The market-leading team at Bär & Karrer Ltd. advises its lucrative client base of on the full gamut of matters, including the marketing and advertising of drugs and pricing proceedings. Jointly heading the practice in Zurich, Markus Schott primarily focuses on administrative proceedings, including government supervision and public procurement mandates; Markus Wang  leads on the intellectual property (IP) side, acting for pharma and biotech clients in Swissmedic proceedings; and Philippe Seiler maintains a private equity and M&A focused practice, handling a variety of transactions and regulatory matters involving medical device and drug distribution. Basel based practice co-head Claudia Götz Staehelin is an expert in investigations, disputes, and regulatory issues, representing numerous global pharma giants, while co-head Oliver Brupbacher is noted for his ‘exceptional‘ sector knowledge, and his expertise in crisis management issues and information governance. Jannick Koller left the practice in December 2022.

The Zurich based group at Homburger assists a diverse client base of well-known international pharma and healthcare giants, notably including Novartis, Sandoz, and Sanofi Aventis. The team displays deep bench strength across a variety of areas, including patent enforcement actions against generics producers, and joint ventures. Practice co-head Dieter Gericke has longstanding expertise in transactional matters, including public takeovers, shareholder activism, and public M&A. Co-head Andri Hess regularly acts in IP disputes and arbitrations, whilst maintaining a strong focus on pharma regulatory issues and IT. Co-head Richard Stäuber is known for his vast knowledge of Swiss and European competition issues, acting for clients in merger control proceedings, distribution arrangements, and investigations.

Primarily based in Bern, the team at Kellerhals Carrard handles the full gamut of life sciences and healthcare mandates involving price differentiation and information governance issues, and research and development (R&D) agreements. Co-leading the practice, Jörg von Manger-Koenig is known for his longstanding expertise in advising clients on corporate management issues, and co-head Claudio Helmle is known for his ‘exceptional‘ knowledge of reimbursement and product recalls within the biotech and pharma spaces. Working out of the Basel office, co-head Nicolas Mosimann has ample expertise in advising pharma, biotech, and healthtech startups on manufacturing agreements and licensing mandates. Thomas Eichenberger acts for a variety of clients, including doctors and hospitals on product liability issues.

The ‘highly skilled‘ team at VISCHER acts for a diverse client base of medtech, digital health, and pharma companies in matters concerning the market launch of products, off-label use, and cross-border IVF related issues. Stefan Kohler and Matthias Staehelin jointly lead the team from Zurich and Basel respectively. Staehelin is an expert in transactional matters within the life sciences sector, frequently advising on seed and series financings, M&A, and royalty purchase agreements. Kohler advises both Swiss and overseas corporates on technology transfers and R&D agreements, all whilst acting as an associate judge in the Swiss Federal Patent Court. Christian Wyss is known for handling a broad range of issues, including partnering deals and fundraisings, regularly assisting investors, start-ups, and license terms.

Felix Kesselring leads the Zurich based team at Bratschi Ltd, known for its ‘fortress of knowledge‘ and ‘acute intellectual prowess‘. The group excels at advising on the full gamut of matters, including reimbursements, administrative procedures, and innovation management. The team is also noted for its deep regulatory and contentious expertise, frequently assisting clients with drug pricing cases and laboratory services. Kesselring regularly acts for both Swiss and international clients within the medical device, pharma, and healthcare industries, while Yaël Heymann‘s primary area of focus is on regulatory issues involving data protection and healthcare law.

The team at Lenz & Staehelin acts for a broad range of clients across the biotech, diagnostics, and medical device industries on a wide range of matters, including IP disputes concerning supplementary protection certificates (SPC), and generics and biosimilars. The team is jointly led by Thierry Calame, Harold Frey, Xavier Favre-Bulle, Andreas Rötheli, and Guy Vermeil. In Geneva, Rötheli handles private equity buyouts and real estate issues; Vermeil maintains a technology and outsourcing based practice; and Favre-Bulle is noted for his longstanding experience in arbitrations concerning licences, joint ventures, and post-M&A disputes. In Zurich, IP expert Calame assists clients with licensing issues and copy right litigation, while Frey often handles international arbitrations and cases before Swiss courts, with his main area of focus being general contractual disputes.

Jointly led by Nicola Benz and the ‘very smart, very strategic‘ Simon Holzer, the Zurich based team at MLL Legal acts for universities and pharma companies in matters involving the drafting and negotiation of clinical trial and cooperation agreements, pricing disputes, and the use of blockchain within a pharma context. Benz primarily advises technology companies, investors, and suppliers on outsourcing and collaboration related issues within the life sciences sector. IP litigator Holzer is well known for his broad expertise in matters involving FRAND cases and standard essential patents, with the pharma industry being his key area of focus. Ulrike Ciesla has vast experience in handling patent prosecution and appeal proceedings, while Louisa Galbraith is well versed in mandates concerning unfair competition and trade marks.

