Implications for institutions, clients and advisers

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For financial institutions in Basel, the scenarios suggest several robust strategies. An inventory of AI applications and clear governance, as FINMA expects, are useful in every scenario, because they allow the institution to expand use when conditions are favourable and to withdraw tools quickly when a problem arises. Avoiding excessive dependence on a single provider protects against the concentration scenario. Investment in the qualifications of staff prepares the institution for automation while preserving the human judgement that clients and supervisors will continue to demand.

For clients, the implications concern both opportunity and protection. Wealthy families and companies can expect faster and cheaper services, but they should ask how their data are processed, where models run and who is responsible for automated decisions. They should also protect themselves against fraud by agreeing with their banks on procedures for verifying payment instructions. For advisers, including lawyers, trustees and tax advisers, the technology changes the economics of their work. Routine research and drafting become cheaper, so that clients will pay mainly for judgement, responsibility and the ability to coordinate several legal systems. The author's experience in cross-border mandates suggests that this shift favours advisers who combine technical knowledge with an understanding of the client's whole situation.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of August 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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Implications for institutions, clients and advisers

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