Michael Pfeifer, Partner

Michael Pfeifer was born in 1947. He has worked for VISCHER in Basel (formerly Schiess Schmid Gloor) since 1975. Michael Pfeifer completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies in Basel.

What is a partner's job at a firm like VISCHER?

A partner ensures that the firm does not run out of work. As a partner, one bears commercial responsibility for the firm. You must acquire new clients, and then of course you must also look after some of them. New clients are acquired mainly in three ways: first, you search actively for new clients; second, you are recommended by existing clients; and third – after you have been in the legal profession for a while – you get clients because of your good reputation or even because you are the only one who handles a specialized area.

Law firms are a dime a dozen. What makes VISCHER special?

We are better, faster, and less expensive. What makes us special is our excellent cost-performance ratio. For example, we have offices in Zurich and Basel. Zurich has the official notary system, while in Basel you can be a civil-law notary as well as an attorney. Thus, we can offer notarial services to Zurich clients. In that way they save costs, because they do not have to pay a civil-law notary in addition to their attorney.

What should young lawyers keep in mind when applying for a job at VISCHER?

Our main expectation of lawyers is that they have very good professional qualifications and that they be able to set priorities in practice. In addition, they must fit in with our firm in terms of personality. VISCHER is the result of a merger between traditional Basel firms and a young Zurich firm. We have a traditional base with a young and courageous senior staff and important specialists. A VISCHER attorney must bring with him this combination of respect, courage, and specialization.

You have been an attorney for many years. Have you not yet had enough of your job?

No. Human exchange is very important to me. I get that exchange as an attorney, thanks to the dedication and independence needed to work in this dream profession. I enjoy every new day in my job!

VISCHER in three words?

Home, livelihood, future.