The Legal 500

The specialist employment practice at Burgstaller & Preyer Rechtsanwälte GmbH combines domestic and international expertise. Helmut Preyer and Gerald Burgstaller advise clients in the IT and telecoms, pharmaceuticals, transport and industrial sectors.

CMS has seen a recent increase in discrimination cases. It defended the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) in a case involving alleged age discrimination; acted for energy company ESTAG in a class action case over compensation for underperforming pension funds; and represented the University of Vienna in test cases concerning the legal status of temporary lecturers. Christoph Wolf and Bernhard Hainz lead the team.

Kunz Schima Wallentin Rechtsanwälte OG has a wide-ranging practice and is a member of the Ius Laboris alliance for human resources firms. Georg Schima is recommended.

Wolf Theiss ‘gives high-quality advice at a competitive price’, has ‘a profound business understanding’, and shows ‘inter-cultural awareness’ on deals. The practice is handling more banking sector work, including advising on the regulations surrounding bank bonuses. It also assisted on Inter IKEA Centre Group’s sale of two large centres in Austria. Other active clients include Raiffeisen Bank International, BAWAG PSK, Eli Lilly, and Deutsche Telekom. Ralf Peschek has ‘a good feeling for the commercial value’, and Matthias Unterrieder is noted for cross-border advice.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte’s employment team is ‘now very recognised in the market’, and has ‘a forward-thinking and commercial approach’, with a focus on the employer side. It counts Societé Générale, Esteé Lauder Cosmetics and Macquarie Group among its clients. Angelika Pallwein-Prettner and Horst Lukanec are ‘excellent’.

Dorda Brugger Jordis represents employers and employees across a range of matters, from individual contracts to collective bargaining agreements. Recent work includes advising Unilever Deutschland Holding on its pension plans and remuneration schemes; and advising Deutsche Post on outsourcing negotiations with UniCredit Bank Austria, which includes navigating the company’s special termination and pension protection for employees. Axel Anderl is ‘very strong in negotiations, and solution-oriented’, with ‘a clear and honest approach’.

Gerlach Rechtsanwälte is a new, specialist firm which exclusively handles employment matters. It has a breadth of knowledge across Austrian and European employment law, and related insolvency law. Roland Gerlach and Branco Jungwirth head the practice.

bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte OG handles employment work within its corporate department, with a focus on the employment aspects of M&A transactions and corporate reorganisations.

Clients are ‘very impressed’ by Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s ‘competence and reliability’, with practice head Philipp Maier noted for his ‘fast and very professional responses’. Its recent caseload includes matters involving remuneration policy, compensation and bonuses. It also acted for a client on its global reorganisation, which involved collective dismissal and works council negotiations.

Barnert Egermann Illigasch Rechtsanwälte GmbH assisted Avcon Jet AG on various Austrian labour law issues, including litigation against a former employee. Clemens Egermann leads on employment work, and mainly advises employers.

In 2012, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati’s busy employment team advised Hewlett-Packard on data protection issues and outsourcing projects; Vienna International Airport on various matters; Primark Mode in relation to opening its first stores in Austria; and Crown Equipment on the establishment of an Austrian subsidiary. Julian Feichtinger heads the department.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach assisted Pfizer with the termination of employment agreements, corporate restructuring and negotiations with unions and works councils; and also advised Lufthansa on a number of employment matters relating to the restructuring of its business operations in Austria and the CEE region. Franz Marhold heads the practice.

Kurt Wratzfeld heads the practice at Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners; a well-known figure within the field, he has particular expertise in collective bargaining matters.

The ‘very professional’ and ‘customer-focused’ team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is notable for its EU law expertise, including European works council issues. It advised Hutchison 3G Austria on corporate restructuring matters related to its intended merger with Orange Austria; and Mars on issues relating to the restructuring of its pension schemes across various EU countries, including Austria. Stefan Koeck is ‘reliable’ and ‘always up to date’.

Schoenherr has built a strong reputation for employment law over recent years, and has ‘very good’ business acumen. It mainly works for large companies and international clients, advising on issues including transfers of undertakings, employment tribunal litigation and reorganisations. Department head Hans Georg Laimer has ‘great expertise in employment law and very good litigation skills’.

Wolfgang Kapek remains the head of TaylorWessing e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law’s employment practice after the firm’s recent merger. The team assisted construction group Aon Hewitt with a review of top management contracts and the implementation of remuneration arrangements; and advised Nokia Austria on employment matters relating to its restructuring.

Eversheds Austria’s employment team is led by Silva Palzer, and recently provided employment and pensions support on a €1.7bn transaction.

Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte’s clients include some major multinationals. Karina Hellbert is recommended.

The small, dedicated team at Grundei Rechtsanwalt advises both employers and employees on labour law issues, including litigation. It has a specialism in professional sports law.

Hasch & Partner Anwaltsgesellschaft mbH has expertise in stock option schemes, employee incentives and company reorganisations.

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH advises on individual and collective labour law, and acts for a number of multinationals including a mobile network operator and pharmaceutical companies. Helen Pelzmann is the lead contact.

PHHV Prochaska Heine Havranek Vavrovsky Rechtsanwälte acts for the Viennese taxi service Taxi 40100 on all aspects of employment law, and is permanent counsel to HR group APS, which it recently advised during a metalworkers’ strike.

In 2012, Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte worked on labour law issues relating to company restructurings and a privatisation. It also deals with employment litigation. Hannes Füreder and Gerald Gries are recommended.