Legal advice on financial law and Swiss law

Regulatory evaluation of a business plan
Determination of whether a license is required to conduct the intended business (legal opinion)
Drafting of legal opinions and memoranda for third parties
Legal and regulatory evaluation of various documents
Regulatory assessment of whitepapers in DeFi and DLT

Determining if a FINMA license or other authorization is necessary before launching the project (summary analysis)
Drafting and requesting a no-action letter from FINMA
Analyzing the project and proposing solutions for its feasibility under Swiss law
Preliminary assessment of the likelihood of success in obtaining a license
Assisting the client in modifying their business case to operate with fewer constraints while remaining compliant (e.g., avoiding a license, using exceptions)

360° support for obtaining FINMA licensing (more information can be found in the "licensing section")
Affiliation with a self-regulatory organization (SRO)
Obtaining authorization or registration with authorities (e.g., Precious Metals Office, SECO, Cantonal licence, etc.)
Representation before the regulator or third parties
Drafting Swiss-compliant business plans
Learn more about our licensing services

Legal advice concerning AMLA, AMLO, AMLO-FINMA, Sanctions regulation, travel rules, SRO regulations
Compliance with sanctions and anti-terrorism financing regulations
Establishment of the compliance framework for regulated companies
Drafting internal policies and regulations (e.g., compliance policy, BCM policy, data protection policy, ICT security policy, custody policy, risk management policy, conflict of interest policy, outsourcing policy, dormant asset policies, etc.)
Establishment of governance and control frameworks (people, functions, ICS)
Drafting and reviewing AML and CTF policies

Establishment of the risk management framework
Drafting of necessary policies & documents (e.g., risk management policy, ICS matrix, risks register)
Risk assessment
Establishment of the internal control system (ICS)
Establishment of the reporting framework
Advice on implementing risk mitigation measures
Assessment of cross-border risks

Establishment of the outsourcing management framework
Creation and updating of the outsourcing inventory
Drafting of related policies (e.g., outsourcing policy, procurement policy)
Evaluation of contracts with regard to Swiss outsourcing regulations and FINMA requirements
Compliance of contracts with Swiss law, including the drafting of addendums
Advice on selecting, monitoring, and managing outsourcing partners

Support in drafting Swiss-compliant business plans
Review of business plans to ensure compliance with Swiss regulations
Translation of complex business plans or white-papers into standard and legal language
Assistance in establishing financial projections with various scenarios
Support in creating a liquidity plan

Legal and regulatory support for issuing tokens in/from Switzerland
Legal advice on token or coin issuance in/from Switzerland
Regulatory support for ICOs, STOs, IEOs, IDOs, or ISPOs
Legal evaluation of governance token or DAO issuance in Switzerland
Qualification of tokens under Swiss law
Legal advice on cross-border regulations
Drafting of SAFT agreements
Advice on pre-sales, pre-financing, or pre-operational stages (e.g., private sales)
Primary issuance and listing of crypto ETP and ETN

Legal and regulatory support for issuing financial instruments in/from Switzerland
Legal advice on the primary issuance and listing of financial instruments
Drafting of prospectuses and support with approval from the competent authority
Drafting of Key Information Documents (KIDs) and other informational materials
Determination of mandatory requirements for launching financial products
Legal advice to avoid the obligation of publishing a prospectus (if possible)
Preparation of investment contracts
Legal advice on cross-border regulations
Primary issuance and listing of ETP and ETN

Drafting of contracts
Contract review
Drafting of addendums specific to Swiss law
Drafting of terms and conditions (T&Cs), especially for financial institutions
Drafting of account opening documents
Drafting of investment and pre-financing agreements
Drafting of information documents
Drafting of share purchase agreements (SPA)
Contract gap analysis under Swiss law

Establishment of a cross-border risk management framework
Analysis of country manuals
Development of cross-border risk assessments
Advice on cross-border financial services, including cryptoassets
Drafting of internal policies (e.g., cross-border policy) and staff instructions
Advice on the reverse solicitation exception in the financial sector
Advice on MICA cross-border regulation

