Franco Oriti

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Leaders in Law endorses Franco Oriti as our exclusively recommended Patent Law expert in Switzerland. If you wish to get in touch with Franco please use the contact information provided above.

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property – Trademark, Patent and Design Representative, Renewal of Patents of Invention, Designs, Utility Models, Supplementary Protection of Certificates, Textile Designs, Plant Varieties and Trademarks.

Education

University degree in International Political Science obtained at University of Milan.

Languages

  • English
  • Italian
  • French
  • German
  • Russian

History

  • Franco Oriti, born in Australia, lived in Sydney and has worked in safeguarding, filing and maintaining Intellectual Property (I. P.) since 1991.
  • Since 1998 Italian Red Cross Volonteer.
  • Since 1999 Franco takes also care of filings till the grant and maintenance of I. P. in Switzerland.
  • From March 2015 he is an “IPMA Certified Project Manager”, re-certified 2020 Level D, n. IPMA-D-2015-8025/1 (www.vzpm.ch).
  • From May 2016 “Business Partner for I. P.” of Qualicon, Camorino (www.qualiconsulenze.ch).
  • I. P. Coach for StartCup Ticino 2017 (www.startcup-ticino.ch)

Founder

He is currently working in this capacity in Lugano (CH) after having done so in Milan in Montedison Group and in Notarbartolo & Gervasi and in Lugano in N&G Patent Services.

Has many years’ experience, throughout the World, in the Renewal of Patents of Invention, Designs, Utility Models, Supplementary Protection of Certificates, Textile Designs, Plant Varieties and Trademarks.

He is registered as an Trademark, Patent and Design Representative before the Swiss Federal Patent Office, also as a European (n.4688) and Italian (n.793M) Trademark and Design Attorney and also as a San Marino Trademark Attorney (n.USBM-078R M).

Has very good skills for creating “ad hoc” I. P. Databases for handling Due Dates and Reports. Has an ability to establish plans, for the internal departments of Companies and Patent Firms, to manage costs and reduce expenses for all I. P. maintenance fees and renewals, Worldwide.

Firm Description:

Invention and Innovation

The invention is an idea, a device or a product that leads to a technological progress. The term derives from the Latin inventio that means finding .

In legal terms this means a new and original solution to a technical problem that may, therefore, be protected by a Patent of Invention. It may refer to a product or a process (method, procedure).

In accordance with a citation made by the Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, innovation is a discovery application or the commercialization of an invention. In the moment in which the invention becomes an integral part of economic activity, that is, when it begins to have economic consequences, it becomes an innovation. To transform an invention into innovation , a Person or a Company must combine knowledge, skills and abilities, and information about the market, sufficient financial resources, and so on.

One of the biggest Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of the twentieth century, Henry Ford, has condensed this concept in his most famous slogan stating that “there is real innovation only when a technology is accessible to everyone.”

 

Typhanie Afschrift

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Leaders in Law endorses Typhanie Afschrift as our exclusively recommended Tax Law expert in Switzerland. If you wish to get in touch with Typhanie please use the contact information provided above.

Practice Areas

  • Tax Law
  • Criminal Business Law

Member of the Bar

  • Member of the French speaking Bar of Brussels
  • Member of the Bars of Madrid, Antwerp, Fribourg, Luxembourg (List IV) and since 1994 of Geneva
  • Foreign Lawyer, member of the Law Society of Hong-Kong
  • Deputy Magistrate at the Court of Appeal of Brussels

Languages

  • French
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Spanish

Founding Partner and Managing Partner

Typhanie AFSCHRIFT is an experienced, dynamic lawyer, passionate about her profession and active on many levels. She is first and foremost a specialist in tax law who, in Switzerland, practices in her two offices in Fribourg and Geneva. She also has an important activity abroad.

She will defend you with energy and subtlety against the tax authorities at the cantonal, federal and international levels. Her concern is generally to reach reasonable agreements with the tax authorities as soon as possible, but she can also be very firm with the tax authorities when necessary.

