Till Spillmann

Niederer Kraft Frey Ltd

Zurich www.nkf.ch

till.spillmann@nkf.ch Tel: +41 58 800 8340

Biography

Till Spillmann specialises in large and complex, international and domestic, private and public M&A, capital markets and corporate finance transactions. Over the past 15 years, Till has built remarkable expertise in advising clients on large transactions, corporate governance and other corporate and commercial law matters. He regularly advises underwriters and issuers on all aspects of capital market transactions, with a focus on equity capital market transactions such as IPOs and rights offerings.

What have been the highlights of your practice in the past two years?

Last year was an unusual year in many respects. Getting ready for IPO transactions that would have been among the largest ones in Switzerland in 2020, the entire market came to a halt in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. As of that moment we have been busy helping our clients to get their businesses stabilised, refinanced and some of them restructured. A lot of work went into advising our clients on covid-19 relief measures, including furlough schemes, subsidies and covid loans. In summer 2020, preparations for capital market transactions resumed and with Montana Aerospace – in relation to which my team had the privilege to represent the bank syndicate – we were able to complete one of the first Swiss IPOs in 2021.

What are some key concerns and challenges facing clients currently?

This really very much depends on the industry. While companies in the travel industry and related sectors are still facing tough challenges to keep their businesses running, clients in other industries are actually experiencing record revenues and earnings, sometimes in combination with supply chain issues. What many clients seem to share is an increased degree of uncertainty on how the near to mid-term future will look. Also, the pandemic proved to be a booster for digitisation. Thus, clients have been busy in catching up with latest technology solutions.

How do you see innovation and artificial intelligence affecting the M&A market?

It is there and we work more often with tools although I have to confess that I haven’t really seen the AI element yet. Our work is often relatively bespoke. Probably, this is also due to the fact that we provide advice in relatively complex matters where tailor-made advice is key. I may be wrong but I think in that space there is less room for tools and algorithms.

In your opinion, should younger lawyers specialise or keep a broad practice when starting out in their career?

I always say to our young associates they should remain as broad as possible in their practice. It will make them just better, more holistic-thinking lawyers and it definitely remains more interesting for a longer period of time.

What has been the most memorable case you have worked on?

It is hard to single out one case or transaction. There have been many interesting smaller and larger transactions. Certainly, the most relevant transaction for me and my personal life was a take private transaction where I put myself in the shoes of a principal. To have sleepless nights not only because you are working hard to make it to the finish line but also because you cannot stop strategising on how you actually get what you want was a whole new experience.

You have had a very distinguished career. What would you still like to achieve?

I would like to find the right moment to take a next step in my personal development and not just be clinging on and standing other young and hopeful talents in their ways. I believe our entire professional life should be a constant journey, a trajectory during which we evolve and develop ourselves further. So, in a way, I want to find the right moment and the right approach to transition my practice to younger talents.

WWL says: Till Spillmann is held in high esteem by peers who describe him as “really excellent for capital markets work”.