FINSOM Mediation Team
As an Ombudsman Office recognised by the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) according to the Financial Services Act (FinSA), one of FINSOM’s purposes is to provide a mediation team adapted to the needs of the Swiss financial sector that is independent, impartial and available.
Neither FINSOM’s Ombudsman, its Mediators, nor its Experts may deal with procedures that concern them or a natural or legal person close to them. They must also possess technical skills appropriate to the subject matter of the procedure in which they intervene and the necessary personal skills for their role.
FINSOM does not consider mediation trainings or accreditations offered in Switzerland or abroad by other organisations. Furthermore, FINSOM isn’t an association, register or club of mediators and the number of mediators is limited.
In its appointment of mediators under Art. 84 para 2 let. b FinSA, FINSOM emphasises proven, sector-specific technical skills in commercial and work-related complaints management and dispute resolution, taking into account the needs of the Swiss financial sector.
Ombudsman
Ombudsman, EN, FR, DE
Jennifer Lygren holds a university degree in business administration and a masters degree in economic crime investigation. She brings over 15 years experience in the Swiss financial sector and excellent knowledge of banking, financial services and trusts. Prior to taking over FINSOM’ s management in 2018, Ms. Lygren held positions in internal audit and operational risk management at Swiss and foreign financial institutions.
Mediators
Mediator, EN, FR
Pierre-Olivier Etique is a specialised lawyer with more than 15 years experience in banking and financial regulation, in which he advises numerous Swiss and foreign banking institutions, independent asset managers, as well as financial companies active in the trading of financial instruments or financial intermediation. His expertise in collective investment schemes law is also recognised, whether in the structuring of investment vehicles, asset management or the distribution of collective investments. He teaches in various continuing education programs for the banking and financial industry, particularly in the field of collective investment schemes.
Mediator, EN, FR, DE
Sébastien Fanti is a lawyer specialised in the field of advanced technologies, in particular data protection, cybercrime, digital commercial law including digital finance. He is part of an international network of lawyers and he shares his knowledge through various lectures, including one at the Sorbonne. In the field of financial services, he has also advised leading institutions on their strategy, the deployment of their products and/or services, as well as on regulatory and compliance issues in several countries.
Mediator, EN, FR, IT
Paolo Bernasconi is a lawyer and notary public and was Professor of International Economic Criminal Law at the Universities of St. Gallen, Zurich and Como. He has also been a professor at the Center for Banking Studies in Lugano for many years, a member of federal expert commissions for the revision of numerous Swiss laws and a member of the Swiss Bankers Association’s (SBA) Supervisory Board for the Due Diligence Agreement (CDB). Paolo Bernasconi is also Co-founder and Honorary President of the Association Ethics and Compliance Switzerland (ECS) as well as Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) of the Lugano Chapter, a former Magistrate of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lugano and President of the Honorary Court of an association of professionals in the sector.
Mediator, EN, FR
Frédéric Binder is a lawyer and independent director. After a long and varied banking career both in Switzerland and abroad, he returned to the Bar in 2019. Specialising in banking and finance, he assists and advises private and corporate clients, particularly in the areas of wealth management and Swiss banking and financial regulations.
Mediator, EN, FR, DE, IT
Miriam Hönig is a lawyer specialising in providing advice and operational legal support to banks, asset managers and other financial services providers. After her first years as a lawyer in one of the leading Swiss law firms specialising in corporate law, she worked for several years in the listing department of the Swiss Stock Exchange [SIX Swiss Exchange] as well as in the global financial intermediary sector of a major Swiss bank, which enabled her to acquire an excellent knowledge of the financial markets.
Mediator, EN, FR, IT
Gianni CATTANEO, LL.M. is an attorney specialising in advanced technologies, including data protection, cybercrime, digital business law including digital finance and crypto currencies. He also acts as legal counsel to buyers and sellers in the context of corporate transactions, particularly in the real estate and banking fields. He has several years of experience as legal counsel to Swiss and foreign institutions, mainly banks, asset managers and trustees as well as collective asset managers. He is a lecturer in Internet law, data protection, Fintech and cybercrime.
Experts – Commercial Mediation
Expert Commercial Mediation
Jean Sylvain Perrig holds a master’s degree in economics. He has more than 30 years of experience in investment and portfolio management. As CIO of renowned private banks in the Geneva financial centre, he has always given an important place to management governance. The analysis of the management processes put in place, their application, documentation and control, is essential to qualify the quality of an asset manager’s work. He is an investment expert, Member of the Board of AZEK and Chairman of the Board of SFAA.
Expert Commercial Mediation
Niloo Verma Bruppacher is a specialised lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector, starting as an attorney-at-law in the mergers & acquisitions legal team of a leading Swiss law firm. She worked for ten years with a major Swiss bank and covered legal aspects of the Investment Bank and Wealth Management, amongst others as Head Legal Investment Management & Advisory. In her role as General Counsel of a digital asset manager and FINMA authorised companies, she also has proven knowledge and experience in the field of financial services digitisation and financial regulation.
Expert Commercial Mediation
Teresa van Tiel holds a master’s degree in economics. She has more than 25 years of experience in portfolio management and compliance. In particular, she worked as a financial analyst and manager before becoming a client relationship manager. She then specialised in compliance and risk management. Having worked for several financial institutions, Teresa van Tiel has a proven track record in financial services, as well as an excellent knowledge of financial instruments, commercial practices in the industry and regulatory requirements.
Expert Commercial Mediation
Mark James Thompson holds a PhD in Economics, a Master’s in international relations, and a minor in international monetary, commercial, and trade law. He is a senior researcher with the Institute for Wealth and Asset Management at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, where he focuses on options and decentralised finance topics. He has worked has a fund manager, and is well versed in financial markets. He also adjudicates statistical evidence for reimbursement of pharmaceuticals on behalf of the Lithuanian Government, and drug approval clinical trial evidence for the European Medicines Agency.
Experts – Workplace Mediation
Expert Workplace Mediation
Jean-Christophe Schwaab is a Dr. in law, lecturer in labour law, former Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the National Council and former member of the Board of the Swiss Association for Banking Employees. He is the author of numerous publications and scientific works in Swiss labour law. Today, he is a director at several companies and also a member of the management of the Fédération romande des consommateurs.