Alexander Greter Partner, Co-Head of Private Clients
Attorney at Law, LL.M., Certified Tax Expert

Alexander Greter

Partner, Co-Head of Private Clients
Attorney at Law, LL.M., Certified Tax Expert
+41 58 450 80 00
alexander.greter@lenzstaehelin.com
Zurich
Brandschenkestrasse 24
CH-8027 Zurich
www.lenzstaehelin.com
  • Expertise

    Alexander Greter is a partner and Co-Head of the Private Clients practice group who advises Swiss and foreign private clients and families, as well as banks and other financial services providers and fiduciaries. In particular, his expertise lies in international trust law, estate planning, charitable foundations, and tax law. Alexander also regularly advises on the regulation of financial products, services and institutions, including anti-money laundering regulation, and the automatic exchange of financial information such as FATCA and the Common Reporting Standard.

  • Practices

  • Specialist Areas

    Private Clients, International Trusts and Companies, International Tax and Estate Planning, Charitable Institutions, Banking and Regulatory, Regulation of Trustees and Asset Managers, Automatic Exchange of Financial Information, Commercial and Contracts
  • Professional Experience and Education

    and Education

    2020Partner, Lenz & Staehelin
    2017Counsel, Lenz & Staehelin
    2009Associate, Lenz & Staehelin
    2015Swiss Certified Tax Expert
    2009Swiss Bar Admission
    2007King's College London (LL.M.)
    2006University of Zurich (lic. iur.)
  • Languages

    German, English, French, Portuguese
  • Memberships

    International Fiscal Association (IFA), Zurich Bar Association (ZAV)
  • Selected Publications

    • Greter ., Greter A., Kommentar zu Art. 5, 23 und 26a, in: Zweifel/Beusch (eds.), Kommentar zum Schweizerischen Steuerrecht, Bundesgesetz über die Harmonisierung der direkten Steuern der Kantone und Gemeinden (StHG), 4th edition, Basel 2022
    • Greter ., Greter A., Kommentar zu Vor Art. 56 und Art. 56, in: Zweifel/Beusch (eds.), Kommentar zum Schweizerischen Steuerrecht, Bundesgesetz über die direkte Bundessteuer (DBG), 4th edition, Basel 2022
    • Greter A., Kommentar zu Art. 2 Abs. 3, Art. 2 Abs. 3 lit. a und Art. 2a GwG, in: Hsu/Flühmann (eds.), Basler Kommentar Geldwäschereigesetz, 1st edition, Basel 2021
    • Greter A., Exemptions for Trustee and Portfolio Managers under FinIA, in: CapLaw 4/2020, 5-10
    • Barmes M., Vijverberg L., Breitenstein S., Greter A., Relevant changes for trustees in final ordinance of the Financial Institutions Act, Lenz & Staehelin Update Newsflash, November 2019
    • Barmes M., Greter A., Vijverberg L., Relocating to Switzerland, in: Practical Law, Global Guide 2017/18, Private Client
    • Greter A., Anti-Money Laundering - Implementation of the Revised FATF Recommendation, in: CapLaw, Swiss Capital Markets Law, 3/2015, 6-11
    • Greter A., Die Melde- und Angebotspflicht bei Beteiligungen im Vermögen eines Trusts ("Disclosure of Shareholdings and Mandatory Offers regarding Participations forming Part of a Trust Fund"), in: GesKR (Gesellschafts- und Kapitalmarktrecht 2011), 398
    • Greter A., Limitation on Benefits Clauses and European Community Law: Legitimacy and Consequences, in: EC Tax Journal, 2007, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-16
  • Contact details

  • Assistant

  • References

    Alexander Greter is always very responsive, fast and approachable, and gives his first estimation of the legal situation from the start, followed by comprehensive research afterwards.

    The Legal 500, 2026

    Alexander Greter is very pragmatic and is super smart. He is really good at understanding the different laws in jurisdictions. His understanding of international differences is impressive.

    Chambers & Partners HNW, 2025

    Alexander Greter is a great contact to have in Switzerland. He is very easy to speak to, clever and has an incredible wealth of experience.

    Chambers & Partners HNW, 2025

    Alexander Greter is a devoted lawyer and trusted adviser. He manages complex affairs and co-ordinates international advice with great skill.

    The Legal 500, 2024

    Alexander Greter excels in his advice towards both corporates and private clients, with his tailored advice and technical skill identified by interviewees as key strengths.

