Switzerland
Freshfields in Switzerland
We excel in helping clients with an interest in Switzerland realise their potential and goals. That’s because our local team, backed by our worldwide network, brings distinctive skills and an international, strategic outlook to every mandate.
Clients typically come from the oil and gas, power, utilities, mining and metals, consumer goods, pharma, banking, insurance and low-carbon sectors. We advise them on transactions, disputes, investigations and other issues in Switzerland or involving Swiss companies.
We maintain excellent relationships with the leading law firms in Switzerland. We can select the firm best suited to each mandate in terms of not only their technical legal ability but also in terms of efficiency, responsiveness and commerciality.
Client successes
Advising LafargeHolcim, the Swiss construction materials company, on the sale of Lafarge India, comprising three cement plants and two grinding stations, to India’s Nirma for an enterprise value of $1.4bn.
Advising a global insurance business on the data privacy aspects of global investigations.
Advising multiple Swiss banks in the US Department of Justice’s investigation into cross-border banking practices, including representing eight banks in the Department's Swiss banks programme.
Advising Novartis on a number of transformative transactions with GSK.
These include:
- its acquisition of oncology products from GSK;
- the agreement to become GSK’s preferred commercialisation partner for its oncology pipeline for a $14.5bn payment and up to $1.5bn contingent on a development milestone;
- the formation of a world-leading consumer healthcare business in a joint venture with GSK, of which Novartis would own 36.5 per cent; and
- the sale to GSK of the Novartis vaccines division (excluding flu) for up to $7.1bn plus royalties.
Advising the underwriters on the IPO and listing on the Swiss stock exchange of VAT Vakuumventile.
A portfolio company of the Swiss private equity funds Partners Group and Capvis, VAT is a global developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance, high-end vacuum valves, multi-valve modules, edge-welded bellows and related services.
Our team
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Simone Bono Partner
London
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Dr. Heiner Braun Partner
Frankfurt am Main
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Dr. Frank Montag Partner
Brüssel