English as the lingua franca of the international economy

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The role of English in Zug is that of a lingua franca, a common language used by people with different first languages. A trading desk in Baar may bring together traders from Britain, South Africa, Russia, the Netherlands, India and Switzerland. Since they have no common first language, English is the obvious choice. The same applies to the board of a holding company whose directors come from several countries, to a crypto foundation whose developers work across three continents and to a family office that serves clients from Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The use of English as a lingua franca has consequences that differ from those of a community of native speakers. The English spoken in the offices of Zug is a working language, often simplified, with its own conventions and vocabulary. It is shaped by the international business language of finance, trade and technology. It contains many terms that have no established German equivalent. Swiss employees who work in this environment often use English at work and Swiss German at home, switching between the two in the course of a day. The result is a layered linguistic landscape in which each language has its domain.

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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