Olivier Brunisholz is a seasoned Business lawyer in Switzerland whose practice combines four decades of counsel in corporate, tax and international business matters. As co‑founder of Briner & Brunisholz (also known as B&B Avocats), Brunisholz has developed a cross‑border practice advising corporations, family offices and high‑net‑worth individuals on complex Swiss and international transactions. His standing as a senior practitioner reflects long‑term engagement in tax planning, corporate governance, commercial contracts and dispute resolution for internationally mobile clients. This breadth of experience informs a pragmatic, results‑driven approach to cross‑border matters and regulatory compliance.
Brunisholz earned his Licence en Droit from the University of Fribourg in 1980 and is admitted to practice in Geneva (1983) and Fribourg (1991), giving him formal credentials across multiple Swiss jurisdictions. His early career included positions with ABN Trust Company and KPMG Peat Marwick in Geneva, before co‑founding the firm that became Briner & Brunisholz in the 1990s. He remains active in key professional bodies, including the Geneva Bar Association, the Swiss Bar Federation and the International Fiscal Association, reflecting sustained engagement with litigation and tax policy communities. These affiliations underscore Brunisholz’s ongoing commitment to high professional standards.
Brunisholz’s practice is distinguished by a dual focus on Swiss and international tax law, corporate law and commercial contracts, positioning him as a Business lawyer in Switzerland for clients with cross‑border exposure. He regularly advises on international estate planning and succession, tax‑efficient corporate structuring, company formation and transfers, and regulatory matters tied to residence and business establishment in Switzerland. His multilingual practice (French, English, German and Italian) and longstanding relationships with banks, fiduciaries and tax advisers enable integrated advice for inbound and outbound investment. This breadth enables Brunisholz to deliver integrated, cross‑border solutions that align with corporate strategy.
Clients turn to Brunisholz for a range of business matters: tax planning for corporates and families, shareholder and partnership agreements, restructuring, mergers & acquisitions advisory, and contentious work including arbitration and civil litigation. He has particular experience acting for family offices, private investors and corporate boards, and his practice addresses industry‑specific needs such as sports and sponsorship arrangements and emerging digital assets (including blockchain and NFTs). This sectoral breadth means Brunisholz can coordinate multidisciplinary teams on transactions that require tax, corporate and regulatory expertise. His integrated approach ensures timely execution and risk mitigation across jurisdictions.
Briner & Brunisholz and its founding partners have been recognised in international directories and awards for boutique tax and estate work, reflecting the firm’s profile in Switzerland for cross‑border planning and high‑net‑worth client representation. Olivier Brunisholz has acted as counsel in judicial and administrative proceedings, and his name appears in published decisions and professional listings that document his litigation and arbitration involvement. In addition to firm recognitions for specialist tax and family law services, his profile as a board member and fiduciary adviser to Swiss and foreign companies underscores the practical corporate governance dimension of his work. These roles demonstrate Brunisholz’s influence in shaping governance standards.
Brunisholz combines technical tax and corporate law knowledge with hands‑on commercial judgment developed through years of advising international clients and serving on corporate boards. His approach emphasises pragmatic, compliance‑focused solutions that align corporate structuring with clients’ personal and commercial objectives, particularly where cross‑border tax exposure and residence rules are determinative. The firm’s boutique size and multilingual team enable tailored attention while leveraging established correspondent networks for rapid execution across jurisdictions. Olivier Brunisholz’s method is to translate complex legal concepts into actionable business outcomes.
Switzerland’s business law framework is anchored in the Swiss Code of Obligations and a civil‑law tradition that emphasises contractual autonomy, corporate form flexibility and stable commercial rules—features that attract international investors and family offices. Practitioners advising on Swiss business matters must manage canton‑level differences, evolving tax rules and the interplay of domestic law with international tax and transparency standards. Dispute resolution and arbitration are well‑developed in Switzerland, making specialist counsel important for both transactional risk management and contentious enforcement. For companies and individuals operating cross‑border, specialist expertise in corporate governance, tax structuring and regulatory compliance is therefore essential.
Businesses planning inbound investment or corporate relocations to Switzerland, family offices seeking succession and tax planning, and international entrepreneurs establishing Swiss presence will find Brunisholz’s experience particularly relevant. He is well suited to clients requiring coordinated advice on tax efficiency, corporate housekeeping, shareholder arrangements and residence/permitting questions tied to business operations. His practice is also appropriate for clients facing cross‑border litigation or arbitration where tax and corporate issues are central. Brunisholz’s coordinated, cross‑border approach helps clients navigate regulatory challenges effectively.
Clients describe the practical value of Brunisholz’s advice as grounded in detailed legal analysis combined with an emphasis on implementation — drafting robust transactional documentation, advising on governance mechanics and partnering with finance and tax specialists where needed. The firm’s multilingual capacity and Geneva base make it a pragmatic choice for continental European, UK and extra‑European clients navigating Swiss corporate and tax rules. Businesses and private individuals seeking an experienced Business lawyer in Switzerland will benefit from an engagement that balances technical acumen with commercially focused outcomes. Brunisholz tailors engagements to each client’s risk profile and strategic objectives.
Olivier Brunisholz is a senior Swiss business lawyer and co‑founder of Briner & Brunisholz, with around four decades of experience advising corporations, family offices and high‑net‑worth individuals on Swiss and cross‑border corporate, tax and commercial matters.
His practice focuses on international and Swiss tax law, corporate law, commercial contracts, estate and succession planning, tax‑efficient corporate structuring, company formation and dispute resolution including arbitration and litigation.
He represents family offices, private investors, corporate boards and international businesses on tax planning, shareholder and partnership agreements, restructurings, M&A advisory, regulatory residence and establishment issues, and sector matters such as sports, sponsorship and emerging digital assets.
He earned a Licence en Droit from the University of Fribourg (1980) and is admitted to practice in Geneva (1983) and Fribourg (1991). He has worked with ABN Trust and KPMG and remains active in the Geneva Bar Association, the Swiss Bar Federation and the International Fiscal Association.
Brunisholz combines technical tax and corporate law knowledge with practical commercial judgment, offering pragmatic, compliance‑focused solutions, multilingual service, tailored boutique attention and coordinated cross‑border execution through established correspondent networks.
Businesses planning inbound investment or relocations to Switzerland, family offices seeking succession and tax planning, international entrepreneurs establishing a Swiss presence, and clients involved in cross‑border litigation or arbitration with tax or corporate issues should consider consulting him.
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