Valfor

Number of lawyers: 70

Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Croatian, Albanian, Kurdish, Serbian, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Persian, Portuguese, Japanese

Firm Overview: 

valfor was created as per 1 July 2024 by partners of the renowned business law firms BianchiSchwald, GHR Rechtsanwälte and PYTHON.

The merger created one of the most competitive national business law firms in Switzerland with more than 70 lawyers in six offices in Switzerland and one office abroad, in Brussels, and thus a one-stop shop for clients with diverse legal needs. valfor has the breadth of experience and diversity of talent to operate at the forefront of all our clients’ industries and markets, wherever they may be. Our strength is based on our extensive knowledge, professional experience, deep understanding of local laws and customs and our unyielding commitment to excellence.

Our corporate culture is based on close collaboration between the members of our team, who all share common values and practices. We are committed to diversity and to promoting an open, dynamic and sustainable working environment. Always with the aim of creating added value for our clients.

With our Swiss offices in Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Sion, Zug and Zurich and our office abroad, in Brussels, valfor provides legal services at a national level and develops a close relationship with our clients wherever they are.

At the same time, we continue to be connected to the world through our extensive network of trusted law firms and consultants worldwide. This enables us to provide our clients with best-in-class integrated solutions and the unparalleled services they seek in today’s increasingly complex business and legal environment.

Main Areas of Practice 

Arbitration 

With 35 years of experience in arbitration and more than 170 international arbitration proceedings to its credit, valfor’s arbitration team has a unique expertise in handling complex international and cross-border disputes involving notably large industrial plants (petrochemical, refinery, pipeline, forage, steel, aluminum, automotive, pharmaceutical and medical device), major construction projects (public infrastructure, tourist resorts, hotels, large scale malls, commercial buildings), core services industry (sales, banking and finance, agency, engineering and design) and sports (football, America’s cup, boxing, sponsorship), with an unparalleled caseload and experience in disputes involving international sanctions and State corporations.

valfor’s experience ranges from commercial and investment arbitrations held under the ICC, Swiss Rules of International Arbitration, LCIA, ICSID, UNCITRAL and PCA to ad hoc arbitrations under State contracts, BITs and the ECT.

Banking and Finance 

valfor is recognized for providing highly specialized services to players in the banking and financial industries in Switzerland and abroad. We work for banks, securities dealers, wealth managers, investment firms, fund managers, insurance companies, brokers, trading and other regulated companies and private clients. We offer the full range of regulatory and transactional services to clients in the banking and financial services sectors.

Capital Markets 

We have in-depth knowledge of debt and equity capital markets. We advise financial institutions, investors and issuers on all types of capital market transactions as well as shareholders and listed companies on compliance with securities laws in a highly regulated environment.

Commercial and Contracts 

Commercial and contract law is one of the strongholds of our practice. We have a wide range of experience in all related matters, such as setting up and structuring business operations in Switzerland, and provide advice on the full range of commercial activities that such operations entail. We advise domestic and international companies and individuals on all aspects of contract law and support them with the drafting, reviewing and negotiating of complex contracts, including sales contracts, manufacturing contracts, contracts for the supply of work and materials, distribution agreements, agency agreements, license agreements, consortium agreements as well as service agreements.

valfor has also acquired vast and unique know-how in domestic and international public procurement projects, including aspects of procedural and public sector law, the negotiation of supply agreements, related maintenance agreements, leasing structures (set up and implementation) and financing agreements. We further advise our clients on transfer restrictions and customs requirements, obtaining permits for the import, export, commercial transit and brokerage of dual use goods.

Competition 

Over the last decades, transactions and commercial practices have been increasingly impacted by anti-trust and competition regulations. Timely legal advice is needed to clear competition law issues prior to acquiring a company, merging businesses, entering into a joint venture, setting up a distribution network, fixing sales conditions, marketing or advertising policies, licensing IP rights, etc. Strong and competent representation is required to defend clients in investigations led by competition authorities in Switzerland and abroad. With its national footprint and international network, valfor has the reach and expertise required to handle our clients’ competition law issues.

Corporate and M&A 

valfor has a strong track record in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and guides clients through all stages of multifaceted transactions, including acquisitions and divestments, friendly and hostile takeovers, spin-offs, mergers as well as restructurings and post-closing implementations.

