The Legal 500

Andreas Reiner is ‘the go-to arbitration guy’ in Vienna, and Andreas Reiner & Partner as a firm has an excellent reputation in arbitration. In recent years, the firm has been developing its Asian client base and has seen an increase in real estate disputes work. Christian Aschauer is also highly rated.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is strong in litigation and arbitration, particularly in advising insurance companies and state-owned entities. The practice recently advised Austrian insurer Uniqa in a complex multi-jurisidictional damages dispute with a global pharmaceuticals company. The team also represented Asfinag in various construction litigations. Managing partner Irene Welser and senior partner Benedikt Spiegelfeld are recommended for arbitration, as is Peter Vcelouch for litigation.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH recently represented Austrian Airlines in several litigation cases relating to a €150m damages claim against an international investor. The practice also advised Erste Group in a dispute with an insurance broker regarding non-payment of insurance premiums. The team is developing its arbitration expertise under practice head Johannes Reich-Rohrwig. Nikolaus Weselik brings ‘big-picture strategic thinking’ to construction disputes, and Daniela Karollus-Bruner is also recommended.

Dorda Brugger Jordis is ‘worth the money’ and ‘absolutely first rate’. It has been advising Chubb Insurance in a dispute with Notartreuhandbank and the Austrian Notaries Association regarding losses totalling €117m caused by a former notary. Practice head Florian Kremslehner practises litigation and arbitration, and is ‘a brilliant strategic thinker’. On the arbitration side, Christoph Stippl is ‘a great counsel and advocate’, and Christian Dorda is ‘a very experienced arbitrator. His gentlemanly manner, great legal know-how, and good sense of humour mean he is a real asset’. For litigation, Felix Hörlsberger and Georg Jünger are recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer provides ‘good technical and tactical advice’. Günther Horvath heads the practice, which recently advised a banking group, an airline and an industrial company in shareholder litigation. The team has also been active in arbitrations for energy clients operating in the CEE. Jenny Power is recommended for arbitration, as are Thomas Kustor and the ‘analytical, persevering and meticulous’ Thomas Zottl for litigation.

Wolf Theiss continued to advise Atrium European Real Estate in a raft of investor litigation before the UK High Court and Vienna Commercial Court, as well as in Vienna arbitration proceedings. Team head Bettina Knoetzl is ‘frank and outspoken’, and Christoph Liebscher, Georg Kresbach, Eva Spiegel and Andreas Theiss are also recommended. One satisfied client relates how, ‘they masterminded the strategy, developing the big picture and managing to lift the case from a low chance to a 50:50 case’.

‘Very helpful and effective’, Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH has been advising on various arbitrations in the energy sector, including advising an international energy company in arbitration regarding gas price revisions. Stefan Riegler and Andreas Traugott are recommended.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte has a good record representing financial institutions in litigation and arbitration. It recently advised Bayerische Landesbank in a post-M&A dispute that resulted in a freezing of assets. The team also represented railway company ÖBB in successfully resolving a dispute regarding Deutsche Bank’s mis-selling of a €600m CDO. Christian Klausegger is ‘very well versed in tactics and has a good feeling for the aspects to be considered’. Michael Kutschera ‘always knows exactly knows which solution will work’.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach has had an active year in banking litigation, and ‘provides flexible assistance and has excellent expertise’. The practice recently advised CGU Insurance in its corporate, insolvency and tax investigations relating to a local company. Practice head Claudine Vartian is recommended.

Schoenherr recently represented Republika Srpska in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to an energy investment in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Practice head Gerold Zeiler is recommended for arbitration, as is Wolfgang Höller for litigation.

In 2011, Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised a major bank on Madoff-related cases. The team also advised a German client against the Romanian government. Ivo Deskovic is ‘outstanding’.

Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte recently advised a former company director in a €30m shareholder rights dispute with his former employer. Rudolf Fiebinger is highly recommended for arbitration.

Hausmaninger Kletter Rechtsanwälte GmbH is recommended for disputes in the banking sector. The team continues to advise Deutsche Telekom in its €102m dispute with three Polish companies in proceedings before the Austrian courts. Christian Hausmaninger is highly rated for arbitration.

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH is recommended for construction disputes, and practice head Thomas Frad recently acted as an ICC arbitrator in €1.5m proceedings between a German company and a Romanian municipality relating to a building project. The practice is also developing a strong name in white-collar crime disputes.

Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte recently successfully represented two pharmaceuticals companies in a trade mark lawsuit against an Austrian competitor. Practice head Gerald Gries is experienced in employment and personal injury litigation.

Hellwig Torggler of Torggler Rechtsanwälte OG is a highly recommended arbitration expert.

BLS Rechtsanwälte (Attorneys at Law) Boller Langhammer Schubert KG handles a high volume of litigation, and recently represented an Austrian construction company in disputes arising from the construction of a retirement home. Team head Wolfgang Schubert has ‘a very broad scope of knowledge’.

Baier Böhm has experience advising banking clients in arbitration. Erhard Böhm heads the team.

Doralt Seist & Csoklich is a well-run firm with many longstanding clients. Peter Csoklich and Raimund Bollenberger handle arbitration and litigation, and are the main contacts.

enwc Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law recently advised Redevco in various property disputes. Team head Wolfgang Kapek has ‘a clear strategic approach’.

Eisenberger & Herzog has a strong client base that includes banks and vehicle manufacturers. The practice recently advised Honda in a dispute with one of its distributors relating to a terminated distribution agreement.

Graf & Pitkowitz Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised Irving Picard regarding Madoff fraud claims, and represented a major European energy company in $10m arbitration.

Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte recently advised a German construction company in a dispute relating to the construction of an open-air theatre in Spain. ‘Fees are below the level of the bigger firms and we get high-quality advice’, says one client. Clemens Freisinger is a ‘very efficient and cool-headed litigator’.

Griss & Partner was busy with medical malpractice and railway disputes, representing insurers as well as injured individuals. Clients appreciate that ‘rates are still below the rates of the bigger firms while maintaining the quality of legal work’. Gunter Griss is the main contact for arbitration, and Edwin Mächler is also recommended.

Hasch & Partner Anwaltsgesellschaft mbH has experience advising in labour law disputes and is recommended for enforcement matters.

Hauser Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s Wulf Gordian Hauser is recommended for his arbitration experience.

The well-connected Gabriel Lansky dominates Lansky, Ganzger & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s practice. The firm continues to handle a high volume of investor disputes, such as advising in cases relating to the misselling of financial products.

Markus P. Fellner Rechtsanwalt was set up by former Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte partner Markus Fellner in 2011. The practice recently advised the Czech subsidiary of an international building technology company in an arbitration relating to the construction of a Prague shopping centre. Fellner is ‘first class, provides concise evaluations and has high knowledge of construction law’.

PHH Prochaska Heine Havranek Rechtsanwälte OG has developed a strong record in public relations litigation. The team represents café+co in all its disputes, and has also been kept busy by high-volume matters including conducting around 13,000 judicial debt recovery proceedings for Raiffeisen Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft and Uniqa Versicherungen.

In 2011, Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH was active handling disputes between Austrian investors and African governments. Immanuel Gerstner is the main contact.

In 2011, Stolitzka & Partner Rechtsanwälte OG acted in various disputes relating to construction and the running of private foundations. Team head Georg Röhsner recently advised the heirs of a late Austrian business tycoon in litigation proceedings against a private trust. The team is also recommended for IP and medical malpractice matters.