The Legal 500

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte’s experienced team of four partners is led by Michael Binder and Stefan Tiefenthaler. The practice successfully drafted a proposed amendment to the Austrian Banking Act on behalf of 60 banks, and also set up a central body in Austria. It also acted for Deutsche Bank on a €500m loan facility for EVN AG, a large utility company in Austria, and advised Verbund’s financing arm on a revolving loan agreement worth €750m.

The ‘very good’ team at CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is rated for its high level of service and ‘fast response times’. It continues to win significant and innovative instructions, such as assisting Telekom Austria Group in relation to a €735m syndicated facility involving 16 international lenders. The firm also advised Erste Group on a €243m project financing for a large shopping centre in southern Austria. Peter Knobl is ‘reliable’, and ‘always understands the content of the contract’.

Dorda Brugger Jordis’ ‘bright and responsive’ five-partner team is led by Tibor Varga and Andreas Zahradnik. It works in the ‘highest possible bracket’ and is often the ‘first point of contact’ for clients operating in Austria. In 2012 it acted on a variety of big-ticket acquisitions and project financings, regularly over €100m, and also saw an increase in Brazil-related work.

Wolf Theiss is ‘on the expensive side, but well worth it’, and has ‘a can-do attitude’ which is ‘extremely helpful in getting complex transactions done’. Its recent work includes advising on the debt restructuring of SW Umwelttechnik for a J banking consortium led by Erste Bank. It also advised on a joint venture financing of a wind farm in Bulgaria, worth €34m. Richard Wolf heads the team of five partners.

The ‘very reliable’ CMS provides a ‘helpful and precise’ service. Department head Günther Hanslik is noted for his extensive legal knowledge and strong negotiating skills. In 2012, the practice maintained a steady flow of work from UniCredit Bank Austria AG and Erste Bank across countries in eastern Europe.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners advised Borealis on the refinancing of a joint venture worth €200m, and assisted OMV Group in relation to the implementation of the Western Union system in Austria and CEE countries. Its large team includes four partners, led by name partner Markus Fellner, and is noted for its quick response times ‘even on very challenging questions’.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is valued for its combination of international expertise and regional experience, and has ‘very fast response times’, with the team ‘always available on short notice’. It saw an increase in liquidity management issues over the past year, and was instructed on a range of regulatory issues. Highlights included advising on various covered bonds transactions; acting for UniCredit Austria in relation to distribution agreements with fund management companies; and advising MainFirst Bank on its acquisition of Omicron Investment Management. Friedrich Jergitsch is the key figure.

Schoenherr provides a ‘very high level of service’ and ‘perfect response times’. Its banking offering includes five partners after the recent recruitment of Denise Hamer, who has a wealth of financial experience. The team assisted Österreichische Volksbanken-Aktiengesellschaft (ÖVAG) in its negotiations with the Austrian government on bailout conditions, which saw the state take a significant stake in the bank.

Clients report ‘very good experiences’ working with the team at Brandl & Talos Rechtsanwälte GmbH, which is led by the well-respected Ernst Brandl. The firm continues to assist international investment funds in relation to licensing procedures with the Austrian Financial Market Authority permitting market entry into Austria. It is also handling an increasing flow of compliance work for financial services providers.

Doralt Seist & Csoklich has a ‘very clever’ banking team led by Raimund Bollenberger, who has expertise across insolvency law, civil law, litigation and investor protection.

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH recently advised Immofinanz on the €210m refinancing of Silesia City Center shopping centre in Poland. The two-partner team continues to make inroads in the renewable energy market on the project finance side, and includes the ‘focused’ Dieter Buchberger.

The small, dedicated banking team at Barnert Egermann Illigasch Rechtsanwälte GmbH worked on a number of energy-related transactions, including acting on hedging arrangements for Gazprom Neft Trading within its oil businesses. Alexander Illigasch is the main contact, and ‘knows how to reach the best result for his client’.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach won a significant instruction to advise the International Financial Corporation, which is assisting the government of Albania on the privatisation of four power plants in the country. Wolfgang Lafite is the main contact.

