Profile

Karim specialises in M&A transactions, with a focus on private equity and venture capital transactions involving startups and SMEs. He also advises on corporate governance, remuneration matters and other corporate and commercial law matters.

Experience

Karim accompanies, since more than 15 years, a large number of startups and counts among his clients some of the most promising startups in the Western area of Switzerland. He has a broad practice and a deep understanding of the legal issues and needs of his clients, whether it is in terms of relations between founders, relations with investors, links with universities, protection of intellectual property or employee compensation (stock option plan, share plan, phantom share plan). He also advises investors (VCs, business angels, etc.) in transactions and matters involving startups. He is a regular speaker and runs workshops for founders and/or investors. He also regularly acts as jury expert and mentor in national and international startups competitions.

He also advises board of directors and senior management in connection with their most sensitive corporate governance matters. These engagements range from prospective counselling on implementing appropriate governance rules, risk management and other compliance matters, to fact-finding exercises with respect to violations of laws or regulations or shareholders demands and dealing with governance crisis situations.

His practice in the area of intellectual property focuses on the negotiation, drafting and review of contracts relating to immaterial property (technology transfer agreement, option agreement, license agreement, distribution agreement, franchise agreement, etc.) and M&A transactions involving technology-based companies. He also advises his clients on data privacy matters.

2006 Admitted to the Swiss Bar
2004 LL.M. in International and European Economic and Business Law, Universities of Lausanne, Geneva, Fribourg and Neuchâtel
2002 Lic. Iur., University of Geneva
The Legal500 EMEA 2024 – Recommended
  • Geneva Bar Association
  • Swiss Bar Association
  • Accredited special coach at Innosuisse
2023 Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey, Geneva
2022 Partner, law firm, Geneva
2011 Founding Partner, law firm, Geneva
2006 Associate, law firm, Geneva
2004 Trainee, law firm, Geneva

French

English

Deals & Cases

16.10.2024

CREAL SA completes Series B financing

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14.12.2023

Cortexia completes a new financing round

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27.06.2023

bNovate Technologies SA completes Series C financing

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Firm News

18.01.2023

NKF continues to grow and opens new offices in Geneva

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14.06.2022

NKF, Tavernier Tschanz and a team of partners from Python join forces

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Speaking Engagements

01.10.2021

How to negotiate a Series A Term Sheet

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01.01.2021

Update to circular 37 relating to taxation of employees shares

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01.10.2017

Case study – The main terms of a series A investment from a legal standpoint

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