Maximilian Hanschmann

Maximilian Hanschmann

attorney-at-law (Germany)¹

Education

University of Augsburg, Law with a focus on tax and corporate law (First State Exam 2015); Legal Clerkship at the Regional Court of Constance with a specialization in business law (Second State Exam 2017); Admission to the Bar by the Hamburg Bar Association (2018); Pending: Registration on the list of foreign lawyers by the Cantonal Supervisory Commission of Zurich pursuant to Art. 28 FMLA (2025)

Professional Experience

Legal traineeship with placements at civil and criminal courts, public administration, law firms specialized in business and tax law, and in the legal department of an automobile manufacturer; Attorney-at-law at a large, international business law firm in Hamburg and Munich (2018–2024), previously as a research associate (2017); Attorney at the law firm Holenstein Brusa Ltd since 2025

Languages

German, English

Bevorzugte Tätigkeitsgebiete

We have a profound knowledge of and extensive experience in legal advisory work and representing banks, pension funds, asset managers and family offices as well as private clients in all national and international (cross border) matters of banking and financial market laws and regulations, namely:
  • Contracts / General Terms and Conditions: Drafting and advancement of contracts as well as general terms and conditions related to banking and financial markets
  • Loan Security: Contracts on loan securities, bank guarantees etc.
  • Digital Banking: Development of legally compliant digital procedures and related documents
  • Opinions: Drafting of legal opinions and expert opinions
  • Collective Investment Schemes: Foundation and Distribution
  • Directive System: Drafting and implementation of directives, internal rules, by-laws and regulations etc.
  • Investigation: Advice and support with regard to internal investigations
  • Outsourcing Legal: Provision of outsourced legal services as a relief of internal legal and compliance
  • Regulatory Matters: Advice on regulatory developments and their internal implementation
  • Litigation: Advice and representation of financial institutions as well as institutional and private clients in (pre-)litigation and arbitration proceedings (see also Litigation and Arbitration)
We advise our clients on all aspects of corporate and commercial law and - if requested - also represent our clients before courts in all related issues and disputes. Our proven real estate specialists offer legal advisory services to private and corporate clients on real estate projects as well as tenancy law related issues.In particular, we offer the following services:
  • incorporation of companies, corporations and establishment of branches
  • company reorganisations and restructurings
  • drawing up customised shareholder agreements and transfer Agreements
  • establishment of company structures incl. by-laws and other internal regulations and directives, such as rules on management transactions, insider trading, data protection, anti-corruption etc.
  • governance and compliance matters
  • providing advice and support in organising shareholders' general meetings of listed and private companies: invitation, script, coordination of shareholders‘ ledger, keeping of the minutes, independent shareholders’ representative
  • duties and liabilities of board members and Management
  • agreements with regard to board members and senior Managers
  • succession planning and inheritance law
  • providing legal support for start start-ups
  • mergers & acquisitions, incl. due diligence
  • due diligence process (including zoning and real estate register law issues)
  • contracts on real estate transactions
  • drafting of property by floor regulations
  • contracts of work and Services
  • enforcement of warranty claims / protection against warranty Claims
  • tenancy law disputes
The advice and support of companies and individuals in (pre-)litigation and arbitration proceedings are core skills of our lawyers:
  • Pre-Litigation: We analyse the factual and legal situation, assess the litigation prospects and risks of your case and - if appropriate - conduct out-of-court settlement discussions with the counterparty.
  • Litigation and Arbitration: We develop sustainable litigation strategies and draft efficient legal submissions, assist you in court hearings and meetings with authorities and - if necessary - challenge court decisions.
Furthermore, we advise and represent our corporate clients in national and international arbitration proceedings in manufacturing, commercial as well as (financial) services related legal fields. Our lawyers are also regularly being appointed as experts or arbitrators. We have profound experience in legal advisory and representation services to corporate and private clients with regard to proceedings in the field of international mutual assistance in civil, administrative and criminal matters (including the areas of information exchange in the field of international criminal tax, financial markets, transfer of cultural property and sanctions control). Notably, this includes counselling and representing clients regarding:
  • the transmission of information and evidence abroad
  • cross-border inter-corporate investigations
  • issues concerning data protection
  • the detection and recovery of assets in Switzerland
  • the seizure, unfreezing and repatriation of such assets
We advise our private and corporate clients on all aspects of taxation. In particular, we offer support for the following matters:
  • general tax advice and planning for private and corporate Clients
  • providing advice and support in taking up Swiss residency for the first time
  • advice on taking up self-employment
  • tax advice with regard to real estate matters, in particular capital gains tax on real estate
  • reorganisation and restructuring of companies and obtaining tax rulings
  • succession planning of companies and review of the company structures
  • representation in tax proceedings before cantonal and federal authorities and courts, incl. supplementary tax proceedings and penal proceedings
We advise private clients and their families in all matters of matrimonial property and inheritance law, including national and international estate planning, estate administration and execution of wills. We also support our clients in taking up residence and domiciliation in Switzerland.
We offer multinational companies (MNCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a comprehensive external legal service (legal desk service).

¹ Registered pursuant to Art. 28 Swiss Federal Act on the Free Movement of Lawyers (FMLA)

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