Eisenberger & Herzog acted as lead counsel for Pecik Group and Sawiris Group on the financing of the acquisition of a minority interest in Telekom Austria. The firm also acted for Crédit Agricole and Raiffeisen Bank International in the past year. Peter Winkler is ‘extremely dedicated’, and it is ‘very difficult to find comparable lawyers on this quality level’.

Graf & Pitkowitz’s service is ‘far above the market standard’ with quick response times, ‘flexibility’ and very high ‘problem-solving capacities’. It is currently assisting Brazilian oil company Petrobras with cross-border projects involving Austria. Stephan Schmalzl combines ‘deep knowledge’ with ‘a very practical approach’.

The ‘outstanding’ team at Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte maintains a good relationship with Borealis, which it advised on the purchase agreements relating to a private placement by the company. Bernd Taucher is ‘able to handle significant transactions’ and has ‘a high level of professionalism’.

Hausmaninger Kletter Rechtsanwälte GmbH has capabilities across a number of industries, and Christian Hausmaninger is known for representing banks in litigation.

Rautner Huber is a ‘highly recommended’ and ‘highly knowledgeable’ boutique firm, and new to the ranking for 2012. It assisted HSBC in preparing to issue contingent convertible bonds (CoCos) in Austria, a first of a kind in the country. Uwe Rautner and Wolfram Huber are ‘accurate’ and ‘proactive’.

TaylorWessing e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law’s impressive client base includes Credit Suisse, Raiffeisenlandesbank and Santander. The practice provides ‘personal treatment and prompt answers’, and Susanne Fruhstorfer ‘works precisely and judiciously’. The firm recently acted on a €140m multi-jurisdictional revolving loan facility for paper producers Norske Skogindustrier.

The ‘easy-to-approach’ and ‘competent’ team at Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised Tom Tailor on a €225m corporate finance facility, while other active clients include Euram Bank, Hypo Alpe Adria Group, and Megatech Group. The team’s ‘outstanding motivation’ and ‘focus on practical problem-solving’ is particularly noted. Stefan Eder is recommended.

Stefan Geppert is the main contact for banking work at Brauneis Klauser Prändl Rechtsanwälte GmbH. He advises on investment fund law and alternative corporate financing.

Eversheds Austria advised Holidaybreak on the £230m refinancing of the group’s debt facilities. It also saw an increase in banking litigation. Alexander Stolitzka is head of department.

Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte continues to advise IKB Deutsche Industriebank on matters including substantial loans granted to Austrian companies. Bert Ortner is the lead contact.

Griss & Partner has extensive experience in US-related law, advising US corporations on financial issues within Austria. Christiane Loidl is recommended.

Hauser Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH recently acted for an Austrian company on the establishment of a joint venture in Iraq. Peter Blaschke is recommended for his banking experience.

Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH has particular expertise in insurance law, advising clients including international insurers and brokers. Christoph Herbst is the main contact.

At Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH, head of department Jörg Zehetner represented former board members of a major domestic bank in proceedings relating to interest rate swaps.

The ‘flexible’ and ‘fast’ Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH (SCWP Schindhelm) provides ‘value for money’. It has a good relationship with the Federal State of Upper Austria, which it recently advised on the sale of housing loans in the region.

Schwarz Schönherr Rechtsanwälte OEG’s small and specialised banking offering is led by Winfried Schwarz. The firm continues to work with electricity company Verbund on transactional matters.

In 2012, Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte saw an increase in liability management and compliance work. Karina Beyer and Hannes Füreder are the main contacts.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s Vienna office is led by the experienced Rainer Wachter. The team is able to support the firm’s global network on major transactions, such as assisting Citigroup in relation to Sberbank’s acquisition of Volksbank.

Specht Böhm Rechtsanwalt GmbH’s growing team advised on the €33m refinancing of two German real estate portfolios through an Austrian bank.