Lukas Weber

Cross-Border Banking and Wealth Management

Switzerland remains a leading centre for cross-border wealth management, serving clients from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Lukas Weber advises banks and asset managers on the regulatory requirements for cross-border services, including the assessment of target market regulations, the compliance obligations under foreign financial services regimes including MiFID II, and the management of tax information exchange obligations under the Common Reporting Standard and bilateral agreements. He also advises on the structuring of discretionary mandates, investment advisory arrangements, and family office services to ensure compliance with both Swiss and applicable foreign regulations.

For clients establishing wealth management operations in Switzerland, Lukas advises on the FINMA licensing process, the preparation of business plans and organisational regulations required for authorisation, and the establishment of the internal control systems, compliance functions, and risk management frameworks expected by Swiss regulators. He also advises on the Swiss regime for crypto assets and distributed ledger technology, including the FINMA guidelines on the classification of crypto assets as payment tokens, utility tokens, or asset tokens, and the licensing implications for crypto-related financial services.

Zurich Practice Context

Based in Zurich at the centre of Switzerland's financial district, Lukas Weber serves international banks, asset managers, and family offices that operate in or through the Swiss financial centre. Zurich provides direct access to FINMA, the Swiss National Bank, and the industry associations that shape Swiss financial regulation. Lukas is trilingual in German, English, and French, enabling him to advise clients in their preferred language and negotiate with Swiss regulators in the official language of their proceedings.

Anti-Money Laundering and Compliance

Lukas Weber advises financial institutions on their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations under the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act and the regulations issued by FINMA. He assists with the development of internal AML policies and procedures, the conduct of risk assessments that evaluate the money laundering and terrorist financing risks associated with the institution's client base and business activities, and the preparation of suspicious activity reports to the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland.

His compliance practice also covers the regulatory requirements for outsourcing and the delegation of operational functions, the disclosure and reporting obligations under Swiss data protection law, and the conduct of business rules that apply to the provision of financial services. Lukas conducts compliance audits and training programmes for financial institution staff, ensuring that regulatory obligations are understood and implemented in day-to-day operations. He also advises on the Swiss regulatory approach to digital assets and blockchain-based financial services, including FINMA's guidelines on the classification of crypto assets and the licensing requirements for cryptocurrency custody and trading services.

Client Engagement Approach

Lukas Weber offers initial assessments of regulatory compliance gaps and licensing requirements. Fee arrangements are structured as fixed fees for defined project scopes, including licensing applications, compliance manual preparation, and regulatory filings. Ongoing advisory support is provided through retainer arrangements with monthly or quarterly billing cycles. All engagements are confirmed in writing with a clear scope of work and fee estimate.