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Ernst & Young's Swiss practice changed leaders in July 2012 when Philip Robinson took over after Dominik Bürgy transferred internally to deal with client demand. The transfer pricing practice has teams in Zurich and Geneva. Within the last year, the ... [more]

Ernst & Young's Swiss practice changed leaders in July 2012 when Philip Robinson took over after Dominik Bürgy transferred internally to deal with client demand. The transfer pricing practice has teams in Zurich and Geneva. Within the last year, the transfer pricing team, led by Jean-Marc Girard, worked closely with multiple offices of Ernst & Young and teams from various disciplines to provide customised advice on three simultaneous, multijurisdictional business restructuring projects.

Other services include Swiss and global transfer pricing documentation, transfer pricing policy design, audit defence, controversy, planning and business reorganisation projects and implementation, advance pricing agreements, principal rulings, and tax effective supply chain management (TESCM) structure maintenance.

Advice on tax optimisation, including minimisation is the core service that PwC's Swiss tax practice offers. Among the notable work PwC advised on last year was an intercompany reorganisation in connection with a planned joint venture. PwC's innovative ... [more]

Advice on tax optimisation, including minimisation is the core service that PwC's Swiss tax practice offers. Among the notable work PwC advised on last year was an intercompany reorganisation in connection with a planned joint venture. PwC's innovative solution involved setting up separate Dutch companies to allow a future joint venture partner to invest in the business, and shifting the trading hub of the business from Madeira to Geneva, all in close collaboration between the client and advisers in Switzerland and Portugal.

The firm recruited Cédric Bignens from Ernst & Young.

Other work involved advising on extremely complex tax due diligence on behalf of a company acquiring interests in gas pipelines in Switzerland and the EU. The PwC team took the lead in defining an appropriate acquisition and post-transaction structure. Limited by restrictions imposed by the financing banks and Swiss commercial law, the team developed an acquisition structure to minimise transaction taxes and ongoing tax. At the same time, this ensured tax payback of debt. The team also negotiated a rare tax pushdown reducing the client's capital taxes close to zero.

The Deloitte tax department is led by Reto Savoia and numbers more than 200 professionals. "They are very responsive and knowledgeable," commented one client who singles out Jacques Kistler and Vincent Scholler.The firm attracted several senior lateral ... [more]

The Deloitte tax department is led by Reto Savoia and numbers more than 200 professionals. "They are very responsive and knowledgeable," commented one client who singles out Jacques Kistler and Vincent Scholler.

The firm attracted several senior lateral partners from competitors to join the tax practice in the summer of 2012. This has strengthened the range of tax services, for private individuals and companies of all sizes across all industries.

The firm has broad national coverage with tax specialists in six cities: Basel, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, and Zurich, where it is headquartered.

Over the past year the firm's M&A tax team provided tax structuring and transaction support on various deals. The transfer pricing team has worked on a range of projects ranging from policy reviews, intangible property structuring, service fee concepts, principal structures, to business model transformation work.

The firm also advised on managing documentation and defence projects both for Swiss and global multinational companies.

Tax Partner – Taxand expanded significantly this year with eight new advisers joining between May 2011 and May 2012 and another set to join in the coming months. The tax team now totals 10 partners and 19 fee earners.The firm's atypical structure means ... [more]

Tax Partner – Taxand expanded significantly this year with eight new advisers joining between May 2011 and May 2012 and another set to join in the coming months. The tax team now totals 10 partners and 19 fee earners.

The firm's atypical structure means that all partners are on its board and manage the firm.

Bernhard Zwahlen, a former Ernst & Young partner, took up the same position with Taxpartner – Taxand in April 2012. Zwahlen has more than 30 years experience of national and international tax practice.

The firm has worked on a number of extensive deals including the reorganisation of an international hotel business, the transfer of a foreign principal company to Switzerland and advising a Swiss telecommunications company on sale to private equity corporation.

Altorfer Duss & Beilstein is a specialist tax law firm covering all areas of corporate tax, individual tax, VAT, tax litigation and transfer pricing.The practice operates under the joint leadership of Jürg Altorfer and Andreas Helbing. Nine of its 16 ... [more]

Altorfer Duss & Beilstein is a specialist tax law firm covering all areas of corporate tax, individual tax, VAT, tax litigation and transfer pricing.

The practice operates under the joint leadership of Jürg Altorfer and Andreas Helbing. Nine of its 16 partners and fee earners have a doctorate. Three new advisers joined the firm this year.

