Attorneys Liechtenstein - Schwärzler Rechtsanwälte

At our Vaduz office, we advise our national and international clients in a comprehensive manner and we are happy to work for you primarily in the following areas:

Process management

An important part of our practice is litigation, particularly in cross-border proceedings. This applies to claims, commercial and corporate litigation as well as other proceedings before Liechtenstein courts and authorities, but also to disputes between financial service providers and their clients (advice, asset management, financing, investment and financial products, etc.).

Furthermore, we can take over your litigation in disputes in matters of foundation law and corporate law (e.g., assertion of beneficiary rights, M&A litigation, liability under corporate law, special audit, joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements, etc.).

Other areas of Schwärzler Attorneys at Law’s practice include planning and strategic advice on national and international dispute resolution proceedings, as well as assistance with litigation in other countries and the coordination of disputes in multiple jurisdictions.

We also support you in avoiding litigation, in out-of-court dispute resolution and in drafting contracts to avoid disputes.

Criminal law (white collar crime, asset recovery and international mutual legal assistance)

We represent and support injured parties, draft criminal complaints and enforce claims or ensure the recovery of seized assets (asset recovery). We are also active in the field of international legal assistance in criminal matters (account freezes, threatened confiscation of assets, requests for information or file redactions).

Corporate and commercial law (incl. M&A transactions)

In the area of corporate and commercial law, we are happy to support you in the establishment and structuring of companies and family structures. We also take care of family estate planning for you.

In addition, we plan sales of companies and carry them out. We advise on cross-border mergers and acquisitions of companies and support you in the legal due diligence process.

Other areas in which we can work for you are:

support for capital changes (capital increase and capital reduction)
advice on private equity, entire capital transactions and joint ventures

Retrocessions

Retrocessions (retros or kickbacks) are payments that mandated financial service providers (e.g. asset managers, banks or trustees) receive from a third party (e.g. issuers or banks). As a commission model, retrocessions are controversial because they can create false incentives for the commissioned parties (e.g., banks or asset managers) that are not in the interest of the client.

In principle, retrocessions belong to the client, unless they waive them. However, this can only be done if the client is fully and truthfully informed about what they are waiving. The limitation period for claims for surrender of retrocessions ends after 30 years. However, due to a change in the law, this period was recently shortened to three years (relative period, which begins with knowledge of retrocessions) or ten years (absolute period).

Schwärzler Attorneys at Law has assisted and continues to assist clients in Switzerland and Liechtenstein in numerous cases against banks and asset managers, which often end with substantial pay-outs for the clients. The legal situation in Switzerland is similar to that in Liechtenstein.

Sanctions law

We advise you in the event of embargoes and sanctions (e.g., restrictions on the export and import of goods, services and in the financial sector). In addition to dealing with terrorism and sanctions lists, we are also active for you in the case of performance and provision prohibitions vis-à-vis listed persons and companies, investment, payment and financing restrictions and in the topic of compliance.