Established in 1991 with the merging of Zurich and Geneva-based firms, Lenz & Staehelin has subsequently grown with a third office in Lausanne.
Focusses / specialisms
Strong in the banking area, the firm advises corporate borrowers on leveraged acquisition finance on large multi-jurisdictional transactions.
In capital markets the firm has strong presence in the equity area often advising a mix of underwriters and issuers on IPOs in the SIX Swiss Exchange. It advises Swiss public companies on various capital raising issues and public offerings. The firm has notable underwriter counsel experiences across the equity transactions.
The firm's M&A practice is one of the firm's leading practices and is often does a high volume of deals. Active in both private and public M&A, it has advised on some of the largest takeovers in Swiss market. It has plenty of cross border experience advising foreign funds, private equity firms and large corporations on acquisitions of Swiss companies.
In the projects space the firm is active on infrastructure projects where it advises a mix of project developers, operators and investors on all matters such as investments, regulatory approvals and public procurement.
The firm has strong restructuring and insolvency team that in recent years has worked on some of the largest insolvency cases in the retail market. It has more experience for creditors but advises distressed companies on restructuring.
Key clients
Some of the firm’s recent key clients include Credit Suisse, Bank of New Zealand, Banorte Deutsche Bank, Citibank, Allfunds Group, KKR, Bundesverband Deutscher Banken (BBV), Clariant, ABN AMRO, Ares Life Sciences / Waypoint, Aviva Investors Global Services, Banque Lombard Odier & Cie Compagnie Financière Richemont, Pfizer, Sika, Salt Mobile, Nord Stream and Agrokor.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Within the research period, the banking and finance team acted mainly on the borrower side in acquisition, project, sustainability-linked and corporate financings. It also worked on several refinancings.
The capital markets team worked on both debt and equity transactions. The equity side of the practice was highly involved in several IPOs and secondary share offers while the debt work was predominantly on bond issuances.
The team also worked on financial services regulatory practice area matters, representing clients in the banking and financial services industry. It advises clients on regulatory matters related to FINMA, AML compliance, investment fund formations and derivatives.
In M&A the team mostly acted on the buy side in a mix of strategic and private equity acquisitions across numerous types of industries. It also acted for private equity firms in investments, as well as representing companies in joint ventures, mergers and strategic investments.
The project development team represented some developers in projects in the real estate and infrastructure industries. Most of its work was acting on both the buy and sell side for real estate project acquisitions.
In restructuring and insolvency the team largely represented debtors in out of court restructuring efforts. It also represented debtors in cross-border Chapter 11 filings, as well as acquirers in stalking horse and distressed acquisitions.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Bain Capital and Cinven SFr4.2 billion acquisition financing
Bank of New Zealand SFr200million bond issue
Heubach Group and PE fund SK Capital acquisition of Clariant's pigments
On Holding NYSE IPO
National Australia Bank SFr300 million bond issue
Sika SFr5 billion acquisition financing
SKAN Group SIX IPO
Stadler Rai SFr2.8 billion refinancing
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Asset finance
"They are creative in finding legal solutions to make the project works. Good communicators and quick response. Always available for urgencies."
Bank lending
"Very responsive and highly professional."
Bank lending
"David Ledermann as lead partner and his team at Lenz & Staehelin really stand out in terms of reactivity and the ability to adapt to client needs. David truly strives to find creative/pragmatic solutions and his expertise in structuring complex transactions is outstanding. He is equally appreciated by the bank as lender and the bank's clients as borrower, as he is very solution-orientated."
"Lenz & Staehelin has an excellent knowledge of the banking/financial sector, including when it comes to new subject matter such as cryptos. They are at the forefront of any new legislative move. They have a panel of extremely well skilled associates to help out on any subject."
"Diligent, holistic (advice also includes tax and corporate advice), very competent."
"Committed, flexible, customer-orientated."
"Professional, proactive."
"They are highly knowledgeable, strategic and practical at the same time. They understand our business and are able to find suitable solutions."