She pleads with conviction and determination. With her extensive international experience, acquired, in addition to Switzerland, at the Bars of Brussels, Antwerp, Luxembourg, Madrid, Hong Kong and Tel Aviv, places where she is still active, she organizes a defense, or an offensive, by not neglecting any detail.

In the tax field as in others – notably corporate law, inheritance and international contracts – she makes it her duty to organize all the stages of a transaction, as a true strategist. It is not for nothing that she has been nicknamed “the strategist in Dior”. She has also put her talents at the service of teaching by obtaining recognition at the university level for her “exceptional merits equivalent to a doctoral thesis”, then by teaching income tax, corporate tax, VAT, and the philosophy of taxation at the University of Brussels.

She is the author of numerous books and other publications (more than 150) and she excels as a speaker: she has spoken at more than 250 conferences and symposiums in a dozen countries. She is also an influential voice in the print and broadcast media.

A client said of her: “Typhanie AFSCHRIFT is an outstanding professional with remarkable listening skills and creativity. Typhanie is result oriented and Typhanie thoroughness makes her an accessible lawyer for the clients. Typhanie is excellent in anticipation as well as in the management of conflictual situations for both private and corporate clients”.

Firm Description:

Recognized for a quarter of a century for advising, defending and strategizing for our clients, we accompany you in Switzerland and from Switzerland to the world. We defend your interests as an individual or as a company. Our specialized team will meet your expectations in the areas of legal and tax matters, VAT, asset management, inheritance, donations and succession, business and commercial law, compliance and many other areas.

A specialized and versatile tea

What appeals to our clients at Afschrift Tax & Legal is the personalized relationship, the quality advice, and the innovation that we bring to them. Our lawyers are versatile and masterful in all the aspects of the law in order to bring you a pragmatic answer and a help to the decision.

Your lawyer: your privileged partner

Like a private banker, we are your “private lawyer”. The relationship between our lawyers and you is based on a lasting personal relationship. This relationship is based on mutual trust and is strengthened over time as we get to know your specific case and your general needs. We are your “Trusted Advisor” in legal, judicial and tax matters, as we have a comprehensive view of your situation and your assets.

Our lawyers are advisors and litigators

This gives you twice the advantage. We cement the legal security of your operations and maximize your chances. In the event of arbitration or litigation, we are equipped to ensure that you emerge unscathed as much as possible.

Our lawyers in Switzerland

We advise both Swiss clients in the Swiss Confederation and in their business abroad and foreign clients in their business in Switzerland. Admitted to the Bars of Brussels, Antwerp, Luxembourg and Madrid, and a foreign lawyer in Hong Kong, Mr. AFSCHRIFT is a member of the Bars of Fribourg and Geneva since 1995. Our offices in these two cities bring together lawyers who advise our clients in all matters of taxation, business structuring and wealth planning.

Afschrift Tax & Legal abroad

Aware of the increasing internationalization of our clients’ private and professional activities and of the complexity of the tax aspects of these activities, our firm ensures a presence in the most important countries for our clients. That is why Afschrift Tax & Legal has had offices in Brussels, Antwerp, Madrid, Geneva, Freiburg, Luxembourg, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong for many years. The lawyers who work there can meet with the clients who wish to do so, whether they are foreigners or residents of these countries.

 

Erik Erismann

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Leaders in Law endorses Erik Erismann as our exclusively recommended Cross-Border Trusts & Estates expert in Switzerland. If you wish to get in touch with Erik please use the contact information provided above.

Erik Erismann is a Valais-based attorney at law and authorized to represent parties before all Swiss courts. His activities focus on advising, assisting and litigating for individual and families in matters related to cross-border estate planning, succession as well as trusts.

​He also assists clients in matters of domiciliation in Switzerland.His practice focuses also in corporate and transactional matters for corporations, with a special focus on the tech industry. He is also active in domestic and cross-border commercial transactions, including M&A and transmission of family businesses. Moreover, he advises entrepreneurs in the negotiation of agreements in matters of intellectual property and technology transfer.

