Bär & Karrer Ltd. has expertise in employment litigation, social security, pension due diligence and audits, mass dismissals, and HR investigations. In Zurich, Laura Widmer and Ruth Bloch-Riemer jointly lead the team, whilst Thomas Stoltz heads the Zug-based team. Widmer, who is a gender equality law expert, advises Swiss and foreign individuals and entities on dismissals, reorganisations, and compensation plans. Stoltz advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of employment and immigration law, with a special focus on group companies opening Swiss offices. Bloch-Riemer has extensive expertise in social security and pension law. Aurélie Conrad Hari and Matthew Reiter handle employment litigation.

Employment law boutique Blesi & Papa has ‘solid know-how and professional expertise’ in individual and collective employment law, pensions and social security, data protection and related areas, work permits for key employees, non-contentious and contentious matters, including litigation in court and representation of clients before arbitral tribunals and administrative agencies. Alfred Blesi, who has a special focus on executive termination agreements and employment and pension litigation, and Roberta Papa, who specialises in global mobility and cross-border employment, secondments, and staff leasing, are founding partners. The firm benefits from litigation experts Thomas Pietruszak and René Hirsiger. At the associate level, the ‘very responsive and highly knowledgeable’ Nina Rabaeus is another key contact in the group.

Homburger’s interdisciplinary team advises national and international blue-chip clients on complex employment matters such as litigation, investigations, bonus schemes, executive renumeration, and mass dismissals. The team is co-headed by Balz Gross, who is the ‘go-to’ contact when it comes to management compensation, employee participation plans, and abuse of information, and Andreas Müller, who advises companies, boards of directors and compensation/nomination committees on top executive transitions and related employment law matters. Gregor Bühler focuses on the intersection of employment to IP and IT law, whilst Gabrielle Nater-Bass focuses on litigation cases and Claude Lambert designs participation plans and handles corporate governance matters on “say on pay”. Jeremy Reichlin supports clients with mass dismissals and the employment-related aspect of restructurings.

Kellerhals Carrard advises clients on various employment issues, such as gender discrimination, internal investigations, mass redundancies, drafting of internal regulations, and compensation claims. The team prides itself on its longstanding relationships with high-level clients, as well as its ability to continuously expand its clientele across various industries including consumer goods and retail, healthcare, life science, and pharma. Team co-head Christoph Zimmerli has extensive expertise in collective labour law, permit law, and occupational benefits. Urs Marti, who also co-heads the team, is a specialist in all issues of employment law from individual and collective employment law to public employment law. The team also benefits from the expertise of employment specialists Daniel Alder and Jonathan Bernasconi .

Niederer Kraft Frey AG has ‘strong expertise’ in all aspects of employment law including compensation plans, working time recording, and employee transfers. The team is also very active in employment litigation cases before the Swiss courts, in particular with regard to wrongful termination claims and bonuses. The team is headed by Catherine Grun Meyer, who advises clients on employment law matters in M&A transactions and on personnel lending and temporary staffing regulations, and Valerie Meyer Bahar, whose expertise include drafting of employment agreements and related documents, compensation matters, terminations, and intra-group personnel hiring. Andreas Casutt specialises in executive compensation and incentive schemes whilst Nicolas Kuonen, who joined from Tavernier Tschanz in January 2023, and Thomas Sprecher are dispute resolution specialists. Livia Keller, who impresses clients with her ‘responsiveness and quick turnaround time’, advises clients on corporate employment law and compensation.

Pestalozzi are a ‘top-level firm’, advising on senior executive disputes and agreements, working time regulations for white- and blue-collar employees, termination of employment agreements, mass redundancies, employee transfers resulting from corporate restructurings, say-on-pay rules for Swiss listed companies, and partial liquidation of pension funds in connection with spin-offs. Department co-head Martin L. Mueller supports clients with the M&A employment aspects, board level disputes, discrimination, whistleblowing, and collective consultation. Christian Roos, who also co-heads the team, has expertise in mass dismissals, social plan negotiations, and restrictive covenants. Andreas Lienhard regularly litigates before labour courts for claims such as summary dismissals, unfair dismissals, bonuses, and gender equality.

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd advises on mandates concerning labour law, as well as employment matters relating to high-end transactions and major disputes. The team has expertise in immigration, data protection, social security, litigation, and employment law matters concerning international and domestic M&A transactions and set-ups. Department head Vincent Carron has extensive experience drafting and reviewing employment documentation and unilateral and collective dismissals. Catherine Weniger, who has particular know-how in restrictive covenant issues and termination agreements, is a key contact in Geneva, whilst Michael Hess, whose practice covers bonus schemes and international employee transfers, is Zurich’s key contact.

