Cerha Hempel 'delivers the greatest value for money due to its vast industry knowledge and experience and ability to quickly transform business needs into legal arrangements'. With a strong presence and know-how in the CEE region, the team is regularly involved in large-cap, cross-border M&A transactions. Other areas of expertise are public deals, corporate governance advice, and in the private equity and venture capital space. Albert Birkner's 'understanding of his client's business, the issues arising, and the particular challenges of the project is always second to none.' He leads the practice together with takeover law specialist Clemens Hasenauer and Johannes Aehrenthal . Thomas Trettnak can also offer expertise in insolvency and restructuring. Nadine Leitner was recently promoted to the partnership and senior associate Martin Eichinger provides additional support.
Commercial, corporate and M&A in Austria
Cerha Hempel
Practice head(s):
Albert Birkner; Clemens Hasenauer; Johannes Aehrenthal
Other key lawyers:
Johannes Prinz; Thomas Trettnak; Thomas Trettnak; Harald Stingl; Lorenz Pracht; Martin Eichinger; Nadine Leitner
Testimonials
‘We consider them by far the most competent and most professional M&A legal advisors in CEE region. The level of their professionality, their systematic approach to any topic that might arise and their dedication to such transaction and whole process is something you simply do not get from other legal counsels.’
‘Very renowned practice in Austria, with long track record.’
‘Thomas Trettnak is our go-to lawyer.’
‘Albert Birkner is, without any doubt, the best lawyer I have ever had privilege to work with. First of all, there is not a topic in M&A transaction that he does not know, in depth. Secondly, he is not just a pure advisor that rejects any responsibility, quite contrary, he truly leads the discussions, defends his clients’ points of view, negotiate on your behalf…I mean, I have worked with dozens of law offices and nothing can match the work of Albert Birkner. Extremely dedicated professional.’
‘Strong know-how, very good business relation, client focused, reliable.’
‘Full service law firm with excellent quality of advice and service in all legal areas. High quality of client updates.’
‘Clemens Hasenenauer: Exceptional legal knowledge and ability, exceptional negotiation skills and business oriented advice.
‘Johannes Prinz: Exceptional legal knowledge and ability, excellent negotiation skills and business oriented advice.’
Key clients
OMV AG
RHI Magnesita
XXXLutz
Agri Europe Cyprus Ltd
thyssenkrupp AG
Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co KG
Frequentis AG
Amisola Immobilien AG
AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG
gbtec Holding GmbH (Main Capital)
Verbund AG
EnBW AG
FWU AG
Karl Wlaschek Privatstiftung (KWPS)
Voith Group
red-stars.com data AG
San Pacific Investments Pte Ltd
TSR Recycling Holding GmbH and TSR Recycling GmbH & Co KG (part of Remondis Group)
STRABAG AG
Teufelberger Group
Credit Suisse
Georg Fischer AG
Immundiagnostik AG
Elin Motoren GmbH
SES-imagotag
LifeNet Health Group
Work highlights
- Advised OMV AG on the sale of its German filling station business to the British EG Group.
- Advised San Pacific, San Venture and Erich Erber in the sale of a direct and indirect shareholding in Erber Group to the Dutch Royal DSM.
- Advised SIX Payment Services (Europe) SA and Worldline SA in connection with the consummation of the tender offer of stock listed Worldline SA for stock listed Ingenico Group SA.
Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)
Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)‘s M&A-practice has an excellent reputation in the market. It is regularly instructed in large-cap transactions as well as increasingly in the tech and start-up scene. Clients are particularly impressed with its ‘in-depth industry knowledge and great contract drafting and negotiation skills‘, and profit from the integrated approach with other departments as well as the firm’s CEE-offices. The team is led by Sascha Hödl, who is well versed in banking-related matters, and Roman Perner; Perner also handles corporate litigation and reorganisations. Christian Herbst has more than 30 years of experience. Alexander Popp and Markus Piuk are energy specialists. Maximilian Lang made partner in February 2021.
