Profile
Manuel Werder’s practice focuses on corporate law and M&A, including private equity and venture capital transactions. He has expertise in large, complex, cross-border acquisitions, mergers, divestitures and corporate restructurings. His M&A expertise crosses all industries, including financial, industrials and services. Manuel Werder is Head of Finance, Risk & Compliance and a member of NKF’s executive committee.
Deals & Cases
Experience
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Manuel Werder advises Swiss and international financial institutions and corporations active in different industries in M&A, corporate, commercial, contract, securities and stock exchange law. His expertise also includes investment and shareholders’ agreements, joint ventures, commercial contracts and employment law.
Experience highlights:
- Advising Citychamp Watch and Jewellery Group Ltd, Hong Kong, in various acquisitions, including a majority stake in Bendura Bank, all shares in HL Le Mirador International SA and all shares in the Corum-Group
- Advising OC Oerlikon Corporation AG in the acquisition of Sulzer Metco, in the sale of its Solar Business to a Tokyo Electron Limited, and its Natural Fibers and Textile Components Business Units to the Chinese Jinsheng Group
- Advising Knorr-Bremse AG the in the acquisition of Selectron Systems AG, Lyss
- Advising Paragon Partners on the acquisitions of Condecta AG and KADI AG
- Advising Invision Private Equity AG in an extensive number of transactions
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Labour and Employment 2023 in: Swiss M&A 2023, Fourth Edition, Law Business Research, August 2023
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Pricing 2023 in: Swiss M&A 2023, Fourth Edition, Law Business Research, August 2023
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Pricing 2022 in: Swiss M&A 2022, Third Edition, Law Business Research, June 2022
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Labour and Employment 2022 in: Swiss M&A 2022, Third Edition, Law Business Research, June 2022
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Labour and Employment 2021 in: Swiss M&A 2021, Second Edition, Law Business Research, July 2021
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Pricing, 2021 in: Swiss M&A 2021, Second Edition, Law Business Research, July 2021
- The M&A Law Review – Swiss Chapter, 2021 The M&A Law Review, 2021, Edition 14 (Law Business Research Ltd.)
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Pricing, 2020 in: Swiss M&A 2020, First Edition, Law Business Research, 11 August 2020
- LexGTDT: Swiss M&A: Labour and Employment 2020 in: Swiss M&A 2020, First Edition, Law Business Research, 11 August 2020
- IFLR China Outbound Investment Report on Switzerland: Uncertain Futures in: IFLR Magazine, China Outbound Investment Special Focus 2020: Switzerland, Summer 2020
- COVID-19 Swiss Government Measures Supporting Business, 2020
- Private equity in Switzerland: market and regulatory overview, 2020 in: Practical Law/ Thomson Reuters, 1 March 2020
- The M&A Law Review – Swiss Chapter, 2019 in: The M&A Law Review, 2019, Edition 13 (Law Business Research Ltd.)
- IFLR China Outbound Investment Report on Switzerland: Stability, reputation, openness in: IFLR Magazine, China Outbound Investment Special Focus 2019: Switzerland, June/July 2019
- Private equity in Switzerland – market and regulatory overview, 2020 in: Practical Law/ Thomson Reuters, 2020
- Chinese Investments in Switzerland, September 2018
- The M&A Law Review – Swiss Chapter, 2018 in: The M&A Law Review, 2018, Edition 12 (Law Business Research Ltd.)
- IFLR China Outbound Investment Report in: IFLR Magazine, April 2018
- Private Equity in Switzerland: Market and regulatory overview, 2016/17 in: Practical Law Multi-jurisdictional Guide 2016/17 Private Equity and Venture Capital, Thomson Reuters (14 Pages; 4148 kb)
- Completing M&A Transactions Successfully with Chinese Companies in a Swiss Context, 2015 in: LexisNexis Mergers & Acquistions Law Guide 2015, 2015 (9 pages; 412 kb)
- Dealing with chinese companies – the legal advisor’s point of view, 2014 Presentation held at the Conference “Completing M&A Transactions Successfully with Chinese Companies” on 3 November 2014
2003
Admitted to the Bar of New York
2002
New York University School of Law, LL.M. in Comparative Jurisprudence
2001
Admitted to the Bar of Zurich, Rechtsanwalt
1998
University of Fribourg, Licentiatus iuris, magna cum laude
1997
Université Libre de Bruxelles School of Law, Brussels, Belgium, Swiss–Belgian Exchange Program, Studies of European and International law
Best Lawyers 2019 – 2026
Chambers Global 2019 – 2025
Chambers Europe 2019 – 2025
IFLR1000 2020 – 2024 – Notable Practicioner
Legal500 EMEA 2019 – 2025: Recommended
Lexology Index – Switzerland 2025
Lexology Index – M&A and Governance 2025
Lexology Index – Switzerland 2024
- Swiss Bar Association
- Zurich Bar Association
- NYSBA New York State Bar Association
- IBA International Bar Association
2015
Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey (since 2024 member of NKF’s Executive Committee)
2010
Senior Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
2007
Secondment to Allende & Brea, Buenos Aires, one of the largest and most prestigious full-service law firms in Argentina
2004
Associate, Niederer Kraft Frey
2002
Associate with a New York a law firm with highly specialized experience in international business transactions
1999
Traineeship with a Zurich law firm
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Spanish