As part of our advice on general commercial law matters, we assist our clients in a broad spectrum of legal aspects related to their domestic and cross-border business activities.
Our advisory services include, amongst other things:
Our specialists cover the entire spectrum of corporate services. We support companies from the most varying industries in their operative activities - from procurement via production, through to the distribution of products or the provision of services. We adopt a business oriented approach where importance is given to providing clear added value for the company. Many of our lawyers serve as members on boards of directors and therefore have first-hand knowledge of the requirements of companies.
Our specialists in the field of associations and foundations law work in an advisory and forensic capacity and equally act as legal experts in all related fields and for all legal forms:
Our law firm headed the development of foundation governance in Switzerland and has extensive experience of foundations and associations operating both in Switzerland as well as internationally.
Aviation has traditionally been one of our areas of expertise. Our advice extends to:
Our aviation experts provide, in particular, advice to Swiss and foreign financial institutions regarding the financing of aircrafts that operate under the Swiss national flag (commercial aircraft and private jets). Within the scope of this work we are regularly called upon to render legal opinions which constitute an integral part of the extensive transaction documentation.
In addition, reputable clients engage our specialists for example in connection with (potential) legal disputes as well as in connection with the protection of financial interests of “lenders” in matters such as the taking of prompt action to prevent aircrafts from leaving the country.
Competition law is a particular focus of the work of Niederer Kraft & Frey. It also has an increasing influence on the strategy and conduct of companies and, in many areas, lays down the guidelines within which companies are required to operate.
Our strong team advises companies with the aim of protecting them against the administrative and civil-law risks and consequences associated with infringements of competition law. Together with our clients, we prepare solutions that are optimally tailored to the specific requirements and the strategy of our clients and maintain their room for manoeuvre.
Our team of experts, made up of four partners and several employees, supports companies from various sectors in all aspects of competition law, including
Our clients include Swiss and foreign companies from the fields of IT, watches, luxury goods, sports, automobiles, media, telecommunications, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, machines, food, retail and finance.
We advise companies and employees in managerial positions on all aspects of employment law, including fiscal and social insurance law matters related thereto.
Our cross-disciplinary work culture enables us to involve specialists from other teams at any time, for example if corporate matters (e.g. option schemes), outsourcing matters, data-protection or public-law aspects must also be taken into consideration.
Amongst other things, our services include:
Our experts on intellectual property law provide advice, carry out due diligence audits and represent Swiss and foreign companies in dispute and non-dispute proceedings. In contrast to other law firms, we have our own department for the registration and administration of intellectual property rights (except patents). This enables us to provide all services from a single source as well as developing valuable know-how for the extensive advising and defence of companies.
We cover a broad spectrum of intellectual property law, such as
We advise numerous companies from the most varying industries concerning the definition and implementation of national and global strategies for the protection and defence of intellectual assets. Our clients include Swiss and foreign companies from fields such as the automobile, IT, watch, luxury goods, sports, media, telecommunications, consumer goods, medical, pharmaceutical, machine, food, retail and financial sectors.
Our specialists have many years of experience in the advice and representation of domestic and international companies before authorities and courts in the following areas
In concert with our experts from the Capital Markets and Corporate / M&A teams, we regularly advise Life Science companies in connection with acquisitions, financing arrangements, IPOs and restructuring measures.
To complement our services in the field of Life Sciences, our specialists are also involved in international networks and associations, serve as board members of foundations in the medical sector and act as speakers, amongst other things, on chemicals law.
Our team of outsourcing experts enjoys a first-class reputation as a provider of legal solutions, in particular also for very complex outsourcing transactions. In-depth knowledge of company requirements as well as a training in business administration coupled with profound legal – including regulatory – knowledge form the basis for practicable and timely project implementations.
Long industry experience and a global network of recognised specialists enable us to provide comprehensive services in domestic and international projects.
Our range of services includes advising as well as representation before authorities and courts. We support our clients above all in the drafting of contracts for the actual sourcing activities as well as in the set-up of transaction agreements in connection with the purchase and sale of companies, and other restructuring measures.
When handling outsourcing projects for regulated companies, our specialists cooperate closely with colleagues from the Banking & Finance team.
Current examples of our consulting work include the advice of a global financial service provider in connection with various international outsourcing projects, where significant parts of an IT infrastructure were outsourced to domestic and foreign providers.
We are one of the few major law firms with extensive experience and proven experts in the field of public business law.
We advise domestic and international companies from all industry sectors , government institutions and associations concerning the most various areas of public business law. Particular aspects of our work include:
In addition to general and transactional advice, our experts often render legal opinions and represent clients before courts and authorities, including special authorities. If necessary, we also draw on specialists from other teams (e.g. Dispute Resolution, Real Estate / Environment, TMT or Banking & Finance).
Advice relating to private and public-law aspects of energy trading and energy supply constitute one of the core practice areas of Niederer Kraft & Frey. This includes in particular the obtaining of approvals and licenses, matters of market regulation, network access as well as energy trading.
We are one of the few major law firms to cover the entire spectrum of real estate law, construction and environmental law with proven specialists. We can therefore offer our clients comprehensive advice throughout the complete lifecycle of real property, from the planning phase through to construction, use and exploitation.
We offer domestic and foreign investors (including listed and privately-held property companies) extensive legal advice regarding the acquisition, management and sale of real property and real property portfolios, including
We also advise various domestic and international banks and their funds, insurance companies, pension funds, entities (for example retail groups and industrial entities), construction companies, architects as well as high net worth individuals in all aspects of real estate law.
Accompanying our clients in project development and in construction law matters is an important focus of Niederer Kraft & Frey. Our advice extends to:
Current examples in connection with project development and construction law include the advising of an internationally operating Swiss technology group in the development of a former industrial site.
We have proven expertise in environmental law, including
We regularly support Swiss and foreign industrial companies and – in particular in matters of contaminated sites – numerous public bodies.
Current work in the field of environmental law involves transactions related to contaminated real property, the advising of companies in redevelopment processes (including representation before authorities and courts), the advice of a public body related to public-law and personal liability matters in connection with the contamination of ground water as well as the rendering of various expert opinions for Cantons on questions of liability and cost allocation.
In the legal industry, we are one of the few recognised “solutions providers” in the fields of Telecom / Media / Technology (TMT), including Information Technology (IT).
We not only provide legal solutions for our clients but, being knowledgeable of the TMT and IT market, we are also a recognised point of contact for business and complex project-related matters during project implementation phases. Years of practical experience and a global network of recognised specialists enable us to offer our clients holistic and comprehensive advice on both domestic and international projects.
The expertise of our specialists include:
Our lawyers pursue a holistic approach. They work in an advisory, transaction-accompanying and forensic capacity, and represent clients before courts, arbitral tribunals and authorities. Our lawyers are appreciated by clients for their “hands-on” approach and have been involved in many projects in the field of TMT and IT in recent times.