Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Hélène Weidmann, KPMG Law Switzerland

Date: 06 May 2026

Karen Jones

This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Hélène Weidmann, Partner, Head KPMG Law Romandie and Head Corporate / M&A at KPMG Law Switzerland.

Tell Citywealth readers about your role.

I lead KPMG Law in western Switzerland and head our Swiss KPMG Law Corporate and M&A practice. We advise clients on a broad spectrum of Swiss corporate matters including M&A, sales of companies or assets, shareholder agreements, reorganizations, corporate governance and employment law. Acting as independent attorneys-at-law rather than an internal legal function of KPMG, we combine legal expertise with access to KPMG’s global network and sector expertise. This enables us to support clients beyond legal advice alone, drawing on capabilities such as valuation, corporate tax, transfer pricing, accounting and payroll, forensics.

What does a typical day look like for you?

One of the things I enjoy most about my work is that no two days are the same. I split my time between our Geneva and Lausanne offices, and travel to Zurich roughly once a month, so my working environment and the people I work with regularly change. A typical day combines client and internal meetings, reviewing cases and agreements, and developing strategies to address specific client challenges. I thrive on this variety. Training twice a week over lunch helps me stay focused and clear-headed, bringing calm and precision to negotiations and drafting in our clients’ best interests.

Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.   

One particularly interesting mandate involved advising on the sale of a company to a foreign group. It was a great example of how we combine expertise across disciplines: vendor due diligence, Share Purchase Agreement negotiations, advice on tax, valuation, finance and employment, while guiding the client through every stage of the process. Especially in cross-border deals, we support clients through what is often a first-time, high-stakes decision by aligning expectations early and bridging cultural differences. This holistic support demonstrates the added value we bring beyond purely legal advice.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?  

Many of our clients face rapid change driven by market shifts, geopolitical uncertainty and AI integration. We turn this complexity into practical, tailored solutions by combining legal, tax, accounting and financial expertise with the development of digital solutions, to help clients optimise their internal processes and productivity.

What is your proudest professional achievement? 

Taking on my current role as Head of Swiss corporate M&A at KPMG Law stands out as one of my proudest professional achievements. I began my career as a first-year associate in the corporate M&A team of a top tier Swiss law firm with no prior experience in this area – which makes this milestone particularly meaningful. At that time, I could never have imagined the direction my career would take and the opportunities that would unfold over the next eighteen years.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader? 

To me, the most important leadership attributes are integrity, humility, and confident self-awareness. Integrity and humility create trust and psychological safety, setting the tone for honest collaboration and accountability. At the same time, strong leadership requires the confidence to recognize and value others’ strengths and to surround you with people whose skills may surpass you in certain areas. This mindset drives better decisions, stronger teams and an environment in which people truly perform at their best.

Who do you most admire and why? 

I most admire my mother. Despite being denied the opportunity to study herself while growing up in Ghana in the 1960s, she made a promise that her daughters would never face the same barrier. She worked three jobs so I could study at the university in Lausanne, Zurich, and New York, and  pass the bar exam in Geneva. She kept that promise for decades, consistently saving and even sacrificing her retirement funds to invest in my education. Her resilience, integrity, unshakeable belief in the power of education, and willingness to put my future ahead of her own security are the reasons I admire her so deeply.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure? 

My last trip was to Dubai with family and friends. I was struck by the scale of the city and the surrounding desert, as well as the energy and dynamism that define Dubai. Coming home just a week before the war began put that experience into perspective: it reminded me how quickly life can change from one moment to the next, and how fragile our sense of stability really is.

If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing? 

If I weren’t in law, I would likely be a psychiatrist or a psychologist. I’m fascinated by the human mind and by understanding people’s needs, strengths and vulnerabilities – elements that already play a central role in my work. In transactions, we support clients not only on a technical level, but also on a personal one. Selling a company is a long, demanding process, and much like preparing an athlete for a marathon, we help clients stay focused, resilient and mentally prepared throughout the process.

How do you relax after a long day

After a long day or a demanding week, I unwind by spending time with my family, friends, or by going for a run along the lakeside. Both help me to disconnect, clear my mind, and recharge my energy.

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