Given the complexities and the requirements of M&A transactions, our corporate and M&A practice brings together the knowledge and expertise of our various practice groups to form highly-experienced teams focused on and tailored to the needs of our clients and the specific transaction.

valfor’s corporate and M&A practice advises national and international clients, including both privately held as well as public companies, from a wide range of industry sectors.

valfor in addition supports international and domestic clients at company, management and investor level with respect to all cycles of financing from seed to late stage financing and exits. We represent venture capital institutions, private equity houses as well as entrepreneurs starting new businesses, advising on the formation of companies, equity structures, negotiations with investors, intellectual property rights, and other issues key for their success.

The valfor team also has ample experience in providing services and advice in all other areas of corporate law, including corporate governance and corporate housekeeping, internal reorganizations and compliance.

Data and Technology 

Technological revolution is creating opportunities, new business models are emerging, and organizations are changing constantly in order to manage, protect and successfully exploit data as the electronic gold. This results in complex technical, legal and regulatory questions, not least due to changing and increasing regulation in Switzerland and abroad, which requires an interdisciplinary team of specialized and experienced lawyers to help keeping up with the arising challenges, managing information and mitigating risks.

Our extensive experience, expertise and proven track record in data protection, professional secrecy, technology, media and telecommunications matters make us the ideal partner for our clients in contentious matters (dispute resolution), non-contentious matters (advice, incl. on privacy, security and employment-related policies, transactions and compliance (data processing, impact assessments, consents and cross-border transfers), implementation and transformation projects) and urgent matters (e.g. assistance in dealing with customers, regulators and the public during and in the aftermath of a cyberattack).

Our (national and international) clients range from innovative start-ups to listed companies and leading technology companies.

Employment, Social Security, Pension and Immigration 

valfor's employment law team is known for its dynamic, competent and pragmatic, efficient approach to client advice and litigation. We advise the entire spectrum of businesses, from corporations and large companies to mid-sized to small companies (SME sector), as well as academic institutions, public law organizations, healthcare organizations, non-profit organizations and management executives. Our employment law team works very closely with specialists from our other teams, namely corporate law, tax law, data protection law and intellectual property law. Our understanding of the various social security systems and our extensive international network allow us to handle cross-border cases efficiently and soundly. Our professional relationship with labor and migration authorities also helps us to provide our clients with efficient and effective advice and to develop tailor-made solutions

Energy, Natural Resources and Environment 

The energy and environmental sectors are in a constant state of flux. Changes in the underlying political, economic and legal environment pose new challenges for our clients. Valfor is a recognized market leader in the energy and natural resources sector. With its sector-specific expertise, the valfor team covers the full range of legal services relating to electricity, oil and gas, mining, water and renewables, including transactional work and regulatory advice.

Within the scope of our advisory activity, we provide cutting-edge industry-specific advice across the full spectrum of relevant disciplines, including energy regulation, regulatory management, regulatory reform and market design, energy supply, storage and trading (incl. emissions trading), grid access and use, competition and environmental issues, greenfield developments, M&A transactions, and the refinancing of equity assets or portfolios. Cantonal authorities, municipalities, local and regional utilities, energy groups, international trading companies, corporations, consumers and leading financial institutions count on our advice when it comes to keeping pace with market and regulatory developments or entering new markets, as well as in representing them in civil and administrative proceedings before Swiss courts and regulatory authorities.

Clients benefit from our multidisciplinary practice. Our energy and utilities lawyers work alongside specialists in corporate M&A, tax, banking and finance, competition, real estate & construction and litigation and arbitration. Our in-depth knowledge of environmental regulations is the key to success in environmental projects.

As the Swiss member of the Energy Law Group (ELG), we have access to the most extensive network of expert law firms in the energy and natural resources sectors worldwide.

Healthcare 

Service providers in the highly dynamic healthcare sector face a complex legal environment. valfor has comprehensive expertise in both public and private healthcare law. Our clients include healthcare provider groups of companies, clinics, doctors, therapists, labs, other providers of healthcare services, industry associations, pharmaceutical companies as well as insurance companies. We combine our legal expertise with deep market knowledge and supply service providers with legal advice in all matters including public law and administrative law issues.

Insolvency, Asset Recovery and Restructuring 

valfor has extensive expertise in representing both creditors and debtors in domestic and cross-border restructuring and insolvency proceedings. This includes advice on the drafting of standstill and settlement agreements, financial negotiations as well as reorganizations and restructuring of companies.

The collective experience of the entire valfor team is available to advise our clients. Team members from the insolvency, corporate and M&A, capital markets and employment, as well as real estate and commercial and contracts practice areas work together closely. Our insolvency, asset recovery and restructuring team also includes tax advisors.

