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    About Froriep Blog

    No matter what part you play in the economy, our blog will provide you with a wealth of up-to-date and interesting articles, resources and checklists from the various areas of law.

    The blog’s authors are all partners and employees of our firm, ensuring you benefit not only from the best legal knowledge, but also from examples drawn from their many years of practical experience.

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    Dr. Catrina Luchsinger Gähwiler

    Dr. Catrina Luchsinger Gähwiler

    Catrina Luchsinger is a specialist in financial market law and corporate law. She has a wealth of experience advising financial market clients, including banks, asset managers and investment vehicles, as well as substantial operational knowledge. She also serves on the management boards of various companies, some of which are in the financial services sector. Catrina Luchsinger joined our firm as an associate in the year 2000. She became a partner in 2007. Catrina Luchsinger advises financial services clients and investment companies on regulatory issues as well as on contractual aspects relating to the financial market industry. She furthermore has considerable experience in acquisition and financing transactions, in general corporate work, both for listed and privately held companies, in mergers and acquisitions – predominantly in the financial services sector – and regularly advises in equity capital market transactions both for SIX Swiss Exchange, where she is admitted as a listing agent, and for BX Berne eXchange. Chambers Europe and Chambers Global have identified her as a Recognised Practitioner in the field of banking and finance, where clients have commended her client orientation. She is also ranked as a leading lawyer in the IFLR1000 guide for financial services regulatory and M&A. Catrina Luchsinger obtained her law degree from the University of Zurich in 1991 and was admitted to the Zurich Bar in 1995. She gained her PhD in 2004. Her working languages are German, English and French. She is a member of the Zurich Bar Association, the Swiss Bar Association, the International Bar Association (IBA) and the International Pacific Bar Association.

    Froriep Attorneys-at-law
    Law Blog

    Topics: Technology  DLT (Blockchain) & Fintech 

    Qualification of LIBRA under Swiss Financial Market Laws - FINMA publishes 'stable coin' guidelines

    The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA) published a supplementary guideline to the ICO guidelines February 16, 2019, where FINMA outlines on how it treats so-called ‘stable coins’ under Swiss financial market law. In addition, FINMA provides an indication on how it will apply the financial market laws to Libra, the crypto project initiated by Facebook.  

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    Topics: Financial Services 

    Switzerland is strenghtening its competitiveness as Fund Centre - a new, unregulated fund category for qualified investors is proposed

    The Swiss Federal Council initiated a consultation on an amendment of the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (CISA), aiming to introduce a new, unregulated fund category called "Limited Qualified Investor Fund (L-QIF)", reserved exclusively for qualified investors. By introducing the L-QIF, Switzerland establishes a Swiss fund category similar to the Luxembourg Reserved Alternative Investment Fund (RAIF) or the Malta Notified Alternative Investment Fund (NAIF). The consultation of the Federal Council will last until 17 October 2019.
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    Topics: Technology  DLT (Blockchain) & Fintech 

    Practical Aspects of Initial Token Offerings (Part 2)

    In every Initial Token Offering (also known as Initial Coin Offering) we have to strive to create a token which will catch the interest of the community. This first of all requires forethought and an understanding of what is driving the community, but it also needs to focus on creating a sound legal basis for years to come, no matter how often the token has been transferred, be it online or through the transfer of an offline wallet. Token structuring therefore is also a task for the lawyers.
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    Topics: Technology  DLT (Blockchain) & Fintech 

    Practical Aspects of Initial Token Offerings (Part 1)

    Each one of the many ICOs on which we have advised or are advising have their own peculiarities and different treatment. However, there are some underlying fundamentals which remain the same for tokens of the same token class (see our token framework proposal).

    We have decided to share these insights with the community. This article therefore is the start of a series of blog posts with practical insights on specific things to be considered when preparing an Initial Token Offering.

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    Topics: Technology  DLT (Blockchain) & Fintech 

    How Crypto-Tokens qualify under Swiss Law: a comprehensive Framework

    Blockchain technology has become a reality as part of the digitalisation of the economy. Every day, there is proof of disruptive transformations of long-standing mechanisms into new ecosystems on the blockchain. While existing market participants are in many cases overwhelmed by the new normal, the new players operate with the greatest creativity and efficiency.
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    Topics: Corporate & M&A  Insolvency & Restructuring 

    The Ins and Outs of the Proposed Restructuring Regime for Distressed Companies

    In the framework of the proposed general revision of Swiss corporate law, the Federal Council intends to overhaul the existing restructuring regime for distressed companies. The objective of the effort is to create incentives for distressed companies to take the necessary restructuring measures as early as possible and, by doing so, avoid bankruptcy.
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    Topics: DLT (Blockchain) & Fintech 

    Swiss Regulation of FinTech – Federal Council initiates consultation on new rules

    The rapid evolution in FinTech has not only attracted the attention of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) but eventually pushed the Swiss government to propose FinTech specific amendments to the Banking Act and other financial laws. On 1 February 2017 the Federal Council opened a consultation on new draft regulations designed to reduce barriers to entry for FinTech firms and to strengthen the attractiveness of the Swiss financial markets.
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    Topics: Corporate & M&A 

    Federal Council wants to modernise Swiss Corporate Law

    In 2005, more than ten years ago, Swiss politicians agreed that Swiss Corporate Law needed a serious revision. After long discussions, including notably the "Say on Pay" vote initiated by Mr. Minder, the Federal Council relaunched the revision process in Summer 2013, and has just recently published and adopted the revised report and draft for the new Swiss Corporate Law on 23 November 2016. The Swiss Parliament has now to decide on it.

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