorganizations, acquisitions, business formations, liquidations and - more importantly - Independent tax reviews or opinions.

In addition, to full-range corporate tax counseling, TAX EXPERT International AG has extensive experience that covers the full spectrum from all aspects of individual taxation including executive incentive compensation and employee stock ownership arrangements to inheritance, gifts, estates and real estate.

Whether it is advice on the implementation of complex national or transnational tax minimization strategies, or support in compliance matters, we help MNEs, stock-quoted companies, corporations, joint ventures, entrepreneurs, partnerships, high-net-worth individuals, expatriates and inpatriates to respond effectively, managing their exposure to tax liability and complying with regulations.

With us you have chosen "A Partnership for Success"

Schellenberg Wittmer

Firm overview

Schellenberg Wittmer is a leading full-service Swiss business law firm with more than 150 lawyers in Zurich, Geneva, and Singapore. We provide comprehensive legal services worldwide to domestic and international companies and entrepreneurs. Our Singapore office provides a gateway to the Asian market, for both inbound and outbound investments.

The firm's Taxation Group is renowned for their expertise in tax and economic matters. Most team members are Certified Tax Experts and cover the full range of advisory and contentious tax-related issues. We have extensive experience with both cantonal and federal authorities and regularly obtain advance clearances and rulings for corporations, individuals, governments and NGOs. We are experts in double taxation and mutual assistance agreements, real estate transactions, trusts, NGOs, VAT, real estate and enforcement procedures. Our team works closely with the Private Wealth Group advising and representing individuals, families and closely-held family businesses, banks, family offices and trust companies in estate and inheritance planning, and in disputes, including litigation and arbitration.

Burckhardt

Firm overview

burckhardt advises entities and their owners in domestic and international tax questions and restructurings and renders estate tax planning services.

A substantial part of our activity we spend with the long-term tax planning in the field of corporate tax as well as succession and estate planning of individuals. We draw tax efficient reorganization plans and coordinate in international situations with our colleagues abroad. We render advice in domestic and international situations to groups of companies and their subsidiaries, to family owned businesses and their owners, to real estate transactions as well as in tax dispute situations. Long-term tax planning, restructuring and conversions, purchase and sale of entities, joint ventures and review of alternatives in corporate financing are our core competences. We assist in choosing the legal entity form and in designing your business structure, in transferring shares or in splitting off parts of enterprises. To safeguard family wealth succession and estate planning is of utmost importance for us.

Loyens & Loeff

Firm overview

Loyens & Loeff is an internationally based independent full-service law & tax firm having a 100-year track record of international (corporate) tax advisory services with top (international) tax specialists and corporate lawyers, regulatory lawyers and civil-law notaries.

Our tax experts have extensive experience in international taxation in a broad sense, which is more extensive than just the taxation in our four home markets (including EU and OECD tax rules). We translate the developments into our impact on clients' business and are focused on identifying tailor-made solutions. Our international relations with other acknowledged, independent tax advice and law firms provide for fast and efficient access to high-quality tax or legal advice in countries where we have no office.

In addition to the TP advisory practice on transfer pricing policies of internationally operating clients, the TP team provides integrated solutions on all relevant transfer pricing issues. Their major services include advice on strategy, audits, dispute resolution, documentation and financial transactions.

World Tax Reviews

Tax

ADB Altorfer Duss & Beilstein

Altorfer Duss & Beilstein is recommended for its established focus on tax advisory services. The tax team advises firms in various sectors, such as FMCG, mining, technology, sports, and energy. Moreover, the team has extensive experience advising banks, asset managers, and family offices. Services cover all tax areas, including dispute resolution, VAT, and structuring. M&A specialist Pascal Taddei, indirect director Britta Rehfisch, and controversy practitioner Andreas Helbing are key contacts.

The firm coordinated an asset relocation pending tax residency relocation. It also created Special Purpose Vehicles in cross-border context. Separate transfer pricing engagements included benchmarking.

Client feedback

“ADB is pragmatic and street smart in their approach. They are able to think commercially and provide concrete and tangible advises without too much ifs and buts.”

“Street smart and constructive in their approach. Always looking for the solution rather than reiterating on the problem/issue.”

Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie is an international law firm with a full-service presence in the Swiss market. It is reputed for its cross-border transactional services. Multi-jurisdictional expertise enables the practice to provide supply-chain reorganisations and post-acquisition integration. Wealth planning, controversy, and ICOs are complementary services for the cryptocurrency sector, alongside capital market, and pharmaceutical focus. Partner Kilian Perroulaz leads the Zurich office. Co-head Hans Koch and counsel Andrea Bolliger are notable practitioners.

