Partner

Waelti Partners AG; Ticino; On-site; CHF 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Waelti Partners AG, a younger, international business law firm with 500+ lawyers worldwide and an expanding Lugano presence, seeks several Swiss-based Partners (70–100%) to join immediately or by agreement.

You will advise clients in Swiss corporate, commercial, IP/IT, tax, and dispute matters; draft and negotiate contracts; manage disputes before courts and arbitral tribunals; train juniors; expand the firm’s Swiss market presence and develop a client base domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• Law degree MLaw or lic. iur. with Swiss bar exam or equivalent permit to practice in Switzerland.
• Several years of Swiss professional experience as a lawyer in a business law firm or in-house, with sector experience.
• Fluency in English and Italian; knowledge of German and/or French advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Advise and support companies in Swiss business law across sectors. Prepare clarifications, statements, and documentation for deals.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, and manage transactions, restructurings, and liquidations.
• Represent clients before courts, arbitration tribunals and authorities; handle disputes.
• Train, guide, and mentor junior lawyers; supervise associates and trainees.
• Grow the firm’s Swiss market presence by maintaining and acquiring domestic and international clients.

Skills

English fluency

Italian knowledge

German knowledge

French knowledge

Leadership

Teamwork

Negotiation

Presentation

Intercultural competence

Own client base (advantage)

Education

Law degree (MLaw or lic. iur.)

Swiss bar exam

Job description

On behalf of our client, a younger, international, growing business law firm with 500+ lawyers worldwide and a planned presence in Lugano that is likely to expand into other Swiss cities soon, we are looking for several Swiss-based Partners (70-100%) to join the team immediately or by agreement. The vacancies are described as follows (slightly adapted excerpt from the job description):

Areas of responsibility

• Advising and supporting companies of all sizes in the fields of Swiss business law. These clients may, e.g., be active in sectors like Financial Services, Life Sciences, General Industries, or Digital Assets. Occasionally, private clients may be advised
• Preparing clarifications, statements, etc. on legal issues in the above-mentioned areas. Preparing and executing start-ups, financing, transactions, restructurings, reorganizations, and liquidations. Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, submissions, legal documents, and other legally relevant documents
• Resolving commercial and legal disputes and conflicts. Representing clients before courts, arbitration tribunals and administrative authorities
• Training, guiding, and managing junior colleagues and trainee lawyers
• Maintaining existing clients and acquiring new domestic and foreign clients
• Expanding and further developing the firm’s Swiss market presence, whereby individual emphases can and should be set
• Continuous monitoring of national and international developments in legislation, case law, industry recommendations, and best practices
• Collaborating and coordinating activities with internal and external colleagues worldwide. Selecting, instructing, and supervising correspondent lawyers
• Liaising with national and international authorities, (industry) associations, and other organizations
• Publishing specialist articles; giving lectures and conducting internal training courses

Requirements

• Law degree from a continental European university (MLaw or lic. iur.), supplemented by a Swiss bar exam or other permit to practice law in Switzerland
• Several years of Swiss professional experience as a lawyer in a business law firm or in-house, preferably with a focus on either Corporate law (general and M&A), Commercial law, IP & IT law, Tax law, Competition & Anti-trust law, Litigation & Arbitration and/or other related fields. Work experience in sectors like Financial Services, Life Sciences, General Industries and/or Digital Assets would be an advantage
• Fluency in English and good Italian knowledge; knowledge of other major European languages like German and/or French would be an advantage
• Entrepreneurial personality with leadership skills and the ability to help shape the firm’s future. Own client base would be a strong advantage
• Ability to work in a team or independently with client responsibility on national and international mandates in a variety of areas
• Ability to manage a high workload with demanding clients and conflicting priorities
• Strong analytical skills, coupled with a high level of motivation and assertiveness
• Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Convincing personality with intercultural competence