Froriep's cross-cultural legal advice reaches region's diverse clientele
The key to simplifying the legal complexities of a growing business in a globalised landscape is finding an expert whose strengths lie in building compelling cases and strong, lifelong relationships with clients.
The key to simplifying the legal complexities of a growing business in a globalised landscape is finding an expert whose strengths lie in building compelling cases and strong, lifelong relationships with clients.
"If a law firm cannot meet the client's expectations, it cannot succeed anywhere in the world," says Dr Catrina Luchsinger Gahwiler, attorney at law and managing partner of Switzerland-based international law firm Froriep. "A lawyer's success is hinged on exceeding these expectations, understanding and being emotionally involved in the clients' interests beyond due diligence and the billable hours."
Client-centred values have catapulted Froriep among the country's leading law firms. Beginning in 1966 and branching out from Zurich to Geneva, Lausanne and Zug, Froriep counts nearly 100 lawyers. Opened in response to international clients seeking Swiss law advice, its offices in London and Madrid serve a diverse clientele ranging from private individuals to large multinational corporations.
"We believe that we can serve the client best by thinking like the client and taking on the client's matters as if they were our own," says Marcel Steinegger, managing partner of the Zurich office. "This empathy allows us to grow with the client and even take the strategic position of a board member in the client's business."
This dedication and a full-service portfolio have also earned Froriep the trust of some of the world's biggest companies in various industries, including private banking, capital markets, real estate and transport.
The firm is especially distinguished for its mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property (IP) and banking and finance practices. It has been instrumental in high-profile local and international transactions, including Novavest Real Estate's public takeover of real estate investment company Pretium; and the strategic merger between Telecom Liechtenstein and mobilkom Liechtenstein. Froriep also acted as the Swiss legal counsel to biopharmaceutical company Auris Medical Holding, which conducted its initial public offering last year on the United States-based Nasdaq Global Select Market.
These core competencies are vital to Froriep's expansion in key markets such as China and Southeast Asia, where clients pursuing opportunities in Switzerland and Europe can take advantage of Froriep's integrated, international structure and strong cross-border focus. Making cross-cultural legal advice more accessible to local clients, Froriep leverages a network of lawyers based in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul.
"We aim to bridge Asian investors and Switzerland's myriad opportunities, ranging from health care to precision manufacturing," Luchsinger says. "IP protection, among other legal services, will be more imperative than ever as new technologies and innovations from China and Asia rival the world's best - and our specialised, tailor-made team of lawyers will be there."
http://www.froriep.com