Previously, he served as an in-house counsel in a renowned Swiss private bank, before practicing business law for several years in two major Swiss law firms, both in Geneva and in Zurich.
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Languages

  • French
  • English
  • German
  • Portuguese

Brazilian-Portuguese Desk

With a Brazilian mother and a Swiss father, Erik Erismann actively advises Brazilian and Portuguese nationals when they settle in Switzerland. He assists them in all their cross-border issues and also advises them on the development of a business activity in Switzerland.

Erik Erismann collaborates with a network of lawyers and accountants in Brazil and Portugal in order to offer a global service to his/her clients.

Practice Areas

  • Wealth and Estate planning
  • Family law
  • Real estate law
  • Foundation law
  • Civil and commercial litigation
  • Business Law (contract law, corporate law, M&A)
  • New Technology Law (intellectual property, data protection, blockchain)
  • ​Maritime law (bills of lading)

Professional Affiliations

  • Swiss Bar Association (SAV/FSA/SBA)
  • Bar Association of the Canton of Valais (OAVS)
  • Geneva Business Law Association (AGDA)
  • The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Swiss International Law Association (SSDI/SVIR)
  • Club CEDIDAC (Business Law Centre of the University of Lausanne)
  • Swiss-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (SWISSCAM)

 

Dr. Thomas Weibel LL.M.

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Leaders in Law endorses Thomas Weibel as our exclusively recommended Civil Procedural expert in Switzerland. If you wish to get in touch with Thomas please use the contact information provided above.

Thomas Weibel advises and represents clients before state courts and arbitral tribunals. His practice focuses on complex national and transnational commercial disputes, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, injunctive relief, and white collar crime. Thomas publishes and lectures on a regular basis on national and international civil procedure law as well as Swiss inheritance law. He is editor in chief for civil procedure law for a periodical on Swiss case law.

Education

  • University of Kent at Canterbury (LL.M. in International Commercial Law, 2004)
  • University of Basel (lic. iur., 1997; Dr. iur., 2001)

Practice

  • Court clerk at the District Court of Liestal (1999)
  • Internship F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Corporate Law, Basel (1998)
  • Internship STG-Coopers & Lybrand Ltd (now PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd) Legal Department, Basel (1997-1998)

Mandates as board member

  • La Cetra Barockorchester, Basel: Chairman

Membership in Associations

  • Basel Bar Association
  • Swiss Bar Association
  • Pro iure
  • Basel Lawyers Association
  • European Bar Association (DACH)
  • Swiss Lawyers Association
  • International Bar Association
  • Swiss Association for Arbitration in Inheritance Matters

Service Teams

Languages

  • German
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Italian

Practice Areas

  • Arbitration
  • Attachment
  • Aviation
  • China Desk
  • Compliance Support
  • Inheritance Law
  • Insolvency Law
  • Litigation
  • Private Clients
  • Restructuring and Reorganisation
  • Unfair Competition
  • White Collar Crime

Firm Description:

Fiercely independent. Wholly collegiate.

We are an influential, innovative Swiss law firm, dedicated to providing effective legal solutions for Swiss and international clients, covering business, tax and regulatory matters.

Working from modern offices in Zurich, Basel and Geneva, our attorneys, tax advisers and public notaries are organised under the direction of experienced partners in practice teams, covering all areas of commercial law. They work together, forming agile teams to tackle the issues that you need addressing.

Independent expert advice you can rely on

Clients demand and deserve impartial, unbiased advice. Our conflict of interest standards set us apart from other firms. The fact that we are not tied to an association of law firms or attorney network means that our ability to select and instruct counsel in international transactions is never compromised.

We have spent decades building up networks with attorneys, subject matter experts and firms that meet our standard. We can choose freely from that network, to meet the demands of your specific brief.

 

Dr. iur. Kurt Moosmann

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Leaders in Law endorses Dr. iur. Kurt Moosmann as our exclusively recommended Estate Planning Law expert in Switzerland. If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Moosmann, please use the contact information provided above.

Dr. iur. Kurt Moosmann, MBA (Carnegie Mellon), TEP, CFP

Owner of Moosmann Advisors Ltd.

