Expertise
We are Prager Dreifuss – experts in a wide range of practice areas and industries and a variety of core topics. We will advise you on all concerns and issues, protect your interests in legal actions and represent you in court if necessary.
Practice areas
Banking & Finance
Good business performance requires a healthy capital base. We specialize in cross-border financing and advise investors and companies in choosing the right financing structure and ensure professional implementation. Our banking & finance team was a pioneer in the introduction of syndicated loans to the Swiss market in terms of leveraged finance and project finance transactions in a variety of sectors (such as technology, communications, automotive, chemicals and transport)
Good business performance requires a healthy capital base. We specialize in cross-border financing and advise investors and companies in choosing the right financing structure and ensure professional implementation. Our banking & finance team was a pioneer in the introduction of syndicated loans to the Swiss market in terms of leveraged finance and project finance transactions in a variety of sectors (such as technology, communications, automotive, chemicals and transport)
Capital Markets
Presence on the capital market requires a high level of attention from the Management, because it entails significant legal and financial risks. We advise issuers as well as banks and other financial services providers in complex and international capital market matters. Our lawyers are recognized as expert issuer’s representatives by SIX Exchange Regulation. We support companies in planning and executing their initial public offerings. We help quoted companies in all stock exchange matters, such as ad-hoc publicity and disclosure of management transactions.
Presence on the capital market requires a high level of attention from the Management, because it entails significant legal and financial risks. We advise issuers as well as banks and other financial services providers in complex and international capital market matters. Our lawyers are recognized as expert issuer’s representatives by SIX Exchange Regulation. We support companies in planning and executing their initial public offerings. We help quoted companies in all stock exchange matters, such as ad-hoc publicity and disclosure of management transactions.
Competition & Regulatory Matters
We have in-depth and internationally recognized experience in competition law and regulatory matters. We regularly represent companies of all sizes in antitrust and merger control proceedings before the Swiss competition authorities and support our clients with compliance in sales and licensing matters, cooperative ventures and other day-to-day business relating to competition law. Our excellent knowledge of EU competition law and various languages facilitate collaboration with law firms abroad in international matters.
We have in-depth and internationally recognized experience in competition law and regulatory matters. We regularly represent companies of all sizes in antitrust and merger control proceedings before the Swiss competition authorities and support our clients with compliance in sales and licensing matters, cooperative ventures and other day-to-day business relating to competition law. Our excellent knowledge of EU competition law and various languages facilitate collaboration with law firms abroad in international matters.
Corporate & M&A
The acquisition of companies and corporate groups as well as M&A and other restructuring measures are important levers for entrepreneurs and investors when implementing strategy. They are part of our core business. Our work for our clients includes performing the legal due diligence of a target company, negotiating the contracts needed for a transaction, setting up acquisition vehicles and optimizing the capital and tax structure. In all these tasks, we can draw on excellent interdisciplinary knowledge, including in the areas of tax, competition, banking, employment and intellectual property law.
The acquisition of companies and corporate groups as well as M&A and other restructuring measures are important levers for entrepreneurs and investors when implementing strategy. They are part of our core business. Our work for our clients includes performing the legal due diligence of a target company, negotiating the contracts needed for a transaction, setting up acquisition vehicles and optimizing the capital and tax structure. In all these tasks, we can draw on excellent interdisciplinary knowledge, including in the areas of tax, competition, banking, employment and intellectual property law.
Dispute Resolution
Companies cannot always avoid conflicts, but the inevitable should not escalate into a threat to their survival. We have many years of experience in asserting civil claims and in complex international commercial disputes, including associated criminal proceedings, judicial and administrative assistance procedures and asset recovery. The same applies to international arbitration procedures. Whether pre-trial, in internal investigations or in appeal procedures, with us, you will find a motivated and expert team for all kinds of court, arbitration and enforcement proceedings.
Companies cannot always avoid conflicts, but the inevitable should not escalate into a threat to their survival. We have many years of experience in asserting civil claims and in complex international commercial disputes, including associated criminal proceedings, judicial and administrative assistance procedures and asset recovery. The same applies to international arbitration procedures. Whether pre-trial, in internal investigations or in appeal procedures, with us, you will find a motivated and expert team for all kinds of court, arbitration and enforcement proceedings.
Employment & Pensions
A company's employees are its most crucial resource. Employers can also ensure that they remain motivated and productive with the legal framework of the employment relationship. We advise all stakeholders in personnel issues, obtain official permits and help with regulatory matters. With our many years of experience, we offer tailor-made solutions in the HR field and during corporate restructurings. We advise our clients in the establishment of appropriate compensation structures that make them attractive employers.
A company's employees are its most crucial resource. Employers can also ensure that they remain motivated and productive with the legal framework of the employment relationship. We advise all stakeholders in personnel issues, obtain official permits and help with regulatory matters. With our many years of experience, we offer tailor-made solutions in the HR field and during corporate restructurings. We advise our clients in the establishment of appropriate compensation structures that make them attractive employers.
Insolvency & Restructuring
Imminent insolvency is a particular challenge for companies. The same applies, however, to its investors, creditors and contractual partners. Both negotiating skills and profound knowledge in M&A are called for. We advise banks and other financial institutions as well as corporate debtors and their governing bodies on all issues arising in connection with imminent insolvency, reorganization or restructuring. We represent creditors in litigation, in registering, acquiring accounts receivable or enforcing disputed claims. In these situations, the team can rely on its extensive experience in financing and M&A.
