Pestalozzi is one of the oldest established Swiss law firms on the market. Founded in 1911, it is known for its corporate, financing, and capital markets advisory for a mix of both domestic and foreign clients. The firm has offices in Geneva and Zurich and is a member of the Lex Mundi international network of independent firms.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is best known for its outstanding work in banking and finance, debt capital markets, structured finance and securitization and financial services regulatory. However, the firm also has standout practices in equity capital markets, M&A and restructuring and insolvency. In banking and finance, the practice advises lending domestic and foreign banks on multicurrency revolving credit facilities for acquisition financing and commodities financing facilities.
In financial services regulatory, the firm has experience on multiple fintech and cryptocurrency mandates, including the regulatory and contractual issues of the digital currency payment systems, Brexit planning and Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) regulatory investigations and enforcement.
In debt capital markets, the firm works on green, covered and high yield bond issuances and capital relief transactions, advising the issuers, arrangers and initial purchasers. In equity, the firm advises on share listings and in structured finance, the firm advises issuers and arrangers in securitisations.
In M&A, the firm advises independent boards of directors, shareholders, sellers and buyers in acquisitions across the media, automation, packaging, tobacco products, insurance and technology industries.
In the realm of restructuring and insolvency, the firm advised both creditors and debtors, while also seeing work in asset recovery and insolvency mandates.
Key clients
Some of the recent key clients of the firm include Spotify Sweden, ING, Volksbank Vorarlberg e.Gen, Gazprombank, EBRD, Panalpina Welttransport, Groupe PSA, Johnson & Johnson, CH Media, Swisscom and Altira.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Over the research period, the banking team acted for borrowers and lenders in corporate, export, acquisition and project financing matters. The team also worked on several refinancing transactions. The financial services regulatory team advised clients in the financial services industry on regulatory and compliance matters related to banking platforms and regulations, in addition to payments, derivatives, cryptocurrency and trustee licenses.
On the debt side of the capital markets practice, the team advised issuers in numerous bond restructuring, as well as convertible and investment grade bond issuances. The capital markets team also worked on advising clients in the financial services industry on derivatives matters, especially concerning OTC instruments. Equity capital markets related transactions include de-SPAC IPOs, private share placements and ATM offerings.
The M&A team advised buyers and sellers in private equity and strategic acquisitions across numerous industries. It also represented corporate clients in joint ventures, carveouts and mergers and also gained experience in SPAC and de-SPAC matters.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Coca-Cola €5 billion EMTN program renewal
Glencore $5 billion financing
Leclanché E-Mobility Nasdaq IPO
Ringier/Mobiliar/TX Group/General Atlantic CHF 2.1 billion joint venture
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Asset finance
"Quick, smart, client focused."
Banking
"The Pestalozzi team has impressed me with very strong technical knowledge, market savvy and responsiveness. They are commercially minded when thinking through challenges, and the team is always on top of the regulatory backdrop.
Banking and finance
"They were as always very hand-on, very swift in responding in a practical and a client solution-orientated manner."
"Very responsive, close connection with and deep knowledge of authority and related processes, quality work, reliable and collaborative/proactive."
Capital markets
"In-depth knowledge, flexibility and short response time."
"Honest, transparent, and well-structured counsel who help the company meet all its legal requirements – and they often go beyond, to be a business partner too.
Financial services regulatory
"Efficiency. Strong industry knowledge ensures that we get to-the-point advice aimed at answering our specific queries. They understand our issues well and this saves time and money for us!
"Ms Huber and her team at Pestalozzi's expertise and professionalism far exceeded our expectations. We relied heavily on her advice, which she provided promptly and with careful consideration. They were a joy to work with as people and as professionals!
"Knowledge. Excellent relations with the regulator. Fast feedback."
"They are efficient. Our main contact, Andrea Huber, does a great job in being to the point in answering and advising us in an efficient manner. She understands our needs and ensures that feedback to us reflects those needs.
"Swift and efficient work combined with very strong knowledge makes it an ideal partner for us."
"Concise advice."
"Knowledge and good advice."
Investment funds
"Andrea Huber worked very efficiently. She answered questions very quickly. Thanks to her tactical approach and her proactive communication with us and the regulator, we were able to complete the licensing process in a smooth(er) way.
"The Pestalozzi team has impressed me with very strong technical knowledge, market savvy and responsiveness. They are commercially minded when thinking through challenges, and the team is always on top of the regulatory backdrop.
M&A
"The team immediately understood the commercial context of the transaction and they were very responsive. They are very flexible and agile and have a very good understanding of commercial aspects and strategy. Working together with them was an extremely pleasant and trustworthy experience.
"Proper detailed analysis of the shareholder agreement, including an assessment and weighting of the issues from the management's perspective of each single issue. Afterwards, focus on the major topics and efficient implementation.
Private equity
"Professional, responsive, expert, track record."
Ludivine Boisard
"Responsive and knowledgeable."
Andrea Huber
"Andrea is a terrific lawyer – she is thorough, meticulous and able to quickly spot issues and propose practical solutions. She is a trusted adviser and invaluable partner with great knowledge of the market, always available with helpful advice.
"Very knowledgeable and professional, sees solutions where others see problems, extremely responsive."
"Very strong industry knowledge and to-the-point approach is a valuable combination. She quickly understands the core of a question/issue and hence addresses it swiftly with a competent answer.
"Andrea is a true expert in her field. She is extremely intelligent, thoughtful, and carefully considered all of our questions with a level of mastery that exceeded our expectations and far surpassed any counsel we have worked with in the past. She is a strong communicator, a friendly and kind human being, and an absolute joy to work with.
"She is very skilled in her area of expertise. Efficient as she is quick to understand our challenges and questions and hence delivers the to-the-point answers we are looking for - not leaving us with a long memo where we have to find the important topics for ourselves.
"Efficient! She always quickly understands the core of the problem being discussed and can focus on finding the best solution."
"Good knowledge – good comprehension of the situation."
"Andrea Huber worked very efficiently. She answered questions very quickly. Thanks to her tactical approach and her proactive communication with us and the regulator, we were able to complete the licencing process in a smooth(er) way.”
"Andrea is a terrific lawyer – she is thorough, meticulous and able to quickly spot issues and propose practical solutions. She is a trusted adviser and invaluable partner with great knowledge of the market, always available with helpful advice.”
Christian Leuenberger
"Combination of vast experience and knowledge and flexibility/out of the box approach."
"Knowledge, structured, good listener, and problem-solving business partner. Always approachable and trustworthy."
"Extremely knowledgeable, creative, charming and very good strategist."
"Experienced, great communicator."
Oliver Widmer
"One of best lawyers in Switzerland - sharp, smart, great industry knowledge."
"Very hands-on and solution-orientated for our clients."
"Fast feedback and deep knowledge.”