Work this year included advising on the initial public offering (IPO) of Glencore International which was the largest ever on the premium listing segment of the London Stock Exchange. Advice included a complex restructuring of the unique shareholder structure, which needed to be dissolved before the IPO and the tax burden of shareholders minimised.

Baker & McKenzie's tax division is under the leadership of Hans Koch. The team is made up of nine partners and 13 fee earners. Two new practitioners joined the firm in the last 12 months.The firm has been most active on corporate tax and transfer pricing ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's tax division is under the leadership of Hans Koch. The team is made up of nine partners and 13 fee earners. Two new practitioners joined the firm in the last 12 months.

The firm has been most active on corporate tax and transfer pricing work this year. They are representing a client on preparations for negotiations on a mutual agreement procedure under the Swiss-French double tax treaty.

Kilian Perroulaz is representing a client on the transfer and establishment of a headquarters company dealing with European operations to Switzerland. The firm also acted as lead adviser on tax and corporate post-acquisition planning and restructuring of the acquired group headquartered in Switzerland.

The tax division at Bär & Karrer is managed by Raoul Stocker and includes six partners and eight fee earners. The firm has exemplary Swiss tax expertise said one client who added: "I am impressed about their speed and dedication."Transfer pricing and ... [more]

The tax division at Bär & Karrer is managed by Raoul Stocker and includes six partners and eight fee earners. The firm has exemplary Swiss tax expertise said one client who added: "I am impressed about their speed and dedication."

Transfer pricing and corporate tax have been key areas of work for the firm over the past 12 months. In March 2012, Daniel Lehmann advised Pentair on its all-stock merger with Tyco's international flow control business. And Peter Reinarz represented Urion Mining International, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Trafigura Beheer, in an international restructuring under a share purchase agreement. The deal led to Trafigura Beheer acquiring control of 90% of the shares of Iberian Minerals Crop. The team also advised on a restructuring that required the implementation of a new transfer pricing system for a global commodities dealer. The firm has also been active in providing advice to a large hedge fund on transfer pricing matters. The work also meant dealing with disputes with the tax administration.

Hubertus Ludwig and Thomas Ziegler are the joint heads of Ludwig+Partner, which they formed after leaving Vischer’s tax department in Basel in 2010. The practice consists of two other partners and seven fee earners.

The tax department at Niederer Kraft & Frey is under the leadership of Thomas Graf and includes three partners and eight fee earners.In 2011 the firm recruited a new counsel who has experience of advising pension funds and Laurence Uttinger an associate.Notable ... [more]

The tax department at Niederer Kraft & Frey is under the leadership of Thomas Graf and includes three partners and eight fee earners.

In 2011 the firm recruited a new counsel who has experience of advising pension funds and Laurence Uttinger an associate.

Notable work this year includes advising on the sale of 100% of the shares in Siemens Leasing AG by Siemens Financial Services GmbH. Daniela Schmucki led the team working this matter, which was structured as a share deal.

Primetax has expanded its operation with five new recruits from firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, PwC and Treuhand Fässler & Partner. The team now totals five partners and nine fee earners.Clients rate Stefan Widmer, the department head, as the firm's key ... [more]

Primetax has expanded its operation with five new recruits from firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, PwC and Treuhand Fässler & Partner. The team now totals five partners and nine fee earners.

Clients rate Stefan Widmer, the department head, as the firm's key specialist for international tax planning and Adrian Wyss for VAT planning and compliance.

"In both areas the advice and deliverables were very customer oriented, quick and to the point," commented a client. "The fee for the services provided was very competitive as well; thus, excellent value for money."

Another client said: "Stefan is very good, professional, efficient and straight-to-the point. We often go to him with specific questions and he always answers back in a timely manner with a very precise, clear and pragmatic answer. That's what I really appreciate about him. Stefan is very knowledgeable about Swiss principal companies, which are quite attractive to lots of multinationals trying to centralise their global supply chain operations."

"Adrian has been mostly working with some of my colleagues, he's also very good and very meticulous, my high recommendations to those two gentlemen," the client added.

Widmer led a team advising DMG Group on the combination of its sales services activities in Europe with Mori Seiki. The sales and service operations of both companies in European countries were brought together in a new joint venture establishment in Switzerland.

Widmer, along with Miklos Komaromy, assisted a client in a tax dispute following distribution of a dividend from Switzerland to its Irish mother company. This dividend payment was subject to Swiss withholding tax and the client applied for the reporting procedure based on the EU Savings Directive. This was refused because of an application error leading to a dispute which the firm Prime Tax was asked to assist.

