Schellenberg Wittmer is a leading Swiss law firm. It has offices in Zurich, Geneva and Singapore and regional desks in Southeast Asia, Brazil and Africa.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is a market leader in financial services regulatory, but also does outstanding work in banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and restructuring and insolvency. In banking and finance the firm advises lenders on senior debt financing to healthcare and life sciences companies.
In financial services regulatory, the firm advises on FINMA approvals and the implementations of new Financial Services and Financial Institutions Acts.
In capital markets, the firm advises lead managers and issuers on convertible and sustainability bond issues and shares listings of the SIX Swiss Exchange. In structured finance, the firm advises in cryptocurrency, blockchain products and derivatives documentation.
In M&A, the firm advises on the buy and sell side of large cross-border transactions acting for notable logistics service providers, in-store analytics fund shareholders and digital service companies in takeovers and public tender offers.
In restructuring and insolvency, the firm advises administrators, receivers, liquidators, distressed companies and creditors in bankruptcy, recovery and insolvency proceedings.
Key clients
Some of the recent key clients of the firm include Aldo Group, 1875 Finance, Arsenal Capital Partners, BNP Paribas, Banco Santander, Deutsche Bank, Diamond Capital Management, Oxford Finance, Helvetische Bank, Raiffeisen Switzerland Cooperative, Rapid Nutrition, Credit Suisse, Panalpina Welttransport, Xovis, Infocentric and Hypotheka.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period, the banking team acted for lenders in acquisition financing, as well as financing related to investment funds. It also advised clients in the financial services industry on regulatory and compliance matters related to derivatives, cryptocurrency, fintech, the transition away from LIBOR and securities issuances.
In capital markets, the team conducted transactions related to debt, derivatives and structured projects. Types of transactions include bail-in bonds, AT1 bonds on the debt side, and futures and swaps on the derivatives side. Many of its clients were in the financial services industry.
The M&A team acted for mostly buyers in strategic acquisitions and private equity buyouts across several industries. It also advised clients in joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Anandarko insolvency
Graphic Packaging $1.45 billion acquisition of AR Packaging
Raiffeisen Switzerland Cooperative CHF 525 million 2% AT1 bond issuance
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Bank lending
"Very hands-on, high accuracy and fast response times with good commercial acumen."
Banking
"The partner we are working with has excellent knowledge of the banking industry and has a very business-orientated mindset."
"The partner we are working with has very valuable knowledge of the banking industry and its regulatory framework."
"Quick understanding. Very pragmatic. Find solutions. Clear communication."
Banking and finance
"Excellent and proactive service.”
"The banking team of Schellenberg Wittmer are highly skilled, efficient and understand the banking and financial industry very well."
"As soon as we started working with Tarek Houdrouge, we realised we had made the right decision: he could anticipate the key challenges we would face so that we could manage them proactively, he demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the legal aspects of our work, but also a good understanding of the cultural specificities of our firm that helped us manage our project as efficiently as possible. Also, we felt he demonstrated a very strong sense of integrity, as he asked several times whether we preferred him or us to conduct some parts of the administrative work when it was not necessary to have a legal background to achieve the tasks – resulting in very reasonable fees, hence great value for money.”
"Hands-on, very responsive, straight to the point, excellent understanding of the underlying business considerations.”
"Transparent communication. High availability. Professional consulting.”
Capital markets
"Very detailed and reactive.”
"Very commercial and pragmatic approach of legal topics, very experienced partners with innovative legal solutions.”
Financial services regulatory
"Top-quality legal services, very responsive, very complete, client-orientated and practical.”
"Hands-on, professional and quick turnaround."
M&A
"SW's team handled the complex structure of the share deal and the related financing very professionally. They have vast expertise both in M&A and in financing matters which was relevant in the transaction at hand. Very pragmatic, business-orientated approach. Excellent responsiveness, proactive attitude. They think ahead.”
"Very knowledgeable on Swiss and international M&A issues, commercial and solutions-orientated, not theoretical.”
"Great business acumen and very pragmatic in its approach while legally savvy.”
"SW team led by Jean-Jacques Ah Choon is very professional and business-orientated. They provide legal advice in a pragmatic manner. The team is very proactive and reactive. It has been a real pleasure to work with SW team.”
"High-quality, practical advice.”
"Very knowledgeable, highly responsive and pleasant way of collaborating. Very reasonable approaches which are well balanced between dogmatic legal needs and business needs.”
"Pragmatic, quick and thorough advice with respect to all stock regulatory issues, formal governance processes and content of agreements as well as valuation.”
Jean Jacques Ah Choon
"Jean Jacques is very reactive and business-orientated. He has a right vision and constructive approach in all circumstances. It is a delight to work with him and his team."
Philippe Borens
"Focused on details and highly knowledgeable."
Josef Caleff
"On top of legal developments, straight to the point, very pragmatic. Top tier!"
Olivier Favre
"He is extremely knowledgeable, experienced and solution-orientated. I was very satisfied with the advice provided by him.”
Tarek Houdrouge
"Tarek Houdrouge is always very positive and solution-orientated. He has very good understanding of the banking industry, extremely good legal skills and provides pragmatic legal solutions."
"His key strength is that he demonstrates both a very strong in-depth legal knowledge in each specific banking topic I addressed with him, and very good communication/strategy skills. In the past, most lawyers I have worked with were either good specialists, but then not so good at managing relationships, projects, or deadlines. Or they were rather good 'salesmen', with very strong interpersonal skills and high-level vision, but limited in-depth knowledge when it came to details. In all my interactions with Tarek Houdrouge, he has demonstrated he has both, which I feel is very rare. It makes it extremely efficient and pleasant working with him.”
Pascal Hubli
"Very knowledgeable, highly responsive and pleasant way of collaborating. Very reasonable approaches which are well balanced between dogmatic legal needs and business needs."
Marcel Jakob
"Marcel’s advice is always practical, solution-orientated and tailored to commercial needs."
"Knowledgeable, responsive, reliable, on point with answers, anticipates issues before they arise."
Lorenzo Olgiati
"Extensive corporate law and M&A experience, outstanding responsiveness, pragmatic approach, business mindset, very strong in negotiations, thinking ahead."
"High commitment, always approachable. Clear language, very quick. Extremely practical, field expertise. Relevance focus."
Jérémie Tenot
“Quick understanding. Very pragmatic. Finds solutions. Clear communication.”
Oliver Triebold
"Depth of knowledge and commitment."
"Very approachable. Hands-on and pragmatic."
"One of the best lawyers I ever met, proactive, understands our business and is very pragmatic in his approach, and legally excellent."
Christoph Vonlanthen
"Very commercial and practical, focuses on getting solutions not being the smartest lawyer in the room."
"Business-orientated, pragmatic approach to solving legal issues, diversified legal skills and broad experience.”
Grégoire Wuest
"Excellent sparing partner in business and regulatory issues."
"Highly knowledgeable, experienced and responsive."
Gion Jegher
"Excellent."
Elia Schunck
"Highly experienced in M&A and corporate law matters, extremely responsive, thinking ahead, business-orientated approach."
Grégoire Wuest
"Quick understanding. Very pragmatic. Finds solutions. Clear communication."
