Department profile
CMS

Real Estate

Europe Guide 2026 : Switzerland

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CMS

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About

Provided by CMS

As an investor, developer, occupier, construction consortium or asset manager, your real estate deals are executed to tight deadlines within complex local legal systems. If, for example, your property assets cross international markets, you face issues based on differing real estate law as well as cultural and economic contexts.

With over 800 lawyers in +45 countries, we give consistent legal advice across borders, coordinated from your home market. Whether you are in the retail, residential, hotels, infrastructure, care home, office, logistics, renewable energy or student accommodation sectors, we have the specialists to help. 

Through decades of experience of doing deals across Europe, our multi-jurisdictional teams adhere to the same templates, processes and standards, including project management. This means we can deploy specialist teams to advise you immediately, irrespective of where the real estate assets are. If you are launching or operating a real estate fund or setting up a real estate related joint venture, our funds and corporate experts can give you country-specific support. This approach allows us to guide your tax, planning, debt financing, construction and management issues in addition to your traditional real estate portfolio and property management work.

Industries (10)

  • IT
  • Asset Management
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Web Service
  • Automotive
  • Banking
  • Retail
  • Travel & Leisure
  • Private Clients
  • Insurance

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Real Estate - Switzerland

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
CMS is a distinguished real estate practice handling acquisitions, sales and developments. The law firm frequently acts for real estate investors on the acquisition of real estate assets. CMS advises Swiss corporate clients on the real estate aspects of expanding their premises. The law firm is also well versed in assisting financial sector clients with development projects.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS advised Room Mate Hospitality & Leisure on the acquisition of the Hotel Marmont in Geneva through a share deal, as well as the renegotiation of the long-term hotel lease agreements.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They have extensive real estate expertise with strong practical experience and deep client understanding.

    Real Estate respondentEurope

  • CMS has a strong understanding of real estate-specific legal challenges. The lawyers provide pragmatic, solution-oriented advice and are highly responsive and available.

    Real Estate respondentEurope

  • CMS has strong teams with excellent expertise and outstanding client service.

    Real Estate respondentEurope

  • They are very practical, solution-oriented and highly available.

    Real Estate respondentEurope

  • CMS has strong knowledge of the context and the legal system. The team offers very high reliability and consistent advice.

    Real Estate respondentEurope

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Sibylle Schnyder
    Sibylle Schnyder

    Sibylle Schnyder

    Sibylle Schnyder acts on domestic real estate transactions for a variety of clients, including asset managers, investment firms and IT companies. She advises on project developments, property sales and lease agreement negotiations.

    • Sibylle Schnyder is a highly experienced and very service-oriented lawyer.

      Real Estate respondentEurope

    • She is excellent in all topics and very agreeable to work with. I hope to need more of her services in the future.

      Real Estate respondentEurope

    • Sibylle Schnyder is an excellent attorney. She is highly client-oriented with deep expertise and extensive market knowledge.

      Real Estate respondentEurope
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  • Stefan Gerster
    Stefan Gerster

    Stefan Gerster

    Stefan Gerster advises clients on a wide array of real estate mandates, from lease agreements to property acquisitions and portfolio sales.

    • He is a well-known real estate expert with great foresight.

      Real Estate respondentEurope

    • Stefan Gerster has a clear commercial view and direct and open communication. He focuses on doing the deal for the client.

      Real Estate respondentEurope
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  • Sidonie Morvan
    Sidonie Morvan

    Sidonie Morvan

    Sidonie Morvan is head of the real estate practice group at the law firm's Geneva office. She boasts a wide range of expertise in the space, adeptly advising on property acquisitions, leasing and regulatory issues. She also ably provides counsel on project developments, including advising on construction law and negotiations with local authorities.

    • Sidonie Morvan is well experienced, proactive and very pleasant to work with.

      Real Estate respondentEurope
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Ranked Individuals at CMS (3)

Switzerland

Members

Provided by CMS

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