Excellent in Capital Markets

Highly recommended in Banking & Finance

"Sharp-minded Markus Guggenbühl and Adrian Dörig are best known in the market – extremely responsive, straightforward and solution driven. Both have vast experience in banking and finance matters and are fully committed to top quality of work."

Recommended for Banking and Finance Law

Recognized as Highly regarded Lawyer 2024

"Markus Guggenbühl was very methodical, had a clear understanding of the framework and stood out for his high conviction, which really made a difference."

‘Markus Guggenbühl and Adrian Dörig are very responsive, highly skilled and have long-lasting experience.’

‘Markus Guggenbühl, Adrian Dörig, Jana Essebier, Christian Oetiker and Thomas Weibel are just great lawyers – very accessible, highly skilled, most experienced.’

"He has a very profound and sound knowledge of Swiss banking and insolvency matters. He is also highly responsive."

"Markus Guggenbühl and David Weber: very competent team, immediate availability, quick and responsive."

"Very experienced, thorough, deep industry knowledge, well connected."

The VISCHER team has a notable sweet spot in public takeovers and proxy solicitations but also assists issuers and underwriters with the listing of securities at the SIX Swiss Exchange. The group is sought after by clients from the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors in particular, but also acts for banks, securities dealers, insurance companies, hedge funds, and asset managers. Adrian Dörig leads the team, which also includes key practitioners Markus Guggenbühl, Jana Essebier and counsel Peter Kühn.

Recommended for Banking - Finance

Rated as Highly Regarded

"Proactive, leaves room to his team to develop solutions and excellent management of the team."

"At VISCHER, the team is active in financing transactions, banking-related dispute resolution, insolvencies and fintech. The broad client portfolio includes a mix of domestic and foreign banks, funds, insurance companies, securities dealers and asset managers. The team is jointly led by Markus Guggenbühl, who is also well versed in financial market regulations, and Adrian Dörig, who specialises in structured finance transactions. Jana Essebier is noted for her expertise in financial instruments, including derivatives and structured products, and is also active in fintech-related matters, where she advises on crowdfunding, mobile payments and blockchain. Stefan Grieder in Basel and senior associate David Weber are further key contacts."

"VISCHER advises on a broad spectrum of capital market matters, including IPOs (where it is particularly active in the life sciences industry), bond issues and regulatory matters. The client portfolio is similarly diverse with national and foreign banks, hedge funds, and companies, among others, instructing the team. Team leader Markus Guggenbühl focuses on debt financing, capital market transactions and public takeovers, while Jana Essebier is well versed in structured products and other financial instruments. Basel-based Matthias Staehelin and Robert Bernet are other key practitioners."

"The team at VISCHER is led by Basel-based David Jenny, who has extensive experience in assisting governing bodies of companies and creditors and in acting as liquidator. The team is also involved in bank bankruptcy proceedings. Another key member is Jana Essebier; her practice includes dispute resolution and regulatory law. Markus Guggenbühl and Thomas Weibel in Basel are also noted."

Markus Guggenbühl handles banking litigations, regulatory advice and syndicated lending, undertaking instructions from leading domestic and international banks. Clients regularly praise his pragmatism and solution-oriented approach.

Markus Guggenbühl handles banking litigations, regulatory advice and syndicated lending, undertaking instructions from leading domestic and international banks. Clients regularly praise his pragmatism and solution-oriented approach.

"Markus Guggenbühl draws widespread praise from peers who commend his extensive experience advising both Swiss and foreign banks on reorganisations and insolvency proceedings."

"Derivatives, securities listings, IPOs, bond issues and fintech products constitute the core areas of advice at VISCHER. Markus Guggenbühl assists UK-based Elliott Advisors on Swiss securities laws, takeover and disclosure rules in connection with several matters, while Robert Bernet advised Openlimit Holding during its authorised investment capital increase; its shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Matthias Staehelin advised Crispr Therapeutics on a $130m public offering of shares on Nasdaq."

"VISCHER's banking and finance team covers banking insolvency, acquisition finance, cross-border lending, aircraft finance, regulatory advice, fintech matters and banking litigation. Practice head Markus Guggenbühl advises PricewaterhouseCoopers as liquidator of Lehman Brothers on a long-term basis, and Adrian Dörig assisted Myovant Sciences with securing flexible financing commitments worth up to $140m from Nova Quest Capital Management and Hercules Capital. Helvetia Schweizerische Lebensversicherung and Export Development Canada are longstanding clients of the practice."

"Markus Guggenbühl advises on banking regulatory and contentious matters, including those that arise out of high-profile Swiss bankruptcy proceedings. Sources appreciate that 'he can find pragmatic solutions' and praise his 'speed and efficiency'."

