Bern-based law firm Kellerhals Carrard continues to grow, pushing it to second spot among Switzerland’s largest legal practices. It is now merging with the Geneva firm de Pfyffer after another takeover last year.
Kellerhals Carrard confirmed Tuesday its role as a key mover in the ongoing consolidation in Switzerland’s legal firm environment. The Bern-based firm said it is hiring several lawyers from the firm Python, including an entire team now based in Tokyo, in a statement on Tuesday.
These moves have pushed Kellerhals Carrard to number 2 in the Swiss rankings, employing around 300 staff, including 195 lawyers. Lenz & Staehelin still top the list, with 230 lawyers.
The firm’s expansion began in 2015 when Kellerhals and Carrard merged, and continued last year with the takeover of PSM Law.
Managing partner Beat Brechbuehl told finews.ch (in German) that unlike other large firms, it followed a federalistic model, giving local subsidiaries more independence. The merger with Pfyffer will means Kellerhals Carrard will from 2019 have representation in Bern, Basel, Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, Sion, Lugano as well as in Tokyo and Shanghai.
