Creation of a new “Regulatory & Compliance Financial Services” Department at Grant Thornton Switzerland/Liechtenstein

On 1 December 2022, a team of 12 specialists will start their work in the newly founded Regulatory & Compliance Department. In creating this department, the firm is significantly expanding its portfolio in the field of financial services, marking a further milestone in its long-term growth strategy. 

The management of the new Regulatory & Compliance FS team comprises Fabian Schmid, Thomas Hulmann, Mathias Müller and Boris Hofer, all of whom have long-standing experience in financial services at auditing and consulting firms. They have a thorough knowledge of financial markets law, are experienced in engaging and cooperating with supervisory authorities and have excellent networks in the sector.

All the specialists in the Regulatory & Compliance FS team are legally trained and have professional experience in the financial services sector. The new department will work closely with auditors in the Financial Services division and will predominantly advise small and medium-sized banks, asset managers and other financial institutions regarding all aspects of financial market supervisory law. This relates to the following areas of the law, in particular: anti-money laundering legislation (AMLA), public and private banking law, the Financial Services Act (FinSA), the Financial Institutions Act (FinIA), the law on financial market infrastructure (FinMIA), the law on collective investment schemes (CISA), tax compliance (FATCA/QI/AEOI), corporate governance, corporate law and data protection, as well as ESG regulations and legal issues arising in relation to sustainable finance. Its work for clients will focus on providing compliance and risk management services for asset managers on an outsourced basis, in particular. The experts in the R&C FS team have also published numerous specialist articles in a variety of media and regularly participate in industry events as speakers. 

Fabian Schmid is joining Grant Thornton in Zurich with his existing, well-established team and will thus be able to swiftly expand and integrate the department. Commenting on the most recent addition to the partnership, Erich Bucher, CEO of Grant Thornton Switzerland/Liechtenstein states: “We are delighted to have achieved this milestone, one of the objectives set in our ambitious strategy. We are convinced that the services offered by Fabian and his team will be an excellent fit within our existing portfolio and complement it perfectly.”