Tax Expert International holds a good position in the Swiss market and is active across a range of tax business lines. Richard Wuermli is the head of the 12-strong practice.Wuermli and his team are advising Danaher and X-Rite, one an industrial and the ... [more]

Tax Expert International holds a good position in the Swiss market and is active across a range of tax business lines. Richard Wuermli is the head of the 12-strong practice.

Wuermli and his team are advising Danaher and X-Rite, one an industrial and the other a medical technology businesses, on a friendly takeover between the two NYSE-listed companies.

In tax dispute work, the firm defended a real estate company's acquisition structure including the leveraged buy-out and interest charges, which the Zurich tax authorities disputed.

The firm has some well-known companies as clients including Lufthansa, UBS, Vorwerk International and INA Schaeffler-Continental.

Baker Tilly OBT is an independent member of Baker Tilly International. It is run by Fabian Petrus, who leads a team of 13 tax professionals.The practice serves clients of all sizes including multinational corporations, mid-market companies and small ... [more]

Baker Tilly OBT is an independent member of Baker Tilly International. It is run by Fabian Petrus, who leads a team of 13 tax professionals.

The practice serves clients of all sizes including multinational corporations, mid-market companies and small family-owned businesses.

Corporate tax and indirect tax matters have been the best sources of work for the firm over the past 12 months. A five-person team advised a corporation and its shareholders on various declarations to do with the new capital contributions principle.

Other work included advising shareholders on a reorganisation from abroad to Switzerland.

Burckhardt has sustained a respectable position in the market and stable growth. Rolf Wüthrich is head of department and leads a team with specialist skills in direct and indirect taxesSince its establishment in 2010, the firm has focused on international ... [more]

Burckhardt has sustained a respectable position in the market and stable growth. Rolf Wüthrich is head of department and leads a team with specialist skills in direct and indirect taxes

Since its establishment in 2010, the firm has focused on international transactions and structures including complex international planning advice. The team has international experience and a well-established network with foreign advisers.

The team provided analysis and advice on Swiss internal transfer pricing during a reorganisation.

Wüthrich, Lejla Habibija and Mark Eichner advised on the international reorganisation of a group structure and the implementation of a tax-efficient hybrid financing structure.

Vischer has strengthened its position this year with the addition of three tax professionals.Under the leadership of Christoph Niederer, the department maintained a strong presence in the market with activity across M&A transactions, corporate financing ... [more]

Vischer has strengthened its position this year with the addition of three tax professionals.

Under the leadership of Christoph Niederer, the department maintained a strong presence in the market with activity across M&A transactions, corporate financing and general corporate tax.

Over the past year the team has obtained many tax rulings related to tax neutral restructurings, entitlement to tax treaty benefits and other various tax issues for existing or newly incorporated companies.

This year, Niederer and Cédric Jenoure advised a private equity fund on the structuring of the acquisition of a Swiss medical group. Niederer also led a deal advising on the restructuring of a multinational asset company. The firm was able to achieve a tax neutral restructuring for both company and shareholders.

Clients praise the firm for its responsiveness and the level of attention from partners on almost all cases.

The tax team at Wenger & Vieli is gaining visibility in the market, say peers and clients. The tax team is led by Stephan Hürlimann and includes three partners and two fee earners."We appreciate the professional and prompt work of this law firm and Wenger ... [more]

The tax team at Wenger & Vieli is gaining visibility in the market, say peers and clients. The tax team is led by Stephan Hürlimann and includes three partners and two fee earners.

"We appreciate the professional and prompt work of this law firm and Wenger & Vieli's ability to advise in all relevant tax fields. We can warmly recommend Wenger & Vieli," one client said.

"Beside everyday counselling," said another. "Wenger & Vieli has supported PAVATEX in the last two years in questions concerning Swiss law in capital increase and participation of new major shareholders and in restructuring of the PAVATEX group holding structure."

Bruno Bächli, Barbara Brauchli Rohrer and Hürlimann are among the firm's strongest practitioners with extensive experience in tax advisory, peers said.

Notable work over the past year includes acting on the first share buyback under a new tax regime, advising on a cross-border transaction that involved complex specialist tax advice in relation to the topic of old-reserve.

The firm serves clients across the pharmaceutical, petrochemical and technology sectors, and listed investment companies are also among the client base.