Practice head(s):
Roman Perner; Sascha Hödl
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Kulnigg; Markus Piuk; Christian Herbst; Alexander Popp; Maximilian Lang
Testimonials
‘Experienced and knowledgeable partners.’
‘Always available for clients and try to make it happen on short notice if necessary.’
‘The team is definitely top-notch in the Austrian and CEE M&A arena and especially on smaller deals they also cover much of the execution jobs otherwise handled by financial advisors. I found this very helpful. In this context, they also provide all relevant IT support (including interim VDRs; translation tools; VDR set-up support).’
‘My main contact at Schoenherr is Markus Piuk. He is extremely fast, always available, and very business-minded. He always comes up with solutions and also does not shy away from also giving straight answers on more delicate subjects or when there is pressure mounting on him from other stakeholders in a project. He simply gets things done.’
‘The M&A Team has exceptional knowledge in handling complex cap tables and deal structures. The collaboration is very hands-on and 24/7 if needed. Especially during the pandemic the team was very flexible in terms of ways of communication but always made it possible to have meetings in person if needed.’
‘Dr. Thomas Kulnigg is an outstanding lawyer. He has in-depth knowledge in M&A but also in several hi-tech and fintech industries, outstanding negotiation skills, high flexibility (even though he is handling several high-end deals at the same time), a very hands-on approach, and is also always able to think out of the box if needed. He is also a very good leader, managing his small but great team in a very good manner.’
‘The team around Markus Piuk is exceptional. They not only cover legal topics but really develop unique solutions.’
‘Top regional firm, very hands-on and practical in solutions – strong M&A, PF, and regulatory practices.’
Key clients
Starwood Capital Group
COFAG – COVID-19 Finanzierungsagentur des Bundes GmbH
Kellogg’s
UBS Europe SE
immigon portfolioabbau ag
VERBUND AG
UNIQA Group
OMV AG
AddLife
UNICORN-Biotech Holding GmbH
RFR
voestalpine Stahl GmbH
Deutsche Post AG
San Gabriel Privatstiftung
ECOwind Handels- & Wartungs GmbH
Austrian investors Stefan Kalteis and Christian Bamberger
Gebauer & Griller Kabelwerke GmbH
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
Erste Group
Funke Mediengruppe
Playtika Ltd
Austrian CPaaS (“Communication Platform as a service”) atms, sms.at and WebSMS
Credi2 GmbH
Toyota Motor Europe
CRH
Ericsson
Tyson Foods
Bilfinger Industrial Services Österreich GmbH
Interglobe Enterprises Limited
coeo Inkasso GmbH
Thales Group
Synergis Informationssysteme GmbH
WAZ Ausland Holding GmbH and Kurier Zeitungsverlag und Druckerei GmbH
OMV Petrom
GasGas
Neuraxpharm Austria GmbH
Ohridska Banka AD
Fressnapf SE
Benteler International AG
Brau Union Oesterreich AG
Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA
Work highlights
- Advised Starwood Capital Group on the public takeover offer for VSE-listed CA Immobilien Anlagen AG.
- Advised French diagnostic centre group Cerba HealthCare on the acquisition of the Lifebrain Group from Investindustrial.
- Advised Kellogg’s on the divestment of its 51 % stake in Austrian organic breakfast product manufacturer Vita+ Naturprodukte GmbH to Austrian Fi5 Asset GmbH (Fi5).
Binder Grösswang
Binder Grösswang 'has a very skilled M&A team which is highly capable of providing top-notch advice to investors seeking to acquire businesses in Austria'. It is particularly noted for its private equity activity, but the group also advises Austrian and international corporations as well as public sector clients. The group's close collaboration with the firm's banking and finance, tax and competition practices adds value. Prominent practitioners are the experienced Thomas Schirmer and Andreas Hable, who covers M&A transactions as well as corporate law. Philipp Kapl is a 'very fast thinking advisor'.
Other key lawyers:
Gottfried Gassner; Michael Kutschera; Thomas Schirmer; Philipp Kapl; Christian Zwick; Andreas Hable
Testimonials
‘Excellent mix between the right size to be able to provide expert knowledge in each relevant legal area but still of a size that makes clients feel “close” to (senior) partners, who are still involved in the daily business and client work.’
