Loyens & Loeff is an international law firm with 11 offices across Europe, Asia and in the US. The Zurich office focuses on finance, corporate, investment and tax advisory work.

Focusses / specialisms

The Switzerland office is best known for its work in M&A, with notable banking and finance and debt capital market practices as well. The banking and finance practice was established in 2018 and advises lenders in debt restructuring and borrowing lessors in refinancing and green financing transactions.

In debt capital markets, the firm advised initial purchasers in bond issues.

The M&A practice was established in 2016. The firm advises private equity buyers and sellers in the water treatment, airline hospitality and biotech sectors, among others. It also advises on joint venture agreements and corporate reorganisations.

Key clients

Some recent key clients of the firm include Acer, Adidas, Barcardi, Clariant, EQT partners, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, UBS, Deutsche Bank, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley Alpha Trains Group, Platinum Equity, RRJ Capital, Adidas, Egeria and Magyar Vagon Zrt.

Research period review:  33rd edition (2023/2024) 

Throughout the research period, the banking team acted for borrowers and lenders in acquisition, leveraged and corporate financing matters. It also acted for distressed companies in refinancings and financial restructurings.

The team also represented underwriters and issuers in investment grade and sustainability bond issuances. Furthermore, it advised investment funds in financing matters.

In M&A, the team acted for more buyers than sellers in private equity and strategic acquisitions as well as mergers and private equity investments. It also represented distressed companies in corporate reorganizations.

During the research period, the team hired Christine Hohl as counsel and two new associates to the banking and finance team.

Deal highlights:  33rd edition (2023/2024) 

Andean Tower Partners $40 million acquisition of BTS Torres N.M.C.

Constellation Oil Services $150 million financial restructuring 

Global Consumer Acquisition $507 million acquisition of Luminex Home Decor & Fragrance Holding

Trinseo Materials Operating and Trinseo materials finance $1.5 billion acquisition financing

Client feedback:  33rd edition (2023/2024) 

Bank lending 

"Loyens has done great work in assisting with my needs while taking the lead role in negotiating the Swiss collateral documents with its Swiss counterpart representing the borrower. All responses are prompt and thorough and Loyens has often anticipated my needs by addressing questions they know I will have."

"Very responsive and knowledgeable in the banking industry. It was a pleasure working with the Loyens team."

"L&L are highly responsive, provide concise and well thought through advice, and are not afraid to suggest commercial solutions to legal or other technical problems."

Banking and finance

"They provide prompt and fulsome responses. They also manage their side of the transaction very well to ensure closing is not delayed by anything under their control."

"They are very responsive and hard-working – when the need arises, they have gone above and beyond by working weekends. They are also very commercial and collaborative when working together on transactions, which makes them a valuable counsel to work with."

Financial services regulatory          

“Loyens are very responsive and deliver technical legal expertise in a clear manner."

M&A   

"They are one of the best external counsel for all corporate needs."

"Knowledgeable team; responsive; good sense of humour; attentive; attention to detail."

"Hands-on, commercial thinking."

Christine Hohl

"Christine is very helpful and prompt in her assistance. She has been very good at anticipating my needs. On a few occasions she has sent me information which I did not know yet that I needed."

Frédéric Lemoine      

"Very friendly, knowledgeable, with commercial focus."

Judith Raijmakers    

"Great communicator and manager of our transactions."         

"She is very responsive and strikes a good balance between anticipating our questions in advance and dealing with problems promptly and efficiently when they arise."

"I have worked with Judith over the years for various clients. Judith is very responsive to client needs and has done a great job supervising the other lawyers at Loyens working on my matter. If there is ever a question or need, she jumps in to address it – often without any request from me.”

Valérie Schrämli        

"She is highly professional and perfect in every job she deals with."

"Hands-on, commercially driven."

Stéphanie Szedlák    

"Stéphanie is very friendly, knowledgeable and easy to work with."

“Responsive and provides high-quality legal advice and takes a solution-based approach."

Marco Toni    

"Hands-on, commercially driven."

"Incredible in every corporate matter."

Sandra Zysset

"Friendly, responsive, clear, concise, helpful, reliable. Sandra has made herself available for last-minute client calls and has provided excellent advice. Sandra is a great lawyer to work with."