VISCHER’s employment team supports clients on issues such as work permits, executive compensation, data protection, staffing, social security, and pension. The team also has particular expertise in internal investigations on harassment and discrimination. The team is headed by Marc Ph. Prinz, who has strong expertise in labour and employment law issues in the context of reorganisations, restructurings (mass dismissals), and transactions. Jeannine Dehmelt and Anela Lucic’s practice covers both contentious and non-contentious matters. Florian Schaub supports on lease of staff and recruiting issues, whilst Gian Geel has expertise in employment litigation.

Walder Wyss Ltd. provides a full employment service to clients including support with litigation, negotiations and conflicts resolution, executive compensation, mass dismissals, international assignments of employees, and governmental support schemes. Basel practice head Philippe Nordmann supports companies and executive employees with setting up compensation schemes, employment contracts, and employee regulations. In Zurich, Irène Suter-Sieber, regularly represents clients in employment-related civil proceedings, and Simone Wetzstein, whose has extensive expertise in questions relating to employers of record and migration matters. Rayan Houdrouge, who advises Swiss and multinational companies, including disruptive technology companies, and international organisations on all employment-related matters, heads the Geneva office.

International firm Baker McKenzie Switzerland AG supports multinational clients on the full spectrum of employment-related matters including employment benefits, mass dismissals, litigation, global mobility of employees, and pension funds. Team head Christoph Stutz advises and represents corporate clients on complex labour issues. Peter Reinert has a special focus on executive compensation, business transfers, and other forms of restructuring. Serge Pannatier regularly represents governmental clients and multinational companies in employment matters. At the associate level, Andreas Becker and Kaspar Projer support the team with their dispute resolution expertise.

BianchiSchwald LLC assists companies, educational institutions, governments, health care institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and senior executives with a wide range of employment matters such as drafting of employment contracts and internal regulations, social security, business transfers, and litigation. Practice head Stephanie Fuld has extensive expertise handling complex participation plans, secondments, hiring of services, transfers, and mass dismissals. Elodie Le Guen has experience litigating cases concerning unfair or immediate dismissals, gender discrimination, post-contractual competition, and related criminal aspects.

CMS von Erlach Partners Ltd. utilises its global network to support international clients with all employment-related matters, with particular expertise in the cross-border aspects of mobile working. Practice head Christian Gersbach advises corporate clients on drafting of employment contracts, employee representation, and dismissals. Daniel Kinzer represents employees and employers in both public and private court litigation. Miryam Meile has extensive expertise in employee leasing and cross-border assignments.

Eversheds Sutherland AG advises on the full range of labour and employment law contentious and non-contentious issues, including immigration and data protection law. The team is co-headed by Olivier Dunant, who has vast experience in drafting regulations, incentive plans, and internal investigations, and Peter Haas, who handles national and international litigation and arbitration. Sarah Leutwiler supports clients with employment contracts and HR policies, whilst Carol Tissot has extensive knowledge of internal investigations.

Lenz & Staehelin advises and represents employers and senior employees in a range of contentious and non-contentious matters including executive compensation, immigration, and transfer of undertakings. In Zurich, Dominique Müller and Matthias Oertle head the team, whilst Sara Rousselle-Ruffieux and Daniel Tunik lead the Geneva team. Rousselle-Ruffieux has expertise in both individual employment relationships, such as company regulations, secondments, and bonus plans, and collective labour relations, namely hiring of services and business transfers. White-collar experts Müller and Tunik support in employment litigation matters, whilst Oertle advises on cross-border restructurings, business transfers and the compensation of executives in public and private companies. Anja Affolter Marino assists and represents clients in such matters in proceedings before Swiss courts and administrative authorities.

MLL Legal advises domestic and international companies in all industry sectors with a particular focus on labour management and litigation resulting from corporate acquisition and restructuring, bonus packages, documentation in connection with lay-off procedures, and negotiations with unions and local administration. Zurich team head Thomas Kälin advises and represents clients on the full range of HR related matters, whilst Geneva team head Alain Gros specialises in cross-border employment relationships and terminations of employment.

MME Legal | Tax | Compliance represents employers and employees in court and arbitration proceedings, as well as advising on the full range of employment law matters, including operational restructuring, internal investigations, and compensation plans. The team is co-headed by the ‘skillful, friendly, and highly professional’ Michèle Stutz and the ‘knowledgeable, responsive, and collaborative employment expert’ Martina Aepli. Raphael Brunner has expertise in internal investigations whilst Alexandra Geiger, Alex Enzler, and Manuela Fuchs advise clients in connection with terminations and the negotiation of termination agreements. Roman Cincelli joined the firm from in-house in February 2023.

