Managing the diverse issues surrounding occupational pensions requires specialized expertise. Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer has the legal knowledge and extensive experience required.

Services

Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer advises and represents, in particular, employee pension schemes and employer-sponsored welfare funds, companies in pension matters, and occasionally private individuals.

His main areas of activity are:

Partial liquidation proceedings

Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer advises the governing body on employee orientations regarding partial liquidations and on objections to distribution plans. He represents pension funds in supervisory authority reviews of one-off and successive partial liquidations and in court appeals proceedings.

Supervisory procedures

Supervisory interventions due to irregularities – often initially feared – impair proper management and can jeopardize the continued existence of the institution. Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer advises the highest governing body, develops concepts to ensure continuity (continuity of existence) in consultation with the supervisory authority, and represents pension funds in court appeals proceedings.

Structural and document changes

Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer advises pension institutions adapting to the constantly evolving legal framework for occupational pensions on all types of organizational changes (including changes in legal form). He supports them in amending their charter and represents them in regulatory approval procedures.

Renovation measures

Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer, in cooperation with the occupational pensions expert, supports pension funds that are underfunded or whose long-term financial balance is at risk due to an unfavorable ratio between pensioners and active insured persons in implementing appropriate measures and represents them in judicial review.

Responsibility procedures

Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer supports members of the highest body of a pension fund in defending against liability claims asserted out of court and in court.

Benefit cases

In unclear and disputed benefit cases (disability and survivors benefits), Dr. Kurt C. advises Swiss pension funds and individual private individuals and represents them in court proceedings.

Dr. Kurt C. Schweizer prepares legal assessments and expert opinions on various other issues relating to occupational pensions and, in carefully examined individual cases, assumes executive functions (also on behalf of supervisory authorities).

Training

1995 Master in Comparative Law (LL.M.), University of Miami, Florida

1987 Bar exam

1985 Doctorate, University of Zurich

1980 Licentiate, University of Zurich

Career

1996-2012 Partner of Schweizer Neuenschwander & Partner, Zollikon

1996-2003 Partner of Zurich-based Blickenstorfer & Widmer, Zurich

1988-1995 Employee of Ernst & Young AG, Zurich (Legal Department)

1985-1987 Internships at court and in law firms

1980-1983 Research Assistant at the University of Zurich, Chair of Prof. HM Riemer

Languages

German and English