Vera Schmidt

Vera Schmidt

lic. iur., LL.M., attorney-at-law, Partner

Education

University of Zurich (lic. iur., 1995); admitted to the Bar (Zurich, 1999); New York University School of Law, LL.M. (2002)

Professional Experience

Law Clerc at the District Court of Meilen (1995-1998); Chairman of the arbitration board for tenancy and lease matters at the District Court of Meilen (1996-1998); Attorney and Partner at an international law firm in Zurich (1999-2025); since March 2025 Partner at Holenstein Brusa

Languages

German, English

Preferred Areas of Practice

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 have extensive experience in advising and representing companies and their executive officers and directors in both national and complex international restructuring and insolvency cases:
  • representation of creditors or debtors in restructuring and insolvency cases
  • representation of creditors in creditors’ committees
  • representation of creditors or debtors in enforcement, attachment, garnishment or seizer proceedings
  • representation of creditors, debtors or insolvency estates in litigation proceedings (see also Litigation and Arbitration)
  • running insolvency proceedings as commissioner (Sachwalter), extra-ordinary trustee in bankruptcy (ausseramtliche Konkursverwaltung) or liquidator
  • advising and supporting foreign bankruptcy trustees to attract and include assets located in Switzerland within the foreign bankruptcy estate
  • provision of legal or expert opinions on matters of Swiss insolvency law
We offer multinational companies (MNCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a comprehensive external legal service (legal desk service).
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.

Your contact person according to area of practice