Praised for its ‘outstanding‘ work, the team at Pestalozzi acts for a variety of clients, including service providers, financial investors, and manufacturers of medical devices. The group has deep bench strength across a broad range of issues involving import and export regulations, the application of medicinal products, and the distribution of cannabis products. Practice co-head Franz Schubiger is noted for his vast expertise in M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions, and restructurings. Lara Dorigo co-leads the team, and is known for her expansive knowledge of disputes within the life sciences sector, with particular emphasis on small molecules, biosimilars, and monoclonal antibodies. Co-head Christian Roos leads the firm’s employment and pensions practice, advising on social plan negotiations and restrictive covenants within the pharma and medical device industries. Sarah Drukarch regularly assists both domestic and overseas companies on R&D project negotiations, and post-marketing set-ups.

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd handles a broad range of IP disputes, including validity and infringement actions, technology transfers, and clinical trial agreements, whilst advising on regulatory issues involving market surveillance and advertising restrictions. Philipp Groz and Lorenza Ferrari Hofer jointly lead the team in Zurich. Groz regularly represents clients in international arbitrations concerning supply and distribution agreements, in addition to handling IP disputes. Hofer is well versed in mandates involving product development and trade, specifically in relation to data protection and IP. Pascal Hubli maintains a strong transactional practice, handling numerous public takeovers and corporate restructurings. Stéphanie Chuffart-Finsterwald joined the team from Sigma Legal in September 2024.

Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG leverages its international network to assist clients with a broad range of issues, including licence and employment agreements, and clinical trail strategy. The practice is jointly led by Olha Demianiuk and Julia Schieber. Demianiuk has a great deal of expertise in multi-jurisdictional M&A and health product portfolio acquisitions. Noted for her ‘profound‘ industry knowledge, Schieber primarily focuses on IP and IT related issues, including the exploitation of IP rights, and collaboration and R&D agreements. Matthias Courvoisier leads the firm’s capital markets team, acting in a number of public takeovers and IPOs.

The broad team at CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. is well equipped to handle a variety of mandates involving patent enforcement actions, advertising and distribution issues, and tariff negotiations. The group is also noted for its handling of data protection matters and administrative proceedings concerning pricing. Practice co-head Christoph Willi assists numerous outpatient clinics and hospitals with agreements concerning rebate transfers and services. Co-head Patrick Sommer is well versed in matters concerning licenses for medical products, and remedial actions and disclosure to Swissmedic. Alain Raemy has extensive expertise in private M&A, contractual issues, and corporate restructurings.

In Geneva, Sidley Austin LLP assists clients across the pharma, medical device, biotech, and novel foods industries with clinical trials, Swissmedic policies and market surveillance. Andreas Balsiger Betts leads the team, and is noted for his vast knowledge of the Swiss Federal Act on Therapeutic Products, regularly advising on marketing authorisations. The ‘exceptional’ Olivier Goarnisson regularly assists clients with pharmacovigilance issues, non-interventional studies, and supply chain related mandates.

Sigma Legal, jointly led by Stéphanie Chuffart-Finsterwald and Alain Alberini, is noted for its ‘excellent expertise and high quality advice’, assisting a diverse client base of biotech companies, home care entities, and medical institutions. The group regularly handles licensing agreements, in addition to advising on e-health and medical apps. In Geneva, Chuffart-Finsterwald is known for her extensive regulatory knowledge of healthcare and medical law, regularly assisting clients with mandates involving health data and medical secrecy. Working out of the Lausanne office, Alberini is well versed in handling a wide variety of issues, including patient rights and consent forms, and researcher labour agreements.

Valfor Attorneys-at-law houses a broad practice with deep knowledge of public procurement in relation to the construction of clinics, and the financing of medical care. Dividing his time between Zurich and Bern, Marc Metzger leads the team and is noted for his broad expertise in contractual, distribution, and public procurement law. Zurich’s Stefan Scherrer regularly assists with company succession and corporate governance issues. Thomas Goosens departed the practice in September 2022.

Primarily based in Zurich, Walder Wyss Ltd. is noted for assisting healthcare and life sciences associations, healthcare insurance companies, and large hospitals. Practice co-head Michael Isler handles a broad range of technology related issues, including outsourcing, platform, and transfer projects. Working from both the Zurich and Bern offices, co-head Andreas Wildi primarily assists clients with domestic and international reimbursement and pricing mandates. Martin Zobl  has deep expertise in public procurement matters, having handled a range of disputes before administrative bodies.

Wenger Vieli Ltd acts for a variety of start-ups and global players in the pharma and medical device industries in mandates involving joint ventures, M&A, and disputes before the Federal Office of Public Health. In the Zurich office, practice head Frank Scherrer assists a range of biotech, medical device, and pharma companies on market access and establishment licences. Marcel Boller is particularly adept at advising on clinical research and distribution systems.

The team at Wenger Plattner acts for its varied client roster of hospitals, insurance companies, and healthcare organisations. In Basel, practice head Tobias Meili is noted for his broad knowledge of M&A, corporate governance issues, and banking and finance matters, and Carlo Conti regularly assists clients with mandates involving healthcare, governmental, and administrative law. Zurich’s Oliver Künzler handles a range of cross-border M&A, and restructurings.