Morgan Hartley
Lead Corporate Counsel
Morgan Hartley is a Swiss-admitted corporate lawyer who has spent over 15 years advising businesses on formation, restructuring, and regulatory matters across multiple Swiss cantons. Based at the Zurich office, Morgan works directly with entrepreneurs, holding companies, and financial institutions seeking to establish or expand operations in Switzerland.
Background and Career
Morgan studied law at the University of Bern, graduating with a lic. iur. before completing an LLM at the University of Zurich with a focus on corporate and commercial law. Following admission to the Zurich Bar, Morgan joined a mid-sized Swiss law firm where the early years were spent on cross-border M&A transactions and corporate restructurings.
In 2010, Morgan joined Lawsupport to build out the firm’s corporate advisory practice. Since then, the team has assisted in forming over 500 companies across Switzerland, from single-member GmbHs to multi-entity holding structures spanning several cantons.
Morgan is a member of both the Swiss Bar Association (SAV) and the Zurich Bar Association (ZAV). Outside the office, Morgan regularly contributes to professional publications on Swiss corporate governance and speaks at industry events on regulatory developments affecting foreign-owned businesses in Switzerland.
Professional Memberships
- Swiss Bar Association (Schweizerischer Anwaltsverband, SAV)
- Zurich Bar Association (Zurich Anwaltsverband, ZAV)
Areas of Expertise
Company Formation
Structuring and registering Swiss AGs, GmbHs, and branch offices for domestic and international clients. Full support from articles of association through to commercial register entry.
02Mergers & Acquisitions
End-to-end advisory on share and asset deals, due diligence coordination, and post-transaction integration under Swiss corporate and competition law.
03Financial Regulation
Licensing applications with FINMA, anti-money laundering compliance frameworks, and ongoing regulatory advisory for financial intermediaries and fintech firms.
04Shelf Companies
Ready-made Swiss companies available for immediate transfer. Ideal for clients who need an operational entity within days rather than weeks.
Publications and Contributions
Morgan contributes regularly to the Lawsupport blog, covering topics such as recent changes to the Swiss Code of Obligations, FINMA licensing requirements, and practical guidance for foreign entrepreneurs setting up in Switzerland.
Selected articles include analysis of the 2023 amendments to Swiss corporate law, guidance on AG formation procedures, and commentary on anti-money laundering obligations for company directors.
Morgan also contributes to external legal journals and has presented at conferences organised by the Zurich Bar Association and the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a Free Consultation
Discuss your corporate law matter directly with Morgan. The initial 30-minute consultation is free of charge and without obligation.
Morgan Hartley
Lead Corporate Counsel, Lawsupport