Urs Maurer-Lambrou
Chairman | Board member | Attorney (Switzerland, USA) | Tech & Privacy, GDPR Expert
I am a Chairman, Non-Executive, Attorney and Director with over twenty-five years of executive and board level experience across the public, commercial & not for profit sectors with particular experience in the legal, banking, finance, insurance, media, education and property industries. At board level highlights include: Chairman of a SWX listed investment group and a SWX listed Finance group; Chairman of the Board with banks in Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. I led the restructuring and streamlining of operations, including the introduction of a new board structure and improved governance and compliance and the preparation of the sale of the Swiss bank as well as overviewing the U.S. tax program. In the Liechtenstein bank the board under my chairmanship adjusted the risk level of the business model resulting in a sustainable profitable bank. I overviewed the restructuring of the Austrian bank as well as the preparation for its sale. In an executive capacity I have been a practicing attorney for more than 25 years, currently with Maurer Law Offices, specializing in mergers & acquisitions, banking & finance, corporate governance, data protection, data security, including providing expert consulting advice for one of the major banks in Switzerland, of the largest American banks in Switzerland, for insurance and real estate corporations as well as federal governments and agencies. Restructured a Swiss family office in the role of a trustee. I am also advising companies in GDPR matters. I led the GDPR project of one of the major health insurance companies in 2018 and I am currently the Swiss Delegate for International Affairs at the Swiss Data Protection and Information Commissioner (part-time). Finally, I am admitted in Switzerland, have a Master of Laws from Duke University and have been admitted to the New York State Bar.
_______________ BOARD & EXECUTIVE SUCCESSES _____________
● More than 15 years of experience as a Board Member and Chairman in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria, in various fields from banking, finance, real estate, investment & private equity corporations to information technology and media corporations.
● Extensive managing experience as board member/chairman of listed and non-listed banking (Switzerland, Liechtenstein & Austria), financial, investment & private equity, real estate, media corporations.
● Experienced leading of boards of listed companies (German, French and English) under rapidly changing economic conditions.
● Privacy & GDPR advisor to major multinational companies and Swiss SME’s.
● Restructuring of a Swiss family office
__________ NON-EXECUTIVE & COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE ________
2017 - Present Board Member
Artemus AG, Baar, Swiss subsidiary of Artemus USA LLC
● I led the startup of the company, prepared it for a launch.
2015-2016 Board Member
Niveus AG, Baar, Swiss subsidiary of a listed South African investment corporation (regulated in the gaming industry)
● Consulting for structuring of the Swiss subsidiary for international financial transactions, corporate governance.
2013 - 2015 Chairman
Valartis Bank (Liechtenstein) AG, Bendern
● Reviewing and adapting of operation risks, corporate governance.
● M&A transactional matters.
● Lead communication with bank regulators.
● Negotiating offers with outside transaction advisors and auditors.
2013 - 2015 Chairman
Valartis Bank (Austria) AG, Vienna
● Restructuring, streamlining of operations, introduction of a new organizational structure of the board, corporate governance.
● Outsourcing of IT operation.
● M&A transactional matters.
● Lead communication with bank regulators.
● Negotiating offers with outside transaction advisors and auditors.
2013 – 2015 Chairman of the Board
2011 - 2013 Board Member
Valartis Group AG, Baar (SWX listed company)
● Streamlining, new focus of operation and cost streamlining.
● Leading the sale of the Swiss subsidiary bank, execution of sale transaction.
● Lead communication with bank regulators.
● Negotiating offers with outside transaction advisors and auditors.
2013 – 2015 Chairman of the Board
2011 - 2013 Board Member
Valartis Bank AG, Switzerland
● Streamlining, new focus of operation and cost streamlining
● Lead of the organization of the Swiss U.S. bank tax program
● Leading the sale of the bank, execution of sale transaction.
● Lead communication with bank regulators.
● Negotiating offers with outside transaction advisors and auditors.
2011 - 2014 Chairman of the Board
ENR Russia SA, Geneva (SWX listed company)
● Introduced corporate governance, set-up of new management structure, change of legal structure and new communication strategy.
● I led the public relation with shareholders.
● Helped settle 15+ lawsuits against the company.
● Negotiating offers with outside transaction advisors and auditors.
● Reviewing private equity investments in Russia and CIS states as well as management agreement with outside investment manager.
2003 - 2013 Board Member & Representative of the Media House Georg von Holtzbrinck
Scherz Verlag AG
● Helped to structure the transfer of copyrights and other media rights.
● Wound down of the Swiss operations, sale of assets.
2001 - 2006 Board Member & Representative of the media house Georg von Holtzbrinck
Schubi Lernmedien AG
● Helped to structure the operations.
● Sale of restructured organization
2005 - 2009 Board Member & Representative of Jelmoli Holding AG
in the Tivona-Group
● I drove stopping the waste and disorganization in the 35+ subsidiaries.
