Practice Areas

Our catalogue of legal services reflects the needs of our client base: mainly medium-sized Swiss and foreign enterprises of the manufacturing, service and consulting industry as well as individuals domiciled in Switzerland and abroad. Our core competences are national and international business law where we offer a comprehensive package of legal services to our clients. If required by the specific case, we work closely with associated advisors, such as attorneys specialized in particular topics or industries or tax advisors. Specialists will be chosen according to "the best in class" approach (i.e., best possible qualification and expertise regarding the specifics of the matter at hand) and in order to answer specific questions regarding their field of expertise. Based on our long term international experience we have well established and proven contacts with other law firms abroad which enable us to handle cross-boarder transactions or issues thoroughly and efficiently.

Our main competences are in the following practice areas:

Contract, Commercial and Corporate Law

We advise our clients in all areas of contract and commercial law with a main focus on sales contracts, contracts of mandate, work and service agreements as well as contracts with general contractors and other agreements in the field of construction. We analyse existing contracts from a legal point of view and make legal assessments. We negotiate and draft contracts, general conditions of contract and model contracts according to our clients' instructions.
We incorporate legal entities and advise clients in connection with joint ventures, participations in legal entities, capital increases and capital deductions of share companies, shareholders' relations (shareholders' agreements) and other issues of corporate law (e.g., preparation of general shareholders' meetings, taking minutes of board or shareholders' meetings, advising corporate bodies regarding their duties and responsibilities, etc.).
We accept appointments as member and secretary of the board of directors.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructurings

We have long term experience in giving legal advice to clients in connection with acquisitions and divestitures (also cross-boarder), management buy-out transactions, corporate restructurings, mergers and liquidations of companies.

Labour Law

Graf & Partner advises companies and individuals in employment matters ranging from the commencement until the termination of an employment relationship. Our services include the drafting of employment agreements (including model employment agreements) and directives for employees as well as the drafting of employment agreements for members of the top executive management. We also advise clients regarding compensation and employee incentive plans. We represent employers and employees before the competent courts.
Graf & Partner is a member of Ellint

Real Estate

Graf & Partner has in-depth knowledge in all matters relating to real estate transactions (e.g., sale and purchase of real estate or real estate packages, auction sale of real estate, real estate broker or agent contracts, real estate taxes etc.). We offer legal advice in connection with construction contracts (general contractor agreements, architect contracts, etc.).

Litigation

It is important to us that we do not only act as legal advisors to our clients but that we are also able to competently represent them in court in order to enforce or defend their interests. Hence, the attorneys of Graf & Partner have a long term and profound experience as litigators in civil courts, in particular in commercial and labour law matters.

Arbitration

We represent clients in domestic and international arbitration proceedings and also act as party-appointed arbitrators with specific expertise in the areas of engineering and construction contracts for heavy machinery and turnkey heavy plants.

Private Clients

Graf & Partner advises private clients in the areas of estate planning as well as inheritance and matrimonial law. We act as executors of wills and advise clients regarding wealth structuring. Upon request, we can take over all tasks of a family office. We give advice in divorce matters with specific emphasis on the financial aspects of a divorce.