No Compromise On Technical Excellence

Please explain what you think makes your firm successful in its chosen field?

There is a long tradition at Schellenberg Wittmer of cultivating the qualities that make for success in this difficult and highly competitive field. Firstly, no concessions in terms of technical excellence. Secondly, the team members all have an international outlook and background. This allows us to take on very complex international files. Thirdly, we place great emphasis on client experience.

Bernard Vischer, who led the Private Wealth Practice Group for years, is a highly respected figure. Everyone knows David Wislon, who just succeeded him. Andrea Dorjee-Good, who runs the Zurich team, is highly regarded too, in particular in high-profile litigation. All of this has enabled Schellenberg Wittmer to achieve its leading position. I joined this great team because I value these qualities and share these values.

What are the main contributions do you think you bring to the wealth management industry?

David Wilson has been advocating for the introduction of the trust into Swiss law for many years and did much to ensure that the recent regulation of trustees takes into account the interests of the industry.

As partners in the Practice Group, we freely give a lot of our time to the professional education of the trust industry in Switzerland. David was Chairman of STEP Geneva and I was Chairman of STEP Lausanne for several years (this is how our fruitful collaboration began!) As Vice-Chairman of the Swiss and Liechtenstein STEP Federation, I have been involved in the organisation of the STEP Alpine Conference from the beginning, in 2017.

Andrea, David and I make great efforts in legal research to stay on top of technical developments, and we write articles and give lectures to share our knowledge and experience with the industry. In addition to that, I spent 3 years writing the only comprehensive legal and tax textbook on trusts in Switzerland (Le Trust en Suisse, Schulthess, 2020). This book seems to contribute to a better understanding of the trust by practitioners in Switzerland.

Where in the world do you operate – are you mainly a domestic player or international?

Our teams provide legal and tax advice from Geneva, Zurich and Singapore, but our clients come from all over the world, which is very rewarding. We have the ability to reach remote markets through our regional desks in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

What do you most like about the wealth management industry, and what do you like the least and would most like to change?

What we like most is probably the technical complexity. It inspires us and stimulates us. It does not frighten us because we know that we have the necessary expertise, motivation and dedication. The more complex a case is, the more chance we have to make a difference to our competitors.

What we like most is probably the technical complexity. It inspires us and stimulates us. It does not frighten us because we know that we have the necessary expertise, motivation and dedication. The more complex a case is, the more chance we have to make a difference to our competitors.

As to the part we don't like, we are concerned about the constant increase in regulation. This tends to asphyxiate the industry.