Dr. Kurt Moosmann is an highly sought expert with more than 25 years of experience in advising business owning families, family offices and entrepreneurs across the globe.  Before establishing Moosmann Advisors in 2014, he had co-founded and successfully assumed the role as Chairman of Dara Capital, a Multi-Family Office with offices in Zurich and New York.  From 2014 – 2021 he presided over the Advisory Board of FODIS LLC, Pittsburgh, which serves global family owned business enterprises and family offices with significant direct investment holdings in US operating family businesses.  Formerly Dr. Moosmann was Member of the Executive Committee of Quilvest Switzerland, where he had founded and managed their Wealth Advisory Department. Before joining Quilvest, he had chaired Deutsche Bank’s Global Wealth Planning Division from 1998-2004, and earlier on had worked for Coutts & Co.

In 2019 Dr. Moosmann was elected first President of Switzerland’s Single Family Office Association (SFOA). This honor was bestowed on Dr. Moosmann after having co-founded the esteemed Family Office Roundtable (FORT) in 2003, a global Think-Tank for a select group of leading entrepreneurs which has been supported by Wharton’s Global Family Alliance since 2007. From 2013 – 2017, he also served as a Member of the University Board of the Private University of Liechtenstein (UFL). Dr. Moosmann has been an active member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and in 2002 was invited to join the «European Foundation Project» as a member of its core team, led by the Max-Planck-Institute for Foreign Private and International Law, Hamburg.

The native Swiss-Canadian holds a Doctorate of Law from the University of Zurich. His thesis, comparing the Anglo-Saxon and Liechtenstein trust structures, with special consideration of beneficiaries’ interests, was published in 1999. He also holds an MBA in International Wealth Management from Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business (USA) and regularly lectures on topics related to Cross-Border Estate and Tax Planning, and on generational transition and governance matters within Family Business Enterprises.

Firm Description:

Preserving Capital Across Generations

As a seasoned Homme d’Affaires to a select group of private clients around the world, I am foremost passionate about preserving and growing your family’s human, social and financial capital, that will form a legacy well beyond many generations to come.

As the Homme d’Affaires I look at our clients’ whole life circumstancesand wealth situation and act as trusted and impartial Family Advisor. By applying the profound insight gained from many similar situations (comprising topics such as business owning families, generational transition, cross-border tax planning, philanthropy and direct
investments), I consult our clients on increasingly complex matters in a qualified, independent way and if necessary, with the assistance of a long-standing network of trusted specialists.

History has shown that it has become not only desirable, but indispensable for families that all recommendations from different areas of life are initially filtered and analyzed by a Homme d’Affaires who understands the possible consequences, opportunities and potential threats for families and their individual members. That enables the families to deal with the many issues in a structured and comprehensive way, before taking a well-balanced decision.

Single Family Office Advisory

Whether you are considering establishing your own Single Family Office, facing a liquidity event, or want to preserve your family-controlled business for future generations, we provide assistance in identifying and implementing appropriate ownership structures, assessing existing oversight functions, and adopting best practices for your governance framework.

The art of advising private clients has experienced a true paradigm shift: The methodology is no longer solely set on managing the assets and liabilities of a Family’s Balance Sheet, but also embraces and accounts for the non-financial aspects of a family situation and addresses the associated risks. For more than 25 years I have passionately worked with families who have sought their own path of creativity, innovation and sustainability.

Their stories have inspired me to constantly improve the methods on how to assist families to preserve their human, social and financial capital across generations.

 

Patrice Lefèvre-Péaron

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As managing Partner of the Geneva office and Attorney at law member of the Geneva and Paris Bars, Patrice Lefèvre-Péaron has concentrated his practice on business law and the taxation of businesses and leading shareholding families. He also advises a number of real estate developers through Europe especially Luxembourg and France. He has written various articles on business and asset taxation which have appeared in both France and the United States with the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), the leading US tax law publisher. He is also the author of the French chapter of the work “International Tax Systems and Planning Techniques” published by Reuters.

Prior to joining Jeantet, Patrice Lefèvre-Péaron was Partner in leading French and Anglo-Saxon business law firms (Morgan Lewis, DLA pipers) for more than fifteen years.

Significant Experience

Raw advice in relation to the taxation of the transport system of STIF and the Communauté urbaine de Lille during the reorganisation of the transport networks of Paris Region and the Lille metropolitan area.

