The Legal 500

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has ‘excellent people that are highly esteemed in the market’. The team has been active advising private equity houses and large financial institutions. Standout transactions included advising paper manufacturer Sappi on a €209m revolving credit facility and a €400m loan. Clients of Maria Pfluegl say she ‘is an extremely hard worker, with many years of experience. We like her ability to focus on the important issues, as well as her perseverance in pursuing these issues’. Friedrich Jergitsch is praised for his ‘wide knowledge and great experience’.

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has ‘great commercial sense and market knowledge’. Maria Pfluegl leads the team, which continues to receive top-notch instructions from its impressive client roster, such as advising Lufthansa on the acquisition of Austrian Airlines and its public bid for the free float shareholders of the airline.

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s clout means that it is the ‘go-to firm for highly complex or strategically sensitive work’, and it operates a well-respected ‘best-friends’ network across the region. In 2009/10 the team advised on seven regional IPOs, and notably advised Porsche in relation to its merger with Volkswagen, one of the most complex transactions in the German-speaking region. Willibald Plesser leads the team, and is trusted for his ‘sound judgement’; he ‘knows the Austrian energy market and the CEE region like few others in this country’.

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, led by Stefan Koeck, continues to pick up weighty mandates and work on the highest-profile deals in the market. 2010 saw the team develop its expertise acting for major financial institutions, with highlights including advising BayernLB Kommunalkredit on the sale of its stake in Hypo Group to the Austrian government. Konrad Groller is also recommended.

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

Günther Horvath heads the team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which is strong in both litigation and arbitration. Key sectors for the group include banks, infrastructure and energy, and disputes with a major CEE element. Highlights included continuing to advise an Italian bank in its disputes before the Austrian courts with minority shareholders after its squeeze-out from the largest Austrian bank.

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has an excellent pedigree advising on EU and Austria merger control and cartel cases, with the media and energy sectors a particular focus. Standout transactions included advising two publishing groups, Styria Meida Group and Moser Holding, in Austrian merger control proceedings. Practice head Axel Reidlinger has ‘wide knowledge’ in this area.

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

The ‘highly business-orientated’ team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is particularly recommended for employee benefit and pensions matters as well as for corporate restructuring following M&A transactions. The team advised General Dynamics on various redundancy matters as well as assisting on the structuring of its European operations. Practice head Stefan Köck is ‘efficient’ and a ‘valuable counsel’, and associate Karin Sommeregger is also highly rated.

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

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.

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer had an active 2010 advising Kommunalkredit Austria on its restructuring following nationalisation and in state aid proceedings before the European Commission. The well-respected Friedrich Jergitsch heads the two-partner team, which benefits from excellent relationships with the major financial institutions.

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is experienced in advising on IP-driven M&A transactions. Christof Pöchhacker leads the team, which advised Sony Computers in copyright infringement proceedings against the use of third-party modification chips used in Sony’s games consoles.

Within Legal market overview,

The Austrian legal market is small and flexible 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,

The team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer focuses on commercial and tax structuring matters on behalf of shareholders of family-run businesses. The practice continues to advise longstanding client the Porsche family, as well as sitting on the boards of several of the company’s private foundations. Günther Horvath advises on corporate issues, and Michael Sedlaczek is the name to note for tax advice.

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

Axel Reidlinger leads the procurement team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which has ‘wide knowledge and great experience’. The practice has a good pedigree advising on the contentious side, and regularly represents bidders and public bodies in review proceedings before the Federal Procurement Office and Administrative Court; recent examples include advising ASFINAG on the withdrawal of a public tender.

Within Real estate, tier 4

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.

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

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has great experience advising on the structuring of M&A transactions and banking-related tax issues. Highlights of 2010 included advising the Porsche family shareholders on the tax issues arising from the merger with Volkswagen and the sale of VW shares in Qatar. Practice head Michael Sedlaczek is ‘intelligent and very nice to work with on deals’.