Corporate & Commercial Law Firm of the Year - Switzerland

Firm Profile

Founded in 1993, FBT is a recognised business law firm with offices in Geneva, Lausanne and Paris and a privileged corresponding law firm in Sao Paulo, Brazil. FBT advises private and corporate clients in Switzerland and abroad with a special focus on France and Brazil. FBT assists its clients with domestic and cross-border transactions in banking, tax, corporate and litigation matters. Its objective is to offer its clients effective and cost-efficient services. FBT’s Corporate and Contractual Law Group advises and assists companies, including international companies active in the trading of commodities, and entrepreneurs in a wide range of domestic and cross-border legal issues. Among others, it advises on the most appropriate legal structure for corporate affairs, drafts and helps negotiating acquisitions,

reorganisations or transformations, advises on the structure and legal organization of investments, drafts shareholders agreements, assists in corporate asset protection and unfair competition, and advises on employment and social security law.

Christophe Wilhelm Areas of Expertise

Corporate and commercial law Litigation and arbitration

Notable Legal Work

The following highlights of Christophe Wilhelm and his team are worth mentioning:

• Advising on the acquisition of a minority stakeholding in a company which valued it over EUR 200,000,000;

• Advising a group on the transfer of its reinsurance company from the BVI to Switzerland in compliance with Swiss Regulatory laws;

• Advising on the acquisition of an important French company specialised in the trading of food products and the subsequent transfer of its registered office to Switzerland;

• Advising a bank on the acquisition of a Swiss company active in discretionary asset management and investment advisory services, in compliance with both Swiss and US regulations;

• Advising on the reorganisation of the shareholding of an important licensed asset manager, member of a Swiss banking group;

• Advising on the sale of a Swiss computer and information technology consultancy firm to a foreign group with similar activities.

Christophe Wilhelm Partner

Tel: +41 21 711 71 00 Email: cwilhelm@fbt.ch Website: www.fbt.ch

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2011 45

Christophe Wilhelm is at the head of FBT’s Corporate and Contractual Law Group. He also is one of the managing partners of the Firm. Doctor in Swiss law, Christophe Wilhelm has more than 20 years of experience. Before joining FBT, he was at the head of the legal department of a major audit company in Lausanne, and then founded his own law firm. Christophe Wilhelm is a brilliant corporate lawyer recognised for his expertise in Swiss corporate and commercial law. His clients value his significant skills and experience in cross-border transactions. Christophe Wilhelm has also built a considerable expertise in international commercial arbitration through his participation in various international commercial arbitration proceedings under ICC Rules and Swiss Rules of International Arbitration of the Swiss Chambers of Commerce.

Christophe Wilhelm has authored many well-regarded scientific contributions and is a frequent speaker at professional conferences on Corporate and Commercial Law issues.

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