Jascha D. Preuss
Partner
Corporate and Securities | International Business
jascha.preuss@wg-law.com | 212-509-4718 | vCard | LinkedIn
About Jascha
Jascha Preuss’s practice focuses on corporate and commercial matters. Jascha is a trusted adviser to an international clientele that includes financial institutions, middle market, startup and fast-growth companies. He has experience in a wide variety of industries including banking, insurance, manufacturing, distribution of luxury and consumer goods, retail, e-commerce, software, and Internet-based services. He also advises art galleries, art professionals, fashion labels and other creative industries. He regularly acts as outside general counsel to US affiliates of foreign enterprises, advising management on corporate governance and all legal matters arising from their business operations.
Prior to re-joining the firm in 2019, Jascha was for nearly a decade a founding partner in the New York law firm of Reiss+Preuss LLP. Before relocating to the United States, Jascha practiced business law with a leading law firm in Switzerland. He started his career teaching law at Humboldt University of Berlin and clerked for the District Court of Zurich and the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Accounts in Switzerland.
As a dual citizen of the United States and Switzerland, Jascha maintains close ties to Switzerland, Germany and other European countries. He also serves as President of the Swiss American Lawyers Association.
Experience
Practice Areas
Corporate and Commercial Transactions
U.S. Business Formation and Start-ups
Mergers & Acquisitions
Contracts
Outside General Counsel
Languages
German
French
Education
New York University School of Law, New York, NY — LL.M.
University of Basel, Switzerland — J.D. equivalent (lic. iur.), magna cum laude
Admissions
New York
Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Switzerland (not practicing)
Professional Associations
New York City Bar Association
Swiss-American Lawyers Association, member of the Board of Directors and President
Swiss American Chamber of Commerce
Zurich Bar Association (non-practicing member)
Civic Engagement
Trustee, Congregation Ahavas Israel/Hebrew Educational Alliance of Greenpoint, Inc.
Mr. Preuss has provided pro bono services to various not for profit organizations
AddiTional Experience
Represent multiple European financial institutions in ongoing complex multi-year litigation in federal bankruptcy court regarding claw-back claims arising out of the bankrupt Madoff investment fund, the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
Regularly establish US companies, including affiliates of foreign enterprises, advising on choice of law and entity, financial structure, and corporate governance, draft and negotiate incorporation documents and shareholder agreements as well as equity participation plans and employment agreements for executives and employees.
Represented several European manufacturing companies in business divorces from US distributors and setting up own US business structures, providing strategic advice regarding post-termination obligations, hiring of employees, impact of non-compete and confidentiality agreements, and ownership of trade secrets, customer lists and inventory.
Draft wide variety of commercial agreements, such as general terms of conditions, purchase and sale agreements, service agreements, and consulting agreements for numerous corporate clients.
As outside general counsel, assist US affiliates of foreign businesses in corporate governance matters, establish policies, cooperate with tax experts in achieving and maintaining transfer pricing compliance, draft intercompany agreements, address virtually all ongoing legal matters ranging from various commercial contracts, to hiring, disciplining and terminating employees, pre-litigation negotiations, managing in-house aspects of and preparation for litigation, investigations and audits, often liaising with litigation counsel on behalf of foreign management.