How to Serve Legal Papers on UBS Financial Services Inc.

The Three-Layer Swiss/US Entity Structure

UBS operates through a layered structure that most service guides describe incompletely. UBS Group AG (Swiss Aktiengesellschaft, CHE-395.345.924, Bahnhofstrasse 45, Zurich) is the publicly traded holding company — listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under UBSG and on the NYSE under UBS. It wholly owns UBS AG, the Swiss universal bank with dual registered offices in Zurich and Basel. UBS AG in turn controls four distinct US operating entities: UBS Financial Services Inc. (Delaware corporation, Weehawken, NJ), UBS Securities LLC (Delaware LLC, New York City), UBS Bank USA (Utah industrial bank, Salt Lake City), and UBS AG New York Branch (OCC-regulated foreign bank branch, 1285 Avenue of the Americas). Naming the wrong entity in a complaint misdirects the service. Serving UBS Financial Services Inc. does not bind UBS Securities LLC. Serving the New York Branch does not bind the Swiss parent. Each of the six entities has its own service path.

Credit Suisse Is Legally Extinct — FRCP 25(c) Successor Analysis Required

On March 19, 2023, the Swiss Federal Council authorized an emergency acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS — without ordinary shareholder approval — to prevent Credit Suisse’s collapse. The transaction closed June 12, 2023: Credit Suisse Group AG merged into UBS Group AG, making UBS Group AG the FRCP 25(c) successor for all Credit Suisse Group AG liabilities. Credit Suisse AG completed its merger into UBS AG on May 31, 2024. Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG merged into UBS Switzerland AG on July 1, 2024. Any pre-2024 Credit Suisse claim — mortgage fraud litigation, Archegos Capital exposure, Greensill Capital matters, tax cases — requires identification of which Credit Suisse predecessor entity was involved and routing to the corresponding UBS successor. Filing a 2025 complaint naming “Credit Suisse” without a substitution analysis is a defect that defense counsel will exploit on the first responsive pleading.

Swiss Penal Code Article 271 — Unauthorized Service Is a Criminal Offense

Switzerland’s objection to Hague Convention Articles 10(a), 10(b), and 10(c) is not merely procedural. Switzerland has backed that objection with criminal enforcement. Swiss Penal Code Article 271 prohibits any person from performing acts on behalf of a foreign state on Swiss territory without authorization. Serving process on a Swiss company — by mail, by courier, by email, by a US attorney traveling to Zurich with summons in hand — constitutes an act on behalf of a foreign state. It can be prosecuted as a criminal offense. This is not a theoretical risk. US attorneys and process servers have faced Swiss criminal proceedings for attempting informal service in Switzerland. The consequence of ignoring the Hague requirement in Switzerland is categorically different from the consequence in Germany, where rejection is the outcome. In Switzerland, criminal liability is the risk.

Cantonal Central Authority Routing — Not Bern, Not Federal

Switzerland has 26 cantons, each designating its own Hague Service Convention Central Authority. The Federal Office of Justice in Bern does not process incoming service requests from foreign courts or litigants — it handles outgoing requests from Swiss courts only. UBS Group AG and UBS AG are both headquartered in Zurich, which is in the Canton of Zurich. Article 5 requests for these entities route to the Obergericht des Kantons Zürich, Internationale Rechtshilfe, Hirschengraben 15, Postfach, 8021 Zürich. German translation of all documents is mandatory — Zurich is a German-language canton. A French or Italian translation routed to the Zurich cantonal authority produces a rejection. If the named UBS entity had a registered office in Geneva or Lugano, a different cantonal authority and a different language would govern. The canton controls both the routing and the language requirement.

The 2009 DOJ Settlement and US Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Precedent

In February 2009, UBS AG entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice, paying $780 million and disclosing account information for approximately 250 US clients — effectively piercing Swiss banking secrecy for identified US persons. In August 2009, a separate agreement facilitated disclosure of an additional 4,450 account names. This sequence established US courts’ extraterritorial reach over Swiss-domiciled bank accounts and US person data held in Switzerland, laying the foundation for subsequent IRS FATCA enforcement and the broader collapse of Swiss banking secrecy as a US-liability shield. The precedent is procedurally significant: it confirms that US litigation against UBS for US-person matters can proceed in US federal courts despite Switzerland’s traditional secrecy framework. The service mechanics, however, remain governed by Swiss law — and Swiss Penal Code Article 271 still applies to service attempts.

