Frôté François
Partner, Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 722 17 00
Fax +41 32 722 17 07
ff@frotepartner.ch
Having obtained his Bernese license to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in November 1979, Mr. François Frôté joined Frôté & Partner SA. After having practiced at the bar for several years, Mr. François Frôté little by little developed an activity as counsellor and assumed various company directorships.
Training
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern.
Experience and activities
- 1993-2005 Vice-Chairman of the BCBE
- Since 2002 Chairman of the Tornos Group
Languages
- French
- German
Partner, Wüthrich Urs
Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 321 30 32
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
uw@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Urs Wüthrich was born in 1959 and joined the firm in 1987. He practices as a Lawyer at the bar.
Training
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 1986
Experience and activities
- Lawyer of the Canton of Bern since 1986
Languages
- German
- French
- English
Fields of activities
- Family Law
- Liability Law
- Contract Law (mainly Labor Law, Work and Services Contracts, etc.)
- Criminal Law
- Inheritance Law
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Swiss Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Vice-Chairman of the Commission for real estate improvements of the Canton of Bern
- Vice-Chairman of the Touring Club Suisse (Swiss company providing road assistance and information), Bienne-Seeland section
Labbé Marc
Partner, Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 321 30 33
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
ml@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Marc Labbé, born in 1960, joined Frôté & Partner SA in 1990, after a few years’ activity as Clerk and ex officio Chief Magistrate of the Moutier District Court.
Training
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 1987
- lic.iur. Neuchâtel University, 1984
Experience and activities
- Attorney-at-Law with Frôté & Partner since 1990
- From 1987 to 1990, Clerk and ex officio Chief Magistrate of the Moutier District Court.
- Member of the Committee of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association since 1998. Vice-Chairman since 2001 and President of the Bar from 2005 to 2010
- Member of the Committee of the Swiss Bar Association
- French-Swiss Head of the Commission for the implementation of training for FSA specialist Attorneys-at-Law
- Member of Boards of Directors
Languages
- French
- German
- English
Fields of activities
- Building and Planning Law
- Divorce Law
- Liability and Insurance Law
- Criminal Law
- Traffic Law
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Committee of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association from 1998 to 2010. Vice-Chairman since 2001 and President of the Bar from 2005 to 2010
- Member of the Appeals Tribunal of the Swiss Football league (SFL)
- Member of the Watchmakers’ Arbitration Tribunal
- Chairman of the Founding Board of the Tour-de-Rive de La Neuveville Café-Théâtre
Jordi Markus
Partner, lic.iur., Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 628 26 26
Fax +41 32 628 26 20
mj@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Markus Jordi, born in 1972, joined Frôté & Partner SA in 2007 after having worked at a law firm of national and international repute in Zurich and Bern. As cofounder of a medium-size trust company, he has been active in particular in the area of corporate consultancy since 1998.
Training
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 2004
- lic.iur., Bern University, 2002
Experience and activities
- Member of the Boards of Directors of SMEs
- Trusteeship commissions
Languages
- French
- German
- Italian
Fields of activities
- Corporate consultancy
- Contract Law
- Labor Law
- Company Law as well as inheritance planning (including Inheritance Law)
- Civil Law
- Criminal Law
- International (litigation) mandates
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association as well as the Swiss Attorneys-at-Law Federation
Frôté Gilles
Partner, lic. iur., LL. M., Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 321 30 38
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
gf@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Gilles Frôté, born in 1980, joined Frôté & Partner SA after nearly three years of activity with Credit Suisse in Solothurn and Zurich. In this capacity, he conducted major transactions in the area of mergers and acquisitions, as well as company financing, at both Swiss and international level. In his functions as a board member and consultant, he is responsible for numerous international Projects in the area of structure building and transactions, particularly in the USA and Asia.
Training
- LL.M., International Business Law, Zurich (in partnership with Tulane University, USA and Hong Kong University, Hong Kong), 2012
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 2006
- lic.iur., Bern University, 2004
- Summer internship in Los Angeles, CA - USA and Cincinnati, OH - USA
Experience and activities
- Member of the Boards of Directors of SMEs
- Real Estate management
- Credit Suisse Solution Partners, Corporate Finance, Zurich
- Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Desk for the Swiss Midlands, Young Talent
Languages
- French
- German
- English
Fields of activities
- Finance
- International contracts
- Company consultancy
- Commercial and Contractual Law
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Financing and inheritance matters
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the "Chambre d'économie publique du Jura bernois" and president of the "Commission Services"
- Member of the "Club Entreprises"
- Member and former Chairman of the SAS-Bern Academic Club
- Former Vice-President of the Central Committee of the Swiss Academic Ski-Club
- Former Chairman of the General Council of the municipality of La Neuveville
Gehrig Daniel
Partner, MLaw, Attorney-at-Law, Notary
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 321 30 35
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
dg@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Daniel Gehrig is licensed both as an Attorney-at-Law as well as a Notary (canton of Bern).
