Recommendations for companies and advisers

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For companies considering a presence in Zug, and for their advisers, the analysis of this book suggests several recommendations. The first is to base location decisions on substance, since the era of purely tax-driven structures has ended. A presence in Zug should correspond to real functions, with real people and real decision-making in the canton. The second is to integrate compliance with tax, sanctions, anti-money-laundering and corporate responsibility rules into the planning from the start, since the costs of non-compliance have risen sharply. The third is to plan for the long term, taking account of the scenarios described in Chapter II and of the indicators that signal a change in direction.

The fourth recommendation is to invest in the relationship with the canton and its residents. Companies that engage with the local community, contribute to its development and respect its institutions will find it easier to obtain the support they need when political conditions become difficult. The fifth is to use the canton's professional services, which combine Swiss legal and tax expertise with international experience and English-language skills. The advisers of Zug, many of whom have worked in London, New York, Singapore or Hong Kong, are among the canton's most important resources.

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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