TEAM
Julien Dif
Julien Dif regularly advises promoters of foreign collective investment schemes on all Swiss legal and regulatory aspects relating to the distribution and placement of such products. In this context, he not only ensures that all necessary documentation of foreign collective investment schemes is compliant with Swiss law, but also drafts all types of relevant agreements. Julien Dif advises foreign collective investment schemes over the entire period of their distribution in Switzerland. He collaborates with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), thereby conducting the necessary procedures for the maintenance of all required authorisations.
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In addition to the above, Julien Dif specialises in general banking and financial law. Among others, he advises asset managers and distributors of Swiss or foreign collective investment schemes as well as securities dealers that apply for an authorisation by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the United Arab Emirates.
Admitted to the Luxembourg Bar since 2001, Julien Dif assists his Swiss and foreign clients with their structuring activities related to this jurisdiction. His work includes advising clients on the incorporation of Luxembourg collective investment schemes, commercial companies and securitisation vehicles, as well as representing such clients vis-à-vis the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg.
Julien Dif is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). He regularly advises his private clients on wealth management and estate planning, including the establishment of family offices, trusts and foundations. He also acts for such clients, as well as for large banking institutions, on a variety of Swiss and international tax law issues.
Member of the Geneva Bar
Member of the Commission des Avocats de Barreaux Etrangers of the Geneva Bar
Member of the Luxembourg Bar
Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP)
English / French / German /
Luxembourgish
T +41 22 908 07 00
M +41 79 566 87 77
julien.dif[at]tglf.ch
Véronique Favreau
Assistant
Véronique Favreau joined the firm in 2021, and is in charge of administration, office management and marketing.
After having earned a degree in German and in Human Resources/ Management, she worked in a consulting company, including in its board, for about fifteen years. Subsequently, Véronique was, for some ten years, the head of an NGO dedicated to international development in the education sector.
T +41 22 908 07 00 / 08
veronique.favreau[at]tglf.ch
Sebastian Lohse
Senior Legal Advisor
Sebastian Lohse is a seasoned legal professional specializing in financial law and business law. Currently serving as a legal advisor at The Governance Law Firm in Geneva since 2022, Sebastian provides expert counsel on complex financial legal matters for both corporate and public-sector clients. His extensive experience spans over two decades, during which he has worked for major organizations such as General Electric, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Before joining The Governance Law Firm, Sebastian held key legal advisory roles at prominent Geneva law firms, where he focused on business and financial law. From 2007 to 2018, he worked as an independent consultant, conducting policy and legal research on a variety of projects, particularly in the areas of intellectual property, development, and displacement.
Sebastian holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, and a law degree from Humboldt University in Berlin. Fluent in German, English, and French, Sebastian also possesses a strong proficiency in analytical tools such as Matlab and SPSS, enhancing his ability to provide data-driven legal solutions.
In addition to his legal practice, Sebastian has contributed to a number of publications on topics ranging from innovation and technology diffusion to the intersection of intellectual property and environmental sustainability. His research and insights have been published by international organizations such as WIPO, UNHCR, and ICC.
