The Legal 500

Andreas Reiner & Partner is a small firm which exclusively handles arbitration matters out of Vienna, and is noted for its ‘quality’ work. Andreas Reiner is a leading practitioner specialising in the fields of international construction and engineering, and also acts as a mediator. Christian Aschauer covers probate law and enforcement proceedings, and acts in both domestic and international arbitration cases.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a ‘very good’ firm which ‘does not waste time’. It has a strong knowledge base in dispute resolution, and few firms ‘can match it in terms of the expertise it offers’. It successfully represented Oesterreichische Nationalbank against Riegerbank AG in relation to compensation claims totalling €23m raised by Riegerbank due to refusal of an extended foreign exchange trade permission; the complex, multiple claims were finally settled in March 2012 after 20 years. Irene Welser leads the nine-partner team.

CMS provides ‘the full range of services’, and is ‘the ideal firm to work with’, with a strong reputation for construction disputes. Elsewhere, it represented Austrian Airlines in several cases including a €150m damages claim against an international investor; assisted an Austrian venture company in a financial dispute concerning warranty claims against a seller; and represented Erste Group in a dispute with an insurance broker concerning wrongly issued non-payment insurances. The firm remains active in arbitration, with a number of cases ongoing for international clients. Daniela Karollus-Bruner co-heads the team.

Dorda Brugger Jordis ‘enjoys a good reputation in international commercial arbitration’, and the ‘knowledge and advice’ of its lawyers is highly rated. Christian Dorda has ‘all the qualities of a good arbitrator’, and Florian Kremslehner has excellent ‘depth of knowledge in Austrian white-collar crime’. The firm was involved in numerous high-profile ICC cases over the past year. On the litigation side, it is representing Immofinanz in connection with sets of claims brought by former shareholders against the company, worth over €200m; there are 3,500 plaintiffs involved in close to 900 claims.

The team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer displays ‘a good overall understanding of the commercial goals’, and ‘provides an excellent service, mainly in larger-scale arbitration or litigation’. Its arbitration work focuses on energy, construction and industrial engineering disputes, and it recently represented a gas import and distribution company in two separate ICC proceedings against a major European gas producer, involving a price dispute totalling $5bn. In litigation, it assisted a global industrial company in damages claims after a cartel decision, and separately advised various financial institutions in proceedings following reorganisations and high-value capital measures. Günther Horvath and Thomas Kustor are the main contacts.

The well-respected Gerold Zeiler leads a four-partner team at Schoenherr. Its recent work includes a range of high-profile matters within Austria and the CEE region, including representing Republika Srpska in ICC arbitration proceedings related to an energy investment in Bosnia Herzegovina, the government of the Czech Republic in an investment treaty dispute, and Deutsche Bank in a €613m claim by the Austrian Federal Railways (OeBB) over alleged misleading advice.

Wolf Theiss’ ‘upscale’ practice ‘acts on its own initiative’, and attracts praise for its ‘high dedication and quality’. Recent highlights include representing an Austrian Bank in a major financial dispute over a swap agreement with an Austrian municipality, where the legality of the contract was called into question and €450m sought by the opponent. In arbitration, it advised the Danish Polish Telecommunication Group under UNCITRAL rules in a dispute over a major share of Poland’s telecoms infrastructure, winning a €400m award for its client. Christoph Liebscher is ‘always accessible and delivers on time’, and Holger Bielesz is ‘a very competent lawyer’.

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH worked on a number of high-profile cases recently. It represented Meinl Bank in two arbitration proceedings (under Vienna Rules) against former affiliates relating to market-making agreements worth €59m; and also handled an investment dispute. Alexander Petsche and Stefan Riegler have a wealth of experience in both litigation and arbitration.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte’s four-partner team includes Michael Kutschera, who has ‘good business acumen’ and provides ‘good value for money’. The firm is representing German bank Bayerische Landesbank in high-value proceedings over the cancellation of a share purchase agreement and in related enforcement proceedings in Austria; and is defending financial institution AWD against allegations concerning investment advice. Christian Klausegger also covers international arbitration matters.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach has a focus on the financial and telecoms sectors. Its practice is largely litigation-based, and it remained busy through its involvement in lawsuits relating to the Bernard Madoff fraud scheme. Claudine Vartian is the practice head.