"Vischer is 'extremely well connected on an international level and has unique market expertise to deal with complex derivatives and financial instruments'. The practice advised Bâloise and Basler Leben on their CHF288m acquisition of majority shares in Pax Anlage, followed by a public takeover offer for the remaining shares; and also supported CRISPR Therapeutics during its $92m IPO on NASDAQ Global Market. The 'solution-oriented' Markus Guggenbühl and Jana Essebier are recommended, as is the 'responsive' Benedict Christ."

"Vischer has 'a very strong financing practice' that is 'pro-active, forward-looking and creative in generating solutions'. The team advised an international bank who acted as a lender in relation to a credit facility granted to an oil and gas company. Practice head Markus Guggenbühl is an 'outstanding strategic thinker', while insolvency expert Jana Essebier is also recommended. The 'service-oriented' Benedict Christ and Christian Oetiker are the key contacts for banking M&A and litigation."

"Vischer is known for its expertise in liquidation and bankruptcy proceedings revolving around banks. The practice successfully defended PwC in its role as liquidator of Lehman Brothers Finance in court proceedings brought by two companies of the Klaus Tschira group. Clients also include Weidenareal Metall and LoneStar. Team lead David Jenny, Markus Guggenbühl, Jana Essebier and Christian Oetiker are the key advisers."

"The 'very solution-oriented' Markus Guggenbühl has a strong focus on bankruptcy proceedings and liquidations, as well as acting on cross-border litigation and derivatives transactions. He represented Berenberg in FINMA approval proceedings. One client reports: 'He is very responsive, comes well prepared to discussions, anticipates questions and talks about problems.'"

Rated as Leading Lawyer

"Clients say that department head Markus Guggenbühl 'understood the needs of the commercial side.' He advises clients on debt and acquisition finance. He also represents clients in restructuring and insolvency matters. He has considerable experience of financial services Regulation.'"

"The 'quick and efficient' team at Vischer provides 'sound and practical advice' on financing transactions and banking regulatory matters. Recent work includes assisting Aviation Finance Company with several aircraft financing deals, handling ongoing regulatory advice to Julius Bär and advising PwC as liquidator of the Swiss Lehman Brothers entities. The 'knowledgeable and pragmatic' Adrian Dörig and the 'highly competent' Markus Guggenbühl head the practice."

"The team at Vischer 'provides very prompt and reliable advice'. Recent work includes assisting Cytos Biotechnology with its restructuring of convertible notes and outstanding mandatory convertible bonds listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Other clients include Julius Bär, Helvetia Insurance and PwC as liquidators of Lehman Brothers in Switzerland. Practice head Markus Guggenbühl and Robert Bernet are recommended."

"Markus Guggenbühl assists banks, financial services providers and companies with debt financing, capital markets transactions and financial services regulations. He receives strong market recognition and is described as 'a brilliant lawyer.'"

"Markus Guggenbühl heads the 'highly competent' team at Vischer, which has recently worked on several aircraft financing deals, with Aviation Finance Company, Element Financial, and Minsheng Financial Leasing as clients. Other work included continuing to advise PwC as liquidator of the Swiss Lehman Brothers entities. Other clients include Credit Suisse and Julius Bär."

"Vischer’s capital markets and M&A teams work closely together, advising on proxy solicitation and public takeovers. It recently assisted Swiss energy provider Alpiq with the issuance of hybrid securities and perpetual subordinated loan notes with an aggregate value of over CHF1bn. Markus Guggenbühl is the main contact."

"Vischer continues to advise PwC as liquidator of Lehman Brothers in Switzerland. Markus Guggenbühl and Adrian Dörig are the main contacts."

"Vischer’s team is led by Markus Guggenbühl. Its recent work includes advising two Swiss private banks on implementing a new strategy for cross-border wealth management."

"Vischer’s advice is 'robust, sound, professional, effective and altogether impressive'. Recent work includes advising UBS on a CHF240m secured syndicated loan for listed real estate company Züblin, and it continues to advise PwC as liquidator of the Swiss Lehman Brothers entities. Markus Guggenbühl heads the team."

"Head of department Markus Guggenbühl is recognised for his banking and finance and capital markets practice. He advises the liquidators of Lehman Brothers in Switzerland."

"Department head Markus Guggenbühl wins particular praise for his analytical skills. He continues to advise PwC on its liquidation of Lehman Brothers."

"Vischer 'provides very prompt and reliable advice' at 'very competitive rates'. Practice head Markus Guggenbühl and Robert Bernet are recommended. The firm was appointed as transaction counsel by Julius Bär on its CHF350m additional tier one capital placement."

"Markus Guggenbühl heads the banking and finance team at Vischer. He handles debt, equity and hybrid financial instruments as well as debt financing and financial services regulation."