● I helped to develop growth strategies. Resulting in the company growing from a CHF 100 million asset to CHF 700 million in 4 years (was sold with Jelmoli Holding AG to Swiss Prime Site AG).
2002 Board Member
Holding AG Zelfi Sports Holding Ltd
● I introduced the organization and structure to the group prior to a takeover of the Swiss Intersport company.
● This resulted in the first successful uninvited takeover of a Swiss company under the new Swiss takeover rules.
2000 - 2001 Board Member & Representative of parent company
Easynet AG
● I helped establish the company in Switzerland.
____________________ EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE __________________
Sep 2018 - Present Official Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Arbitrator
Selected by U.S. Department of Commerce and Swiss Administration
● Supporting companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a mechanism to comply with data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the European Union and Switzerland to the United States in support of transatlantic commerce.
Aug 2018 - Present Expert consultant, “Swiss Election 2019” Working Group
Of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner
● Consulting on privacy matters and helping to produce with the working group a guide by the data protection authorities of the Swiss Confederation and the Cantons on the application of data processing laws to the digital processing in connection with elections and voting in Switzerland.
● The group published a guide for the parties for the elections of next fall for the Swiss federal parliament.
● Advising the Commissioner in data privacy issues.
2017- Present Consultant
Artemus AG, Baar, Swiss subsidiary of Artemus USA LLC
● Consulting for structuring of the Swiss subsidiary for international art lending & financial transactions and corporate governance for the US shareholders Asher Edelman and the New York Durst organization.
2000 - Present Senior Partner
Maurer Law Offices, Baar/Zug, Switzerland
Providing M&A, investment companies, private equity transactions, finance & banking, data protection and computer law, corporate law and contract law, real estate holding structuring.
● Advising Sunrise telecommunication company against Swisscom in the first interconnection case.
● Advising major Swiss insurance company in privacy area.
● Advising Swiss investment company (share capital increases, investments, corporate governance).
● Advising Swiss investment company in a CHF 1.5 billion public offer.
● Advising Swiss hotel management group in privacy area.
● Advising German biotech company in Swiss maters and operation.
● Advising Swiss Railway in privacy matters.
● Advising a US investor in takeover bid for a Swiss listed company.
● Advising English client in a takeover bid for Intersport Switzerland and structuring of the operation after the successful bid.
● Advising one of the two major Swiss pharma companies in privacy and IT area
● Advising major insurance company in IT and trademark area.
● Advising real estate company with 35+ subsidiaries.
● Advising of the set-up and running of an online insurance company.
● Advising a major Swiss insurance company for a possible takeover bid for another insurance company.
● Advising listed investment and banking group.
● Advising German hospital company for Swiss matters including trademarks.
● advising listed South African company for Swiss operation.
● Advising US travel company in various Swiss matters (arbitration, negotiation).
● Lead in the GDPR for a major Swiss health insurance company.
2011-2016 Senior Partner
Cooperation with B&P in association with Dentons, Baar, Zug, Switzerland
M&A, investment companies, stock market law, private equity transactions, finance & banking, data protection and computer law, corporate law and contract law.
● Coordinated internal management responsibilities during the reorganization of the firm.
1999-2003 Trustee
For a Swiss family office
● Restructured the worldwide set-up, onshoring, corporate governance
Further roles available upon request
___________ EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ____________
● 2013 Training in banking law and examination by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (Fit & Proper Test as Chairman of an Austrian Bank)
● 1992/1993 Bar Exam and Admittance to the New York State Bar
The New York State Bar, USA
● 1992 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
Duke University School of Law; Durham, North Carolina, USA
● 1989 Attorney-at-Law (bar exam)
University of Bern, School of Law and School of Economics, Supreme Court of the Canton of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
● 1981-1983 cand. iur. (Law Degree)
University of Bern, School of Law and School of Economics, Bern, Switzerland
_______ EXTRA-PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS _________
● Board Member, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Informationsfreiheit (2008 – present)
● Board of Trustees, Brighter Life Foundation, Zurich (2004-2010)
(Foundation provides therapeutic assistance and support for the education of disabled people as well as prevention work in the field)
● Member, Swiss Association for Quality Assurance of Financial Services (2000-2015)
● Further education and examinations in the self-regulatory field (annually) Visits to advanced training courses in data protection and IT (since 1997)
● Visits to further training events of the lawyers' association (since 1997)
● Languages: German (mother tongue), English, French.
● Lecturer of seminars on data protection and data security since 2000. Lectures in the master course "Juristische Praxis" at the University of Freiburg (Switzerland).
● Co-editor and co-author of the Basle Commentary on the Swiss Data Protection and Freedom of Information Law (from 1st edtion to the current 3rd edition, 4th edition planned in connection with the revised Swiss law)
● Hobbies: photography, video, listening to music, skiing, swimming, interest in the latest technology, both in entertainment electronics and in fixed and mobile workplace technology, time with the family and the children, mountain hiking with the children and my father, maintaining an international circle of friends.