Training
- Licensed as a Notary in the Canton of Bern
- Licensed as an Attorney-at-Law in the Canton of Bern
- Master of Law (MLaw), Bern University
- CAS Forensics, Luzern University
Experience and activities
- Partner and board member at Frôté & Partner since 2018
- Notary public at Frôté & Partner since 2016
- Attorney-at-Law at Frôté & Partner since 2011
- Investigation Judge for Military Justice, 2010 to 2015
- Trainee lawyer, Advokatur Friedli & Schnydrig, Bern, 2009
- Trainee lawyer, Préfecture Bern-Mittelland, Bern, 2009
- Trainee lawyer, District Court III – Aarberg-Büren-Erlach (nowadays Regional Court of Jura bernois-Seeland), 2008
Languages
- German
- French
- English
Fields of activities
As an Attorney-at-Law:- Civil Law
- Succession Law
- Contract Law (Sales Contract Law, Contract Law in general,…)
- Real Estate Law
- Tenancy and Labor Law
- Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law
- Insurance and Liability Law
- Administrative Law
- Criminal Law (defence councel and representation of victimes)
- Business Law
- Internal investigations and inquiries
- Company Law and Commerical Law (foundations, restructuring,…)
- Property transfers (sale of properties, drawing up of mortgage bonds, easement,…)
- Inheritances, wills and inheritance contracts
- Marriage contracts
Affiliations and other activities
- President of the Youth Notary Forum (Fjn) of the Bernese Notary Association (ANB)
- Member of the Criminal Law Section of the Bernese Attorney-at-Law Association
- Prosecutor with the Swiss military justice, from 2016 to 2018
- Investigating judge with the Swiss military justice, from 2010 to 2015
- Member of the Swiss Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association
Nicolet Max-Olivier
Partner, Notary - Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 321 30 36
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
mon@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Max-Olivier Nicolet, born in 1960, has been licensed as a Bern Attorney-at-Law since 1986 and as a Bern Notary since 1989. After having run his own firm in La Neuveville for ten years, he joined Frôté & Partner SA in 1998, following the amendment to the legislation governing the profession of Notary and the abolition of district borders. Currently, he is working primarily as a Notary.
Training
- Licensed to practice as Notary in the Canton of Bern, 1989
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 1986
Languages
- French
- German
Fields of activities
- Property transfers
- Company Law, foundations, reorganizations
- Inheritances, wills and inheritance contracts
- Marriage contracts
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Committee of the Bern Notaries’ Association (ANB) from 1997 to 2010
- Chairman of the Bern Jura regional section of the ANB
- Secretary of the Vignolans Apartments Foundation in La Neuveville.
Bättig Andreas
Partner, lic. iur., LL.M., Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 628 26 26
Fax +41 32 628 26 20
ab@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Andreas Bättig, born in 1978, joined the firm Frôté & Partner SA in mid-2018 after a long-standing activity with a Commercial Law firm located in Berne. The focus of his activities is on Corporate and Commercial Law as well as general Contract Law. Mr. Andreas Bättig has years of experience in the provision of advice to national and international companies as well as individuals. He represents his clients in court, in arbitral proceedings as well as in front of authorities.
Training
- Postgraduate studies (LL.M.), King’s College, London, 2007-2008
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 2004
- lic. iur., Bern University, 2002
Experience and activities
- Partner with Frôté & Partner, since 2018
- Practice as a lawyer with a commercial law firm in Bern, 2004-2018
Languages
- German
- English
- French
Fields of activities
- Commercial and Contract Law
- Corporate Law, M&A
- Banking, Finance and Capital Laws
- Intellectual property and Unfair Competition Laws
- Civil Procedure Law
- Litigation and arbitration
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Swiss Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association
Helbling Antoine
Lic. sc. Ec, Tax Expert
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 722 17 00
+41 32 722 17 07
ah@frotepartner.ch
Mr. Helbling collaborates with our firm since March 2010. He formerly worked at the Neuchâtel Tax Administration where he has gained a large practical experience in various taxes. He also has an extensive experience in trusteeship. His tax, economic and accounting knowledge enables him to provide services to companies and individuals in matters of restructuring, acquisition and sale of companies, tax planning in the field of real estate, inheritance and donations and occupational pension plans.