Wenger Vieli Ltd has particular strengths in advising large corporate clients on employee and executive relocation and cross-border transfer of employees as well as matters relating to immigration, visas, and work and residence permits. The team also supports clients with employee renumeration models, share ownership plans, and disciplinary and grievance issues. Practice head Stefan Müller, who ‘is very responsive and delivers great quality’, has a special focus on employment law consultancy, relocations and naturalisations, and employee transfers. Sabine Taxer advises clients on all matters relating to private and public employment law. Nathalie Germann advises companies and private individuals in the areas of migration and labour law.

Bratschi Ltd offers support for the full-spectrum of employment law matters from traditional employment law advice and litigation to transaction-related work and public law advice. The firm has particular expertise in personnel regulations, employee incentive schemes, including share and stock option plans, and global mobility. The team is co-headed by Angela Hensch, who has a special focus on employment contracts, and Tobias Herren, who has extensive expertise with termination agreements. Yvo Hungerbühler handles employment related litigation and Céline Hofer supports on employment agreements.

Employment law is one of the main practice areas for boutique firm Gillioz Dorsaz & Associés. The firm supports both employees and employers in all stages of the employment lifecycle, from the initial contracts to dismissals and separation agreements. The team is headed by Vanessa Maraia-Rossel, who regularly assists employers in the drafting of employment contracts and of various company policies such as staff regulations, harassment and whistleblowing policies, bonus schemes, and participation plans. Maraia-Rossel also has extensive expertise in representing clients before the judicial and administrative authorities.

id est avocats sàrl utilises its IP, IT, and corporate knowledge to support domestic and international companies with setting up incentive plans and reviewing compliance of HR information systems tools. The team is headed by Juliette Ancelle, who has extensive experience assisting entrepreneurs, employees, and employers with negotiation of their work packages, employment disputes, and HR and social law compliance matters.

Lustenberger + Partners is a growing boutique that advises and represents international corporations, domestic mid-size companies, and top executives on day-to-day employment advice as well as high-profile, complex disputes. The team is headed by Monika McQuillen, who has expertise in cross-border employment situations, as well as individual and collective employment matters. Michael Lazopoulos has extensive know-how in the employment aspects of restructuring and reorganisations, mass dismissals, and executive compensation.

Mangeat Attorneys at Law LLC's practice covers a wide range of employment law related matters including transfer of undertakings, bonus schemes, social plans, individual and collective dismissals, and harassment disputes. The team is headed by Laurence Crittin, who regularly advises domestic and international companies and individuals on employment law-related data protection issues, immigration, termination agreements, HR practices, and dispute resolution. My-Hué Tan advises clients on the management and mitigation of their legal, business, and operational risks arising from business restructurings, labour relations, and internal investigations. Joël Chevallaz represents employees in complex litigation arising from a transfer of undertaking.

Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte provides support to its longstanding clients on a broad range of employment and labour matters, such as day-to-day employment concerns, complex employment strategies and questions, defending our clients’ interests in court, including ex parte injunctive reliefs, and assisting them in mass dismissals, transfer of business and work controls. The team is co-headed by Thomas Loher, who regularly advises employers and senior management staff on transfers of undertakings and compensation schemes, and Anna Neukom Chaney, who has expertise in domestic and international employment and labour litigation.

The employment team at Wenger Plattner has a special focus on dispute resolution for high-profile companies and individuals, including entrepreneurs and senior management staff. The team is particularly strong in bonus disputes, employment termination litigation, and litigation relating to non-competition clauses including interim relied proceedings and arbitration. The practice is headed by Roland Bachmann, who has extensive experience litigating on separation agreements and complex bonus plans and advising clients on all issues relating to employment law. The team is supported by IP expert Damian Schai and commercial dispute specialist Yannick Hostettler.

Chabrier Avocats's team, headed by Hervé Crausaz and Marc Hassberger, supports clients on all employment and labour law related issues including negotiation and drafting of employment agreements, benefits and compensation, incentive/bonus plans, employee participation plans and collective labour agreements. Crausaz has extensive experience in domestic and international litigation, and dispute resolution in the employment field. Hassberger represents foreign governments and multinational clients in employment and labour law litigation.

Litigation firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH represents companies and ultra-high-net-worth individuals in all employment-related disputes, including breaches of contracts, termination agreements, disputes arising from internal investigations, and issues arising from acquisitions. Practice co-head Thomas Werlen regularly handles high-stakes employment matters, often representing board members and senior management. Remo Decurtins, who also co-heads the team, has a special focus on the representation of corporate and private clients in criminal and regulatory investigations, in particular involving employment-related matters.

Staiger Attorneys at Law Ltd's team offers a full-service employment practice to its clients in both an advisory and litigation capacity. The team often represents employers in SMEs in a variety of employment-related disputes, including collective bargaining agreements and immigration matters. The team head Philipp Haymann specialises in all employment matters and has a specific focus on domestic litigation and arbitration. Other key team members include Jonas Stüssi, Larissa Horat, and Rudolf von Erlach.