What 2035 might bring

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Three developments appear probable. The first is the general adoption of artificial intelligence assistants across all the professions of the financial centre, with governance imposed by FINMA and the responsibility of institutions unchanged. The productivity gains will be real, as staff shift towards client relationships, judgement and oversight. The second is the integration of the new infrastructures, namely instant payments, electronic identity, open finance and tokenisation, into an architecture in which the client has continuous access to his data and his assets, and in which the centre offering the most reliable infrastructures attracts the flows. The third is the rise of cybersecurity and dependency risks, which will make operational resilience a criterion of competitiveness on a par with legal stability.

For Geneva, these developments confirm a line of conduct: buy the technology, adopt it once it is proven, govern it rigorously, and concentrate human investment on what technology does not replace. This line, which has been the centre’s since the days of the fairs, carries a risk of falling behind that the coming decade could make costly if competitors gain a decisive lead in infrastructure. It also carries an opportunity: in a world where artificial intelligence makes analysis and drafting commonplace, the relationship, the trust and the judgement that Geneva has been selling for five centuries gain in value.

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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What 2035 might bring

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