Tax offences as predicate offences to money laundering - Key takeaways for practitioners
Simone Nadelhofer, Benoît A. Mauron, Deborah Hondius, Michael Neumann, 2021In: Verrechnungssteuer, zsis) 4/2021, A20
White Collar Crime
“Highly active practice with an impressive white-collar crime offering”
LALIVE’s White Collar Crime practice is considered to be among the leading practices in Switzerland.
Our team of highly skilled defence lawyers is particularly well-known for its expertise and routinely represents States, companies and individuals in high profile, complex and multi-jurisdictional white collar crime cases as well as in mutual judicial assistance proceedings (including extradition) and sanctions work.
A large volume of our work focuses on the search and recovery of assets as well as on the effective representation all over Switzerland in cases of corruption, fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, disloyal management and cybercrime.
Our international team is composed Swiss, American, Brazilian and Russian speaking lawyers and includes former members of the judiciary, the Office of the Attorney General and the Swiss Federal Criminal Police. With this skillset and experience, we believe that our team is a winning combination. We can provide a rounded strategic assessment and understand the challenges faced by all the parties involved.
We routinely work across borders and are well-versed in multi-jurisdictional matters, calling upon our network of specialist lawyers for support in other jurisdictions.
Our acclaimed investigations practice handles sophisticated cross-border government-led and internal investigations.
- Advising a major Middle Eastern group and individuals in relation to criminal and civil proceedings in Switzerland regarding a worldwide dispute between clients of the group and another Middle-Eastern group for allegations of fraud in the amount of USD 9 billion. The firm successfully conducted attachment proceedings of a promissory note of USD 1.4 billion in Switzerland against the assets of partners of the defendant
- Being a member of The Independent Review Panel of Tennis, undertaking an exhaustive review and report of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the tennis practice and rules related to combatting match-fixing, with the purpose of elaborating a list of binding recommendations for the sport’s governing bodies
- Representing a whistleblower in a multinational company whose information triggered a major investigation for corruption, involving suspected bribery of foreign officials. The investigation into the allegations led to a number of arrests, in cooperation with the Swiss Prosecution Service, the US DOJ, FCPA and SEC
- Representing an individual targeted by a criminal investigation pending in another European country for conspiracy to commit large scale money laundering and fraud for Chinese organisations, as well as laundering money on a large scale for a Swiss bank’s clients who evaded taxes, with ramifications in several European countries
- Acting for the administrator of an insolvent foreign bank claiming damages in excess of EUR 400 million in a major fraud case involving various Swiss banks
- Acting as lead counsel to an international group victim of to an international cybercrime attack involving the transfer of significant funds to false accounts
Criminalité économique et procédures négociées : comparaison et état des lieux
Deborah Hondius, 2021In: La Semaine judiciaire (SJ 2021 II p. 231 ss), 19 October 2021
Getting the Deal Through, Risk & Compliance Management 2021, Editor
Daniel Lucien Bühr, 2021Author: Global Overview
Swiss parliament amends the anti-money laundering act and (inadvertently?) introduces new compliance duties
Daniel Lucien Bühr, Adam El-Hakim, Tabea Tsering Segessenmann, 2021In: LALIVE Blog
Strafrechtliche Selbstanzeige des Unternehmens – Folge einer internen Untersuchung?
Simone Nadelhofer, Adam El-Hakim, 2021Jusletter, 22 February 2021
The US Anti-Money Laundering Act 2020 and its implications for Swiss banks
Daniel Lucien Bühr, Adam El-Hakim, Tabea Tsering Segessenmann, 2021LALIVE Blog, February 2021
30e anniversaire des Principes de base des Nations Unies relatifs au rôle du barreau: défendons le droit de défendre
Sandrine Giroud, Sofia Suarez-Blaser, 2020Anwalts Revue de l'avocat 10/2020, pp. 390-395
Neuer Zeitpunkt der Begründung und Bezifferung der Zivilklage
Simone Nadelhofer, Tabea Tsering Segessenmann, 2020Blog Economic Crime, 9 November 2020
Der Einziehungs- und Ersatzforderungsbetrag als Leistungsgegenstand im abgekürzten Verfahren
Adam El-Hakim, 2020ForumPoenale 5/2020, 399 ff.
