The Legal 500

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte’s sizeable team of seven partners has ‘deep experience in the execution of complicated projects at an international level’. In a landmark instruction, the firm provided advice to the Austrian co-operative banking sector (comprising more than 60 banks) regarding the sale of approximately 46% of the distressed Österreichische Volksbanken AG (ÖVAG) to the Republic of Austria; the restructuring, which included the partial nationalisation of ÖVAG, is one of the largest-ever bailout transactions in Austria. Michael Kutschera is ‘very experienced’ and the ‘first point of contact’. Other active clients include Voestalpine AG, Renault Österreich, and Novartis Pharma.

Clients highlight the ‘extraordinary quality of work’ and ‘highly sophisticated support’ provided by the team at CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, whose eight full-time partners are noted for their ‘highest personal involvement’. The firm’s major highlight was advising Sberbank of Russia in connection with the acquisition of DenizBank in Turkey from Dexia; the €2.8bn acquisition is the largest in the bank’s history. It also advised Telekom Austria AG in relation to its €370m acquisition of Yesss! Telekommunikation (a subsidiary of Orange Austria). Albert Birkner is ‘exceptional’ and ‘outstanding’, and Clemens Hasenauer has ‘brilliant expert knowledge’.

Dorda Brugger Jordis’ service is of ‘excellent quality’, and ‘good value for money’. The firm recently worked with BPCE on the sale of its stake in Volksbank International, which involved assets across nine CEE countries; Sberbank of Russia acquired the bank in the widely publicised deal. The firm also acted as Austrian counsel to Mid Europa Partners on the sale of its majority shareholding in Orange Austria to Hutchison 3G Austria; the overall enterprise value was €1.3bn. Christian Mayer and Jürgen Kittel are both ‘very business oriented’ and ‘practical’, and provide ‘efficient advice’.

‘Clearly among the top three law firms in Austria’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer ‘does a fantastic job in all respects’. Among its major recent deals, it represented Sberbank of Russia in its acquisition of Volksbank; Hutchison 3G in its purchase of Orange Austria; and EVN and Vienna Energy on the acquisition of a stake in 13 hydropower plants from Verbund. Thomas Zottl and Farid Sigari-Majd are noted for their combination of legal knowledge with a focus on commercial objectives.

Schoenherr continues to attract a variety of high-level transactional instructions. Its recent workload includes advising Swedish telecoms group Tele2 on its acquisition of Austrian internet service provider Silver Server. It also advised Japanese Sekisui Chemical Co on the acquisition of a 75% share in the pipe renewal business of the Rabmer Group in Austria, highlighting the firm’s cross-border capabilities in the CEE region. Alexander Popp heads the group, which has ‘a very strong transactional focus’ and ‘a very high level of industry knowledge’.

The lawyers at Wolf Theiss ‘work hard and are on time, and the results are excellent’. The firm is also valued for its ‘strong strategic vision on deals’, and is ‘well worth’ the price. It assisted the Italian state holding company Cassa Depositi e Prestiti on its acquisition of an 89% stake in Trans Austria Gas Pipeline, a deal valued at €710m and involving regulatory and competition issues. It also acted for RWE Beteiligungsgesellschaft on its acquistion of a 12.85% share in energy provider KELAG from Kärntner Energieholding Beteiligungs (KEH). Dieter Spranz is ‘a tough negotiator’, and Christian Mikosch ‘a great strategic thinker’.

The team at bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte OG, under Hanns Hügel, is ‘effective’, ‘professional’ and ‘works very fast’, ‘shining’ for its delivery of value-added solutions to an ‘international standard’. It recently advised RTI Systems of Russia on the sale of Watt Drive to a Brazilian automotive company; and Gerry Weber Aktiengesellschaft on its acquisition of assets from insolvent Austrian retailer Don Gil Textilhandel. Other active clients include Nestlé, Shell Austria, and Verbund.

CMS is noted for its ‘excellent expertise in the SEE countries’, with its corporate practice co-led by Peter Huber and Johannes Reich-Rohrwig. Its recent work includes advising Nectar doo on the acquisition of a 93.73% stake in Slovenian beverages company Fructal; Johnson & Johnson on the Austrian aspects of the sale of its breast-care business to Devicor; and EVN AG on the acquisition of a wind farm in Lower Austria. Senior associate Alexander Rakosi is ‘highly intelligent’, and has ‘great understanding of business matters’.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners is ‘a highly professional firm’ known for its work on high-end complex restructurings, and M&A and oil and gas transactions. often in the CEE region. It is working for a large Austrian bank on two large sale-side auctions, of a cash-free payment company and a private equity group. Its client list also includes Telekom, BAWAG and Hypo Alpe-Adria. Paul Luiki is ‘an outstanding lawyer with a hands-on approach’.

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH is a regular on ‘big projects’, and recently advised Daifuku on the acquisition of a substantial stake in KNAPP AG, a market leader in logistic solutions. Gerhard Hermann is ‘one of the leading lawyers in this area’, providing ‘practical advice’ and heading ‘a very competent team’.

Brandl & Talos Rechtsanwälte GmbH has a strong relationship with bwin party entertainment, and has been handling a range of matters following the client’s merger 2011; these included the acquisition of assets from social gaming developers Velasco Services and Orneon, valued at €18m, and various joint venture agreements. Thomas Talos is the contact.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach advised austriamicrosystems on the €320m acquisition of Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions; and, in another cross-border deal, advised Dutch company Telelink Holdings on the acquisition of a 51% shareholding in Austrian IT service provider Datentechnik. Christoph Mager is the practice head.

