Urs Haegi
Attorney at Law / Senior Counsel
Urs Haegi is leader of VISCHER's transport/aviation team and immigration team. He has been advising business owners and their companies on corporate and contract law, in transactions, business structuring and succession planning, since the beginning of his legal career in 1990. He has extensive experience in establishing businesses in Switzerland and is also an acknowledged expert in the field of work and residency permits. Urs Haegi was Managing Partner of Vischer from 2006 to 2011, president of the Zurich Bar Association in 2009 and 2010 and from 2017 to 2019 he was the president of the Swiss Bar Association.
Languages
German, English, French
"VISCHER advises and represents airline companies on the cantonal, federal, European, and international levels in questions regarding damage, insurance, contract negotiations, acquisition of aircraft, and regulatory matters. Practice head Peter Kühn supports major clients with contract, transport and aviation law related issues. Christoph Niederer and Tobias F. Rohner advise companies in the transport industry on tax-related matters whilst Urs Haegi supports on corporate work."
The Legal 500 - 2024
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Who's Who Legal Thought Leader - 2024
"Urs is a fantastic immigration lawyer" "He is a leading name in Switzerland" "Mr Haegi is well-known and respected in the immigration market"
Who's Who Legal - 2023
"Urs is one of the best in Switzerland for corporate immigration"
Who's Who Legal - 2023
"Peter Kühn and Urs Haegi are very supportive and service-orientated, meaning we always receive swift and competent replies in written or oral form. Beside that there is a always a personal note and much empathy. They really try to understand our business."
Legal 500 - 2022
"Urs Haegi: very client-oriented, very pragmatic and not complicated."
Legal 500 - 2022
"VISCHER's transport practice regularly acts for airlines on insurance, regulatory and transactional matters. The firm is also the primary legal consultant for Swiss International Air Lines; in recent work, it represented the client in a high-value tax litigation case before the Federal Court, assisted with international employment laws, and handled corporate governance and data protection duties. Other work includes acting for Jet Aviation in various disputes. Team head Urs Haegi and Christoph Niederer are the main names to note."
Legal 500 - 2020
"Urs Haegi is a seasoned expert with profound and highly valued knowledge of work and residency payments."
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"Recommended for Transport"
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"Recommended for Corporate Immigration"
Who's Who Legal - 2020
"VISCHER mit seinem Transport/Luftfahrt Team wurde als eine der fünf meist genannten Anwaltskanzleien im Bereich Luftfahrt geehrt."
BILANZ-Ranking "Top-Anwaltskanzleien - 2019
"VISCHER's transport department specialises in acting for airlines on corporate matters, contract negotiations and transactions, as well as insurance cases. Christoph Niederer and Urs Haegi are advising Swiss International Air Lines on various legal aspects concerning international employment, social security and tax issues. Managing associate Peter Kühn is another name to note."
Legal 500 - 2019
"Vischer's Urs Haegi is one of foremost corporate immigration lawyers in the country. He is recognised by sources as "a really excellent attorney" and "a specialist" when it comes to relocations and residency permit matters."
Who's Who Legal - 2019
"Vischer's Urs Haegi is recognised as "an important lawyer" who "really stands out" for his work in the field of transport law. He is "very active in aviation," and provides expert advice on a number of complex corporate matters."
Who's Who Legal - 2019
"Top firm’ Vischer recently saw an increase in instructions from the aviation sector, but also covers the full spectrum of rail and maritime issues. The team supports Swiss International Airlines in various international tax matters as main adviser in Switzerland and also represented the client successfully against patent violation allegations regarding a mobile ticket application. Other recent highlight work includes advising DLH Fuel Company’s acquisition of a 12% stake in Unterflurbetankungsanlage Flughafen Zürich from an oil company. Deutsche Lufthansa is another key client. Christoph Niederer and associate Martin Dubach are recommended. Urs Haegi heads the practice."
