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Banking, Insurance & Finance

The fast-changing regulation of financial markets requires expert know-how. Successful financing solutions demand sound market expertise. We provide you with both.

Over the last decade, the regulatory framework for financial services and the players involved in the field have kept evolving. The same is true for financial and capital markets. We have the in-depth understanding of the legal landscape governing the financial industry to advise our clients on the whole range of regulatory and transactional matters.

Our team of experts supports our clients as they navigate the increasing complexity of the legal framework they operate in – from local players to multinational financial institutions, from start-up businesses to long-established companies.

A 360° view of the regulatory playing field

We advise our clients on all regulatory aspects of their business. Our expertise covers all financial institutions including banks, securities dealers, asset managers, investment funds, insurance companies and businesses active in the fintech sector. Our Banking & Finance team collaborates closely with experts from other teams such as M&A, Tax, Employment to provide our clients with comprehensive solutions.

Our areas of expertise include:

  • Advice in regulatory, commercial and transactional matters
  • Licensing of banks, securities dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions
  • Setting up branches and representative offices
  • Fund structuring, issuance of documentation for investment schemes and products, registration of domestic and foreign investment schemes
  • Representation in enforcement proceedings by regulatory authorities (e.g. FINMA or SIX Exchange Regulation)
  • Acquisitions and disposals of divisions and client portfolios

Our team of Banking & Finance lawyers offers broad industry experience and a proven track record in assisting our clients in optimising their financing structures. We can individually tailor our clients’ financing transactions and negotiate and execute appropriate contracts in relation to the full spectrum of financial products.

Sound and efficient financing advice

Our Banking & Finance team works closely with our own regulatory, litigation, restructuring and other specialists, and also with finance experts in other jurisdictions and representatives of financial institutions in Switzerland and abroad. Our deep product expertise enables us to provide sound and innovative advice on complex issues in relation to the most challenging financing and restructuring transactions.

Our areas of expertise include:

  • Corporate and investment grade lending
  • Leveraged and acquisition finance
  • Syndications
  • Real estate and asset finance
  • Project and infrastructure finance
  • Trade, commodities and export finance
  • Convertible and high-yield bonds
  • Margin loans
  • Securitisation and risk transfers
  • Insolvency and restructuring

Deep financial services experience and understanding of complex transactions.

Legal 500 2021

The team impresses me with its ability to provide high-quality legal advice, no matter what Swiss-related legal topic we throw at them.

Client in Chambers Global 2022

Bär & Karrer’s team is very strong and has huge knowledge of the Swiss banking industry.

Client in Chambers Europe 2022

Knowledgeable and thorough, with very good understanding of private banking and cross-border businesses.

Client in Chambers Europe 2022

The B&K fintech team are energetic, responsive, progressive and very knowledgeable. I always enjoy working with them.

Client in Legal 500 2022

Entrepreneurial, tenacious, hard-working and thoughtful,

Client in Chambers Global 2022

They are entrepreneurial, tenacious, hardworking and thoughtful.

Client in Chambers 2021

Very fast and reliable; always pragmatic; capable of handling complex and time consuming transactions.

Legal 500 2021

The team is enormously professional and proactive.

Client in Chambers 2021

This team has genuine depth of expertise allied with superb customer service and responsiveness and they’re just really nice people to deal with.

Legal 500 2021

The firm has an excellent reputation within the financial market industry in Switzerland.

Legal 500 2021

Very solid team of dedicated lawyers

Client in IFLR1000 2021

Very close to the market, lots of experience and knowledge, pragmatic and swift execution, fun to work with.

Legal 500 2021

Very accessible and responsive

Client in IFLR1000 2021

Provide professional, pragmatic and implementable solutions

Client in IFLR1000 2021

Extremly responsive and understands very well the business of the bank

Client in IFLR1000 2021

Perfect advice.

Client in IFLR1000 2021

Deep financial services experience and understanding of complex transactions.

Legal 500 2021

The team impresses me with its ability to provide high-quality legal advice, no matter what Swiss-related legal topic we throw at them.

Client in Chambers Global 2022

Ranked in Tier 1

by Chambers Europe, Chambers Global, IFLR 1000 and Legal 500 2023.

Ranked in Tier 1

by Chambers Europe, Chambers Global, IFLR 1000 and Legal 500 2023.

Ranked in Tier 1

by Chambers Europe, Chambers Global, IFLR 1000 and Legal 500 2023.

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