Private Clients
Our private clients practice provides comprehensive legal and tax advice to individuals and their families in Switzerland and around the world on all aspects that can be relevant to their personal and financial affairs. Our team has recognized expertise and vast experience in complex asset structuring and restructuring, estate planning and matrimonial agreements, international inheritance litigation and matrimonial property disputes, family governance, relocations including work and residence permits and philanthropy. Our clients appreciate our pragmatic, creative and solution-oriented advice. Beyond our several working languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian), our multicultural mindset and empathic approach allows us to understand the issues of our clients. We efficiently communicate in various jurisdictions and successfully collaborate with advisors worldwide. We offer a talented and intergenerational team and a first class global referral network of private client lawyers and other advisors.
Our team offers you access to experts in the following areas:
Our lawyers, public notaries and tax experts have broad experience earned through working cross-border with affluent families over many generations.
“A family is more than its members, it is their meaningful connection.”
MoreWe recognize that for our clients wealth preservation and asset protection are paramount. We endeavour to help them achieve this and regularly work on structuring and re-structuring of their worldwide assets and the protection of their interests in a clear, transparent and efficient manner.
“Be creative, be modern and stay one step ahead.”
MoreOur team supports clients in all matters concerning marriage, matrimonial property, divorce and issues involving children.
“The past is given; the future is yet in your power.”
MoreOur team assists families with family governance and the implementation of tools for the efficient transfer of wealth and control of family businesses.
“If you understand your values, you are likely to make the right decisions.”
MoreWe deeply care for philanthropy and understand its importance to further human development and protect our planet. Several team members serve on a pro bono basis on the board of Swiss charitable foundations supporting international and domestic charitable projects.
Our umbrella foundation “Sombrilla”, a tax exempted Swiss charitable foundation subject to the supervision of the Federal Foundations’ Supervisory Authority, offers our clients the possibility of channeling their philanthropic endeavors in a cost and tax efficient manner.
“Philanthropy is not about money, it is about the privilege of giving back and humanity.”
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Team
- Frédéric Cottier
- Arnaud Martin
- Thomas Nabholz
- Reinhard Oertli
- Dmitry A. Pentsov
- Philippe Prost
- Dimitri M. Rotter
- Julien Tron
- Maud Udry-Alhanko
- Julie Wynne
- Daniel Bloch
- Catherine Kavadze
- Martin Ammann
- Oliver Arter
- Eric Haymann
- Walter Häberling
- Bernard Lachenal
- Jean-Marie Vulliemin
- Tomás Navarro Blakemore
- Alexandre Fokiadès
- Dragan Djukic
- Noemi Bünter
- Imane Kacem
- Thaís Obrist-Bdine
- Rebecca Isenegger
- Fabienne Häusermann
- Lisa Margot
- Karim Steiner
“MLL Legal is a full-service law firm that is respected for its art and cultural property work, with one source stating: “They have a very strong and thorough knowledge of the art world.” The team advises art collectors, dealers, galleries, foundations and other institutions on contentious and advisory matters”
Publications
Relocation to Switzerland: The Benefits of Residence in the Alpine Country
The Legal 500 - Focus On, May 2023- EN
Transmission d’entreprise: faciliter le passage entre les générations
Fédération des Entreprises Romandes, 01/2023- FR
Nouveau droit des successions en vigueur dès le 1er janvier 2023 : mesures immédiates
MLL-News, 20 Octobre 2022- FR
New inheritance law in force from 1 January 2023 – immediate actions
MLL-News, 20 October 2022- EN
Firm News
Julie Wynne | AIJA Wealth Lab | 13 October 2023
Patricia Guerra | AI vs. EI: What Skills Will We Need in the New World | 14 – 16 September 2023
Senior Associate Promotions Q2 2023: Thaís Obrist-Bdine steps up the MLL Legal career ladder
40 MLL Legal lawyers recognised for Best Lawyers® 2024 award
Julien Tron | Private Client Rising Leaders Brunch | London
News Portal
New Inheritance Law in Force From 1 January 2023 – Immediate Actions
With the entry into force of the inheritance law reform on 1 January 2023, Switzerland is modernising an important part of its more than 100-year-old legislation. The main changes inherent in the new inheritance law[1] are summarised in our Newsletter of 1 June 2021.
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Entry Into Force of “Marriage for All” on 1 July 2022: What Changes?
26 September 2021 marks a historical turning point in terms of rights for the LGBTIQ+ community. On that day, Swiss citizens said yes to “marriage for all”, following developments in neighboring countries in recent years.
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New Swiss Inheritance Law: Entry into force planned for 1 January 2023
The Swiss parliamentary chambers approved the new inheritance law on 18 December 2020. No referendum has been requested for the proposed amendment[1] within the referendum deadline, which expired on 12 April 2021, the Federal Council has accordingly decided at its meeting on 19 May 2021 that it would enter into force on 1 January 2023.
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Covid-19 Crisis – Succession Planning and Planning for Incapacity
The second wave of Covid-19 in the fall of 2020 and the resurgence of the virus in several places in Europe and the world at present, as well as the slow vaccination process, has shown that the virus is not yet under control and that it may still take us a long time to go back to a new normality. The pandemic has given us time to reflect, prioritize and take up projects that were on stand-by because of our busy lives. Many clients have had time to dedicate to solving family matters and have approached us to set up or review their estate planning and to establish mechanisms to protect them and their families in case of incapacity. Broadly speaking, this includes last wills, durable powers of attorney, patient decrees or living wills and any practical or legal measures which can be set up to organise one’s affairs in the event of death or durable incapacity.
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The Impact of Brexit for UK Nationals Considering Moving to Switzerland
One of the consequences of Brexit is that the bilateral Agreement on the Free Movements of Persons between Switzerland and the EU no longer applies to the UK as from 1st January 2021. UK nationals are as a result no longer regarded as EU/EFTA nationals but as “third-country” citizens, who are subject to stricter admission requirements for residence purposes in Switzerland.
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