Austria > Administrative law and public sector > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Haslinger/Nagele & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH is recognised by peers and clients alike for its regulatory, environmental, planning and constitutional law capabilities, advising clients from the energy, telecoms and new media sectors. Key individuals include the highly regarded Wilhelm Bergthaler, Wolfgang Berger and Martin Oder.

Planning and environmental boutique Onz, Onz, Kraemmer, Hüttler Rechtsanwälte GmbH has a fine reputation in the market, frequently handling instructions from infrastructure, energy and service sector players, among others. Key areas of expertise include environmental impact assessments and waste management matters alongside water supply and sewage treatment schemes. Christian Onz, Florian Berl and Michael Mendel are recommended.

Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)’s ‘professional’ team covers the whole range of public law and has a specialism in environmental law, frequently assisting with environmental impact assessments alongside permitting and planning matters as well as related litigation. ‘Outstanding’ team head Christian Schmelz continues to advise Red Bull on various issues pertaining to the motorsports circuit Red Bull Ring, including environmental, planning and permitting matters with a particular focus on event and noise control laws. He also assisted ASFiNAG with various environmental and permitting matters pertaining to the construction of several major motorways. Other key individuals include Bernd Rajal and counsel Johannes Stalzer.

Much of Eisenberger & Herzog’s work pertains to infrastructure and energy projects alongside large-scale developments, having recently advised the City of Graz on the city development project Reininghausgründe, which included regional planning contracts and zoning law issues. In another highlight, team head Georg Eisenberger assisted Frutura Obst & Gemüse and SPAR with matters pertaining to a large-scale greenhouse including a thermal heat supply. Ulrike Sehrschön provides ‘sustainable down-to-earth solutions’.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners assists companies and public authorities with a wide range of contentious and non-contentious energy, infrastructure and planning matters including PPPs. Team head Michael Hecht acted for the City of Vienna as an advocate for the Vienna International Airport’s third runway project in proceedings before the Austrian Constitutional Court, and advised ÖBB-Infrastruktur on the railway construction project Semmering Base Tunnel, which included representing the client before the Austrian Supreme Administrative Court in an appeal lodged by the environmental organisation Allianz für Natur. JTP 3 Alpha GmbH & Co instructed the team to assist with various zoning, construction, environmental and railway law matters pertaining to a mixed-use development in Vienna.

‘Young and dynamic’ firm Werinos-Sydow & Nehajova Rechtsanwälte OG is ‘very professional’ and advises on regional planning and public construction law, environmental impact assessments, water rights and energy law, thereby ‘handling all cases with the same determination and legal perfection’. Main contact Stefanie Werinos-Sydow provides ‘fast and profound responses with the client’s economic situation in mind’ and ‘has the ability to adapt to new situations’. Long-standing clients include the construction material company Teubl and the private education and training provider bit Group.

Working in conjunction with the firm’s EU and competition law practice, bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte GmbH is well equipped to guide clients through European law matters but also has substantial experience in environmental, healthcare and energy law work. Christian Schneider is the key contact.

The ‘very competent’ team at CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati ‘provides on-the-point advice’ on environmental, planning and state aid law, while also assisting with a wide range of regulated industry matters. Stefan Huber, who co-heads the team with the recommended Hans Kristoferitsch, assisted the Institute of Science and Technology with state aid and research funding law. In other work, the team advised Philip Morris Austria on tobacco regulation issues including advertising and labelling.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is dedicated to contentious and non-contentious work for energy sector and other regulated industry clients. Team head Stephan Denk acted for UPS in proceedings before the regulator and the Administrative Court, challenging UPS’ qualification as postal service operator. On the non-contentious side, he advised Energieallianz Austria on grid fee regulation issues, and assisted the tobacco manufacturer JTI International and its Austrian subsidiary JTI Austria with regulatory tobacco product matters.

Niederhuber & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH is particularly rated for its strength in environmental and planning law and focuses on project approval work in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors, acting for public and private clients alike. Highly regarded Martin Niederhuber is the main contact.

Much of Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners (SCWP Schindhelm)’s workload consists of public construction, planning and environmental law matters. ‘Reliable’ team head Hanno Liebmann advised the construction company Implenia on various public law matters pertaining to the construction of the Semmering Base Tunnel, including waste management and the disposal of excavated soil. In a separate matter, the team represented Tobaccoland and JTI Austria in administrative proceedings and litigation on tobacco legislation. Thomas Podlesak left the firm in January 2017 for an in-house position.

Wolf Theiss’s team is led by Kurt Retter and acts for clients across a range of industries including energy, infrastructure, healthcare and gaming. The team assisted Austrian Power Grid with proceedings for the renewal of the 110km long 220kV high voltage line St. Peter am Hart - Ernsthofen. Other work includes advice on gambling and environmental law matters.

Binder Grösswang is particularly active in EU, state aid and energy law and also handles pharmaceutical law mandates. Johannes Barbist heads the team.

CMS’ strength lies at the intersection of public procurement and public law, frequently advising on regulatory issues arising from public tenders, but the team is also experienced in handling state aid, trade law and waste management work. Bernt Elsner heads the team.

Dorda provides regulatory advice to regulated industry players from the infrastructure, energy and gaming sectors, among others. Team head Bernhard Müller continues to advise Kwizda Agro on water contamination and permitting issues and assisted a consortium of casino and lottery operators with gaming law issues.

Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH’s ‘knowledgeable and experienced’ practice advises clients on state aid, energy, waste and trade law matters and has a strong profile for regulatory issues arising from public tenders. The team assisted Vorarlberger Illwerke and Vorarlberger Kraftwerke with energy law issues and administrative proceedings. ‘Good negotiator’ Christoph Herbst is the main contact.