Oliver Widmer is a partner and head of Pestalozzi's private clients group. He primarily advises domestic and international banks, financial institutions, wealth management service providers and high net-worth individuals on banking, finance and capital markets matters. Further areas of work include domestic and cross-border trusts, foundations and estate planning matters.
He graduated from the University of Zurich (lic iur, 1998) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc, Law and Accounting, 2002). He was admitted to the Bar in Switzerland in 2000 and as a solicitor (non- practising) of England and Wales in 2003. He is an authorised issuer's representative at the SIX Swiss Exchange and is recognised as a trust and estate practitioner (TEP) by Step. Oliver joined Pestalozzi in 2001. In 2003 to 2004, he was seconded to head the Swiss law and compliance department of a large US investment bank.
The private clients practice group of Pestalozzi offers Swiss and non-Swiss individuals and families, foundations and trusts, as well as private banks, family offices and other wealth management service providers, sophisticated, tailor-made solutions with regard to legal, regulatory and tax aspects of global planning, coordinating, structuring of their private wealth and business assets.
Pestalozzi has been advising and representing individuals, families as well as wealth management service providers for one hundred years. The firm does this mainly for clients with interests in Switzerland, but through its extensive network Pestalozzi coordinates this also for clients with interests around the world and represents a significant number of the wealthiest individuals and families in the US, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Due to this longstanding practice in advising individuals and families, the specialists of Pestalozzi have extensive experience at a high level of specialised knowledge and competence and are considered leading in their fields.
The private clients practice group is composed of experts from various fields, in particular tax, inheritance, banking, real estate, immigration and litigation who work together in ad hoc teams depending on clients' needs and wishes.
The firm also provides tax planning services and advise as to all relevant tax aspects in all the above mentioned areas (national and international).