Vaduz, Liechtenstein – May 2025 – Law Firm Bergt & Partners Ltd. (“Bergt Law”), a leading boutique law firm recognized for its advisory excellence at the crossroads of fintech & banking and financial market regulation, is proud to announce that Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thomas Stern, MBA, LL.M., has joined the firm as Legal Counsel. Dr. Stern is one of the most respected authorities in financial markets law, prudential supervision mechanisms, and corporate restructuring within the German-speaking region.
Dr. Stern brings nearly two decades of senior regulatory and academic experience to Bergt Law. Most recently, he served as Head of the Division for Bank and Investment Firm Resolution at the Financial Market Authority (FMA) Liechtenstein, following his tenure as Deputy Head of the Banking Supervision Department. His regulatory insight is further underscored by active participation in expert bodies of the European Commission, European Banking Authority (EBA), and the European Central Bank / Single Supervisory Mechanism (ECB/SSM).
With a unique interdisciplinary background spanning legal practice, financial supervision, and university teaching, Dr. Stern will enhance the firm’s capabilities in cross-border regulatory counselling, particularly in the areas of MiCAR, MiFID II, PSD2, CRD/CRR, and prudential compliance. His advisory focus includes structuring and licensing of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), payment and e-money institutions, and investment firms, with a hands-on understanding of both the market entry process and ongoing supervisory expectations.
Bergt Law’s Managing Partner, Dr. Josef Bergt, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome Thomas Stern to the firm. His strategic regulatory foresight, combined with unparalleled academic depth, substantially strengthens our practice in financial services law and supervision. His arrival marks a new chapter in our mission to deliver sophisticated and sustainable legal solutions in a complex and evolving regulatory landscape.”
Dr. Stern is particularly renowned for his expertise in corporate resolution regimes and preventive restructuring. Holding an LL.M. in Corporate Restructuring (University of Heidelberg), he has advised on resolution planning, crisis management frameworks, and early intervention strategies. These capabilities are vital in today’s volatile financial environment, where legal foresight in stressed scenarios has become essential for institutional stability.
As an academic, Dr. Stern holds the distinction of being the first person in Liechtenstein to receive a venia legendi (habilitation) in Law, awarded in 2020. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Liechtenstein and teaches at leading European institutions. His scholarly work spans around 100 peer-reviewed publications, contributions to major legal commentaries — including on the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) — and editorial responsibilities for professional journals such as KSI and ZFR.
At Bergt Law, Dr. Stern will advise both incumbents and fintech challengers on navigating supervisory processes, regulatory transformation, and compliance implementation. His comprehensive view across legal, policy, economic and institutional dimensions is expected to play a key role in shaping forward-looking, legally robust – and in that sense long-lasting & sustainable – strategies for financial market participants.
About Bergt Law
Based in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, Bergt Law is an internationally recognized law firm advising clients in financial market law, regulatory licensing, crypto-assets, payment services, corporate structuring, fintech, and cross-border compliance. The firm is consistently ranked for its ability to provide tailored, interdisciplinary, and innovation-driven legal strategies across the financial services and technology sectors.
For further information, please contact:
[email protected] | www.bergt.law/en
Disclaimer: This press release is issued for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, a solicitation, or an advertisement. References to professional reputation or ranking are based on third-party evaluations by independent legal directories such as Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. Any views expressed herein are those of Bergt & Partners Ltd., Vaduz, and do not necessarily reflect those of affiliated institutions. While all information is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, Bergt & Partners Ltd. assumes no liability for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. For specific legal inquiries, please contact a qualified professional.