Marie-Christine Balzan

Julien Witzig is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Julien, who practices law in Geneva, Switzerland, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julien is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Partner Sidonie Morvan has 20-years experience in real estate law with a wealth of expertise in construction law, having expedited developments in both the private (real estate transactions, brokerages, contracts for architects and builders, and leases) and public (planning and construction permits) sectors. Ms Morvan regularly advises developers, architects, real-estate agents, general contractors and property owners on the day-to-day management of their businesses, and can represent them be...

Diana Akikol represents our clients in complex commercial arbitrations and regularly sits as an arbitrator, often as president. She has been involved in more than 65 arbitrations seated in a number of jurisdictions and involving claims governed by various national laws. Her expertise extends to both institutional arbitrations (e.g. Swiss Rules, ICC, LCIA and DIS Rules) and ad hoc arbitrations (including UNCITRAL proceedings). Diana Akikol acts as counsel or arbitrator in all types of contract...

Hubertus Hillerström is a partner in the Banking & Finance Team. He is specialised in national and international financings and mergers & acquisitions, including structured finance as well as private equity and venture capital transactions. He has accompanied numerous commodities and trade finance operations (oil and gas, metals and soft commodities) and follows closely the legislative changes in this field. Hubertus Hillerström also specialises in real estate transactions a...

Rayan Houdrouge advises and represents Swiss and multinational companies as well as international organizations on all employment law matters. He has an extensive experience in executive transfers, compensation packages, work regulations, internal audits and collective procedures such as business transfers and collective dismissals. Rayan Houdrouge is also an accredited social security expert (Swiss federal certificate) and regularly assists clients in matters related to social security and p...

Alexandre Richa is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law and Regulatory Practice. Alexandre, who practices law in Geneva, Switzerland, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alexandre is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah Busca Bonvin is a lawyer and tax expert specialised in both corporate and individual tax law. Together with M. Andrio Orler, she is responsible for CMS’ tax department in Geneva, which she joined in 2017. She worked for 15 years in the Geneva tax administration as Director of the tax affairs where she was responsible for tax rulings before being appointed Deputy Director-General in 2010. This experience has given her significant breadth and depth of knowledge and practice in many ...

Partner Olivier Carrard mainly focuses on Sports law, litigation, arbitration, commercial law, construction law, inheritance law and bankruptcy. Graduated from the University of Fribourg (1982), he was admitted at the Geneva Bar in 1985. He worked at the General Direction of SBS (Basel). He founded his own firm in 1990, and joined ZPG as a partner in 2005, which merged with CMS in 2014. Olivier Carrard is now a Partner of CMS Geneva office. Since January 1st 2016, he has been appointed in 98 ...

Christophe Buchwalder is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Christophe, who practices law in Geneva, Switzerland, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christophe is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Patrick W. Vogel is a partner with Walder Wyss. He specializes in corporate law, as well as in banking and finance. He advises domestic and foreign companies on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. With an education in both business and economics (HEC Lausanne) and law, he began his career by working for several years as an associate in the busy corporate finance departments of two pre-eminent US law firms in New York. Patrick Vogel has advised numerous clients on cross-b...