From the Refuge to the Restoration

Date	Event	Part
1685	Revocation of the Edict of Nantes; second Huguenot Refuge	C
18th century	Rise of the Fabrique (watchmaking, jewellery) and of the Protestant banking network	C
1707–1738	First political crises of the Republic; mediation of 1738	C
1720	Law’s System; the Protestant bankers weather the crisis	C
11 March 1768	Edict of conciliation; five families of natives admitted to the bourgeoisie each year	C
1777	Necker Director-General of Finances of France	C
1770s–1780s	Life annuity schemes on the “thirty maidens of Geneva”	C
1781	Publication of Necker’s Compte rendu au roi	C
1782	Geneva revolution crushed by France, Berne and Sardinia; exile of Clavière	C
1792	Geneva revolution; political equality	C
1793	Death of Clavière, Minister of Finance of revolutionary France	C
1796	Foundation of the house from which Lombard Odier descends	D
1798	Annexation of Geneva by France; département du Léman	C
1805	Foundation of the house from which Pictet descends	D
1813	Restoration of the Republic	C
1815	Geneva joins the Confederation; Swiss neutrality	C, D
1819	Foundation of the house from which Mirabaud descends	D

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 September 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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