The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Schoenherr is a second tier firm,

Schoenherr provides a ‘very high level of service’ and ‘perfect response times’. Its banking offering includes five partners after the recent recruitment of Denise Hamer, who has a wealth of financial experience. The team assisted Österreichische Volksbanken-Aktiengesellschaft (ÖVAG) in its negotiations with the Austrian government on bailout conditions, which saw the state take a significant stake in the bank.

Within Capital markets, Schoenherr is a first tier firm,

The ‘very responsive’ and ‘client-oriented’ team at Schoenherr acted for UNIQA on its €500m rights offering, as an intermediate step towards a possible re-IPO in 2013. It also advised JPMorgan on the 2012 update of Erste Bank’s €30bn EMTN programme. Peter Feyl and Ursula Rath are ‘very professional, strong lawyers’.

Within Central and Eastern Europe, Schoenherr is a first tier firm,

Schoenherr ‘definitely beats the market’ in terms of its ‘profound knowledge of laws in the CEE region’ and ‘perfect response times’. The practice advised VTB Capital (the investment arm of Russia’s second-largest bank) on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Bulgartabac, after the Bulgarian government launched its privatisation. Another highlight was working with Romanian investment company SIF Muntenia on the sale of 6% of BCR to Erste Bank, worth €96m. Markus Piuk has ‘extensive language skills’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Schoenherr is a first tier firm,

Schoenherr continues to attract a variety of high-level transactional instructions. Its recent workload includes advising Swedish telecoms group Tele2 on its acquisition of Austrian internet service provider Silver Server. It also advised Japanese Sekisui Chemical Co on the acquisition of a 75% share in the pipe renewal business of the Rabmer Group in Austria, highlighting the firm’s cross-border capabilities in the CEE region. Alexander Popp heads the group, which has ‘a very strong transactional focus’ and ‘a very high level of industry knowledge’.

Within Dispute resolution, Schoenherr is a first tier firm,

The well-respected Gerold Zeiler leads a four-partner team at Schoenherr. Its recent work includes a range of high-profile matters within Austria and the CEE region, including representing Republika Srpska in ICC arbitration proceedings related to an energy investment in Bosnia Herzegovina, the government of the Czech Republic in an investment treaty dispute, and Deutsche Bank in a €613m claim by the Austrian Federal Railways (OeBB) over alleged misleading advice.

Within EU and competition, Schoenherr is a first tier firm,

Schoenherr works to the ‘highest professional standards’ and its response times ‘definitely beat the market’. It recently assisted Brau Union (part of the Heineken Group) in relation to the alleged boycott of certain markets by the Breweries Cartel. The firm also acted on the high-profile recapitalisation of Österreichische Volksbanken (ÖVAG), involving state aid and merger control issues. Franz Urlesberger is ‘an excellent EU competition lawyer’, and ‘familiar with the Brussels community’. Christoph Haid was recently promoted to partner.

Within Employment, Schoenherr is a third tier firm,

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’.

Within IT and telecommunications, Schoenherr is a second tier firm,

Schoenherr’s ‘outstanding’ team gives ‘precise’ advice that is ‘closely co-ordinated’ with clients’ needs, and advises high-calibre clients such as France Telekom and Tele2. The firm also has a dedicated team focusing on new technologies. Thomas Wenger is ‘an excellent analyst’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Schoenherr is a first tier firm,

Schoenherr has ‘excellent know-how in insolvency law’. It advised Royal Bank of Scotland and other institutions on the Austrian law aspects of the distressed debt of European Directories Group; and also worked with Austrian and German banks under the lead of Deutsche Bank in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of Leobersdorfer Maschinenfabrik (a manufacturer of compressor systems). Practice head Wolfgang Höller is noted for his communication and negotiation skills.

Within Intellectual property and media, Schoenherr is a first tier firm,

Schoenherr is noted for its ‘innovation’, and ‘quality legal advice on the most complicated assignments’. It has a new technologies team working on social media, cloud computing, privacy and licensing matters, and also handles traditional trade mark, design, patent, copyright and unfair competition matters. It successfully represented Red Bull at the Austrian Supreme Court over the enforcement of the company’s colour mark against competitors ‘Run Cool’. Guido Kucsko, ‘a recognised legal expert’, continues to advise IT clients including Hewlett-Packard and Nokia on copyright levies applicable to media devices such as tablets and PCs.

Within Real estate and construction, Schoenherr is a second tier firm,

The ‘very collegial’ Schoenherr works to the ‘highest standards’ and provides ‘excellent, to-the-point advice’. HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank instructed the firm on its acquisition of First Facility, which operates over 250 real estate projects in Austria and across the CEE region. Other active clients in 2012 were Primark Stores, Clarks Shoes, and Österreichische Bundesbahn. Michael Lagler is ‘a knowledgeable and calm adviser’ with ‘a strong team behind him’.

Within Tax, Schoenherr is a second tier firm,

Schoenherr delivers ‘the highest standard of work’, and is able to deal with ‘complicated, specialised questions’. The team is co-led by the ‘extremely good, and intelligent’ Peter Feyl, and Herbert Buzanich, who is ‘a very talented young tax lawyer’. The firm acted for France Telecom on the tax structuring aspects of the company’s sale of a stake in Orange Austria to 3G Austria.