Associations, sport and cultural life

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Local associations are the backbone of social life in Swiss municipalities. Sports clubs, choirs, music societies, carnival guilds and local history societies bring residents together across social classes. Their language is Swiss German. International residents who wish to join them must understand the dialect, or at least be willing to learn it. Some associations have opened themselves to English speakers, particularly sports clubs with many international members. The EV Zug ice hockey club also draws supporters from the international community.

Cultural life in Zug reflects both communities. The Theater Casino Zug and the cultural institutions of the canton offer programmes in German and increasingly in English, and concerts and exhibitions are accessible regardless of language. English-language theatre groups, book clubs and film screenings serve the international community. The events of the local calendar, such as the carnival and the Zug cherry festival, remain in dialect and tradition, but they attract international residents who wish to experience local culture. These occasions are among the most important points of contact between the two communities.

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

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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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