Imminent insolvency is a particular challenge for companies. The same applies, however, to its investors, creditors and contractual partners. Both negotiating skills and profound knowledge in M&A are called for. We advise banks and other financial institutions as well as corporate debtors and their governing bodies on all issues arising in connection with imminent insolvency, reorganization or restructuring. We represent creditors in litigation, in registering, acquiring accounts receivable or enforcing disputed claims. In these situations, the team can rely on its extensive experience in financing and M&A.
Insurance & Reinsurance
We have many years of experience in Swiss and international insurance and reinsurance law and are one of the leading providers of legal services in this field. We advise insurers and reinsurers on national and international matters involving contract law and regulatory issues. A key focus of our insurance law activity is processing complex claims, ranging from examining the claim to assessing coverage issues and handling claims to representing our clients before courts and arbitration tribunals.
We have many years of experience in Swiss and international insurance and reinsurance law and are one of the leading providers of legal services in this field. We advise insurers and reinsurers on national and international matters involving contract law and regulatory issues. A key focus of our insurance law activity is processing complex claims, ranging from examining the claim to assessing coverage issues and handling claims to representing our clients before courts and arbitration tribunals.
IP & IT
Innovation ensures growth: that’s what every export-oriented SME, every large multi-national company experiences. Unfortunately, all too often successful research and development attracts imitators who copy innovations illegally thereby saving the costs associated with their production – to the detriment of the inventor. We advise public and private companies on media and intellectual property issues, draft contracts and manage litigation. We also have plenty of experience in the licensing of rights to films and sports broadcasts. Another focus of our activities is information technology (IT) law.
Innovation ensures growth: that’s what every export-oriented SME, every large multi-national company experiences. Unfortunately, all too often successful research and development attracts imitators who copy innovations illegally thereby saving the costs associated with their production – to the detriment of the inventor. We advise public and private companies on media and intellectual property issues, draft contracts and manage litigation. We also have plenty of experience in the licensing of rights to films and sports broadcasts. Another focus of our activities is information technology (IT) law.
Private Clients
Wealthy private individuals are not simply a homogeneous target group, but personalities with their own life plan. No life is the same as another. Each one is complex. To enable our clients to focus on the things that matter to them, we advise them in connection with the preservation, administration and transfer of their assets during and beyond their lifetime. We have a long tradition of working in this field and for us it implies a partnership based on stability and mutual trust.
Wealthy private individuals are not simply a homogeneous target group, but personalities with their own life plan. No life is the same as another. Each one is complex. To enable our clients to focus on the things that matter to them, we advise them in connection with the preservation, administration and transfer of their assets during and beyond their lifetime. We have a long tradition of working in this field and for us it implies a partnership based on stability and mutual trust.
Real Estate & Construction
If you’ve ever had your own house built, you will be aware of the innumerable pitfalls that line the path of those involved. A very wide variety of skills is needed from the initial vision until the keys are handed over, and every project is different from the last. We offer many years of experience in the fields of land transactions, service and building contractor agreements and insurance for the construction and land. Our references include prominent hotel projects and complex property developments. We advise architects, engineers and planners as well as entrepreneurs, landowners, project developers and property operators.
If you’ve ever had your own house built, you will be aware of the innumerable pitfalls that line the path of those involved. A very wide variety of skills is needed from the initial vision until the keys are handed over, and every project is different from the last. We offer many years of experience in the fields of land transactions, service and building contractor agreements and insurance for the construction and land. Our references include prominent hotel projects and complex property developments. We advise architects, engineers and planners as well as entrepreneurs, landowners, project developers and property operators.
Tax
Our tax team is your first point of contact for Swiss tax matters. We provide our Swiss and international clients with tailor-made solutions. You can count on our excellent relationships with the Swiss tax authorities as well as with tax experts worldwide. We also work closely with our other practice groups to protect our clients from unpleasant tax and legal surprises. We act for corporations, individuals, financial institutions, institutional and private investors, partnerships, trusts, estates, charitable foundations and NGOs.
Our tax team is your first point of contact for Swiss tax matters. We provide our Swiss and international clients with tailor-made solutions. You can count on our excellent relationships with the Swiss tax authorities as well as with tax experts worldwide. We also work closely with our other practice groups to protect our clients from unpleasant tax and legal surprises. We act for corporations, individuals, financial institutions, institutional and private investors, partnerships, trusts, estates, charitable foundations and NGOs.
Venture Capital
Founders and investors are faced with complex legal challenges throughout the entire lifecycle of an investment. We advise company founders and financiers of all kinds on debt, mezzanine or equity financing of venture companies and also on token sales. We can prepare, negotiate and execute financing rounds for companies in every stage of their growth pragmatically and cost-effectively, yet comprehensively, including notarization. After the investment process is completed, we advise our clients during the holding period and in an exit event.
Founders and investors are faced with complex legal challenges throughout the entire lifecycle of an investment. We advise company founders and financiers of all kinds on debt, mezzanine or equity financing of venture companies and also on token sales. We can prepare, negotiate and execute financing rounds for companies in every stage of their growth pragmatically and cost-effectively, yet comprehensively, including notarization. After the investment process is completed, we advise our clients during the holding period and in an exit event.
White Collar Crimes & Investigations
Companies shy away from the media when they fall victim to white collar crime. We represent affected companies and governing bodies in complex criminal proceedings and support our clients discreetly in internal investigations, for example in the event of deficiencies in corporate governance, suspected insider trading offences, money laundering or corruption. We also have extensive experience in complex asset recovery cases.
Companies shy away from the media when they fall victim to white collar crime. We represent affected companies and governing bodies in complex criminal proceedings and support our clients discreetly in internal investigations, for example in the event of deficiencies in corporate governance, suspected insider trading offences, money laundering or corruption. We also have extensive experience in complex asset recovery cases.