Establishment of the data protection framework
Drafting of internal documents and procedures (e.g., data protection policy)
Contract gap analysis under Swiss law
Drafting of privacy notices and other consent documents
Advice on the use of cookies and data transfer to third parties
Drafting of informed consent documents
Determination of GDPR applicability to Swiss companies

Review of marketing materials from a regulatory and cross-border perspective
Review of websites to ensure compliance with Swiss law
Support for marketing and sales teams in drafting compliant materials

Teaching about cryptocurrencies and blockchain from a Swiss regulatory perspective
Support in identifying risks associated with blockchain usage
Support in identifying opportunities offered by DeFi and blockchain
Support in implementing blockchain-based solutions within a company
Assistance in selecting top external providers for blockchain services

Expert in the Regulation of Financial Services

Payment, PSP, Cards, Fintech

Payment service providers
Remittance
Card acquiring / issuring
Neobanks
BaaS, vIBAN
Card schemes and Card-aaS
Crowdfunding / lending
e-money, utility tokens
Payment processing
VASP, PSP, CASP
BNPL
Terminal POS provider
Wallet provider

Crypto, DeFi, Blockchain

ICO, TGE, IDO, ISPO, STO
CEX, DEX
DEFI lending & yield farming
Gaming P2E
NFTs
Stablecoins issuing
Crypto exchange
RWA tokenization
Crypto-wallet providers
Mining & staking
DAOs
Custody (MPC, multi-sig)
Crypto-ETP

Banking & Finance

Underwriting securities
Listing financial instruments
Market marking
Issuance derivatives
Structured products, AMCs
Broker dealer
Banks
Bulletin board
OTC desk
Trading venues
DLT trading facility
Forex trading
CFD & Derivatives trading
Issuance ETP / ETN

Asset & Fund Management

Wealth management
Family offices (SFO, MFO)
Fund management
Mutual fund
Investment club
Private equity
ETF / ETP
LQIF
AMCs

Technology & AI Solutions

Embedded finance
Copy trading
Identification & KYC solutions
Outsourcing
Algo trading solutions
Market insights tools
Banking as a platform
API connectivity
Open-banking

Alternative Investments

Passion assets
Watches, collectibles, Art, etc.
Crypto-assets & NTFs
Fashion & luxury
Old timers
Real estate
Assets fractionnization

Commodities, Carbon credit

Precious metal
Gold trader
Commodities future exchanges
Commodities ETF & Fund
CFD & Derivatives
OTC
Storage
Cardon market (VCM)
C02 allowances

Lending & Borrowing Services

Consumer credit loans
BNPL
Loans & credits
Leasing
P2P lending systems
Crowd lending

Licensing & Authorization Services

Discover All Licences

At SynHedge, our core expertise lies in obtaining the necessary licenses and authorizations for your business. Whether it’s a FINMA license, membership with a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO), or a Supervisory Organization (SO), we navigate the regulatory landscape with precision. Beyond compliance, we help you select the right partners to ensure your operations run smoothly and efficiently—because regulatory success is just the beginning.

Services For Companies & Entrepreneurs

Full licensing support
Full legal and regulatory compliance guidance
Representation with the regulator
Efficient process with clear milestones
Find out the right licence for you

Services For Law Firms

Dedicated support to enhance your existing offering
Business plan drafting
Selection of key outsourcing partners & solutions
Focus on your core legal expertise, we cover the rest

Services For Consultants

Legal and regulatory advisory support
On-going support in the back, while you manage your client
Insights to ensure compliance and success throughout the licensing journey

Discover the Right Licence For Your Business in Switzerland

Discover All Licences

Operational Services

While SynHedge is a legal consultancy at its core, our services go beyond legal and regulatory matters. We provide everything financial companies need to establish themselves in Switzerland and operate seamlessly. From connecting you with the right partners to sourcing IT service providers, local directors, MLROs, and more—we ensure you have the full support ecosystem required for success.