The ‘very transactional’ Eisenberger & Herzog is ‘available day and night’, and delivers ‘constructive solutions’. In 2012, it assisted Crédit Agricole and UniCredit on the €800m facility provided to voestalpine group. Peter Winkler is ‘extremely dedicated’ and a strong choice for ‘difficult cases’.

In 2012, Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte advised an Austrian paper mill on the acquisition of a waste-to-energy incineration plant, and assisted an asset management company on the multi-jurisdictional sale of 75% of its shares. Peter Polak is the lead contact.

Hauser Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH has the ‘strength-in-depth required to handle complex cross-border transactions at a very fast pace’. In a busy year, it represented an Austrian party in the establishment of a major joint venture in Erbil, Iraq; and acted for Erste Group Bank AG on a capital increase through contributions of the shares in BCR. Wulf Gordian Hauser is ‘a world-class lawyer’ and ‘able to perform under high pressure’.

The ‘brilliant’ Barnert Egermann Illigasch Rechtsanwälte GmbH has notable experience in transactions in the gas sector, and also has a strong private equity offering. The ‘quick-thinking’ Michael Barnert recently advised Alpine Equity Management on transactional matters.

Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised Warimpex Finanz on the sale of a stake in a joint venture in the CEE region. It also advised on the complex merger between Superespresso (Liechtenstein) and Espressocap (Italy). Other active clients include EVN and Megatech Industries. Stefan Eder is recommended.

Eckert Fries Prokopp Rechtsanwälte GmbH recently added local lawyer Martin Prokopp as a name partner, bolstering the firm’s M&A and real estate transactional practice. The firm has a specialism in corporate restructuring.

Gassauer-Fleissner Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s small practice has a growing reputation in the corporate field, and continues to win instructions in the renewable energy sector. It acts for a range of national and international clients. Hanno Schatzmann is a key figure.

At Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte, ‘the overall level of service is outstanding, and good value for money’. The small team is able to handle complex, cross-border transactions, and is led by the ‘down-to-earth’ and ‘cost-efficient’ Bernd Taucher. The firm continues to foster a good relationship with Borealis, recently assisting on the restructuring of one of its main production and distribution units, in its fertiliser business.

Griss & Partner’s corporate practice is led by Gunter Griss and Christiane Loidl. It has ‘very good industry knowledge’, and recently handled the sale of an Austrian software company to an industry leader in the US.

Boutique practice Hausmaninger Kletter Rechtsanwälte GmbH counts among its clients private equity groups such as Vorndran Mannheims Capital. Christian Hausmaninger and Mark Kletter are recommended.

At Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH, Christoph Herbst remains the key contact for corporate work. His practice includes merger control, antitrust and public commercial law matters.

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH has a team of eight partners working on corporate matters. Gerold Wietrzyk recently advised a domestic client on an issuance of corporate bonds amounting to more than €400m.

Lansky, Ganzger & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH ‘operates to a very high standard’ and is ‘definitely recommended’. It has a large and active team with a particular focus on public infrastructure and telecoms matters. Incoming head of department Ronald Frankl is ‘an outstanding and competent lawyer with longstanding experience in corporate law’.

Hannes Füreder is the lead partner in Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte’s corporate group, and recently advised an Austrian private trust on the financing of the acquisition of a property for the construction of a medical centre of Vienna.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP advised Japanese ceramics company Ibiden on its $125m acquisition of Frauenthal, based in Austria. Rainer Wachter is the key figure in the practice.

TaylorWessing e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law’s corporate team is ‘solution-oriented’ and ‘practical’, with ‘very good response times’. It acted for Lafarge on its joint venture with STRABAG to combine their cement activities in Central Europe. It also assisted Alma Lasers with its acquisition of the assets of Quantel Derma. Raimund Cancola is head of department.

BLS Rechtsanwälte (Attorneys at Law) Boller Langhammer Schubert KG recently advised a German group on establishing an Austrian subsidiary. Thomas Boller has international experience.

Brauneis Klauser Prändl Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s core expertise is in transactions in the industrial sector. Its past work includes supporting a German construction company in its Austrian project work. Arno Brauneis is the contact.

Cabjolsky & Otto Rechtsanwälte OG continues to advise Bunzl & Biach regarding the wastepaper dealer’s shares in a Hungarian LLC. Alexander Cabjolsky is the key figure.

Graf & Pitkowitz has won plaudits for its advisory work on transactions, led by the experienced Ferdinand Graf, and is noted for its ‘up-to-date knowledge’.

Hasch & Partner Anwaltsgesellschaft mbH draws its main clients from the insurance and life sciences sectors. The firm has a presence in Croatia and the Czech Republic. Founding partner Alexander Hasch is recommended.

PHHV Prochaska Heine Havranek Vavrovsky Rechtsanwälte’s business-oriented practice is increasingly active in private equity work. Stefan Prochaska and Hannes Havranek are recommended.

Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH (SCWP Schindhelm)’s team of ‘highly experienced specialists’, notably Franz Mittendorfer, are valued for their ‘absolute reliability’. The practice is increasingly active in China-related work.

Weber & Co. has experience in public takeovers, management buyouts, and other M&A. Stefan Weber is the contact.