The Legal 500

Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH has an excellent reputation for its real estate work, particularly in construction law on the contractor side. Georg Karasek leads the 13-lawyer team, which has an impressive roster of construction clients, particularly in the tunnelling sector. The team also advises a number of top-notch property investors including Henderson Global and Euro Property Fund. The practice is recommended for its expertise in CEE matters.

Wolf Theiss is consistently seen as a market leader. Peter Oberlechner leads the team, which continued to represent a developer of factory outlet stores and the Vienna Insurance group on a complex joint venture for the €150m conversion of Salzburg Airport terminal, the largest shopping centre in western Austria. The group also advised Mereit on the €212m sale of its stake in the major property company that owns the IZD Tower in central Vienna.

Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte had an active 2010 that saw the team advise on some of the largest pure real estate transactions in Austria. The group advised German real estate fund Kgal on the purchase of the landmark LX2 building in Vienna for €75m. Other notable clients include Ikea. Tibor Fabian leads the team.

The ‘solution-orientated’ Peter Vcelouch leads the team CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, which is noted as delivering ‘value-for-money’ advice that is ‘directly to the point’. It advised on some enviable deals including representing German asset manager Union in the acquisition of the Rund Vier building.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH had an active 2010, and saw a rise in construction litigation and PPP matters. Nikolaus Weselik led a group that advised Strabag and Petrus Advisors on the acquisition of a stake in listed Austrian estates company conwert. On the real estate financing side, the team advised some impressive clients, such as Erste Bank, WestLB and Credit Suisse.

Standout transactions for the ‘very proactive’ group at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach included advising Credit Suisse on the acquisition of a €38m building in Vienna for one of its German real estate funds. Practice head Oskar Winkler is ‘extremely versatile and an excellent communicator’ able to ‘explain differences between Austrian and other jurisdictions very well to a layman’. Birgit Harasser and Andreas Schwaighofer are also recommended.

Dorda Brugger Jordis picked up some enviable new clients in 2010, including Hypo Real Invest, Youniq and Helvetia Insurance. The group, led by Stefan Artner, focuses on transactional advice, and deals with matters across the CEE. It represented Austrian Post in the auction sale of two prime properties in Austria.

Schoenherr has great CEE experience, and in 2010 advised UNIQA real estate on the development and lease of a €50m hotel and office building in Budapest. Peter Madl is a favourite with clients; ‘with his calm behaviour he takes the stress out of sharp negotiations’, and ‘he is amiable but always prepared to persistently and demandingly fight for clients’. The team is also praised for its efficient response times.

The partners of newly formed Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte GmbH have an excellent pedigree advising on real estate construction and development, particularly matters with a CEE element.

Brauneis Klauser Prändl Rechtsanwälte GmbH maintains its strength in major projects and commercial property transactions. The team has represented real estate project developers and real estate leasing companies, on the sale, lease or construction of office buildings.

Doralt Seist & Csoklich is a traditional firm with a good name in the market. The practice leverages off the solid client list of the firm’s corporate department, and advised on the corporate and real estate aspects of a €2bn acquisition of an Austrian holding company with assets spread across the CEE. Wilfried Seist and Philipp Meran are recommended.

enwc Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Attorneys at Law has developed its experience advising clients in the food and retail sectors on real estate matters. Alexander Scheitz leads the team, which in 2010 advised clothing retailer Mango and food manufacturer Nestlé on various acquisitions.

Michael Hecht is the name to note at Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners. 2010 saw the team increase its experience in hotel and road construction projects. Notable clients include Porr Solutions and Austrian Railways.

Fiebinger Polak Leon Rechtsanwälte ‘has a proactive attitude to solving problems’. Manuela Maurer-Kollenz heads the department, which also features Johannes Lindner, who is ‘really reliable and always reachable.’ Notable clients include Hild Home Desing and Desigual.

Highlights for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s real estate practice included representing Starwood in several deals relating to its hotel work in Austria. The well-respected Thomas Zottl leads the team, which has particular expertise advising funds looking to invest in Austria.

Gassauer-Fleissner Rechtsanwälte GmbH has strong experience assisting hotel clients on real estate mandates, particularly drafting and negotiating lease agreements. Hanno Schatzmann led a team that advised a major hotel chain on the development of a luxury new hotel in Vienna.

Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte benefits from being ‘not being too big but not too small’ and is ‘still “hungry” enough to provide a massive client with excellent advice’. The team is headed by Alexander Patsch and has developed solid experience advising Russian clients.

Karl Ludwig Vavrovsky and Nikolaus Vavrovsky are the names to note at Herbst Vavrovsky Kinsky Rechtsanwälte GmbH. The group advised longstanding client Vamed on a PPP construction and financing agreement of the Thermal Centre and new general hospital in Vienna.

Nemetschke Huber Koloseus Attorneys at Law was formed by the well-respected Alfred Nemetschke, who left Schoenherr in 2010. The team is one to watch as its lawyers have a great pedigree advising on cross-CEE matters.

PHH Prochaska Heine Havranek Rechtsanwälte OG is ‘very customer-oriented’ and provides a ‘competent and flexible’ service. Christian Marth leads the five-lawyer team, which advised Bank Austria Real Invest on the acquisition of a multimillion-euro development project in Vienna.

Immanuel Gerstner led a team at Saxinger Chalupsky & Partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH that advised Alterco on the sale and purchase of a hotel complex in 2010. The practice is recommended for its CEE experience.

Siemer-Siegl-Füreder & Partner, Rechtsanwälte ‘does an excellent job’ and ‘implements business needs and plans efficiently’. The team has good experience in both property and construction work. Reinhard Brunar leads the team, which advised a subsidiary of the Constantia group during the tender process on the acquisition of a hydroelectric power plant in Austria.