Services to enable seamless operation in Switzerland
Company incorporation in Switzerland (with fiat or crypto)
Drafting of articles of association / by-laws
Introduction to notaries & external consultants if necessary
Support in opening a bank account
Selection of outsourcing providers (e.g., AML officer)
Through our partners
Domiciliation services without c/o address
Offering virtual and physical offices in Switzerland
Recruitment of a director nominee and non-executive directorship services
Accounting services
Physical mail management (scanning and forwarding)
AML & Compliance outsourcing services
Risk manager outsourcing services

Services to enable seamless operation in Switzerland
Support in opening a bank account
Introduction to banks, EMIs supporting high-risk industries (incl. crypto, adult, defense)

Support in drafting Swiss-compliant business plans
Review of business plans to ensure compliance with Swiss regulations
Translation of complex business plans or white-papers into standard and legal language
Assistance in establishing financial projections with various scenarios
Support in creating a liquidity plan

Contract & business negotiation
Negotiation during transactions/deals
Representation of confidential clients

Services to enable our clients to outsource parts of their business to external service providers
Selection of external AML officers (Swiss MLRO)
Selection of external Risk Managers
Selection of external Compliance Officers
Selection of independent Board Members & Directors
Selection of external service providers (e.g., accounting, DPO, etc.)

Review of marketing materials from a regulatory and cross-border perspective
Review of websites to ensure compliance with Swiss law
Support for marketing and sales teams in drafting compliant materials

Support in finding top external fintech & payment solutions to build up your company
Support in selecting top core banking systems suitable for SMEs
Support in finding physical & virtual card issuing companies
Support in selecting IT solutions to connect to SWIFT, SIC, EuroSIC, SIC5 (FSMB)
Support in selecting top identification solutions and AML/ CTF tools (e.g. ID Check, KYC, KYB, KYT, ...)
Support in selecting top Swiss solutions in the field of embedded finance

Service to assist our clients in selecting solutions in the blockchain field
Selecting Swiss-compliant custody solutions
Selecting smart contract auditing firms
Selecting trusted staking providers based in Switzerland
Assisting in selecting top crypto/ DLT investigation & analytics firms
Assisting in finding crypto partners in Switzerland
Assisting in finding crypto-friendly banks in Switzerland
Support in finding blockchain programmers & developers

Services to assist our clients in selecting top IT security service providers
Penetration testing
Vulnerability testing
IT audits
IT security certifications (e.g. ISO, SOC 2, ISAE, ...)

Teaching about cryptocurrencies and blockchain from a Swiss regulatory perspective
Support in identifying risks associated with blockchain usage
Support in identifying opportunities offered by DeFi and blockchain
Support in implementing blockchain-based solutions within a company
Assistance in selecting top external providers for blockchain services

Leverage Our Extensive Network
Avoid Wasting Time Recreating the Wheel
Focus Your Energy on Revenue-Generating Activities
Rely on Battle-Tested and Compliant Solutions
Benefit from a trusted advisor who will coordinate all stakeholders

Family Offices Services

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SynHedge has developed an expertise in family offices, multi-family offices, and tailored trusted services for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Over time, we have acquired a deep specialization in negotiations, regulatory matters, and discreet representation in individual transactions, acting as trusted advisors to ensure our clients remain under the radar when needed.

For Single Family Offices (SFOs)

• Regulatory assessment (use of exemptions)
• Trusted Advisory Services
• Swiss Concierge

For Multi Family Offices (MFOs)

• Regulatory services (licensing)
• Asset management structure
• AML Support

For High Net Worth Individuals

• Trusted advisory services
• Facilitator Services
• Representation in negotiations

For Investment Companies

• Regulatory services
• SPV & Fund structure
• Support in crypto-assets investments
• Passion assets

Representation of your interests before third parties
Trusted intermediary
Document review and verification
Business management advice

Representation in negotiations with third parties
Negotiation for the acquisition of goods or services
Acting as an intermediary in transactions between clients and buyers/sellers
Confidential representation of the client during transactions
Assistance in selecting offers and providers

