News

BGPartner Attorneys-at-Law and the Negotiation Academy Potsdam (NAP) invite you to a free lunch webinar on Wednesday, 19 June 2025, from 12:00 to 13:15 (CET). The focus: How can you remain calm, confident, and effective at the negotiation table – even in times of crisis?

From economic turmoil to geopolitical tension and internal disruptions – crises challenge our ability to communicate clearly and make sound decisions. In this webinar, four renowned experts from academia and practice will share insights and strategies to help you negotiate effectively under pressure:

• Prof. Dr. Uta Herbst (NAP)
• Prof. Dr. Markus Voeth (NAP)
• Elena Mégevand (BGPartner)
• Oliver Gnehm (BGPartner)

Participants will gain practical tools and fresh perspectives on navigating difficult conversations, maintaining strategic clarity, and reaching resilient agreements – even when the heat is on.

Free participation – registration required.
Once registered, you will receive an automatic access link to the Microsoft Teams event.

Register here

In the 2025 Bilanz ranking, BGPartner has once again been recognised as one of Switzerland’s leading law firms. In the category of Private Equity and Venture Capital, the firm was awarded the highest rating of 5 stars, as in previous years.

The ranking is based on a survey conducted by Statista on behalf of Handelszeitung and Bilanz. More than 27,000 professionals and clients were invited to evaluate law firms across 31 areas of law.

BGPartner sees this repeated recognition as confirmation of its long-standing expertise and focus on complex transactional mandates.

We thank all our employees for their daily commitment and our clients for their continued trust.

To the Bilanz Ranking 2025

BGPartner advises on a USD 1.1 billion transaction - Araris Biotech to be acquired by Taiho Pharmaceutical 

Japan-based Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Araris Biotech AG, a Swiss biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), entered into a share purchase agreement pursuant to which Taiho Pharmaceutical will fully acquire Araris Biotech. The acquisition, expected to close in the first half of 2025, follows a research collaboration between the two companies that began in November 2023. Under the terms of the share purchase agreement, Taiho Pharmaceutical will pay USD 400 million at closing, with the potential for additional milestone payments of up to USD 740 million, as the company reaches unicorn status.

BGPartner, which has been advising Araris Biotech as Swiss legal counsel since its incorporation in 2019, advised Araris Biotech on all Swiss legal matters of this transaction. The team consisted of Oliver Gnehm (Partner), Thomas Gysin (Managing Associate) and Tessa Douma (Associate). Cooley LLP advised on all US legal matters. 

The Swiss Venture Capital Report 2025 highlights the dynamic growth of the Swiss venture capital market in the past year. BGPartner played a key role in multiple major transactions, advising on some of Switzerland’s largest financing rounds.

In particular BGPartner advised the lead investors OrbiMed, Novo Holdings, Catalio Nexus Fund, LSP Dementia Fund Coöperatieve U.A. (EQT), and SR One on the two biggest financing rounds of 2024:

• Alentis TherapeuticsAG  – CHF 160 million (Series D financing round)
• Asceneuron AG – CHF 89 million (Series C financing round)

In addition, BGPartner was involved in other significant transactions, including the Series C extension of Memo Therapeutics AG and the USD 147 million Series B extension of Noema Pharma AG, advising co-lead investors Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund II Coöperatief U.A., Jeito S.L.P., and LSP 7 Coöperatief U.A. (EQT).

Another milestone was BGPartner’s advisory role for the main selling shareholders HBM Healthcare Investments AG, Novo Holdings, and Forbion in the USD 1.25 billion spin-off of Yellow Jersey Therapeutics AG, a subsidiary of Numab Therapeutics AG, to Johnson & Johnson.

These successful transactions highlight BGPartner's leading role in both legal advisory and negotiation matters for complex financing rounds and transactions. A special thanks goes to the exceptional team at BGPartner for their outstanding work.

Find the full Swiss Venture Capital Report 2025.

BGPartner – Mastering Law & Negotiation

We show you how to maximize your own negotiation performance.

On April 1 and 2, 2025, we will be holding the Inhouse Counsel Exclusive Seminar in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Uta Herbst and Prof. Dr. Markus Voeth from the Negotiation Academy Potsdam. In this exclusive seminar, participants will learn how to optimize the interface between law and negotiation and maximize their negotiation performance.

The seminar will take place at the FIFA Museum in Zurich and the number of places is limited. Further information can be found in our flyer. 

We look forward to two exciting days on the subject of negotiation.