COVID-19: Audiences par vidéoconférence et justice digitale
Sandrine Giroud, Joëlle Becker, Stéphanie Chuffart-Finsterwald, Aurélie Conrad Hari, Aylin Güney King, Mitra Sohrabi 2020Anwalts Revue de l’avocat 9/2020, pp. 357-366
La restitution pénale
Benoît A. Mauron, 2020In: S. Giroud & H. Rordorf (eds), Droit suisse des sanctions et de la confiscation internationales,
Bâle 2020, pp. 143-169
Droit Suisse des sanctions et de la confiscation internationales
Sandrine Giroud, Héloïse Rordorf-Braun 2020Helbing Lichtenhahn, 1st Edition, 2020
Preventive approach to incapacity issues
Werner Jahnel, Sandrine Giroud, Sébastien Zulian, 2020International Law Office (ILO), Private Client & Offshore Services, 28 May 2020
Art-secured lending: maximizing liquidities opportunities for private art collectors
Sandrine Giroud, Simine Sheybani, 2020International Law Office (ILO), Private Client & Offshore Services, 9 April 2020
Impact of Covid-19 on criminal proceedings
Marc Henzelin, Deborah Hondius, Simine Sheybani, Adam El-Hakim, 2020LALIVE Blog, April 2020
17 Dec 2021
Press Coverage: Simone Nadelhofer interviewed on the first conviction of a bank by the Federal Criminal Court in Switzerland
28 Sep 2021
LALIVE partner Simone Nadelhofer quoted in Finews and Handelszeitung as two companies face federal criminal court for the first time in Switzerland
10 Mar 2021
LALIVE recipient of three Who’s Who Legal Switzerland awards and Sandrine Giroud awarded Lawyer of the Year in Asset Recovery
25 Nov 2020
LALIVE promotes in Geneva, Zurich and London
20 Nov 2020
“Neuer Zeitpunkt der Begründung und Bezifferung der Zivilklage”, an article co-authored by Simone Nadelhofer and Tabea Segessenmann
12 Oct 2020
FOUR LALIVE PARTNERS RECOGNISED AS THOUGHT LEADERS-GIR BY WHO’S WHO LEGAL 2020
07 May 2020
LALIVE associate Deborah Hondius elected in the Women’s White Collar Defense Association
07 May 2020
Press coverage: Marc Henzelin interview on the case of the Geneva executive council expense accounts
07 Feb 2019
Simone Nadelhofer appointed Regional Representative Europe of the IBA’s Business Crime Committee
05 Nov 2018
LALIVE’s Investigations practice ranked among top 100 worldwide for fourth consecutive year
04 Sep 2018
LALIVE opens in London
27 Apr 2018
Marc Henzelin plays key role in Tennis Anti-corruption Report
23 Mar 2018
Simone Nadelhofer appointed Chair of IPBA Anti-Corruption and the Rule of Law Committee
01 Feb 2018
Marc Henzelin and Sonja Maeder Morvant earn recognition as Thought Leaders in Investigations
09 Jan 2018
LALIVE’s Investigations practice again ranked among top 100 worldwide
LALIVE has built an outstanding reputation and market position for handling top-flight contentious work, both in litigation or arbitration. It has been active in high-profile matters involving bribery and corruption, both for corporates on self-reporting issues and on independent reviews. It is unusual in the top end of the Swiss market for having built a litigation practice for both corporate and high-net-worth individuals acting against banks.
The Lawyer, 2019
Clients applaud the firm's extensive capabilities: "They know how to work with multinationals, can handle matters that have international implications, are responsive and reactive, and have local law expertise." Others are quick to praise the team's dedication and attention to detail: "They do their homework and are always clear in their analysis."
Chambers Europe, White Collar Crime, 2019
Lalive provides ‘a heavy-weight contentious offering’, including a ‘specialisation in white-collar crime’.
Legal 500, Switzerland, Dispute resolution: Litigation, 2018
Acclaimed team with impressive white-collar crime expertise, particularly in the area of cross-border investigations and whistle-blowing cases. Areas of particular expertise include multi-jurisdictional fraud and corruption cases, asset recovery and corporate compliance. Has experience representing states, high net worth individuals and companies active in the banking, business consultancy, transport and sports sectors. One impressed source enthuses that the team possesses "talented lawyers who represent clients and their profession in superb fashion," while also noting that "they are excellent in dealing with the international components of negotiations and representation." One client highlights the ability of the team to "focus on the main important topics," and praises its lawyers for being able to "handle complex and sensitive investigation matters."
Chambers Europe, White Collar Crime, 2018
"Highly active practice with an impressive white-collar crime offering. Areas of expertise include multi-jurisdictional fraud and corruption cases, asset recovery and corporate compliance. Boasts experience representing states, individuals and companies. Has an expanding footprint in Zürich as a result of recent hires. Active in the banking, oil and gas, and sports sectors". "LALIVE are renowned experts in this field". The team is described as "thoughtful, strategic and responsive".
Chambers Europe, White Collar Crime, 2017
"Top-drawer multi-disciplinary team that benefits from offices in Geneva, Zürich and Doha. Standout expertise in banking, energy, asset recovery and white-collar crime disputes. Advises on litigation but is best known for a focus on arbitration, where it acts for sovereign entities and companies. Additional expertise in high-profile investor-state disputes. Possesses particular knowledge of representing clients from the MENA region." One client praises the team's "dedication, expertise and responsiveness". One client states that LALIVE "were more creative and came up with better ideas than the other firm we worked with."
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution, 2017
"It is one of the best firms in Switzerland, and our relationship is very smooth, clear and transparent. The lawyers are always available and respond within the hour.” “I have the highest impression of the firm. The lawyers do terrific work, are very thorough, efficient, direct and to the point.”
Chambers Europe, Switzerland, White Collar Crime, 2016
"Lalive has become one of Switzerland’s leading white-collar firms, with a host of major banks as clients.”
Chambers Europe, Switzerland: Dispute Resolution, White Collar Crime, 2013
"This firm has years of experience representing clients in really complicated cases."
"The team is very experienced, clear, available, and realistic. The lawyers inspire confidence."
Chambers Europe, Switzerland: Dispute Resolution, White Collar Crime, 2013
Lalive has an impressive list of clients that it advises on white-collar crime and compliance matters. (...) The team is also adept at the search and recovery of assets and is developing its investigatory capacity.
Chambers Europe, Switzerland: Dispute Resolution, White Collar Crime, 2013
At Lalive, Marc Henzelin focuses on the economic aspect of business crime and is included for his skills as a litigator. He also wins praise for his 'practical' approach to cases.
Who's Who Legal, Switzerland, Business Crime Defence, 2013
"Two 'excellent' names from Lalive feature in this chapter. The 'superb' Marc Henzelin receives recognition for his 'professional manner' and 'depth of expertise'. He is joined by Alexander Troller, a 'true expert'."
Who's Who Legal, Switzerland, Asset Recovery, 2013
"The firm excels at civil arbitration and litigation, as well as white-collar crime cases. Fields of expertise include corporate, private client, TMT and real estate disputes".
Legal 500, Switzerland: Leading firms, Geneva, 2013, Tier 3