Lars Schlichting

Lars Schlichting focuses his practice on financial regulation, FinTech, and digital innovation. He advises clients on blockchain-based business models, tokenization of assets, and the legal structuring of digital financial instruments. His work covers regulatory compliance, licensing under Swiss and EU financial laws, and the intersection between technology, finance, and data governance. Lars is particularly recognized for his expertise in advising crypto exchanges, token issuers, and financial intermediaries on AML/KYC frameworks, financial market supervision, and cross-border structuring of digital assets.

Lars Schlichting began his career at the Swiss Federal Gaming Board and later at the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), where he gained extensive experience in financial regulation and supervision. He subsequently joined KPMG as Partner and Head of Legal & Regulatory Services for the Ticino region, and later became Partner at Kellerhals Carrard Lugano SA. In 2023, he founded Lexify SA, a boutique law firm focused on financial regulation, FinTech, and digital innovation.

Executive Director at the Ticino Blockchain Technology Association (since 2018)

Short Publications List

“Concentration Risk” (Lexify Insight, 2025) – Analysis of prudential regulation challenges for financial institutions managing exposure concentration in digital finance.

“AI Cannot Be an Inventor” (Lexify Insight, 2025) – Legal perspectives on artificial intelligence and intellectual property rights in automated innovation processes.

“Investments and Scams: Our Contribution to Corriere del Ticino” (2025) – Commentary on investor protection and regulatory enforcement in digital markets.

“Crypto Taxation: Why Startups Move to Switzerland” (Lexify Insight, 2024) – Examination of tax frameworks for crypto projects and token-based startups relocating to Switzerland.

“Lugano: Smart Financial City” (Lexify Insight, 2024) – Discussion of Lugano’s evolution into a FinTech and blockchain hub.

“Bitcoin’s Revenge” (Lexify Insight, 2024) – Analytical piece on the macroeconomic resilience of Bitcoin and its regulatory implications.

“Taxation of Tokens Transferred to Founders by the Issuing Company” (Lexify Insight, 2023) – Detailed study on fiscal treatment and governance aspects of token allocations.

“Bitcoin: Beyond Speculation” (Lexify Insight, 2023) – Exploration of Bitcoin’s functional transformation within the global financial ecosystem.

“Tokenization of Property Rights” (LinkedIn Articles, 2024) – Discussion on the legal structure and implications of tokenized ownership models.

Automatischer Informationsaustausch in Steuersachen (Helbing Lichtenhahn Verlag, 2018) – Comprehensive commentary on the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) regime.

Legge sulle banche annotata e commentata (Schulthess Verlag, 2013) – Annotated legal commentary on Swiss Banking Law and regulatory compliance.

Legge sulla FINMA annotata e commentata (Schulthess Verlag, 2012)-Annotated legal commentary on FINMA law

Legge sul riciclaggio di denaro annotata e commentata (Schulthess Verlag 2011)-Annotated legal commentary on Anty Money Laundering Law

“Consolidated Supervision of Legal and Reputational Risks within Financial Groups” (Academic Publication, 2010) – Research on governance and risk control within multinational financial structures.

University of Fribourg (Switzerland)

Master of Law (lic. jur.)

1991 - 1996

University of Zürich

Master of Laws (LL.M.)

2005 - 2006

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)

Certificate of Advance Study (CAS) in Data Protection

2019 - 2020