In 2012, Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte GmbH acted as counsel in an ICC arbitration relating to a project in Hungary. It was also active in civil litigation proceedings relating to various corporate transactions. Ivo Deskovic is recommended, and has an international client base.

Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte was involved in an increased number of energy-related cases throughout 2012, on both the litigation and arbitration sides. It also represented a group of architects against the City of Vienna, in a dispute over an onsite inspection at a well-known historical building. Rudolf Fiebinger has a strong reputation for arbitration.

Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is ‘quick to get to the essence of a matter’, and the firm’s ‘overall level of service is extraordinary’. It has particular expertise in construction cases. Wolfgang Graf gives ‘detailed advice’, and is ‘really impressive’.

Hausmaninger Kletter Rechtsanwälte GmbH counts Deutsche Telekom among its clients, and has a reputation for banking-related disputes. Christian Hausmaninger is known for his commercial arbitration work.

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH has strength in both arbitration and litigation. In a busy year, it represented a producer of electrical equipment in a €4m dispute with a retailer; acted in an ICC arbitration between a German company and a Romanian municipality; and advised the former management board of Grundig AG. Thomas Frad leads the practice.

Lansky, Ganzger & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH provides a wide range of services, including assisting on corruption cases and acting for victims of financial crime. Gerald Ganzger is recommended for his ‘specialist knowledge’.

Gerald Gries heads Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte’s litigation team, which has experience across a range of CEE-related cases. Patrizia Netal, a growing name in arbitration, led a Slovakian manufacturer in two separate cases, one in the Regional Court of Berlin.

Torggler Rechtsanwälte OG is a boutique arbitration practice founded by leading specialist Hellwig Torggler, who continues to handle an impressive caseload. Ongoing matters include an arbitration between Italian and Croatian energy companies over a joint venture, and an ad hoc arbitration between two Austrian banks.

BLS Rechtsanwälte (Attorneys at Law) Boller Langhammer Schubert KG is known for its litigation work, and its client base ranges from industrial producers to insurance and technology companies. Wolfgang Schubert is the contact.

Following recent recruitment, Baier Rechtsanwälte’s specialisms include Polish and Hungarian arbitration matters.

Cabjolsky & Otto Rechtsanwälte OG is a boutique firm with large clients from the banking, construction and consumer sectors. It also advises a fashion designer and a travel group.

Doralt Seist & Csoklich is well respected for both litigation and arbitration matters. Peter Csoklich also covers antitrust work.

Jörg Herzog heads Eisenberger & Herzog’s litigation group, and is a specialist in insurance law. The practice also covers transport disputes.

Eversheds Austria was involved in various engineering and construction disputes, including representing a Scandinavian crane producer in an ICC arbitration. Georg Röhsner leads the team.

Graf & Pitkowitz’s offering is led by Nikolaus Pitkowitz, who has built a strong reputation in arbitration.

Griss & Partner’s capabilities lie in personal injury and medical malpractice cases, and transport-related disputes. Gunter Griss has ‘outstanding experience’ in arbitration.

Hauser Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH has a very busy arbitration practice, with Wulf Gordian Hauser regularly appearing in ICC and VIAC cases across Europe.

Markus P. Fellner Rechtsanwalt is ‘creative’, with ‘strong knowledge on construction law’, and is available ‘24/7’. Though a small team, it acts for some leading industry clients.

PHHV Prochaska Heine Havranek Vavrovsky Rechtsanwälte’s dedicated litigation team is led by Dieter Heine, and has a specialism in media and public relations litigation work.

Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH (SCWP Schindhelm) advised a construction company on payment and liability issues totalling €9.5m. Hanno Liebmann is recommended.

Specht Böhm Rechtsanwalt GmbH added Erhard Böhm as head of department, who has two decades of experience in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration.

TaylorWessing e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law is currently advising Atradius Credit Insurance in a dispute. Dieter Natlacen is the contact for arbitration work.