The Legal 500

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was particularly active advising in private litigation relating to antitrust damage claims in 2011, but also recently represented Assa Abloy Entrance Systems in merger control proceedings relating to its acquisition of a stake in agta record group. The practice also obtained an EU judgement for its client EVA regarding pro-competitive remedies relating to the packaging industry. Practice head Axel Reidlinger is highly recommended.

Schoenherr’s ‘invaluable’ team provides ‘hands-on support within short timeframes’. The team recently advised Raiffeisen Bank International in clearance for its acquisition of a majority stake in Polbank, and advised Siemens and VA Tech Group in infringement proceedings before the European Courts. Practice head Hanno Wollmann is ‘superb’ – ‘a brilliant antitrust lawyer and an economic expert’. Franz Urlesberger is ‘a competent contact if you need one-stop-shop competition advice in the CEE region’. Volker Weiss is also recommended.

The ‘excellent’ Wolf Theiss provides ‘quality legal advice and top service’. It advised a European telecoms company on issues relating to its planned co-operation with a competitor. The team also advised a railway operator in proceedings relating to guidelines on fines before the Austrian Cartel Court and appeal court. Günter Bauer is ‘clearly a leader in Austrian antitrust’.

bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte OG’s lawyers are ‘very good and very professional’, and ‘a real pleasure to work with’, and are particularly strong in competition litigation. The team recently advised voestalpine in the steel cartel proceeding before the European Commission, and advised Logwin and DSV/ABX Logistics in a major antitrust case relating to the carrier industry. Practice head Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber is ‘an excellent leader’ and recommended for competition work, while Christian Schneider leads on EU law.

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised Schindler Elevator and Escalator Group in various civil antitrust litigations, following on from the elevator cartel case. Andreas Traugott heads the practice, which also features Stefan Riegler.

Barnert Egermann Illigasch Rechtsanwälte GmbH is ‘reasonably priced, and provides good value for money with very high commitment’. It continued to advise logistics provider Gebrüder Weiss in freight-forwarding cartel proceedings, and advised a company in leniency proceedings relating to the plumbers cartel. Practice head Isabella Hartung is ‘competent, fast and extremely reliable’.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte advised City of Vienna and Immofinanz as well as several other bodies in the first major private enforcement proceedings relating to damages from the escalator and elevator cartel case. Other standout matters included advising an Austrian energy company on competition matters relating to long-term hydropower contracts. Raoul Hoffer heads the practice, which has also been busy with leniency cases. Johannes Barbist is ‘incredibly responsive, has deep knowledge of the substantive and procedural law, and gives highly pragmatic advice’.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach advised construction company Porr Group on merger control proceedings relating to its purchase of a stake in Teerag. The ‘flexible’ and ‘excellent’ Claudine Vartian heads the team, which also advised Sophos plc on merger control notification and clearance matters.

Dorda Brugger Jordis was particularly active in cartel cases in 2011, including advising a sugar producer in the sugar cartel investigation. The team also advised the Austrian Federal Railway in ongoing logistics cartel proceedings. Stephan Polster is recommended for competition law, as is Axel Anderl for antitrust and unfair competition. ‘The client and its needs come first’, according to one client.

Eisenberger & Herzog provides ‘very good value for money’, and has been active in some of the biggest cartel cases in the market. The team recently represented three plumbing companies in cartel proceedings relating to bid-rigging. Andreas Zellhofer is ‘very competent, experienced and always available’.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati provides ‘good value for money and a high commitment to meeting deadlines’. The team continued to advise the Austrian privatisation agency ÖIAG in proceedings before the General Court in Luxembourg relating to state aid issues arising from Lufthansa’s takeover of Austrian Airlines. The practice also advised OMV on merger control proceedings relating to increasing its stake in a Turkish oil services company. Bernhard Kofler-Senoner is highly recommended.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s practice head Bernt Elsner led advice to EVN on merger control issues arising from its joint venture with a Bulgarian energy company to build a hydropower plant. Other standout matters included representing shopping centre operator Ronja in a case relating to import restrictions on cigarettes.

enwc Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law advised ÖAMTC and Test & Training GmbH in litigation before the Austrian Cartel Court in an alleged abuse of dominance case. Martin Eckel heads the practice.

Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte is strong on EU law, and recently acted in arbitration proceedings between two European energy companies on the EU aspects of the validity of a long-term gas transportation contract.

Brauneis Klauser Prändl Rechtsanwälte GmbH regularly advises on distribution agreements and appears before the EU competition authorities.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners is well regarded for merger control and abuse of dominance proceedings.

Graf & Pitkowitz Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s practice head Ferdinand Graf is recommended for his competition expertise. The team mainly handles merger-related competition issues.

Griss & Partner advises on merger control matters and has good links to the EU authorities.

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised Hutchinson 3G as competitor in phase I and II EU merger control proceedings. Jörg Zehetner and Thomas Rabl are the main contacts.

Lansky, Ganzger & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH is ‘highly professional and target-oriented, and fast at solving issues’. The team recently advised ATV Privat TV on lobbying before the Federal Competition Authority regarding the programming of a rival TV station.

Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte continued to advise a gas grid operator in eastern Austria on state aid. Robert Ertl is now the main contact after Markus P Fellner left the firm.

‘Work is done efficiently and the value for money is very good’ at Willheim Muller Rechtsanwalte, which has a great track record in advising gas companies in competition disputes. The team also recently advised five transportation companies in settlement proceedings in the freight forwarding cartel case. Johannes Willheim is ‘very motivated and has strong expertise in competition law. He reacts immediately to requests and organises his team in a very efficient way’.