The firm represented a technology multinational in a tax inquiry pertaining to corporate income and dividend withholding tax exposure. It also advised PSP Swiss Property on the conversion of its CHF 1.8 billion bond portfolio to green bonds.

Client feedback

“Baker McKenzie (Zurich office) are the leading firm for real estate transactions and tax (notably RE development projects). No other Tier 1 firm comes close to their expertise in deal structuring and tax planning for RE.”

“Can do attitude, but technical based - different to some other advisors who rather rely on the relation between client and tax administration.”

“Understand our business and the legal/tax framework very well. Proactive and to the point.”

Bär & Karrer

Bär & Karrer is an esteemed tax practice with a cross-border orientation. Its team is renowned for exceptional transactional, M&A, and capital market capabilities. Tax litigation, transfer pricing, VAT, and pensions are complementary focus areas. Co-heads Susanne Schreiber and Daniel Bader lead the practice from the Zurich office. Transactions specialist Ruth Bloch-Riemer and structuring expert Daniel U. Lehmann are fellow practitioners.

The firm advised a Swiss subsidiary in litigation against the tax authorities for a logistics company. It also provided structuring for a European investment fund.

Homburger

Homburger is a coveted international law firm with a pedigree in cross-border transactions, VAT, tax compliance, and disputes. Capital markets, blue-chip companies, and HNWI families are recurrent clients. Tax advisory service lines work collaboratively with financing teams to deliver holistic advice. Leading practitioners include Stefan Oesterhelt, Reto Heuberger, Claudia Suter, and Dieter Grünblatt.

The firm advised a UHNWI entrepreneur as international lead counsel on wealth and succession planning. It also advised on company reorganisation and succession planning in a cross-border context. Transfer pricing engagements included benchmarking, intragroup transactions, and litigation.

Client feedback

“One of the best in the market.”

Lenz & Staehelin

Lenz & Staehelin is a full-service law firm that is highly recommended for its tax practise. It covers all areas of taxation, such as tax planning, indirect tax, tax disputes, and litigation. It is a stand-alone practice and acts as support for other departments within the firm. Its senior team encompasses practice lead Jean-Blaise Eckert, restructuring specialist Pascal Hinny, and indirect partner Daniel Schafer.

The firm acted as a tax advisor to Drivetek in the sale of shares to BorgWarner. It also advised Chequers Capital and its co-investors on the acquisition of the Riri Group and subsequent add-on transactions.

Client feedback

“Lenz & Staehelin has an excellent technical level, very pragmatic approach and well explain issues and solutions.”

“Availability and professionalism.”

Loyens & Loeff

Loyens & Loeff is recommended for its tax legal services, provided by a team of lawyers and tax advisers. The firm has offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg and Zurich. It focuses on international tax, transactions, private client, real estate and transfer pricing. Key contacts are partners Beat Baumgartner and Fabian Sutter.

The firm advised the North American Private Equity Group on the reconfiguration of its European holding structure with Swiss and Benelux subsidiaries. It also acted for a European chemicals group on efficient structuring, pertaining to management incentive planning.

Associates Seraina Graf, Selina Many and Pascal Hammerer joined the firm in 2022.

Client feedback

“Beat Baumgartner is incredibly responsive, extremely knowledgeable and approaches tax issues with a creative mindset, but always mindful of the client's business and commercial objectives. Selina Many is also an impressive tax attorney.”

“Technical expert with excellent knowledge of our business.”

“Extremely knowledgeable, strong pragmatism, very well organised and effective results. Team at personal level were outstanding, down to earth and always willing to help.”

“Responsiveness and high technical quality.”

“Expertise in the cross-border M&A, experiences working with companies based in Canada with foreign operations. Loyens' tax and corporate groups working collaboratively on our file, one single point of contact is also very appreciated as that organize the flow of information back and forth more efficiently. responsive and flexible to accompany client's ask. always have the right personnel and continuity on our file.”

“Very professional, involved, and creative.”

“They are extremely knowledgeable about Swiss tax and how to work the tax authorities at the cantonal level.”

“Tax knowledge, easy access, provide high quality services, proactive.”

“They are reactive, creative, they think outside of the box, always within the boundaries of what is acceptable not only from a regulatory perspective but also taking into account public perception.”