(Verify current registered agents via US Secretary of State filings, Swiss Commercial Register (Handelsregister), and FINMA before service. For pre-2024 Credit Suisse claims, FRCP 25(c) successor analysis is required to identify the correct UBS successor entity.)

FRCP 4(h)(1) — Serving US UBS Entities

UBS Financial Services Inc. and UBS Securities LLC are both Delaware-registered entities served under FRCP 4(h)(1)(A) by delivery to an officer, managing or general agent, or authorized agent. Under FRCP 4(h)(1)(B), service may follow Delaware long-arm procedures under 8 Del. C. § 321 through the registered agent at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington. For UBS Financial Services Inc. in Weehawken, New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 14A:4-2 governs foreign corporation service for NJ state court actions or FRCP 4(h)(1)(B) service using NJ procedures. For UBS Securities LLC in New York City, N.Y. BCL § 306 governs. UBS AG New York Branch is regulated as a federally licensed foreign bank branch under 12 U.S.C. § 3102 — not as an OCC-chartered national bank, so 12 U.S.C. § 94 national bank venue rules do not apply. Service on the New York Branch follows FRCP 4(h)(1) and OCC-prescribed service procedures for licensed foreign branches.

FRCP 4(f)(1) and Hague Convention Article 5 — Swiss Parent Entities

Service on UBS Group AG or UBS AG at their Swiss registered offices requires FRCP 4(f)(1) compliance — service pursuant to an internationally agreed means reasonably calculated to give notice. Switzerland is a Hague signatory. Switzerland decentralizes its Central Authority function to its 26 cantons. For UBS Group AG and UBS AG in Zurich, Article 5 requests route to Obergericht des Kantons Zürich, Internationale Rechtshilfe, Hirschengraben 15, Postfach, 8021 Zürich. Switzerland’s Article 5(3) declaration requires German translation for Zurich documents. The USM-94 Hague request form is required. All materials must be submitted by postal mail — the Zurich cantonal authority does not accept email or fax submissions. Typical execution timeline: approximately two months from submission of a complete, conforming package.

Swiss Article 10 Objection and Penal Code Article 271

Switzerland has formally objected to Hague Convention Articles 10(a), 10(b), and 10(c) in full. Postal service, direct judicial-officer service, and competent-person service are all unavailable in Switzerland. There is no alternative channel and no urgent-matter exception. Beyond the procedural bar, Swiss Penal Code Article 271 criminalizes acts performed on behalf of a foreign state on Swiss territory without authorization. Service of process — whether by mail, by an attorney presenting documents in person, or by courier — constitutes an unauthorized act on behalf of a foreign state. US attorneys who attempt informal Swiss service face potential criminal arrest and prosecution under Swiss law. Article 5 via the Zurich cantonal authority is not merely the preferred method. It is the only legally permissible method.

FRCP 25(c) — Credit Suisse Successor Analysis

FRCP 25(c) permits substitution of a successor entity when an interest transfers. For Credit Suisse Group AG claims, the June 12, 2023 merger into UBS Group AG controls — UBS Group AG is the successor. For Credit Suisse AG claims, the May 31, 2024 merger into UBS AG controls. For Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG claims, the July 1, 2024 merger into UBS Switzerland AG controls. Identifying the correct predecessor is required before the substitution can be filed — the three Credit Suisse entities (Group AG, operating bank AG, Swiss retail bank Schweiz AG) map to three different UBS successors. A motion substituting UBS Group AG for Credit Suisse AG would be factually incorrect and subject to challenge.

Swiss Corporate Governance and Response Timelines

UBS Group AG is governed by the Swiss Code of Obligations, Articles 620ff., as a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft. UBS AG operates under the Swiss Banking Act and dual supervision from FINMA and the Swiss National Bank. For domestic US service on UBS Financial Services Inc. or UBS Securities LLC, defendants have 21 days to answer under FRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(i) after valid service. For Hague Article 5 service through the Zurich cantonal authority, the Swiss execution timeline is approximately two months for conforming submissions — substantially faster than Germany’s three to six months. The answer period begins when the proof of service is returned, filed with the court, and the summons served. Consult a licensed attorney to determine applicable deadlines for your specific claim type and jurisdiction.

Hague Article 5 service on UBS Group AG or UBS AG through the Canton of Zurich Central Authority is priced separately. Contact Undisputed Legal for current Swiss Hague pricing and Zurich cantonal timeline estimates.

Where is UBS Group AG’s registered office for service of process?

