Private Wealth Law
High Net Worth Guide 2024 : Switzerland
Band 2
About
Provided by Lenz & Staehelin
Our Private Clients group is proud of the longstanding relationships we forge with high-net-worth individuals. We’re experts in estate planning and proactive tax strategies, working across all family, inheritance and immigration law.
As one of the largest Private Client teams in Switzerland, we bring decades of experience to your wealth and estate planning. We act as executors and tax advisors, as well as trustees through our own trust companies in Switzerland and Guernsey (www.lstrustservices.com). We can advise on the formation and management of charitable organisations. And always act quickly and sensitively in dispute resolution. From our position at the heart of the firm, we draw on a wide range of expertise – advocating for your best interests at every turn.
Testament to a team honed over three generations of lawyers, our partners – and practice – regularly appear in the highest legal rankings. Our network spans continents – a global backbone leading to always-responsive, sound advice.
Expertise
- Succession planning and executorship
- Wills, inheritance and pre- and post-nuptial agreements
- Family office services incl. tax declarations
- Legal and tax planning for changes of permanent residence
- Planning of wealth management structures incl. commercial and private trust companies and family offices
- Forming charitable and non-profit organisations
- Trusts and estate litigation, arbitration and mediation
- Private investment companies and funds
- Art and antiques
Chambers Review
Lenz & Staehelin has offices in Zürich and Geneva and has a strong reputation across a broad range of private client work, including matters relating to succession planning, family governance, relocation, tax advisory, trust structuring and family offices. The firm receives plaudits for its work on sophisticated cross-border private client issues, and handles both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The attorneys at Lenz & Staehelin are first-rate and able to handle complex cross-border matters."
"Lenz & Staehelin are responsive and time-conscious, but without rushing or compromising quality."
"Lenz & Staehelin are masters at managing complexity, and producing elegant solutions that sustain. The range of talent at the firm is impressive in its depth and breadth."
"The attorneys at Lenz & Staehelin are first-rate and able to handle complex cross-border matters."
"Lenz & Staehelin are responsive and time-conscious, but without rushing or compromising quality."
"Lenz & Staehelin are masters at managing complexity, and producing elegant solutions that sustain. The range of talent at the firm is impressive in its depth and breadth."
Notable Practitioners
Mark Barmes has deep experience acting for private clients on the full range of wealth planning matters, and is particularly adept at dealing with contentious and non-contentious trust issues.
"Mark is well liked and well regarded."
Heini Rüdisühli is a highly regarded tax and private wealth law expert, adept at handling domestic and cross-border tax planning for private clients, as well as inheritance law, trust and succession planning matters.
"Heini is very experienced and highly qualified. He is to the point,and is communicative and solution-driven."
"Heini is a go-to in Switzerland for all cross-border questions. He is a leader in the field and has an ability to explain complex issues to clients in a way they can easily understand."
"Heini is a great tax lawyer and very appreciated by clients."
Lucien Masmejan is a partner and the head of Lenz & Staehelin's private clients' group in Geneva and Lausanne. He has expertise across a wide range of private wealth law matters and regularly advises high net worth clients and their closely held businesses.
"Lucien is clearly brilliant. He cuts through every issue and is a brilliant strategist."
"Lucien is great. He's a leader, he's smart, he's practical and he gets things done. He is direct in a way that's extremely comforting to his clients."
Alexander Greter is a partner who advises private clients and financial services companies on trusts, tax planning and family offices.
Alexandra Hirt advises high net worth clients on trusts, tax advice and estate planning, for both Swiss nationals and foreign high net worth individuals relocating to Switzerland.
"Alexandra is a pleasure to work with and is extremely client service oriented. She can handle complex matters for sophisticated clients with ease."
"Alexandra is always very available and clients appreciate her services."
Ranked Individuals at
Lenz & Staehelin
Switzerland
Members
Provided by Lenz & Staehelin
Alexander Greter
Alexandra Hirt
Daniel Schafer
Eleni Christou
Emilie Aubert
Fabia Gnädinger
Franziska Stadtherr-Glättli
Frédéric Neukomm
Gina Meerholz
Géraldine Auberson
Head of Department
Jamar Brown
Jean-Blaise Eckert
Leonard Vijverberg
Head of Department
Maria Josefa Palmero-Areàn
Nathalie Vetsch-Cevallos
Shelby R. du Pasquier
Stefan Breitenstein
Tatanja Vlk