The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer exhibits ‘standards and commitment at the highest level’, and is praised for its business acumen. It has attracted a steady flow of bank restructuring work and is also particularly strong advising international banks on CEE deals, such as advising Deutsche Bank on a $289m secured financing to a Ukrainian heavy engineering group. Maria Pfluegl and Friedrich Jergitsch lead the practice, which recently advised Sappi Papier on a €350m revolving credit facility using an existing security package.

Within Capital markets, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer recently advised paper manufacturer Sappi on the structuring and implementation of its €360m securitisation programme of trade receivables. Practice head Maria Pfluegl mainly handles equity work. Friedrich Jergitsch is also recommended, as is principal associate Stephan Pachinger.

Within Central and Eastern Europe, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer operates an effective best-friends network across the region and is a leading firm for highly complex corporate work. The CEE finance team is also highly rated and recently won places on the Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse emerging markets panels. The practice recently advised ING Bank on a $206m secured syndicated forward start financing to a Romanian telecoms company. Willibald Plesser is recommended for his energy sector knowledge, as is Attila Csongrady for English law advice on banking.

Within Corporate and M&A, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s lawyers provide ‘fast and accurate advice, and are real dealmakers’. The group recently advised Sberbank on the €585m acquisition of Volksbank International. The team also advised the family shareholders of Porsche on the sale of its shares to Volkswagen as part of the merger. ‘The high quality of the service offered justifies the “upmarket” price’, according to clients. Thomas Zottl and Konrad Groller are recommended, and Stefan Koeck heads the practice.

Within Dispute resolution, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer provides ‘good technical and tactical advice’. Günther Horvath heads the practice, which recently advised a banking group, an airline and an industrial company in shareholder litigation. The team has also been active in arbitrations for energy clients operating in the CEE. Jenny Power is recommended for arbitration, as are Thomas Kustor and the ‘analytical, persevering and meticulous’ Thomas Zottl for litigation.

Within EU and competition , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Employment , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is recommended for its knowledge of pensions and worker benefits. It recently advised BP Austria on collective bargaining agreements and other employment law matters. Practice head Stefan Koeck and associate Karin Sommeregger are recommended.

Within IT and telecommunications, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was busy advising on contentious matters and technology M&A in 2011. It represented Hutchison 3G in proceedings before the Austrian telecoms regulator relating to mobile and fixed call termination, and advised software and data-processing company Domus Facility Management on a property purchase from ÖBB. Christof Pöchhacker and Bertram Burtscher are highly rated.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Intellectual property and media, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is recommended for IP-driven M&A transactions as well as contentious work. Christof Pöchhacker leads the practice, which recently advised Hutchison 3G Austria in contentious proceedings brought by Austro Mechana relating to copyright charges on smartphone media storage.

Within Legal market overview,

The Austrian legal market is small and there are few major global players operating out of Vienna, with the exception of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach, CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH and Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH.

Within Private client, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has expertise in commercial and tax structuring matters for shareholders of family-run businesses. The firm continues to advise longstanding clients such as the Swarovski and Porsche families, and sits on the boards of several company foundations. Günther Horvath advises on corporate issues, and Michael Sedlaczek is recommended for tax advice.

Within Public procurement, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s key strengths lie in contentious matters and in representing bidders. It recently advised Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft on two EU-wide tenders and negotiations relating to framework agreements for management consulting services. Axel Reidlinger and Stephan Denk head the practice.

Within Real estate and construction, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has a good record advising institutional investors and private equity houses. It advised UniCredit Bank Austria on acquiring tracts of land for a new Vienna office development. Practice head Thomas Zottl is ‘meticulous’ and ‘solutions-oriented, and has no big ego’.

Within Tax, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘first-rate’ group handles tax structuring aspects of M&A and financing matters. It advised certain Austrian banks in a complaint to the Constitutional Court regarding a new Austrian capital gains withholding tax. Practice head Michael Sedlaczek is ‘pragmatic’, ‘direct and to the point’. Claus Staringer is recommended for tax litigation.