Training
- Certified Tax Expert, 2004
- License in political economics, Neuchâtel University, 1998
Experience and activities
- Collaboration as tax expert with Frôté & Partner SA
Languages
- French
- English
Fields of activities
- Restructuring
- Purchase and sale of companies
- Tax management in real estate
- Inheritances and donations
- Professional pensions
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the OREF (Order of Tax Experts of the French-speaking part of Switzerland)
- Member of the Executive Office of the Real Estate Chamber of Neuchâtel (CIN)
Imhof Michael
Partner, MLaw, Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 321 30 37
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
mi@frotepartner.ch
Born in 1986, Michael Imhof joined Frôté & Partner SA in 2014. Holding a Master degree in Business Law from the Law Faculty at the University of Neuchâtel, he has extensive knowledge in Commercial Law. After completing his degree in law, he worked for 2 years with the main judicial authorities of the Canton of Bern before practicing as Attorney-at-Law in our law firm. His main area of practice is general litigation with an emphasis on Corporate Law. Michael Imhof is also a deputy member of the Supervisory Authority of Lawyers of the Canton of Bern and an expert at the HEG-ARC. He mainly practices before the courts of the cantons of Berne, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura.
Training
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 2014
- Master in Business Law, Neuchâtel University 2011
- Bachelor of Law, Neuchâtel University, 2009
Experience and activities
- Attorney-at-Law Frôté & Partner since 2014
- Clerk of the Bern Administrative Court
- Clerk of the Bern Supreme Court
- Trainee lawyer at ANB-Law
- Clerk of the Bienne regional Court (Jura bernois – Seeland)
- HEG Expert – Economic Law programm
Languages
- French
- German
- English
Fields of activities
- Commercial Law
- Corporate Law
- Contract Law
- Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law
- Administrative Law
- Criminal Law
- Traffic Law
- Litigation
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Swiss Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of various ssociations
Codoni Vincent
Notary, Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 722 17 00
Fax +41 32 722 17 07
codoni@hofcod.ch
Born in 1964, Mr Vincent Codoni has held the Neuchâtel Bar Exam since 1992 and the Neuchâtel Notary Exam since 1994. After having served as a partner of Mr Jean-Patrice Hofner, since Mr Hofner’s retirement, he now holds his own law firm, whose head office is in Couvet in Val-de-Travers, where his notarial seal is located. He also consults in the Neuchâtel Office of Frôté & Partner SA if requested. Currently, Mr. Codoni mainly acts as public notary.
Training
- Notary Examination, Neuchâtel, 1994
- Bar Examination, Neuchâtel,1992
Languages
- French
- Italian
Fields of activities
- Real Estate Transfers
- Corporate / Company Law, Foundations, Restructuring
- Successions, Testamentary and Execution of Wills
- Wedding Contracts
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Neuchâtel Chamber of Notaries
- Member of various foundations and non-profit associations
Hofner Jean-Patrice
Notary - Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 722 17 00
Fax +41 32 722 17 07
hofner@hofcod.ch
Mr. Jean-Patrice Hofner, who was born in Basel in 1947, obtained the Canton of Neuchâtel license to practice as a Lawyer in 1975 and the Neuchâtel license to practice as a Notary in 1978. He has had his own law practice in Couvet since 1977 and has worked in partnership with Mr. Vincent Codoni, a Notary, since 1994.
In June 2009 the law firm Hofner & Codoni partnered with Frôté & Partner SA in their work as notaries.
Mr. Jean-Patrice Hofner is registered with the Neuchâtel register of notaries.
Training
- Licensed to practice as a notary of the Canton of Neuchâtel
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Neuchâtel
- Degree in Law awarded by the University of Neuchâtel
Languages
- French
- English
- Italian
Fields of activities
- Real estate transfers
- Commercial Law
- Foundations
- Successions, wills and notarized documents relating to inheritance
- Marriage contracts
Affiliations and other activities
- Vice-President of the Conseil Notarial du canton de Neuchâtel
- President of the Fleurier Quality Foundation (Haute Horlogerie watch-making certification) www.fqf.ch
- President of the WOSTEP Foundation, Watchmakers of Switzerland training and educational program www.wostep.ch
- President of the Andrée Jéquier Foundation (grants for studies and research) www.andree.jequier.ch
- President of the Jean-Daniel Grandjean Foundation (support for children of third world countries)
Gagnebin D'Onofrio Rachel
lic. iur., Jurist
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 722 17 00
Fax +41 32 722 17 07
rg@frotepartner.ch
Ms. Rachel Gagnebin D'Onofrio joined Frôté & Partner SA in 1999. Her activity is concentrated mainly on the areas of Liability Law, calculation of damages and other areas such as Company Law in which she has developed her skills.
