Profile

Charles Gschwind is a partner of the Real Estate team at Niederer Kraft Frey. He has broad experience in M&A with a particular focus on real estate transactions. He regularly advises domestic and international clients on asset deals, large-scale portfolio transactions, development projects, hotel transactions, acquisitions of real estate companies as well as on the financing of real estate portfolios. Related administrative law matters (e.g., Lex Koller and environmental law), general corporate, commercial and contract law as well as tenancy matters also belong to his areas of expertise. He further regularly advises on (pre-)litigation matters in the real estate sector. Charles Gschwind is a recommended lawyer in real estate by both Chambers and Legal 500. Charles regularly publishes in his areas of expertise and has taught namely at the MBA Program of ZHAW and at SVIT School. He is also a member of the Committee of SVIT Romandie.

Experience

Charles’ selected representations include advising:

  • Pictet on the sale and lease back of its global headquarter in Geneva*
  • Nestlé on its sale of a data center and office property near Lausanne*
  • Swisscanto and PUBLICA on their sale of the commercial services area of the “La Maladière” stadium in Neuchâtel*
  • PSP Swiss Property on its acquisition of the former global headquarter of Edmond de Rothschild in Geneva in a sale and lease back transaction*
  • Arab Bank Switzerland on its acquisition of the Quarz’Up development project near Geneva in a share deal and on its acquisition of the MixCity development project near Lausanne in an asset deal*
  • Swissroc and Orllati on their acquisition of 60,000 square meters of freehold land in the ZIMEYSA industrial area near Geneva in a share deal*
  • Western Union on its acquisition of 14 Small World business locations in the German-, French- and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland*
  • La Collective de Prévoyance – COPRE on the sale of a residential complex in Nyon*
  • Priora Suisse on its sale of a total of 36 properties (buildings and land) located within or directly adjacent to the airport perimeter to Zurich Airport*
  • Jumeirah Group on its acquisition of the Le Richemond hotel in Geneva*
  • The Bastion Collection on the transition of the hotel management of The Woodward hotel in Geneva*
  • Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund on its sale of Magazine zum Globus and related prime properties to a joint venture of SIGNA and CENTRAL Group*
  • Deka Immobilien on its acquisition of major logistics building near Geneva*
  • Zürcher Kantonalbank / Swisscanto on various (further) real estate matters in the French- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland*

 

*Transactions handled before joining Niederer Kraft Frey

2016 MBA, London Business School
2015 MBA International Exchange, UCLA Anderson School of Management
2012 Swiss Bar Admission
2009 Master of Law (MLaw), University of Fribourg
2007 Bachelor of Law (BLaw), University of Fribourg
Chambers Europe 2023 – 2025
Legal500 EMEA 2025: Next Generation Partner
  • SVIT Romandie (member of the Committee)
  • Geneva Bar Association
  • Zurich Bar Association
  • Swiss Bar Association
  • London Business School Alumni
2025 Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey
2020 Partner at a major law firm

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Market Perception

«Charles Gschwind is our first choice when operating in Western Switzerland»
Chambers Europe 2025 – Real Estate
«Charles Gschwind has a hands-on attitude and a modern approach»
Chambers Europe 2025 – Real Estate