Guidance on optimizing investment structures
Advice on the need to obtain a license
Consultation and sourcing of special alternative investments (e.g., passion assets)

Document verification of financial and contractual records
Enhanced due diligence on a counterparty
Investigation and on-site visit

Legal and regulatory guidance on investments and financial services
Legal advice on investment management
Drafting of NDAs and other contractual documents
For more information, please refer to the "Legal & Business Services" section

Overseeing the purchase, maintenance, and sale of passion assets
Organizing and managing files and personal affairs
Handling the acquisition of valuable art pieces and collections
Seeking alternative & innovative solutions

What Companies Say About Us

Grant Thornton has already reviewed several FINMA licence applications - including for fintech banks 1b) - which Loïc has accompanied as an experienced lawyer. We were repeatedly impressed by the very high quality of the applications and were not only convinced by the high level of expertise, but also by the pleasant and professional cooperation. Loïc is the rainmaker!

Marco Valenti

Partner Financial Services at Grant Thornton Switzerland / Liechtensein

Loic is one of the most outstanding blockchain lawyers I know in Switzerland. However, this isn't the most important factor, as Switzerland has many excellent blockchain lawyers. What truly sets Loic apart is his entrepreneurial spirit. He is a lawyer who goes the extra mile to solve real-world problems for his clients, rather than being the kind of lawyer who tends to create more problems for clients, as is the case with most lawyers. This is of utmost importance for start-up companies.

Yang Lan

Chairman & co-founder of the neobank Fiat24 (SR Saphirstein AG)

I have the pleasure of knowing Loïc and working with him for many years. He is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable and experienced fintech specialists in Switzerland and Europe. I recommend him as a person who can lead legal projects of any complexity and any scale. If you are thinking about getting a financial license in Switzerland, Loïc is your ultimate advisor.

Dr. Alexander Suhobokov

CFA, FRM, Head of Fintech at Dukascopy Bank

I highly recommend Loïc for his expertise in regulatory and embedded finance. He has consistently provided me with clear guidance, demonstrating a solution-oriented approach in every situation. He's also always reachable on Telegram. It is a pleasure to work with him.

Alisher Abdukadyrov

CEO at the EMI Financial House

It was my pleasure working with Loïc on several FinTech mandates. He is a friendly and professional, seeking to deliver quality services to clients, therefore continuously educating himself and glad to share recent insights. Loic is well received by clients for his legal advice and can count on a large network. It is great working with him as well as sharing time to discuss about Blockchain.

Silvan Andermatt

Director I Industrial Professor I Board Member

I had the pleasure of working closely with Loïc for the past year and a half, and I can confidently say that his expertise and guidance have been invaluable to our company in the dynamic Fintech landscape of Switzerland.

Gilles Thorens

CFO at Financial Oracle SPC

I highly recommend Loïc as a regulatory leader in the Fintech industry. His expertise and extensive knowledge of regulatory matters make him a valuable asset for companies in this field. Loïc also has a strong network of professionals, which can be beneficial for various needs, including auditing. I had the pleasure of working with Loïc on a FINMA application for another company, and his support was instrumental for success.

Eber Guerrero

E-commerce I Payments I Fintech I Business Development

With his extensive professional experience and strong legal background, Loïc is unquestionably an expert in financial regulation within the FinTech industry. However, what truly sets Loïc apart is his entrepreneurial mindset and outstanding personal values. He never lets up when it comes to solving practical problems, and with him, there's always a solution. His in-depth knowledge of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology enables him to provide insightful and relevant advice in this field.

Osman Barbir

Founder & CEO at SWIBAN & Payment Corner

Loïc is one of the most brilliant crypto lawyers I have met in Switzerland. He has the technical knowledge but also the legal know-how to help clients at their best. Also a great individual from a personal perspective with great values that are also carried out in his work.

Gauthier Vila

Founder of the DeFi protocols Zyfi & Ondefy

Services & Expertise

Expertise & Services

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

Licencing Services

Operational Services

Family Offices Services

Legal, Regulatory, Risk Management - Core Expertise