Tax law advice for the implementation of a European system of payment instruments, VISA cards and other bank card.

Structuring of the Sun Capital turnaround fund transactions particularly in relation to their different investments in Europe.

Advising one of the wealthiest Swiss families in the restructuring of his estate.

Advising one of the most wealthiest US families in the restructuring at his real estate assets in Europe.

Advising a major French bank in its plan for a spin-off into several entities, an investment bank and a merchant bank.

Advised the family shareholding in the restructuring of one of the leading French venture capital groups.

Advising one of the top global advertising groups in various cross-border acquisition operations in Europe, Asia and North America.

Member of

International Fiscal Association (IFA)

International Bar Association (IBA)

Fédération Suisse des Avocats (FSA)

Society of Trust Estate Practitioners (STEP)

Training

Harvard Business School

Business Law Master’s Degree (University Paris II), Postgraduate Diploma (DJCE), (DESS) in Business Law and Corporate Taxation (University of Lyon III)

Certificate in specialised studies in tax law (University of Montpellier)

Expertise

Sectors

Languages

French, English, Italian

Firm Decription

Committed to ethics and human values, Jeantet is one of the leading independent French business law firms that delivers customized services with added value.

Our lawyers are fully aware of the economic, technological, sectoral and legal changes our clients face and are able to anticipate, take action and propose solutions that are reliable, pragmatic and tailored to their clients’ challenges.

Well-established in its market thanks to solid foundations, Jeantet combines its excellence in legal expertise, in both advice and litigation, along with its entrepreneurial culture, to contribute to the success of its clients’ projects.

Jeantet advises major national and international groups in the industrial and service sectors, banks and financial institutions, investment funds, SMEs, the government, local authorities and professional organisations.

Our Ongoing Strategic Monitoring

Our Infothèque (resources library) is a cornerstone of our firm’s development and know-how. The tools used enable our lawyers to keep abreast of changes in the business sectors and markets in which our clients operate in order to anticipate any potential issues these may pose. Our librarians create and manage many tools for use by our lawyers and clients in order to pass on knowledge and information in real time.

Our databases, information gathering and media monitoring systems, newsletters, and legislative, regulatory and jurisprudential monitoring services are also made available to our clients.

The wide range of transactions we carry out and our commitment to transparency towards our clients have prompted us to establish permanent monitoring tools to eliminate any risk of conflict of interest.

Our Conferences, Debates and Training

Our lawyers share the latest legal and legislative news in addition to their experiences, by organising training sessions for their clients on topical issues and major French and European regulatory developments.

Faithful to its human values and commitment, Jeantet has launched programmes in keeping with the concerns of today’s world.

The Jeantet Career Path

We place particular emphasis on the development of our teams, particularly by ensuring a good work-life balance.

An attractive Jeantet career path, which respects diversity, encourages our lawyers to define and develop their goals within the firm.

The “Jeantet client du 21e siècle” (Jeantet client of the 21st century) programme

Jeantet has created a programme that allows its lawyers to respond to clients’ new aspirations both in France and abroad. Conferences, debates and training sessions are organised for this purpose on topics that are defined each year.

The “Jeantet Femme” (Jeantet Women) Programme

Jeantet has established a programme especially for female lawyers, which aims to guide them in their career path and encourage their access to positions of responsibility. Experience-sharing meetings between female partners and female employees are organised in small groups on topics identified in advance. Outside speakers may be invited to attend, depending on the topic.

The Club Jeantet Femmes (Jeantet Club for Women)

The Club Jeantet femmes, which brings together women from different backgrounds, takes a look at topical issues during events it organises.

The purpose of this forum is to promote women’s access to the creation and management of businesses while sharing their practices and experiences. 

Our Societal and Environmental Responsibility

Environment

Jeantet was one of the first firms to perform a carbon assessment and we are fully aware of the impact that our activities and those of our clients have on the environment. With a view to reducing the energy consumption of our premises, we are careful to ensure that we recycle our paper and packaging of all types, and we favour working with providers who have made the same choices.