Insurance and Reinsurance

valfor offers the full range of transactional and regulatory services to players in the insurance industry in Switzerland and abroad, i.e. domestic and foreign insurance and reinsurance undertakings, groups, conglomerates, intermediaries and special purpose vehicles as well as capital providers.

Our vast expertise allows us to provide legal and regulatory advice related to the establishment, licensing and management of small start-ups as well as large multinationals operating in the insurance sector and any domestic or cross-border matters that may arise out of such operations.

In advising our clients, we rely on quick and effortless collaboration across various practice groups (incl. Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A, Data and Technology), allowing us to form interdisciplinary teams consisting of all relevant subject matter experts, each as the specialized advice requires.

Intellectual Property 

The IP team of valfor covers all fields of intellectual property law, namely patent, trademark and design, copyright law, including related practices such as know-how protection, trade secrets and unfair competition. The team advises clients and collaborates with other teams at valfor. It is also regularly involved in pre-contentious work and represents clients in IP litigations. Sectors served by our IP practice extend from traditional industries such as machinery, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or financial services to information technology, telecommunications, the computing industry, media, biotech, medtech, cleantech and further advanced and emerging technologies. We have been a driving force in advising on business transactions related to the Internet and have actively assisted our clients in a wide range of activities involving the use of IP on the Internet. The IP team also offers administrative services such as trademark and design applications and portfolio management. In addition, the IP team manages large trademark, design and domain name portfolios.

Litigation 

The litigation team of valfor has a passion for advocacy and puts the same energy into routine cases as into complex multinational disputes. Our approach remains the same: Careful planning of the trial, selection of the most efficient course of action, reasonable assessment of the merits of the case, focus on results and avoidance of protracted disputes.

Our team advises and represents clients before all Swiss civil, commercial and administrative courts. All fields of commercial disputes are covered, including banking cases, bankruptcy and debt collection litigation, commercial contracts executions, civil cases (divorces, alimonies for children, liquidation of estates), employment disputes, IP protection and enforcement, provisional remedies, means for obtaining evidence,enforcement of Swiss and foreign judgments, etc.

valfor is well equipped to sustain complex and extensive litigation and allocate significant resources in a tight timeframe when necessary (e.g. requests for a pre-trial attachment or interim measures). As some of the cases we deal with are cross border, our attorneys are also at ease with the complex nature of private international law and used to thinking and maneuvering within a greater overall context and commercial aspects beyond the individual trial. valfor’s litigation team collaborates on a regular basis with our other internal teams and foreign law firms whenever required.

Private Clients 

valfor has a long-standing practice of providing private clients with expert advice on wealth planning and succession issues. We advise on all aspects of family and inheritance law, immigration, residence and nationality, and taxes. Our services include obtaining residence permits for foreign nationals, negotiating lump sum taxation agreements, advising on real estate transactions and obtaining the necessary permits for the acquisition of real estate, setting up family offices, estate planning, drafting marriage contracts, wills and testaments, and representing clients in court proceedings.

Public Procurement 

The procurement of goods and services by public or publicly financed entities represents a considerable market. The law of public procurement is however very fragmented and creates uncertainty for both the contracting entities and the bidders.valfor helps them navigate their way through this complex legal environment.

Real Estate and Construction 

The real estate and construction team of valfor has an impressive track record in the field.Its legal expertise includes both transactional and regulatory work and covers the entire spectrum of real estate activities: real estate management and leases, construction, public procurement, zoning, urban planning, mobility, environment, sustainable development, real estate, financing and investments. The team represents all types of real estate professionals, whether in the private or public sector: real estate agencies/companies, brokers, banks, general contractors, architects, promoters, investors, fund managers, public institutions, foundations and local administrations. We help our clients get their projects off the ground, settle their disputes and navigate through a dense and complex regulatory environment. They benefit from the trusting relationships we have built with the judicial, political and administrative authorities.

Sports 

The sports law team provides comprehensive advice and legal services to clients in the sports industry, from international federations to athletes, sport agencies, broadcasters, sponsors and organisers of sport events. Our expertise extends to sport-related contracts, sport regulations and sport litigations.

Tax 

Our clients can count on valfor tax team to help them make important decisions and structure their projects. We strive to ensure stable solutions tailored to our clients’ needs that are aligned with the ethical standards and transparency requirements imposed by the new international tax environment. The tax team advises and represents Swiss and international clients on all matters related to direct and indirect taxes, customs duties and other levies. It acts for corporations and individuals, financial institutions, investors and investment vehicles, trusts, estates, and foundations. The tax team counts on a first class international network of tax advisors, an excellent working relationships with Swiss tax authorities at all levels and the expertise of the other practice groups of valfor.