The Legal 500

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is ‘outstanding in Austria and in the CEE region’. Its recent work includes advice to gaming company Novomatic Group on the acquisition of a gaming group across Austria and Romania, a complex deal involving elements of distressed M&A. It also worked with Algeco Scotsman Group on its debut into central Europe through the acquisition of the A1-Container Group in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia. Thomas Trettnak ‘makes no mistakes’, is ‘very well organised’, and gives ‘good advice’.

Offering ‘a network to the eastern European states’, CMS is able to provide local law advice across a full range of practice areas. The firm has a strong presence in the Balkan countries, recently advising solar company JUWI Solar on projects in Bulgaria; Fresenius Medical Care on a €385m acquisition in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and UK property investor Carpathian on its Croatian operations. Günther Hanslik is ‘excellent’. The firm has over 500 lawyers across the region.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘regional knowledge and international expertise make it a natural choice for complex, cross-border deals’. Its lawyers covering the CEE region are ‘always available on short notice’, and Friedrich Jergitsch in particular is ‘very responsive and dedicated’. The firm advised Sberbank of Russia in its acquisition of Volksbanken International, involving the acquisition of ten banks across the CEE region. The firm also operates a growing Turkey desk.

Schoenherr ‘definitely beats the market’ in terms of its ‘profound knowledge of laws in the CEE region’ and ‘perfect response times’. The practice advised VTB Capital (the investment arm of Russia’s second-largest bank) on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Bulgartabac, after the Bulgarian government launched its privatisation. Another highlight was working with Romanian investment company SIF Muntenia on the sale of 6% of BCR to Erste Bank, worth €96m. Markus Piuk has ‘extensive language skills’.

Wolf Theiss ‘has become the go-to firm for the central and eastern European region’, and its ‘smart, international mindset’ also ‘offers local solutions’. It has expertise in energy-related work, and recently advised on a wind farm transaction in Romania. It also assisted the Vienna Insurance Group on the acquisition of a real estate portfolio across the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, valued at €150m. Horst Ebhardt and Christian Mikosch’s experience in the region provides ‘a strong strategic vision’ and enables them to ‘assess risks in a sophisticated manner’.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte is recommended for its capabilities ‘on high-level and complex cross-border’ cases in the CEE region. Its team includes ‘true experts’ in their fields, offering a service of ‘great value’ to clients. Florian Khol and Andreas Hable in particular are ‘very good to work with, providing excellent and client-oriented advice’. The firm advised Banca Popolare di Vicenza on its sale of shares in Volksbank International across seven CEE jurisdictions.

Dorda Brugger Jordis has a ‘good international network’, and is ‘outstanding’ and ‘highly professional’. Its CEE practice saw an increase in real estate transactions over 2012. It advised Kwizda (a pharmaceuticals producer) on its continued expansion into eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Montenegro and Belarus. Stefan Artner has ‘excellent knowledge of local and international banking laws’.

TaylorWessing e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law’s ‘solution-oriented and practical’ CEE team is a ‘one-stop-shop for Austria and various eastern European countries’. It has offices in Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Czech Republic, providing ‘seamless services without any interface problems’. Its Hungary office assisted US legal counsel in defending the Hungarian state in a claim for the return of a number of pieces of art held by national museums. Martin Eckel and Georg Walderdorff are recommended in the Vienna office.

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH is part of a network of five offices in the CEE region. It recently acted in a dispute for a CEE bank. Stefan Riegler is ‘well known in the local market’.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach recently advised on the purchase of a shopping centre in Prague on behalf of an Austrian client. Max Becker has experience in multi-jurisdictional corporate deals across the CEE region.

In 2012, Eisenberger & Herzog advised the Hypo Alpe Adria-Group on the sale of eight shopping centres and 12 retail centres in Slovenia. It also worked on the development of renewable energy projects in seven CEE jurisdictions for Wien Energie. Michael Strenitz and his CEE team deliver ‘a high standard of professionalism and knowledge’.

Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte GmbH continues to advise an Austrian bank on corporate issues relating to a grant to refinance a portfolio of 12 hotels across five countries in the CEE. The firm also advised Warimpex Finanz und Beteiligungs on the sale of a joint venture intended to set up budget hotels in Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Stefan Eder is the contact.

Brauneis Klauser Prändl Rechtsanwälte GmbH operates a legal and tax network within ten countries. Past clients include a Taiwanese manufacturer looking to expand in the region. Orlin Radinsky leads on CEE work and speaks fluent Bulgarian.

Eckert Fries Prokopp Rechtsanwälte GmbH has links with corporates across the region, and has a specialism in civil aviation law.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners is ‘a highly professional firm’. It recently reviewed the arrangements for an Austrian bank’s debt structures in the CEE region. Paul Luiki is ‘an outstanding lawyer with a hands-on approach’.

Gunter Griss covers all central and eastern Europe matters at Griss & Partner, which has ‘a perfect understanding of business-to-business matters’.

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH has strength in Bulgarian work, with both an office in Sofia and a desk in Vienna focused on the country. Nikolay Belokonski is the contact.

Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH (SCWP Schindhelm) has six offices in the CEE, and recently handled transactional work for a manufacturer with sites in Slovakia and across Europe.

In 2012, Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte handled work in Serbia, Slovakia and Russia, and advised a service provider with subsidiaries in almost all CEE countries. Hannes Füreder is recommended.

New firm Specht Böhm Rechtsanwalt GmbH’s CEE team expanded considerably in 2012 and now operates out of Moscow, Kiev, Belgrade and Istanbul. It provided full-service support to a Serbian company on an acquisition of railway assets.