Pro Bono Work

We encourage pro bono initiatives within our firm. For instance, Jeantet has been a founding member of the French Alliance of Lawyers for Human Rights (Avocats pour les Droits de l’Homme – AADH) since its creation in 2009.

We regularly handle pro bono cases proposed by AADH for its partner associations.

 

Marc René Deschenaux

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We are international financial jurists because we believe going into litigation is already a failure. We do not believe in solutions arising from the courts of law.

Our legal team is entrepreneurial and tends to avoid litigation as much as possible.

We firmly believe that making money on the misery and strife of others is not a harmonious lifestyle.

This positive attitude allows us to be credible to our customers on important business, because they know they engage a representative without enemies from past disputes unrelated to them.

We believe that the modern lawyer must join forces with other professions and skills such as finance, marketing & communication.

Our practice as international financial jurists is exactly the opposite to that of attorneys-at-law.

We are builders making money on our clients’ achievements and successes not on their woes and failures.

Generally we do not deal with disputes and litigations.

We do not appear in court except for the companies we administer or for free idealistic causes.

Riikka Kuoppamäki

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Riikka Kuoppamäki is an associate in the international trade practice. Ms. Kuoppamäki focuses on the area of international trade policy at World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes.

Before joining Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Ms. Kuoppamäki worked at the WTO Appellate Body Secretariat as a junior dispute settlement lawyer. During her time at the Secretariat, Ms. Kuoppamäki worked on several appeals and advised the members of the Appellate Body on procedural and substantive issues.

Prior to her experience at the WTO, Ms. Kuoppamäki completed her LL.B. and LL.M. studies at the University of Helsinki, specializing in public international law and WTO law. During her studies, Ms. Kuoppamäki worked as a trainee in two Helsinki-based law firms. She also participated in the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) moot court competition on WTO law, where she was head coach of the Helsinki team. After completing her LL.M. in Helsinki, Ms. Kuoppamäki undertook a second LL.M. at the University of Barcelona, focusing on international economic law and policy.

Ms. Kuoppamäki is an ELSA scholarship recipient and was a member of ELSA’s delegation in the 47th session of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

Firm Overview:

Akin Gump has, in the span of a single generation, grown to become one of the world’s largest firms, with more than 900 lawyers practicing in an array of practices and industries in offices around the globe.

Michelle Bannister

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MICHELLE BANNISTER focuses her work on international commercial arbitration, particularly cross-border disputes before major arbitral institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).

Michelle has been involved in all phases of international arbitrations, from filing of the claim to hearing and award, and is particularly experienced in complex cross-border disputes involving large multi national companies.

Firm Overview:

Sidley Austin LLP, formerly known as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, is a general practice law firm based in the United States, with a focus on expertise in transactional and litigation matters.

Nicolas Kuonen

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Nicolas is a partner with Tavernier Tschanz, a Swiss law firm exclusively devoted to business law. Nicolas is the Head of the Commercial Litigation Department within the firm.

Nicolas has also been a lecturer at the University of Fribourg/Switzerland since 2007, teaching contract and Roman law. He regularly publishes in his fields of specialization and is frequently invited to hold speaches in those fields, in Switzerland and abroad.

Litigation Law Practice:

Our international litigation practice deals with all kinds of corporate and commercial cases. We represent clients in civil proceedings (banking, real estate, construction, unfair competition, employment, or directors’ liability and shareholders’ disputes) and international debt enforcement proceedings before Swiss courts and the Swiss Supreme Court. We also act for plaintiffs in white collar crime matters.

We have gained extensive experience over years in conducting litigation in complex cases, often with international strings. We consider the development of a direct, personal and responsive relationship with our clients as an essential part of our general strategy. Both institutional and private clients come to us precisely for that.

Efficient litigation is not only a procedural game, but requires thorough legal knowledge and creativity. Because our firm operates as one fully integrated team, we enjoy the support of the entire firm to develop theories and research, namely in the fields of corporate, banking or finance law. As a fully independent firm, we are in a position to get other firms’ support, which we select on the sole basis of their expertise and reliability, in Switzerland or abroad, whenever required.