Training
- Law Degree mention "très bien", University of Neuchâtel, 1999
Experience and activities
- Legal assistant at Frôté & Partner SA, Bienne and Neuchâtel, since 1999
- Lawyer at the Cost Recovery and Advance of Alimony Payments Office, La Chaux-de-Fonds, 1997-1998
Languages
- French
- German
- English
- Knowledge of Italian
- Knowledge of Spanish
Fields of activities
- Social Security Law
- Liability Law
- Business Law (including management of Secretariats of Executive Boards)
- Notarial Law
- Translation (German-French)
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Swiss Lawyers’ Society
Fromaigeat Nolwenn
Notary
Frôté & Partner SA
Tél. +41 32 321 30 31
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
nf@frotepartner.ch
Ms Nolwenn Fromaigeat joined Frôté & Partner in 2017, first as a trainee notary and then as a Legal Officer. Since 2020 she works as a Notary in our law firm.
Training
- Licensed as a Notary in the Canton of Bern, 2019
- Master of Law, University Neuchâtel, 2015
- Bachelor of Law, University Neuchâtel, 2014
Experience and activities
- Notary at Frôté & Partner since 2020
- Trainee Notary at Frôté & Partner SA, 2017-2019
- Trainee Notary at the Commercial Registry Office, Bern, 2017
- Trainee Notary at the «APEA» of the «Jura bernois» region, 2016
- Trainee Notary at the Land Registry Office of the “Jura bernois” region, 2016
Languages
- French
- German
- English
Fields of activities
- Property transfers
- Company Law, foundations, reorganizations
- Inheritances, wills and inheritance contracts
- Marriage contracts
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Bern Notaries’ Association (ANB)
Tellan Vanessa
Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner Ltd.
Tél. +41(0)32 321 30 39
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
vt@frotepartner.ch
Ms Vanessa Tellan joined Frôté & Partner Ltd. in 2018, first as a trainee lawyer and then as a Legal Officer. Since 2020 she works as a Lawyer in our law firm.
Training
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 2020
- LL.M., King’s College, London, 2015-2016
- Master of Law, University of Neuchâtel, 2014-2015
- Bachelor of Law, University of Neuchâtel, 2010-2013
Experience and activities
- Attorney-at-Law, Frôté & Partner since 2020
- Legal officer at Frôté & Partner SA (20%), 2019-2020
- Trainee at Frôté & Partner SA, Biel, 2018-2019
- Trainee lawyer at the “Jura bernois-Seeland” regional Court (Civil and Criminal Law department), 2017-2018
Languages
- French
- English
Fields of activities
- Criminal Law
- Contract Law
- Tenancy law
- Labor Law
- Family Law
- Civil Law
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law
- Building and Planning Law
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Swiss Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association
Wälchli Melanie
Attorney-at-Law
Frôté & Partner Ltd.
Tél. +41(0)32 321 30 34
Fax +41 32 323 18 79
mw@frotepartner.ch
Melanie Wälchli holds the Lawyer’s Certificate of the Canton of Bern. Since 2022 she works as a Lawyer in our law firm.
Training
- Admission to the bar of the Canton of Bern, 2022
- Master of Law (MLaw), University of Bern, 2018
- Bachelor of Law (MLaw), University of Bern, 2016
Experience and activities
- Attorney-at-Law, Frôté & Partner since 2022
- Trainee lawyer at the “Bern Mitteland-Nord” Child and Adult Protection Authority, 2020-2021
- Trainee lawyer at the Bienne Prefecture, 2019-2020
- Trainee lawyer at a Law firm located in Bienne, 2018-2019
Languages
- German
- English
- French
Fields of activities
- Criminal Law
- Labor Law
- Tenancy law
- Family Law
- Civil Law
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law
- Social Insurance Law
- Administrative Law
Affiliations and other activities
- Member of the Swiss Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the Bern Attorneys-at-Law Association
- Member of the Solothurn Attorneys-at-Law Association
