Department profile
Bär & Karrer Ltd

Banking & Finance: Regulatory

Europe Guide 2026 : Switzerland


Bär & Karrer Ltd

Rankings

About

Provided by Bär & Karrer Ltd

The Banking & Finance team of Bär & Karrer advises their 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. 

  • 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

We work 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. 

  • 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

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance: Regulatory - Switzerland


What the Team is Known For

Bär & Karrer advises clients in the financial sector on a wide array of regulatory matters, such as licence applications. The law firm also acts for both lenders and borrowers on a range of financing matters, including sustainability-linked credit facilities, corporate finance, security-backed facilities and acquisition finance. Clients benefit from the team's collaboration with its market-leading M&A team. The law firm deals both with domestic and cross-border matters, including investigations by the US DOJ. It is a particularly popular choice with clients from the insurance sector.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Bär & Karrer advised United Grinding Group on its EUR800 million credit facilities related to the financing of its acquisition of the Georg Fischer Machining Solutions division.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The Bär & Karrer team are very responsive and provide well-considered and commercially practical advice.

    Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
  • Bär & Karrer has a good mix of young and bright talent and experienced seniors with excellent networks.

    Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
  • Bär & Karrer has leading-edge advisers with deep technical knowledge and the pragmatism needed to close a deal.

    Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
  • The Bär & Karrer team are very diligent, responsive and smart.

    Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
  • Bär & Karrer has handled a very complex and sophisticated matter for our company with good and professional support.

    Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Eric Stupp
    Band 1Eric Stupp

    Eric Stupp

    The highly esteemed Eric Stupp is particularly popular with banks and clients from the insurance sector for advice on regulatory matters, enforcement proceedings and multinational investigations.

    • We have had a great cooperation with Eric Stupp and have appreciated his availability and professionalism.

      Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
    • Eric Stupp has great ideas and a great way of communicating, going about things in a way to help people find the middle ground.

      Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
    • Eric Stupp is really good in situations where it looks like it is very difficult to find a resolution.

      Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
  • Band 2Ralph Malacrida
    Band 2Ralph Malacrida

    Ralph Malacrida

    Ralph Malacrida acts for both lenders and borrowers on refinancing, acquisition financing and corporate financing matters. He is also well equipped to assist with financing transactions with cross-border elements.

    • Ralph Malacrida is fast at responding, and what I really like about him is that he is to the point. He is an institution in the Swiss market and has good expertise.

      Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
    • I do not know anybody who is as responsive as Ralph. Further, his legal and economic acumen is just brilliant and it is always a pleasure working with him on projects.

      Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
    • Ralph Malacrida is an extremely professional and well-respected lawyer.

      Banking & Finance: Regulatory respondentEurope
  • Band 3Frédéric Bétrisey
    Band 3Frédéric Bétrisey

    Frédéric Bétrisey

    Frédéric Bétrisey is well regarded for assisting clients with debt refinancing, mezzanine financing and Islamic finance matters, as well as advising on regulatory topics.

  • Band 3Peter Hsu
    Band 3Peter Hsu

    Peter Hsu

    Peter Hsu mainly advises banks and clients in the insurance sector on regulatory matters, such as licensing applications to FINMA. He also assists financial sector clients with M&A and capital markets transactions.

Ranked Individuals at Bär & Karrer Ltd (4)

Switzerland

Members

Provided by Bär & Karrer Ltd

Bär & Karrer Ltd has rankings in the following guides

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