    Who's Who Legal, 2024

    Alexander Greter stands out as a go-to practitioner who "is excellent at steering the team towards prompt resolution" and is heralded for providing "excellent support to clients through very frustrating processes".

    Who's Who Legal, 2022

    Alexander Greter is "one of the best private client practitioners in Switzerland" thanks to his "unique experience of estate planning for international families".

    Who's Who Legal, 2021

Alexander Greter is always very responsive, fast and approachable, and gives his first estimation of the legal situation from the start, followed by comprehensive research afterwards.

The Legal 500, 2026

Alexander Greter is very pragmatic and is super smart. He is really good at understanding the different laws in jurisdictions. His understanding of international differences is impressive.

Chambers & Partners HNW, 2025

Alexander Greter is a great contact to have in Switzerland. He is very easy to speak to, clever and has an incredible wealth of experience.

Chambers & Partners HNW, 2025

Alexander Greter is a devoted lawyer and trusted adviser. He manages complex affairs and co-ordinates international advice with great skill.

The Legal 500, 2024

Alexander Greter excels in his advice towards both corporates and private clients, with his tailored advice and technical skill identified by interviewees as key strengths.

Who's Who Legal, 2024

Alexander Greter stands out as a go-to practitioner who "is excellent at steering the team towards prompt resolution" and is heralded for providing "excellent support to clients through very frustrating processes".

Who's Who Legal, 2022

Alexander Greter is "one of the best private client practitioners in Switzerland" thanks to his "unique experience of estate planning for international families".

Who's Who Legal, 2021

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  • 08 Nov 2022

    Kommentar zu Vor Art. 56 und Art. 56

    in: Zweifel/Beusch (eds.), Kommentar zum Schweizerischen Steuerrecht, Bundesgesetz über die direkte Bundessteuer (DBG), 4th edition, Basel 2022

  • 08 Nov 2022

    Kommentar zu Art. 5, 23 und 26a

    in: Zweifel/Beusch (eds.), Kommentar zum Schweizerischen Steuerrecht, Bundesgesetz über die Harmonisierung der direkten Steuern der Kantone und Gemeinden (StHG), 4th edition, Basel 2022

Insights

Insights 27.08.2026

Swiss sanctions against Russia – Further alignment with the EU – Implementation of the 20th Sanctions Package

Swiss sanctions against Russia – Further alignment with the EU –…

<p>In a continued effort to align with European Union (“<strong>EU</strong>”) sanctions, on 19 August 2026, the Swiss Federal Council adopted additional measures transposing core elements of the EU’s 20<sup>th</sup> sanctions package (adopted at EU level on 23 April 2026). The Swiss amendments entered into force on <strong>20 August 2026</strong>, with certain measures phased in later in September 2026 and January 2027.</p> <p>The revision notably (i) removes, as from 1 September 2026, the sanctions-based restrictions on the sale, delivery and exportation of military equipment goods – as well as the associated financial services and brokerage restrictions – to Ukraine, (ii) introduces new prohibitions on services linked to LNG carriers, icebreakers and Russian LNG terminals, (iii) activates for the first time the “<strong>anti-circumvention tool</strong>”&nbsp;targeting exports of sensitive goods to Kyrgyzstan, (iv) expands prohibitions on transactions with Russian crypto-asset service providers and platforms, and (v) introduces new measures to protect Swiss companies against IP infringements and abusive Russian court decisions.</p>

Insights 01.07.2026

Swiss sanctions and crypto assets services: When can providers refuse instructions?

Swiss sanctions and crypto assets services: When can providers refuse…

<p>In two decisions of 28 April 2026 (4A_535/2025 and 4A_537/2025), the Swiss Federal Supreme Court addressed the application of Switzerland's sanctions asset freeze regime to crypto assets held with a Swiss provider of crypto asset brokerage and custody services. The Court confirmed that, where concrete indications give rise to the suspicion that crypto assets may be owned or directly or indirectly controlled by a sanctioned person, the service provider may validly refuse to execute client instructions to release or transfer those assets.</p> <p>The decisions clarify the interaction between the service provider’s public-law obligations under the Swiss sanctions framework and its contractual duties towards the client. They also raise practical questions specific to the custody of digital assets, in particular where access to the assets depends on wallets, private keys or custody infrastructure.</p>

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