Partner
Cyrill Diefenbacher
Zurich, Switzerland
Partner
Cyrill Diefenbacher
Zurich, Switzerland
Portrait
Cyrill Diefenbacher is a tax expert with extensive experience in national and international corporate tax matters, with a particular focus on Swiss VAT. He advises clients on a wide range of tax issues related to M&A transactions, restructurings, financial services, supply chains and import structures, real estate, and emerging areas such as digital assets, including crypto and NFTs.
He represents clients in dealings with tax authorities and before administrative courts, assists in resolving indirect tax disputes, and negotiates advance rulings to ensure legal certainty and tax efficiency.
Alongside his practice, he regularly publishes and speaks on VAT, corporate tax law, and the taxation of digital assets, sharing insights on how evolving tax regimes impact organizations in Switzerland and internationally.
Cyrill is ranked in Chambers Global and Europe 2026 as a “Spotlight” practitioner in Indirect Tax and is listed in The Legal 500 in the areas of Tax and FinTech.
He represents clients in dealings with tax authorities and before administrative courts, assists in resolving indirect tax disputes, and negotiates advance rulings to ensure legal certainty and tax efficiency.
Alongside his practice, he regularly publishes and speaks on VAT, corporate tax law, and the taxation of digital assets, sharing insights on how evolving tax regimes impact organizations in Switzerland and internationally.
Cyrill is ranked in Chambers Global and Europe 2026 as a “Spotlight” practitioner in Indirect Tax and is listed in The Legal 500 in the areas of Tax and FinTech.
Cyrill Diefenbacher is absolutely outstanding on all substance of tax. He is user-friendly and can communicate issues that make sense to non-tax teams. He liaises well with the client's tax team. I can't speak highly enough of him. He is business-oriented and solutions-driven.
Chambers Europe 2025
Cyrill Diefenbacher is responsive and easy to work with.
Legal 500 2026
He has valuable experience in dealing with the Swiss tax authorities and is one of the top tax experts for digital assets like cryptocurrencies in Switzerland.
Legal 500 2026
- Certified Digital Assets Advisor (since 2023)
- DAS FH in Swiss VAT (2022)
- Partner at Bär & Karrer (since 2022)
- CAS FH in Swiss VAT (2021)
- Associate at Bär & Karrer (2016-2021)
- Certified Tax Expert (2015)
- Consultant, Senior Consultant, Manager at a "big four" company in Switzerland (2011-2016)
- University of St. Gallen: M.A. HSG in Law (MLaw) (2011)
- Internship at Mazars Coresa (2008-2009)
- University of St. Gallen: B.A. HSG in Law (2008)
- English
- French
- German
- Member of EXPERTsuisse
- Member of the International Fiscal Association Swiss Branch (IFA Switzerland)
- Swiss Association of Certified Tax Experts
- Member of the International VAT Association (IVA)
- Member of the Swiss-Japanese Chamber of Commerce
- Member of Swiss Venture Club
- Member of the Crypto Valley Association (CVA) Working Group Tax & Accounting