Legal 500 - 2018
"VISCHER sees two leading immigration practitioniers highlighted in this chapter. Urs Haegi is 'an excellent immigration lawyer'. He is recognised by market sources for his 'great clientele' who include corporate entities looking to establish businesses in Switzerland, and is known for his particularly impressive expertise handling residency permits. Beatrice Klaesi wins strong praise from sources who commend her 'high attention to detail' when dealing with a wide array of immigration law matters."
Who's Who Legal - 2018
"Urs Haegi at VISCHER stands out as 'a main man' in the Swiss transport market who is particularly recognised for his outstanding work across the aviation space. Peter Kühn is widely recognised for his excellent aviation practice where he provides first-rate and effective counsel to both national and international clients."
Who's Who Legal - 2018
"At VISCHER, the 'excellent' Urs Haegi is internationally renowned as a worldclass immigration lawyer and is highly sought after by clients seeking to establish a business presence in the country."
Who's Who Legal - 2017
"VISCHER is a leading player in the aviation space, regularly advising and representing airline companies and affiliated clients in both non-contentious and contentious matters. Two individuals are selected for inclusion. Practice head Urs Haegi is described as 'a well-known, active practitioner in the field' by one respondent. He offers clients considerable experience in contract drafting and negotiations. Disputes specialist Thomas Weibel is recognised for his excellent work handling international contentious issues on both a national and international level."
Who's Who Legal - 2017
"Das VISCHER Immigration Team wurde von Acquisition International (AI) als beste Business Immigration Law Firm Switzerland ausgezeichnet."
Acquisition International (AI) - 2016
"Das Luftfahrt Team wurde von Finance Monthly als "Aviation Law Firm of the Year" ausgezeichnet."
Finance Monthly - 2016
"Vischer has been representing Swiss International Air Lines in an administrative dispute regarding a licence for flights between Geneva and Lugano, which was appealed by competitor Darwin Airlines. It also acted for Element Financial and Aviation Finance Company in aircraft financing deals. Urs Haegi has ‘extensive knowledge of the air transport industry’."
Legal 500 - 2016
"Vischer's Urs Haegi advises clients on work permits and is a 'highly respected' practitioner in the field. Clients appreciate his 'calm demeanour' and 'quick turnaround'."
Who's Who Legal - 2016
"Vischer has been representing Swiss International Air Lines and other Lufthansa Group companies in a dispute with Zurich Airport about airport charges. It also handled several aircraft financing deals, such as advising Minsheng Financial Leasing on a sale-and-leaseback transaction of an Airbus aircraft registered in Switzerland with Air Berlin. Urs Haegi has ‘extensive knowledge of the air transport industry’."
Legal 500 - 2015
"Vischer's Urs Haegi is a 'real asset to the firm'. He is a 'great strategist' and is celebrated for his 'unique ability to make complex immigration matters straightforward for clients'."
Who's Who Legal - 2015
"At Vischer, Urs Haegi is noted for his 'very sharp mind' and 'solutionsoriented approach' to matters. He has a 'stellar client list' and is 'held in high esteem' by peers. Thomas Weibel comes highly recommended for his 'detailed yet commercial advice'."
Who's Who Legal - 2015
"2014 Global Mobility and Immigration Award by Acquisition International Global Media Ltd"
Corporate Immigration Attorney of the Year - 2014
"Urs Haegi heads a-lawyer team at Vischer covering aviation and transport law matters. A recent highlight was representing SWISS in a complex commercial and regulatory dispute relating to self-service check-in machines at Zurich airport."
Legal 500 - 2014
"At Vischer, Urs Haegi is the team leader of the aviation practice and is 'very well regarded' in Switzerland and internationally."
Who's Who Legal - 2014
"Urs Haegi at Vischer is an 'excellent' lawyer with extensive experience establishing businesses in Switzerland. Clients endorse his 'outstanding capabilities' in the field of work and residency permits."
Who's Who Legal - 2014