"Perfect legal knowledge, strategic perspective and capacity to translate into practical solutions, risk management, excellent domestic and international network, ability to handle very large mandates."
"Availability of partners. Robustness and clarity of legal opinions. Strategic and tactical thinking."
"Availability and expertise of the banking partners (in particular Shelby du Pasquier) and their expert knowledge of the regulators."
"First-class, quality legal advice – delivered in a commercial, solution-orientated, manner."
Capital markets
“Provided balanced opinions during time of crisis. Helped present options. Communicated and worked well with US counsel."
"Very competent and professional team. Always trying to be mindful of commercial imperatives."
"Perfect, very professional."
Financial services regulatory
"Highest standards of quality and accuracy, timely response to queries, profound knowledge of market practice and industry standards."
"Excellent definitive advice and guidance."
"The firm's partners and lawyers have proven a high level expertise in their field and beyond. They work in a highly client-orientated manner."
"Content-wise they are very good. You can rely on what they say. Their associates are very hands-on and good communicators."
Insolvency
"Lenz are responsive and provide good advice."
"Strong technical knowledge and analysis. Efficient and cooperative approach. Excellent language skills and empathy for client's needs."
Investment funds
"High level of precision, pragmatic advice on prevailing market practice., timely response to queries."
M&A
"Responsive and precise.
"Good competence, pragmatic approach, solution-orientated.
"Technically robust and reasonable and understanding of the business.
"They deliver the highest quality of legal advice seamlessly across teams/practice areas and offices in a highly efficient manner. The lawyers we work with are super-responsive, knowledgeable and in addition friendly and good spirited. Overall a real pleasure to work him them.
"Very responsive and fair.
"They have a strong M&A/corporate team, are responsive, good value and client-focused.
"Pragmatic, seamless integration in the overall M&A advisory team, flexible and professional.
"They are extremely client-focused and good at channelling the advice through a single partner.
"Deep knowledge of the local background/practices. Strong expertise on real estate transactions. Solutions-orientated.
"Very knowledgeable and pragmatic advice.
"Reliable, quick."
"Extremely responsive, alert, pragmatic lawyers. Partners (Tino and Simone) were incredibly hands-on – not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Incredibly aware of the market practices, not a step out of place."
"They did a great job. Very efficient and very smart in their approach."
"Very professional, competent, pragmatic and good to work with."
"Smart, quick, experienced and strong negotiators."
Private equity
“Strong knowledge of the Swiss legal framework.”
“Reactive, patient, highly skilled, hard workers.”
“Project development
Strong expertise in risks analysis; deep knowledge on local/Swiss real estate market and its evolution; solution and business-orientated; efficient."
Ariel Ben Hattar
"Anticipating the needs of his clients and finding business-orientated solutions are at the centre of Ariel's preoccupations. Ariel is really interested to understand the core business of his clients, also challenging some well-established practices to make sure his client not only complies but also improves, always keeping in mind business constraints."
Cécile Berger
"Creative. Responsive. Always available.”
"Listening skills and solutions-orientated; very strong knowledge of local practices; solid network.”
"Client relationship management, communication and flexibility.”
"Cécile has a deep knowledge of the real estate industry, particularly in Geneva. She has the ability to understand business and always advises pragmatic solutions, taking into account the client's priorities. Her listening skills are very good, she's very efficient and straight to the point. Her positive attitude and her ability to remain calm in all circumstances are invaluable."
Shelby du Pasquier
"Great experience. Management of his teams to address on-the-spot and timely responses.”
"Experience, legal and industry knowledge, very deep network (Swiss and international), strategic thinking, solution finder.”
"True trusted adviser, global view, understanding of our business and needs, perfect legal knowledge, strategic, unique influence and both domestic and international network.”
"Shelby du Pasquier is an expert in his field with an extensive knowledge of the Swiss banking regulator's practice and the Swiss banking sector. Shelby is pragmatic and provides clear and effective solutions.”
