15/2/2010
By Sophie Baker
Hedge fund industry law firm, D. Harris & Co. International Ltd (DHCI) is to open an office in Zurich, making it the first UK hedge fund law firm to open in Switzerland.
The office will serve the growing number of hedge fund managers who have set up branches in or relocated to Switzerland.
DHCI advises some of the world's largest hedge funds on their trading activities, including giving advice on complex credit, equity, fixed income, FX, interest rate, inflation, relative value and volatility swap trades.
The existing London office will be kept on, but DHCI believes it is essential that it has a presence in the Swiss market to meet growing demands for its services.
"We are very excited about the prospect of doing business in Switzerland, which we see as an increasingly important financial centre," commented Daniel Harris, managing partner at DHCI. "Our principal office will remain in London, which continues to be one of the main locations of our clients. The team in Zurich will supplement the work carried on from London and provide on the ground advice to select hedge fund managers in Switzerland."
He added that, despite movement by hedge fund managers to Switzerland, London clearly remains "the hub of the European market".
Kinetic Partners, a global asset management boutique, acted as advisors for the move.
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