News

BGPartner is the first and only law firm in Switzerland to be awarded the Great Place to Work® certificate for the second time in a row. The results of the anonymous employee survey exceed last year's figures in all categories.

In January 2026, all employees took part in the Great Place to Work® survey. The independent research and consulting institute Great Place to Work® uses this survey to measure the quality of workplace culture. The results are highly encouraging: BGPartner achieved higher scores than in the previous year in all five areas assessed – credibility, respect, fairness, pride and team spirit – and thus once again met the criteria for certification.

In 2025, BGPartner was the first law firm in Switzerland to be awarded the Great Place to Work® certificate and was listed as one of Switzerland's Best Workplaces™ in the category «Companies with 20–49 employees». The selection for Best Workplaces™ Switzerland 2026 has not yet been announced, and BGPartner is confident of being represented once again.

Olivier Bula, Partner and Head of HR at BGPartner, comments:
«We delegate responsibility at an early stage, support our employees through a personalised mentoring programme and create space for their own ideas. The fact that all 24 employees took part in the survey and that the scores have increased once again shows that this environment works – for our team as well as for our clients, who benefit from people enjoying their work and being highly engaged.»

BGPartner is committed to flat hierarchies, short decision-making processes, open communication and dynamic teamwork. Regular exchange across all levels, shared team events and a direct feedback culture shape everyday life at our offices in Bern and Zurich.

For BGPartner, a strong internal culture is not an end in itself. It forms the basis for continuity, reliability and the highest quality in advising clients.

About Great Place to Work®:
The independent research and consulting institute measures and analyses the workplace culture of companies based on anonymous employee surveys. The best certified companies are recognised annually as Best Workplaces™. 

Further information: greatplacetowork.ch

Negotiation is one of BGPartner's core competencies. Our lawyers are continuously trained in theory and practice and regularly compete in realistic negotiation scenarios. A central area of practice is participation in The Negotiation Challenge (TNC), one of the world's most prestigious negotiation competitions.

The TNC is considered the unofficial world championship for negotiators and brings together experts from the fields of business, law, politics and diplomacy. In 2024, BGPartner won the world championship title together with the team of Deutsche Bank – impressive proof of the strength and professionalism of our negotiation skills.

The internal qualifying rounds for TNC 2025 were exciting, intense, and highly instructive. 

Now, the two teams that will represent BGPartner in this international competition have been determined: 

• Team “BGPartner DealCrafters” with Maja Rasovic and Thomas Gysin
• Team “BGPartner Summit Settlors” with Tessa Douma and Barbara Meise

The first official negotiation rounds will kick off on October 6, 2025, and we are excited to cheer on our two teams along the way. Congratulations on your qualification and good luck! Who knows – maybe BGPartner will once again make it to the very top in 2025.

Watch the video for a review of our 2024 world championship title! 

For more information on TNC 2025: The Negotiation Challenge | TNC | International Negotiation Competition for Professionals – International negotiation competition for professionals

A quarter century of jazz, connection and shared moments: The 25th edition of BGPartner’s Jazz Brunch took place on the Gurten once again. More than 250 guests gathered to enjoy a relaxed Sunday filled with fine food, sunshine and the unmistakable sounds of the Imelda Gabs Jazz Band.

The anniversary was also a time for reflection and appreciation. Michael Bader, long-standing partner and founder of the event, was recognised for his instrumental role in shaping the brunch tradition and helping to build the firm. His contribution over the years has left a lasting mark.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the team from Gurten – Park im Grünen for their seamless support and, of course, to the band for once again providing the perfect musical backdrop.

Click here to view the photo gallery.

GlycoEra Ltd, a Swiss biotechnology company pioneering best-in-class extracellular protein degraders for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, today announced the closing of a USD 130 million Series B financing. The oversubscribed round was led by Novo Holdings, along with participation from additional new investors LifeArc Ventures, Catalio Capital Management, QIA, MP Healthcare Venture Management, Sixty Degree Capital and Agent Capital. Existing investors, including Sofinnova Partners, 5AM Ventures, Roche Ventures, and Bristol Myers Squibb, also participated. 

Max Klement (Partner of Novo Holdings), Matthew Hobson (Principal of Catalio Capital Management) and Sohaib Mir (Partner at LifeArc Ventures) will join as members of the board of directors of GlycoEra.

BGPartner advised the lead investor Novo Holdings and new investor LifeArc Ventures on all Swiss legal matters and the negotiations of this Series B financing round. The team consisted of Oliver Gnehm (Partner), Victoria Marty (Senior Associate), Tessa Douma (Associate) and Anja Spahni (Associate).

More information about our legal and negotiation expertise can be found here.

The internationally renowned research and consulting institute Great Place to Work® has included BGPartner in the list of Best Workplaces™ Switzerland 2025 – the only law firm to be honoured this year. This recognition officially places BGPartner among Switzerland’s best employers. It stands as a strong affirmation of our culture, our team, and our commitment to being more than just a law firm.

The evaluation was based on an independent and anonymous employee survey, along with a detailed cultural analysis conducted by Great Place to Work®. In the category “Companies with 20–49 employees”, BGPartner secured a place among the Top 15 – a remarkable acknowledgment of our ongoing efforts to foster a respectful, empowering, and trust-based working environment.

This award is both a validation of our efforts and a source of motivation to keep striving:
We remain committed to nurturing a culture where team spirit, flexibility, and shared growth are at the heart of everything we do.

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