Johannes A. Bürgi

Johannes A. Bürgi: Leading Swiss Legal Counsel in Complex Finance and Real Estate Transactions

Johannes A. Bürgi is a highly respected and accomplished partner at Walder Wyss, renowned for his expertise in navigating the most intricate financial and real estate transactions across Switzerland and internationally. With over 15 years of experience, Mr. Bürgi has established himself as a strategic advisor and a ‘great tactician’ – consistently recognized by leading legal directories, including Chambers, PLC and ILO. His deep understanding of structuring complex deals, coupled with his proactive approach, makes him a trusted partner for a diverse range of clients, from sovereign wealth funds to leading corporations.

Johannes specializes in a broad spectrum of legal services, providing sophisticated legal counsel in areas including real estate, finance, structured finance, restructuring, and capital markets. He possesses a particularly strong track record in securitizations, leveraged finance, and complex asset-based financing, consistently delivering innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of each client. His ability to manage high-stakes transactions, often involving significant financial exposure, is a testament to his strategic acumen and unwavering commitment to client success.

Practice Areas

• Banking and Finance Law
• Capital Markets Law
• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Real Estate Law
• Structured Finance Law
• Restructuring Law

Key Expertise: Johannes’s core competencies encompass a wide range of sophisticated financial transactions, including:

• • Secured and Unsecured Lending: He routinely advises on complex lending agreements, leveraging his deep understanding of collateral management and risk mitigation.
• • Structured Finance Transactions: A recognized leader in securitizations, Johannes has advised on virtually all public and private auto-leasing and credit card asset-backed securitisations in Switzerland, covering transactions for major players like GE Money Bank, Cembra, AMAG Leasing, Swisscard/Credit Suisse, and numerous conduit transactions for Swiss auto-lease captives.
• • Alternative Risk Transfer & RMBS/CMBS: He possesses extensive experience structuring and executing transactions in alternative risk transfer, including RMBS and CMBS, providing strategic advice on regulatory compliance and market dynamics.
• • Project & Asset Finance: From complex real estate financings and PPP financings to project finance and asset finance deals, Johannes brings a comprehensive approach to structuring and negotiating these complex transactions.
• • Restructuring: Johannes has successfully advised on large-scale restructuring transactions, including a pan-European hotel financing and a rescue operation for a major German Pfandbriefbank.

Notable Transactions: Johannes’s impressive track record speaks for itself. He has advised on:

• • Norges Bank Investment Management: Successfully guided NBIM in its landmark 1 billion Swiss franc acquisition of the Uetlihof office complex in Zurich through a sale-leaseback transaction.
• • Blackstone Group: Played a key role in Blackstone Group’s acquisition of assets from GE Capital Real Estate globally, valued at US$ 23 billion.
• • Middle-Eastern Sovereign Wealth Funds: Provided counsel on the acquisition of a portfolio of hotel properties in Switzerland.
• • UBS AG: Advised UBS AG on its novel covered bond program backed by Swiss residential mortgages.
• • Apollo International: Supported Apollo International’s trade receivables factoring and inventory-based financing to fund Apollo’s acquisition of Rio Tinto’s Alcan business.
• • Lloyds Bank: Successfully advised Lloyds Bank on the first Swiss auto lease asset-backed conduit securitisation of a US-based client.

Education & Credentials: Johannes holds an impressive academic pedigree, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Bern (Dr. iur., 2001) and earning an LLM in Corporate Governance and Practice from Stanford Law School (2003). He is a state exam graduate of the University of Lausanne (1998). His professional experience includes working as a District Court law clerk, a trainee at a Berne law firm, a research assistant at the University of Bern, and a secondee to UBS Investment Bank in Zurich.

Recognition & Awards: Johannes is consistently ranked as a top practitioner by international directories such as Chambers, PLC and ILO, earning the reputation of being a ‘great tactician’. He is a winner for Switzerland of the ILO Client Choice Award for securitisation and structured finance, demonstrating his commitment to client satisfaction and excellence.

Contact Information: Johannes A. Bürgi is a registered member of the Zurich Bar Registry and admitted to practice in all of Switzerland. He is fluent in German, English, and French.