Stephan Erni
"He is knowledgeable, practical, good communicator, understands the real issues.”
"Senior level, good technician.”
"Stephan is an exceptionally knowledgeable and versatile lawyer with a great approach to legal problems. He focuses on delivering clear and solution-orientated advice, remains pragmatic and calm at all times and is always reachable and responsible when one needs support. Overall, in our view he is a standout individual, working together with an excellent team. He is our go-to partner at Lenz Staehelin.”
"Top M&A guy, fair, responsive, tough cookie.”
"Trust him blindly, knows our business in and out.”
Tino Gaberthuel
"Technically robust and reasonable and understanding of the business.”
"Accessible, good client service.”
"Alert, attentive, responsive, clear and transparent. Experienced, knowledgeable, client-centric.”
Patrick Hünerwadel
"Absolutely amazing lawyer and real pleasure to work with. Good under pressure and always flexible.
Jacques Iffland
"Professional.”
"Transparent, direct, voices his opinion.”
Beat Kühni
"Very experienced and responsive; strong negotiator.”
David Ledermann
"David Ledermann is an expert on financing transactions. He has an in-depth financial and legal expertise and broad experience of the Swiss banking sector. He is pragmatic and available upon short notice."
"David Ledermann really stands out in terms of reactivity and the ability to adapt to client needs. David truly strives to find creative/pragmatic solutions and his expertise in structuring complex transactions is outstanding. He is equally appreciated by the bank as lender and the bank's clients as borrower, as he is very solution-orientated."
Tanja Luginbuehl
"Personal engagement, intelligent and swift advice."
"Very knowledgeable and available."
Rayroux François
"Rayroux François has detailed expertise and experience in numerous areas, has excellent knowledge of financial market regulation and the financial industry and has an outstanding network. He and his team are extremely client-focused and get to the heart of complex issues/obligations in the shortest possible time.”
Andreas Rötheli
"Pragmatic, solution-orientated."
"Very smart, very hard-working, great negotiator and extremely professional."
"Seniority, ability to deal with aggressive counterparts, patience, availability."
Patrick Schärli
"Very pleasant to work with but at the same time brings his point through. Excellent professional in his field of expertise."
Olivier Stahler
"Proactive, reactive, professional, available."
"Highest standards of quality and accuracy, timely response to queries, profound knowledge of market practice and industry standards."
"Excellent understanding of the business sector, extremely knowledgeable, good sensible advice."
"Outstanding legal expertise combined with in-depth business acumen."
"High level of precision, pragmatic advice on prevailing market practice., timely response to queries."
"Always straight to the point."
Marcel Tranchet
"Best in class, outstanding knowledge."
"Knows the market in-depth, best lawyer in the area."
Ariel Ben Hattar
"Transparent, to the point, very reachable, professional.”
Simone Ehrsam
"Direct, to the point. Precise with her use of words and very knowledgeable, fantastic negotiator, very close to the detail.”
Tino Gaberthüel
"Very reliable; calm; experienced.”
Jacques Iffland
"Jacques is a very experienced attorney, well connected, with an extremely good knowledge of the legal aspects surrounding our business.”
Beat Kühni
"Quick, fair, very knowledgeable, responsive.”
Fedor Poskriakov
"Legal and technology knowledge, deep client commitment, workforce, responsiveness and accessibility.
"Fedor Poskriakov is highly experienced in banking, securities and finance law. He is solution-orientated and very pragmatic. Also, he is available upon short notice.
"Extremely smart, super-professional, incredibly knowledgeable in his field. In sum, by far the most impressive lawyer I have ever seen."
Isy Sakkal
"Excellent in all respects."
Patrick Schärli
"He has a sound knowledge of the regulatory framework in Switzerland. He is responsive."
Federico Trabaldo Togna
"Good competence and experience."
Claude Lambert
"Very experienced; smart; calm and thoughtful."
Martin Eckert
"Very experienced; thoughtful."
