The Legal 500

Brauneis Klauser Prändl Rechtsanwälte GmbH is well known for its software, data protection, copyright and e-commerce expertise. Felix Prändl and Arno Brauneis are well-respected practitioners.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is strong on both the IT and telecoms sides, with a longstanding client base that includes Telekom Austria and Hewlett-Packard. The practice had a strong 2010 capitalising on a number of M&A deals in the IT sector. The team has a particular focus on data protection law, and advised Yellow Pages France on the acquisition of Austria’s 123people, a website that allows users to search for personal data. Julian Feichtinger is the go-to name for IT law.

Claudine Vartian heads the nine-lawyer team at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach, which leverages off the firm’s finance and corporate offering. Wolfgang Freund is also recommended.

Dorda Brugger Jordis is well known for its roster of telecoms clients, which includes T-Mobile, Orange and Sprint. The team has also grown its IT practice of late, including advising Apple on the communications and competition law aspects of the introduction of the iPad to Austria. Outsourcing is also an area of focus; the firm recently advised clients including Raiffeisen Bank and Agrana on IT outsourcing agreements. Stephan Polster is recommended on the telecoms side, and practice head Axel Anderl is well known for his work for IT clients.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Christof Pöchhacker and Bertram Burtscher are well-known and well-respected practitioners in the market. Standout work for 2010 included advising Saudi Telecom on the redrafting of its contracts for business partners. The team also advised Swiss Post and Prangl Gesellschaft on software outsourcing agreements.

Gassauer-Fleissner Rechtsanwälte GmbH has a great reputation for its IT work, and last year advised a large international IT vendor in a high-value ICC arbitration following the early termination of an outsourcing contract. Michael Wolner is particularly rated for his experience in software licensing.

At Wien-based boutique firm Andréewitch & Simon, lead partner Markus Andréewitch is well known in the market for his IT licensing and transactional prowess.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte continues to advise longstanding client Tele2 on IP and regulatory issues. Christian Klausegger is highly rated for telecoms work, and Ivo Rung is recommended on the IT side.

Standout work for CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH included advising Bawag Bank and listed IT provider S&T. Other notable clients of the team, led by Johannes Juranek, include Telefónica, Research in Motion, and mobilkom austria/Telekom Austria.

enwc Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law’s particular strength is in acting for telecoms and IT clients in IP infringement and unfair competition cases; the team continues to advise Telekom Austria on 17 separate unfair competition cases against MyPhone. Dieter Natlacen and Martin Prohaska-Marchried head the practice.

Notable transactions for Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte in 2010 included advising Docfinder in setting up an internet start-up and representing wireless technology company Qualcomm on establishing its first research centre in Europe. Constantin Kletzer heads the team, which also features Karina Hellbert, Bert Ortner and Peter Polak.

Franz Guggenberger is the name to note at Hasch & Partner Anwaltsgesellschaft mbH, which is recommended for licensing agreements and antitrust matters.

At Höhne, In der Maur & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Thomas Höhne and Georg Streit are recommended for their knowledge of e-commerce and internet law.

Paul Schmidinger heads the team at Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH, which has experience advising on software licences and data protection matters.

Legis – Cooperative Association of Attorneys focuses on the technology, biotechnology and life sciences sectors, and is rated for its IT and telecoms expertise. In 2010 it advised a consortium that included Motorola on the construction of a radio network and related safety issues. Dietmar Huemer effectively acts as a sole practitioner in this field and is recommended

Schoenherr has a top-notch telecoms and IT client list including AT&T, Verizon and Lycos. Standout transactions for the group included advising France Telecom on the €1.4bn acquisition of Austrian mobile phone provider One. The eminent Christian Schmelz heads the team.

Wolf Theiss continues to have a strong reputation for IT and telecoms litigation, and has also developed good experience in digital copyright issues. Georg Kresbach leads the team, which advised a global IT sector player on data protection, regulatory and antitrust issues relating to a product in Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Cabjolsky & Otto Rechtsanwälte OG’s client roster includes some big-name telecoms comanies. Gerald Otto is ‘one of the best in this area’.

Mag Marcus Essl, LL.M., M.E.S advises a number of Austrian technology clients on contractual matters, and also provides contentious advice.

At DDr Meinhard Ciresa, Meinhard Ciresa has long had a great reputation in the market, particularly for his expertise in e-business matters.

Dr Norbert Wiesinger, Law Offices has a strong focus on regulatory telecoms work, and has advised some impressive clients including Verizon and Cable & Wireless.

Rainer Knyrim of Preslmayr Attorneys at Law is noted by peers as ‘an expert in data protection issues’.

Sattler & Schanda has a solid pedigree advising on internet and new-media law, in particular advising on acquisitions involving internet service providers and related regulatory issues. Reinhard Schanda is recommended.

Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte provides ‘excellent service at a reasonable price’, with Reinhard Brunar and Michael Breitenfeld recommended. In 2010 the team continued to advise an IT company on various regulatory issues and outsourcing contracts.