News

BGPartner is pleased to welcome Tabea Hofer (Trainee) to the Berne team as of October 1, 2022. Further information on Tabea Hofer and our entire team can be found here.

Today we are launching our publication series on the topic of successful negotiations. In our first video Building the Foundation for Successful Negotiations we take a closer look on what negotiating actually is and how you can lay a solid foundation for making it successful. Click here and enjoy our Video.

BGPartner has been affiliated with the self-regulatory organization of the Swiss Bar and the Swiss Notary Association (SRO SAV/SNV), effective 1 August 2022. In this context, Dr. Alain P. Röthlisberger and Tanja Aebersold were admitted as financial intermediaries. By joining the self-regulatory organization SAV/SNV, BGPartner is qualified to operate as a financial intermediary and to offer its clients additional services subject to money laundering regulation. BGPartner is thus further expanding its range of services in the competence area Banking and Financial Markets Law.

Banking and financial markets law: The pilot case of a PostFinance customer concerns a payment processing breakdown in connection with the online casino Jackpots.ch, which made headlines two years ago. Payment orders relating to play money purchases had not been executed for over two months. After discovering the glitch, PostFinance debited the stuck orders in a single day, driving around 1,000 online gamblers in Switzerland into massive negative balances. BGPartner has now achieved a far-reaching victory in a pilot case in the first instance. All debits that violated an overdraft limit, were made unlawfully. The court of first instance accuses PostFinance of a gross breach of duty. PostFinance will very likely appeal the ruling. The case was led by Kathrin Straub (Of Counsel).

Silvio Denz, majority shareholder and chairman of Lalique Group, together with entrepreneur Peter Spuhler, have acquired the Hotel Florhof, a Zurich hotel steeped in tradition. After a renovation in the Lalique style, the historical building will reopen its doors as ‘Villa Florhof’ in 2024 to offer guests its renowned hospitality and first-class gastronomy. Lalique Group will be operating the new hotel and restaurant as leaseholder.

Florhof has been one of the jewels in the city of Zurich’s hotel scene for more than 100 years, although the building’s history dates back much further. The origins of the patrician house in Florhofgasse, which is located between Zurich’s old town and the university quarter, can be traced back to the 16^th century. The property has served as a hotel since 1908 but the name ‘Florhof’ is a reference to the manufacturing and trading of silk that once took place on this site and was one of Zurich’s most important industries for many years. Florhof is today one of the last remaining silk yards in the city.

By acquiring Florhof, Silvio Denz and Peter Spuhler are securing its future as a hotel and restaurant. This comes after the previous owners, whose family had owned the property for almost 100 years, announced the closure of the business with effect from the end of July 2022.

The renowned hotel manager Tanja Wegmann will oversee the transformation and the reopening of the property as ‘Villa Florhof’, which is planned for early 2024.

BGPartner advised Silvio Denz in all legal matters regarding the acquisition of the Hotel Florhof. The team consisted of Oliver Gnehm (Partner) and Victoria Marty (Associate).