Rolf Watter

Rolf Watter has broad experience in all types of M&A transactions, including defence mandates. He also specializes in corporate governance questions and capital market transactions. He is a board member of the listed AP Alternative Portfolio and of the privately held Faber Castell (Holding). He used to be chairman of PostFinance AG (2012/2021), CEVA Logistics (2018/2019) and of Nobel Biocare (2012/2014; member 2007/2012); further he was a board member in a number of other Swiss listed companies, namely Aryzta, Zurich Insurance Group, Syngenta, Centerpulse, and Forbo. In addition, he is a member of the Regulatory Board of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Rolf teaches as a professor at the University of Zurich since 1996 and is an editor of the GesKR and the Basler Kommentare on the Code of Obligations II, the Financial Infrastructure Act, the Banking and the Merger Act. He regularly publishes in his fields of work. In Chambers Global and Europe, Rolf Watter is consistently ranked in tier 1 of the leading lawyers for Corporate/ M&A in Switzerland. Rolf Watter is recognized as a leading lawyer in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. He is listed among the top 30 corporate governance practitioners in the world by Expertguides. Rolf Watter won the ILO Client Choice Awards Switzerland in the category M&A (2016 and 2018) and Capital Markets (2014); WWL has ranked him in 2019 as best Corporate Governance lawyer. · Bär & Karrer Ltd.

SwitzerlandMergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets & Listed CompaniesGerman, English, French

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About

Senior Swiss corporate lawyer and long‑standing partner at Bär & Karrer with broad experience in M&A (including defence mandates), corporate governance and capital markets. Professor of Law at the University of Zurich since 1996 and a member of multiple listed and private company boards, as well as of the Regulatory Board of the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Practice areas

Mergers & AcquisitionsCapital Markets & Listed CompaniesCorporate / CommercialEnvironment, Social & Governance (ESG)Turnaround, Reorganization & Insolvency

Office

Switzerland

Bär & Karrer Ltd. · Rolf Watter has broad experience in all types of M&A transactions, including defence mandates. He also specializes in corporate governance questions and capital market transactions. He is a board member of the listed AP Alternative Portfolio and of the privately held Faber Castell (Holding). He used to be chairman of PostFinance AG (2012/2021), CEVA Logistics (2018/2019) and of Nobel Biocare (2012/2014; member 2007/2012); further he was a board member in a number of other Swiss listed companies, namely Aryzta, Zurich Insurance Group, Syngenta, Centerpulse, and Forbo. In addition, he is a member of the Regulatory Board of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Rolf teaches as a professor at the University of Zurich since 1996 and is an editor of the GesKR and the Basler Kommentare on the Code of Obligations II, the Financial Infrastructure Act, the Banking and the Merger Act. He regularly publishes in his fields of work. In Chambers Global and Europe, Rolf Watter is consistently ranked in tier 1 of the leading lawyers for Corporate/ M&A in Switzerland. Rolf Watter is recognized as a leading lawyer in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. He is listed among the top 30 corporate governance practitioners in the world by Expertguides. Rolf Watter won the ILO Client Choice Awards Switzerland in the category M&A (2016 and 2018) and Capital Markets (2014); WWL has ranked him in 2019 as best Corporate Governance lawyer.

Switzerland

Expertise

Corporate governanceMergers & Acquisitions (including defence/hostile mandates)Capital markets and listingsBoard advisory and corporate leadershipListed companies

Education

University of Zurich: lic. iur. (1983)
University of Zurich: Dr. iur. (1985)
Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.): LL.M. (1988)
University of Zurich: Venia Legendi (1990)

Admissions

Admitted to the Zurich Bar (1986)

Languages

GermanEnglishFrench