The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH

SCHOTTENRING 25, 1010 VIENNA
Tel:
Work +43 1 24 250
Fax:
Fax +43 1 24 250 600
Web:
www.bakermckenzie.com
Email:

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Austria

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Georg Diwok leads the Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s team which, thanks to its excellent global links, handles a large amount of international work. The group has some distingushed clients, and over the past year acted for a major CEE property company in a €274m real estate financing transaction.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

The group has a good breadth of practice, and enjoys enviable links to a number of the leading banks. Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH provides ‘excellent service’, according to clients, who single out Eva-Maria Segur for ‘her level of knowledge and most importantly, the ability to take into account commercial considerations when providing sound legal advice’. Gerhard Hermann leads the department. The department’s ‘track record speaks for itself’.

Central and Eastern Europe

Within Central and Eastern Europe, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s network of offices across the CEE helps it to maintain a steady stream of work. Gerhard Hermann is recommended.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s practice ‘advises on a high level, is very professional and creative, with quick response times. The lawyers have detailed knowledge, focus on what’s essential, and promote a good, practical approach to solving problems’. Gerhard Hermann leads the four-partner team, which advised Cemex on the €310m sale of its business to Strabag, in what was the second-largest M&A transaction in Austria over the past year.

Dispute Resolution

Within Dispute Resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH is gaining in prominence, and over the past year has handled some important work in the market. The team has advised Christof Holding on a dispute involving the erection of a bio-diesel plant in Germany. Alexander Petsche is recommended.

Employment

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH upped its game in 2008, as the firm strengthened its employment offering. The team enjoys great links with international clients, and is thus benefiting from the increase in employment work seen over recent months. Simone Liebmann-Slatin, who is highly rated in her field, advised on the employment issues following some significant cross-border M&A transactions. One happy client stated that the team has ‘excellent knowledge, is very quick and very friendly, and offers great availability. They have always been a pleasure to work with’.

Legal Market

Within Legal Market,

Many players are maintaining their expansionist approach, with names such as CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati and Schönherr opening new offices across CEE in 2008. However, Austria continues to guard its own market fairly well. Most of the top names are domestic firms, with such firms as Binder Grösswang Rechtsanwälte, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, Dorda Brugger Jordis, Schönherr and Wolf Theiss leading the way. However, international firms do make their presence felt, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechsanwälte GmbH, DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach and Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbH all operate at the top of the market.

Tax

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie Diwok Hermann Petsche Rechtsanwälte GmbHoffers outstanding performance, with substantial quality and strong personal efforts to keep communication on a high level’. Clients are ‘particularly impressed’ with head of department Imke Gerdes, who has a ‘client-orientated and creative approach’. Over the past year, the firm has advised Bristol-Myers Squibb on the tax implications of the world-wide sale of the ConVatec business. One client considered the team to be ‘among the top five law firms in Vienna’.


What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London and London

Libya

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

UK Overview

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

US

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • Tax Reforms Towards the Creation of an International Financial Center in Russia

    In December 2009 the Russian Parliament adopted important changes further promoting the Russian holding companies regime. Starting from January 1, 2011 Russian holding companies will no longer be required to meet the present 500 million ruble threshold for investments made into companies qualifying as “strategic investments” to receive tax benefits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

Legal Developments in Austria

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • Austrian Bank Secrecy Reduced in Certain Cross-Border Situations

    Since September 9, 2009 a new law is in force in Austria that allows for a wider exchange of information than before if a double tax treaty, an ECDirective or international agreements provide for it. Since September 18, 2009 Austria is no longer on the OECD's Grey List of countries that are considered to not fully implement OECD tax standards.
    - Binder Grösswang Attorneys-at-Law
  • Restructuring and Insolvency 2009/10

    Country Q&A Austria: What are the most common forms of security taken in relation to immovable and movable property? Are any specific formalities required for the creation of security by companies?
    - Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner Rechtsanwälte Gmb
  • Distressed M&A on the rise

    In line with many other jurisdictions, the Austrian M&A market has suffered from the financial crisis both in terms of volume and number of deals. Most estimates and statistics have shown a drop-off in 2008 of between 20% and 30% as compared to 2007
    - Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner Rechtsanwälte Gmb
  • How the State succeeded

    As in many other jurisdictions, the Austrian government was forced to react quickly to the financial crisis in the autumn of 2008. Providing support to banks was a central component of the legislative measures on financial market stabilisation that were adopted in late October 2008. After the joint declaration on the concerted European action plan on October 12 2008, the Austrian government promptly the next day announced a package of measures intended to be taken. One week later the Austrian parliament adopted the implementing legislation on financial market stabilisation which went into effect in large part on October 27 2008. The European Commission state aid approval of the Austrian financial market stabilisation measures was communicated on December 10 2008 and extended to the end of this year by a decision rendered on June 30 2009.
    - Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner Rechtsanwälte Gmb
  • Environment 2009/10

    Country Q&A Austria
    - Schönherr
  • Austrian and Ukrainian Anti-corruption Legislation

    Companies are often forced to acquire the services of a local partner or intermediary when starting or conducting their business abroad, particularly in CIS countries. If such local partners use corrupt practices, such as bribery, this can cause significant damage to the reputation and finances of the company.
    - Schönherr
  • New rules for work permits in Ukraine

    In view of the increase in unemployment, Ukraine also will amend its rules and regulations regarding the issuance of work permits for foreigners. These new rules will affect those Austrian expats currently working in Ukraine (e.g. managing directors, members of supervisory boards and other skilled labour) who wish to extend their work permits, as well as those who intend to work in Ukraine once the respective law has been enacted.
    - Wolf Theiss
  • Mergers and Acquisitions 2009 - Austria

    A practical insight to cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions.
    - Schönherr
  • MANAGING DIRECTOR LIABILITY AND INSOLVENCY IN CROATIA

    In times of crisis, it is particularly important for the managing director of a limited liability company to meet all legally prescribed obligations regarding auditing and notification in a timely manner in order to avoid any possible (personal) liability. In Croatia, countless companies ("društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću" or abbreviated "d.o.o.") exist in which foreigners act as managing directors. Thus, knowledge of and attention to legal distinctions are of significant importance.
    - Wolf Theiss
  • Life Sciences 2008/09

    Medicinal products are heavily regulated in Austria. In particular, the Medicines Act (Bundesgesetz über die Herstellung und das Inverkehrbringen von Arzneimitteln, BGBl No 185/1983, as amended) contains rules regarding:
    - Fiebinger, Polak, Leon & Partner Rechtsanwält