Andreas Howald

Advice and representation (in and out of court) for matters under commercial law, specialising in trade law (company law), contract law and tax law. Typical clients include self-employed individuals and SMEs in Switzerland’s central region and the neighbouring region of Romandy (with business activities in the central region, including the French-speaking part). His extensive experience in these areas includes:

• Acquisitions and sales of companies and businesses in full and in part (within the scope of succession plans in particular).
• Drawing up and editing of contracts in all areas of commercial law (acquisitions/sales, company set-ups, shareholdings, shareholders’ agreements, licences, etc.).
• Clarification of legal questions in the fields of labour, leases, debt recovery and bankruptcy (including as part of insolvency proceedings).
• Support with matters of liability in relation to tax advice.
• Administrative and foundation board mandates.
• Criminal law advice and representation in complex cases of economic crime.
• Restructuring mandates for private individuals and SMEs.
• Advice for companies on waste management and recycling (environmental protection and waste legislation).

These activities are performed in German, French and English – in Switzerland and abroad. Naturally, this includes the necessary travel and negotiations with foreign parties and authorities abroad. Representation in court is only ever in German, with Swiss law practiced as standard.

• Member of several associations.
• Parent advisory board at a local school.
• Board member for a state nursery.

• Studied Law at the University of Bern, including internships at Fraubrunnen District Court and a law firm in Bern (1991–1998).
• Various episodes of military training alongside employment.
• Passed the bar exam and admitted to the bar (1998).
• Worked at an international auditing and trust company in Bern and Geneva (1998–2002).
• Worked at a general law firm in the local area (2002–2003).
• Worked at a Bern-based management consultancy firm operating within Switzerland (2003–2005).
• Attended the Swiss Tax Academy (2005–2007) alongside employment.