The Legal 500

Abel & Abel is a four-partner insolvency boutique with a first-rate reputation, especially for its work acting as receivers in national insolvency cases. Norbert Abel, Johanna Abel-Winkler, Bernhard Konecny and Reinhard Perstel are all eminent practitioners.

At Brauneis Klauser Prändl Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Alexander Klauser receives high praise for his work on cases with an international element.

Graf & Pitkowitz Rechtsanwälte GmbH advises on some of Austria’s largest insolvency matters. The well-regarded Alexander Isola heads the team, which is particularly recommended for accountants’ liability and loan collateralisation matters as well as major corporate restructurings. In 2011, the team advised the receiver on restructuring of a major waste disposal contractor.

Schoenherr provides ‘quick response times and excellent know-how’, and has been busy advising financial institutions over the past two years. Wolfgang Höller leads the team, which recently advised foreign institutional bondholders of Vienna-listed A-Tec during its restructuring. It continues to advise Morgan Stanley Real Estate on its restructuring and refinancing of European hotel projects and the sale of its Austrian assets.

Schulyok Unger & Partner Rechtsanwälte OEG is a specialist insolvency receiver firm with a great reputation. The team is experienced acting as administrator and is recommended for its debt relief and appellate expertise. Peter Schulyok, Arno Maschke, Philipp Dobner and Georg Unger are highly recommended.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte attracts some major cases via its strong banking and finance practice. It is particularly recommended for pan-CEE matters, and recently advised Kommunalkredit on cross-border mergers relating to the bank’s restructuring. The team also advised European Directories Group on its €1.5bn refinancing and pre-pack administration. Thomas Schirmer, Gottfried Gassner and Emanuel Welten are recommended.

Benedikt Spiegelfeld and Irene Welser head the team at CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, which recently advised Barclays Capital on the insolvency of Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds and its Austrian subsidiaries. Other standout matters included advising Austrian National Bank in several matters including litigation relating to the bankrupt Riegerbank AG’s trustee. ‘Advice rendered is always appropriate and value for money is particularly good’, say clients.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH recently advised longstanding client UniCredit Bank Austria as lender on the restructuring of a €150m financing to develop a Bulgarian shopping centre. Armin Dallmann is highly recommended.

Clients are ‘impressed by the responsiveness and technical competence’ at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach, which advised Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction on acquiring a subsidiary from the insolvent A-Tec Industries. It also advised various domestic lenders on several insolvencies and restructurings. Wolfgang Lafite is the main contact.

Dorda Brugger Jordis has good experience advising on large restructurings, particularly on pre-insolvency issues. In 2011, the team advised AE&E Austria, Atlas Estates and Immofinanz on various insolvency and restructuring matters. Tibor Varga and practice head Andreas Zahradnik are recommended.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners advises various major banks on some of Austria’s largest restructurings, including advising Erste Bank on the restructuring of Vienna-listed manufacturer A-Tec, which declared bankruptcy in late 2010. Markus Fellner is highly regarded.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer leverages its excellent banking and finance credentials, and predominantly advises financial institutions. Well-respected practice head Friedrich Jergitsch recently led advice to a consortium of banks on the AE&E restructuring including that of a €700m revolving guarantee facility. The team also has excellent experience in bank restructuring and is involved in the restructuring of Kommunalkredit Austria following its nationalisation.

Kosch & Partner has a solid reputation in insolvency proceedings, particularly for representing debtors, and in compensation proceedings. Jörg Beirer, Michael Lentsch, Gerhard Schilcher, Rainer Radlinger and Gerwald Holper are well respected.

Rainer Herzig’s team at Preslmayr Attorneys at Law has a good pedigree advising on the restructuring of national companies and all aspects of insolvency proceedings.

Wolf Theiss’ insolvency and restructuring team has close ties with the firm’s excellent CEE and corporate practices, and in 2011 advised Erste Bank on a €700m rescue financing of the bank’s loan portfolio after it faced covenant breaches and liquidity problems. Christian Hoenig and insolvency expert Eva Spiegel are recommended.

Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised an Austrian commercial bank on the restructuring of a large mortgage-backed loan portfolio in Croatia. Stefan Eder is recommended.

Eisenberger & Herzog has good experience advising banks on major restructuring matters, and in 2011 advised Investkredit Bank in the insolvency proceedings of A-Tec Industries.

Hasch & Partner Anwaltsgesellschaft mbH is experienced acting as receiver in bankruptcy proceedings, and continues to be active advising on pre-insolvency restructuring.

Held Berdnik Astner & Partner, Rechtsanwälte has three offices across Austria, and has experience advising on Austrian bank restructurings. Team head Bernhard Astner is recommended.

Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte recently advised a major German manufacturer in the insolvency proceedings of a consortium partner and related damages claims. Reinhard Brunar is a ‘calm and cool-headed lawyer’, and ‘always has an eye on the deadlines’.