UBS Group AG’s registered office is Bahnhofstrasse 45, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland. Service on this entity must comply with Hague Service Convention Article 5, routed to the Canton of Zurich Central Authority — Obergericht des Kantons Zürich, Internationale Rechtshilfe, Hirschengraben 15, Postfach, 8021 Zürich. This is not a postal address for direct service. It is the address where UBS Group AG’s registered office is located; the service request goes to the Zurich cantonal authority for execution. UBS Group AG is listed on both the SIX Swiss Exchange (UBSG) and NYSE (UBS).

What is the difference between UBS Group AG, UBS AG, and UBS Financial Services Inc.?

UBS Group AG is the Swiss holding company — the publicly traded parent that owns 100% of UBS AG. UBS AG is the Swiss universal bank that operates retail, investment, and private banking. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a Delaware-incorporated US broker-dealer that provides wealth management services, headquartered in Weehawken, New Jersey. These are separate legal entities requiring separate service paths. Most consumer, advisory, or US brokerage claims name UBS Financial Services Inc. Securities and investment banking claims name UBS Securities LLC. Claims involving Swiss banking operations name UBS AG. Corporate or group-level claims name UBS Group AG.

Does Credit Suisse still exist as a legal entity?

No. Credit Suisse Group AG merged into UBS Group AG on June 12, 2023. Credit Suisse AG merged into UBS AG on May 31, 2024. Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG merged into UBS Switzerland AG on July 1, 2024. All Credit Suisse entities are legally extinct. Filing a 2025 complaint that names any Credit Suisse entity as a defendant creates a substantive defect. FRCP 25(c) successor analysis is required: identify which Credit Suisse predecessor is involved, map it to the correct UBS successor, and file a substitution motion before service.

How do I serve UBS in Switzerland under the Hague Convention?

Service on UBS Group AG or UBS AG in Switzerland follows Hague Service Convention Article 5 — the exclusive permitted method. Prepare the USM-94 Hague service request form, obtain certified German translations of all documents (Zurich is a German-language canton), and submit the complete package by postal mail to Obergericht des Kantons Zürich, Internationale Rechtshilfe, Hirschengraben 15, Postfach, 8021 Zürich. The Zurich cantonal authority does not accept email or fax submissions. Budget approximately two months from submission of a conforming package to return of proof of service.

Why does Swiss Hague service route through the Canton of Zurich, not Bern?

Switzerland decentralizes its Hague Central Authority function across its 26 cantons. The Federal Office of Justice in Bern handles outgoing requests from Swiss courts — it does not process incoming service requests from foreign litigants. Service requests are processed by the cantonal authority in the canton where the defendant’s registered office is located. UBS Group AG and UBS AG are headquartered in Zurich. The Canton of Zurich’s central authority — Obergericht des Kantons Zürich — is the correct receiving authority. Routing to Bern produces rejection and restarts the timeline.

Do I need to translate documents into German for Swiss Hague service?

Yes. Switzerland’s Article 5(3) declaration requires documents served through the Central Authority to be translated into the official language of the canton where service is to be effected. Zurich is a German-language canton. Certified German translation of the summons, complaint, and all served documents is mandatory. A French or Italian translation submitted to the Zurich cantonal authority will be rejected. Undisputed Legal coordinates certified German legal translation as part of every Switzerland-bound service package.

What happens if I try to serve UBS in Switzerland by mail or courier?

Attempting postal or courier service on UBS entities at their Swiss registered offices violates two independent legal frameworks. First, Switzerland has formally objected to Hague Convention Articles 10(a), 10(b), and 10(c) — postal channels and direct service by competent persons are procedurally prohibited. Second, Swiss Penal Code Article 271 makes the act of performing service on behalf of a foreign state on Swiss territory a criminal offense. The requesting attorney — not just the process server — faces potential criminal prosecution under Swiss law for an unauthorized service attempt. Article 5 via the Canton of Zurich Central Authority is the only lawful path.

Can I name “Credit Suisse” in a 2025 complaint, or do I have to name UBS as successor?

You must name the correct UBS successor — not “Credit Suisse.” Credit Suisse Group AG, Credit Suisse AG, and Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG are all legally extinct following the 2023-2024 series of mergers. Naming a defunct entity produces a service defect and gives defense counsel grounds for dismissal on the first responsive pleading. Identify which Credit Suisse predecessor entity is the correct defendant, determine the applicable UBS successor (UBS Group AG, UBS AG, or UBS Switzerland AG), file a FRCP 25(c) substitution motion, and then serve the surviving entity through the appropriate path.

Order UBS Service — US Entities, Delaware, or Switzerland