Franz J. Kessler

Partner
Attorney at law, Dr. iur., LL.M.
Head Energy Law

Loewenstrasse 1
8001 Zurich
Switzerland
T +41 44 217 93 42
franz.j.kessler@pestalozzilaw.com

He finds excellent and very detailed solutions but is also able to find creative and pragmatic solutions.

Chambers & Partners, 2023

Franz J. Kessler is a partner and member of Pestalozzi’s Corporate / M&A Group as well as head of Pestalozzi’s Energy Law practice. He advises clients in corporate governance issues, private and public M&A transactions, energy law (including hydropower concessions and regulatory issues), public procedural law and real estate law. He is an authorized issuer’s representative at the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Franz J. Kessler has broad experience in the legal advice for entrepreneurs, boards of directors, companies and joint ventures, both in the private and in the public sector. He has profound knowledge of the electricity production and transmission industry including hydropower concessions and regulatory issues. His special business expertise further includes healthcare and other supply institutions. He advises clients in corporate and commercial law matters also in other industry and service sectors, closely working together with all other practice groups of Pestalozzi.

Franz J. Kessler studied at the University of Zurich from which he graduated in 1997 as licentiatus iuris (summa cum laude) and received his doctoral degree in law in 2000. He also studied at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MA (USA), graduating with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in 2003.

Franz J. Kessler regularly publishes in his fields of expertise and is active as a lecturer for the Zurich University LL.M. program International Business Law and for other professional organizations.

2020

Partner at Pestalozzi

2004

Partner at von der Crone Attorneys at Law

2003

Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA (USA): LL.M.

2000

Associate at von der Crone Attorneys at Law
University of Zurich: Dr. iur.

1999

Bar Admission: Switzerland

1997

Junior Associate at business law firm in Zurich
University of Zurich: lic. iur.

Languages

German, English, French

Expertise & Industries

Blockchain & Crypto Assets
Kapitalmarktrecht
Compliance
Corporate / M&A
Energierecht
Environment, Social, Governance (ESG)
Infrastructure
Life Sciences
Privatklienten
Private Equity & Venture Capital

Membership

Swiss Bar Association
Zurich Bar Association
Commission on Legal Fees of the Zurich Bar Association (Chairman)
Zurich Law Association

Publications

Switzerland to adopt new ESG reporting obligations despite Swiss voters' rejection of the Responsible Business Initiative

By Franz J. Kessler, Severin Roelli, Beat Schwarz: Lexology, 30 November 2020

Kommentierung von Art. 959c, 961 und 961a OR

By Franz J. Kessler, Dieter Pfaff: in Dieter Pfaff, Stephan Glanz, Thomas Stenz, Florian Zihler (Hrsg.), Rechnungslegung nach Obligationenrecht - veb.ch Praxiskommentar, 2. Auflage, Zürich 2019, 438 ff. und 603 ff.

Sanierungsfinanzierung mit Auslandbezug: Länderteil Schweiz

By Franz J. Kessler, Andreas Gersbach: in Kai-Oliver Knops, Heinz Georg Bamberger, Jens Lieser (Hrsg.), Recht der Sanierungsfinanzierung, 2. Auflage, Berlin 2019, S. 1187 ff.

Token in der Blockchain – privatrechtliche Aspekte der Distributed Ledger Technologie

By Franz J. Kessler: Hans Caspar von der Crone, Franz J. Kessler, Luca Angstmann, SJZ 114 (2018) Nr. 14, S. 337 ff.

Das Fusionsgesetz

By Franz J. Kessler: Hans Caspar von der Crone, Andreas Gersbach, Franz J. Kessler, Brigitte von der Crone, Karin Ingber, Schulthess Juristische Medien AG, 2. Auflage, Zürich 2017

Corporate Governance

By Franz J. Kessler: in Christian H. Kaelin (Hrsg.), Switzerland Business & Investment Handbook, Orell Füssli Verlag, 4. Auflage, Zürich 2017, S. 135 ff.

Fusionsrechtliche Tatbestände sowie Sacheinlage und Sachübernahme bei Grundstücken

By Franz J. Kessler, Andreas Gersbach: Stiftung Schweizerisches Notariat, Gesellschaftsrecht und Notar, Zürich 2016, S. 261 ff.

Gesetzliche und weitere regulatorische Rahmenbedingungen; Aufgaben und Zuständigkeiten

By Franz J. Kessler: in Dieter Pfaff, Flemming Ruud (Hrsg.), Schweizer Leitfaden zum Internen Kontrollsystem (IKS), 7. Auflage, Zürich 2016, S. 35 ff.

Die Pacht, Kommentierung von Art. 275-304 OR

By Franz J. Kessler: in M. Amstutz, P. Breitschmid, A. Furrer, D. Girsberger, C. Huguenin, M. Müller-Chen, V. Roberto, A. Rumo-Jungo, A. K. Schnyder, H.-R. Trüeb (Hrsg.), Handkommentar zum Schweizer Privatrecht, 3. Auflage, Zürich/Basel/Genf 2016

Kommentierung von Art. 17 StromVG

By Franz J. Kessler: in Brigitta Kratz, Michael Merker, Renato Tami, Stefan Rechsteiner, Kathrin Föhse (Hrsg.), Kommentar zum Energierecht, Band I, Bern 2016