Good leadership is built on trust between clients and lawyers.

The challenge lies in maintaining trust through expertise and ethical conduct, especially in sensitive areas like tax law.

Successful leadership in an international tax law firm requires a foundation of trust, adherence to legal boundaries, and a focus on ethical practices.

Xavier Oberson is the owner of Oberson Abels established in 1961. He believes that passion, expertise, and teamwork are key factors for success. Under his leadership, the firm has evolved from a boutique establishment to an international presence by prioritizing building trust with clients and expanding connections globally.

We highly recommend listening to the full episode to gain more insights into leadership, success, and the evolving landscape of taxes in Switzerland.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode

• Discover the importance of trust and ethical leadership in international tax law

• Explore the consequences of varying tax burdens and the need for a balanced approach to taxation.

• Learn about incentives for charitable giving in tax distribution and cultural differences in philanthropy between Europe and the US.

“(On good leadership) It's a relationship of trust. So between the client and the lawyer, it's all about trust.” - Xavier Oberson

Topics Covered:

• 01:20 - History of his Law Firm: The law firm was founded by Xavier Oberson's father in 1961. Xavier Oberson took over the firm in 1996 and transformed it into a more international practice by expanding partnerships globally.

• 02:02 - Defining Good Leadership in Tax Law: Good leadership in an international tax law firm is described as being built on a foundation of trust between the lawyer and the client. The importance of expertise and ethical conduct, especially in the sensitive area of tax law, is highlighted.

• 04:09 - Taxation in Geneva: Xavier Oberson discusses the tax distribution in Geneva, where a significant portion of the population does not pay taxes, leading to potential long-term consequences. He suggests a reevaluation of the tax system to ensure a fair distribution of the tax burden.

• 06:11 - Philanthropy Differences Between the US and Europe: Contrasts are drawn between the culture of philanthropy in the US and Europe. Xavier Oberson explains how tax incentives and cultural norms influence charitable giving, highlighting the need for a more coordinated approach to philanthropy in Europe.

• 09:00 - Advice for Young Attorneys: Xavier Oberson stresses the importance of adaptability in the evolving legal landscape.

Connect with Xavier Oberson

• https://www.xavieroberson.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrina.burrus

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/katrinaburrus?lang=en

• More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/