Despite its relatively recent founding in 2000, the Swiss firm VISCHER draws on the over 160-year legacy of its constituent firms, Gloor & Christ and Pestalozzi Haegi & Partner. Today, the firm boasts three offices in the crucial Swiss markets of Zurich, Basel and Geneva and is active across challenging mandates in the financial and corporate space.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm’s practice emphasizes equity-side capital markets and M&A dealings.
In the capital markets space, the firm is noted for its involvement in IPO’s and regularly represents such clients as Swiss and international monetary and financial institutions, hedge funds, life sciences entities, multinational corporations and a variety of other clients.
The firm’s M&A practice group emphasizes transactions in such cutting-edge sectors as e-mobility, fintech and the life sciences.
Key clients
Key firm clients include Elliott Advisors (UK), Novartis, Paprec Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Trustar Capital.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Over the course of the research period, the capital markets practice group attended to equity-side transactions including private placements of shares and share capital increases, as well as attending to some debt-side matters including representation of issuers in traditional and green bond programs.
The firm’s M&A involvement included buyer and seller-side representation in acquisitions as local and lead counsel in such industry sectors as pharmaceuticals and global information technology.
Deal highlights:
33rd edition (2023/2024)
Paprec Group €450 million green bond issuance
Wipro $1.45 billion acquisition of Capco
Client Feedback:
33rd edition (2023/2024)
Financial services regulatory
"The Vischer team are solutions-orientated, knowledgeable and very easy to work with."
M&A
"In-depth work; large network; negotiation advice; flexibility."
"I appreciate the level of professionalism and attention to detail that Vischer demonstrates as well as their experience with corporate law in Switzerland.”
"Professional, efficient."
"Experience with China-specific aspects, fast turnaround and professional advice."
Restructuring
"Excellent, straightforward legal advice, always very much to the point."
"Excellent, competent advice on all levels."
Gian-Andrea Caprez
"His in-depth understanding of Swiss corporate law and experience with shareholder and board matters as well as his devotion to the case and pragmatic advice.”
"Very knowledgeable and reliable legal professional. Always responsive, delivers high quality on time.”
Damien Conus
"Anticipation; professionalism; flexibility; negotiation; solutions-orientated."
Jana Essebier
"Very knowledgeable and solutions-orientated."
Markus Guggenbühl
"Highly experienced, very smart and responsive lawyer with outstanding skills."
Christian Wyss
"Good communicator, overall problem-solving attitude."
Christoph Niederer
"Very knowledgeable and responsive."
Matthias Staehelin
"Very well connected in the sector, very experienced in life science companies and their needs."
