Who We Serve
We advise trustees, fiduciaries and wealth owners navigating Switzerland’s regulated trust and fiduciary framework under FinIA and AMLA.
UHNWIs & Family Offices
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals, single and multi-family offices requiring bespoke trust structures for succession planning, asset protection, and cross-generational wealth transfer under Swiss law and the Hague Trust Convention.
Licensed Trustees & Fiduciaries
Professional trustees seeking FinIA (FINIG) licensing from FINMA, ongoing supervisory compliance, and governance advisory. We guide trust companies through the full regulatory lifecycle under the Federal Act on Financial Institutions.
Private Banks & Wealth Managers
Private banks and wealth managers integrating fiduciary services into their client offering, including trust administration, foundation management, and compliance with FinSA suitability obligations for trust-held assets.
What We Do
End-to-end legal services for trust structuring, fiduciary regulation, and cross-border wealth planning.
FinIA Trustee Licensing
Full FINMA licensing under the Federal Act on Financial Institutions. Capital adequacy, internal controls, governance frameworks, and ongoing supervisory reporting.
Trust & Foundation Structuring
Bespoke trust architectures using foreign-law trusts recognized under the Hague Convention, and Swiss foundations.
AMLA Compliance for Fiduciaries
Design and audit of anti-money laundering frameworks under AMLA (GwG), beneficial ownership verification, SRO affiliation, and MROS reporting obligations specific to trust and fiduciary operations.
Asset Protection Planning
Robust legal frameworks safeguarding private and corporate wealth against creditor claims, political instability, and cross-border regulatory risks.
Cross-Border Trust Planning
Multi-jurisdictional trust structures spanning Switzerland, UK, Singapore, Liechtenstein, and Channel Islands. CRS/AEOI and FATCA reporting compliance for internationally held trust assets.
Digital Asset Trusts
Structuring trusts holding cryptocurrency, tokenised securities, and DeFi positions. Custody compliance under FinIA, DLT Act, and FINMA virtual asset guidance.
Why Switzerland
Switzerland combines Hague Convention recognition with world-class fiduciary regulation, creating an unmatched trust jurisdiction.
Hague Trust Convention Recognition
Switzerland ratified the Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts in 2007, with implementing provisions in Arts. 149a–149e of the Private International Law Act (PILA). This gives foreign-law trusts — typically governed by English, Jersey, or Cayman law — full legal recognition and enforceability in Switzerland, one of the few civil-law jurisdictions with this framework.
Swiss Foundation Law
For clients preferring civil-law structures, Swiss foundations offer enduring legal personality, strict purpose-binding, and supervisory oversight. Swiss supervisory foundations benefit from cantonal or federal supervision, ensuring governance standards that satisfy international families and institutional settlors.
FinIA Prudential Supervision
The Federal Act on Financial Institutions (FinIA/FINIG), effective since 1 January 2020, requires all professional trustees in Switzerland to obtain a FINMA license, covering capital requirements, governance standards, and ongoing supervision — giving Swiss-administered trusteeships a level of credibility and regulatory rigour rarely matched in competing jurisdictions.
Strong Data Protection Framework
Swiss attorney-client privilege is among the world's strongest. Lawyers face criminal penalties for breaching confidentiality. Combined with Swiss professional secrecy and data-protection laws, trust clients benefit from multi-layered legal privacy safeguards.
Why Allegra LAW
What sets us apart in Swiss trust and fiduciary law.
Senior-Led Engagements
Every Allegra LAW trust mandate is led by a senior partner, no delegation to junior associates. Direct access to counsel with deep expertise in FinIA, the Hague Convention, and Swiss Civil Code structuring.
Former Regulatory Professionals
Allegra LAW's team includes professionals with direct FINMA and supervisory experience, bringing first-hand supervisory experience and insight into FinIA licensing and fiduciary compliance expectations.
Multi-Jurisdictional Reach
Allegra LAW coordinates trust structuring across Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, UK, and Channel Islands — managing CRS/AEOI reporting, FATCA compliance, and cross-border regulatory coordination.
Digital Asset Expertise
Allegra LAW advised on the first licence for a digital stock exchange in Switzerland, giving us unique insight into structuring trusts that hold crypto assets, tokenised securities, and DeFi positions.
Transparent Fee Structures
Allegra LAW provides clear, fixed-fee proposals after initial consultation. Clear fee structures and transparent billing arrangements, agreed upfront.
Your Fiduciary Journey in 4 Steps
From initial regulatory assessment to operational launch and ongoing compliance support.
1
Needs Analysis & Structuring Review
We assess your wealth structuring objectives, family dynamics, and cross-border considerations to determine the optimal trust or foundation architecture under Swiss law.
2
Legal Structuring & Documentation
We draft trust deeds, foundation charters, governance frameworks, letters of wishes, and all ancillary documentation. For FinIA licensing, we prepare the full FINMA application dossier.
3
Regulatory Approval & Establishment
We manage FINMA submissions for trustee licensing, coordinate with cantonal authorities for foundation establishment, and ensure full compliance with AMLA and CRS/AEOI reporting obligations.
4
Ongoing Administration & Compliance
Post-establishment, we provide ongoing governance advisory, regulatory compliance monitoring, beneficiary communications, and periodic structure reviews as laws and family circumstances evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key questions about Swiss trust and fiduciary services licensing.
Does Switzerland have its own trust law?
No. Switzerland is a civil-law jurisdiction and does not have domestic trust legislation. However, since ratifying the Hague Trust Convention in 2007, Swiss law fully recognises trusts governed by foreign law — typically English, Jersey, or Cayman law — under Articles 149a–149e of the Private International Law Act (PILA). Allegra LAW structures these foreign-law trusts with Swiss-administered trusteeships, combining common-law flexibility with Swiss regulatory credibility and FinIA-supervised governance.
What is FinIA and how does it affect trustees?
The Federal Act on Financial Institutions (FinIA/FINIG, SR 954.1), effective since 1 January 2020, requires all professional trustees in Switzerland to obtain a licence from FINMA. Requirements include minimum capital, internal governance frameworks, and ongoing prudential supervision. Allegra LAW guides trustee firms through the complete FinIA licensing process — from initial application to ongoing supervisory compliance — drawing on our team's direct FINMA experience to anticipate regulatory expectations.
How do Swiss foundations differ from trusts?
Swiss foundations under Art. 80 et seq. of the Civil Code (ZGB) are independent legal entities with dedicated assets bound to a specific purpose. Unlike trusts, foundations have legal personality and are subject to cantonal or federal supervisory authority oversight. Family foundations are limited under Art. 335 ZGB — they may only cover education, establishment, and support costs of family members. Allegra LAW advises on the comparative advantages of each structure based on your specific objectives, asset types, and jurisdictional considerations.
Can a Swiss-administered trust hold digital assets?
Yes. Swiss-administered trusts can hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, tokenised securities, and other digital assets. Switzerland's DLT Act (SR 958.1) and FINMA's guidance on virtual assets provide a clear regulatory framework. Custody arrangements must comply with FinIA requirements. Allegra LAW advised on the first licence for a digital stock exchange in Switzerland, giving us first-hand expertise in structuring trust vehicles for digital asset custody, governance, and regulatory compliance.
What AML obligations apply to Swiss trustees?
Swiss trustees are classified as financial intermediaries under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA/GwG) and must comply with customer due diligence, beneficial ownership verification, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting to MROS. Trustees must affiliate with a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) or submit to direct FINMA AML supervision. Allegra LAW designs comprehensive AML/KYC frameworks specifically tailored to trust and fiduciary operations, ensuring compliance with both AMLA and the evolving FATF recommendations.