‘Excellent level of expertise, hands-on approach, easy to work with; solution oriented.’
‘Great internal interaction between the departments in the law firm.’
‘Excellent and reliable international network when handling international cases.’
‘It’s as easy to communicate and co-operate as if you would deal with a well-organized and business-minded in-house legal department.’
‘Thomas Schirmer: strong private equity knowledge, probably best PE lawyer in Austria, commercial reasoning, very nice guy to work with.’
‘Binder Grösswang has a very skilled M&A team which is highly capable of providing top-notch advice to investors seeking to acquire businesses in Austria. The level of service is very high and definitely comparable to any market-leading firms in Austria, the EU, and worldwide.’
‘I recently worked with Philipp Kapl and his team. Philipp is a very fast-thinking advisor who was very capable of identifying the pressure points of our joint client from the very outset of our joint matter.’
Key clients
Daimler
Novartis
Blackstone Group
Magna International
Scout24
Allianz
Lenzing
BNP Paribas
Voestalpine
Mubadala
ARDIAN
Arval Austria GmbH / BNP Paribas S.A.
Wiesenthal Holding GmbH
Dussmann group
Cube Infrastructure Fund II
Paramit Corporation
ÖBB-Technische Services GmbH and the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group
Mutares SE & Co. KGaA
4 Styrian Raiffeisen banks
GTCR, Corza Health
BASF Performance Products GmbH
Peneder Privatstiftung, Peneder Holding GmbH
Lafayette Mittelstand Capital
Bankhaus Carl Spängler & Co. AG
Waterland Private Equity Investments
FedEx Corporation
Deutsche Beteiligungs AG
Daimler
Novartis
Blackstone Group
Magna International
Scout24
Allianz
Lenzing
BNP Paribas
Voestalpine
Mubadala
ARDIAN
Arval Austria GmbH / BNP Paribas S.A.
Wiesenthal Holding GmbH
Dussmann group
Cube Infrastructure Fund II
Paramit Corporation
ÖBB-Technische Services GmbH and the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group
Mutares SE & Co. KGaA
4 Styrian Raiffeisen banks
GTCR, Corza Health
BASF Performance Products GmbH
Peneder Privatstiftung, Peneder Holding GmbH
Lafayette Mittelstand Capital
Bankhaus Carl Spängler & Co. AG
Waterland Private Equity Investments
FedEx Corporation
Deutsche Beteiligungs AG
Work highlights
- Advised Mubadala on its $4.68bn sale of 39% in Borealis to OMV.
- Advising Pritzker Private Capital and Vertellus as international lead counsel on the acquisition of Intermediates and Specialty Chemicals business of ESIM Chemicals.
- Advising ING Group on sale of retail banking business to bank99.
bpv Hügel
The practice at bpv Hügel has experience of advising clients on public, private and distressed M&A, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, and general corporate law questions. Clients appreciate that 'all aspects of M&A transactions such as corporate law, tax law and competition law aspects on a national and international level are covered by the law firm and its network'. The group is well versed in industries such as energy, financial services, professional services, and real estate. Practice heads Elke Napokoj and Thomas Lettau, who is often sought after by strategic and financial investors, are well versed in transactions and restructurings. Florian Gibitz has more than 25 years of experience in the field, and Christoph Nauer is a key contact for listed clients.
Practice head(s):
Elke Napokoj; Thomas Lettau
Other key lawyers:
Florian Gibitz; Christoph Nauer; Stefan Gaug
Testimonials
‘The team at bpv hügel has specialized in M&A transactions for decades. All aspects of M&A transactions such as corporate law, tax law and competition law aspects on a national and international level are covered by the law firm and its network.’
‘Thomas Lettau specializes in corporate law and M&A transactions. My experience so far in all transactions that I have carried out with him has been extremely positive. In the negotiation rounds himself, Mr. Lettau proved to be a competent, communicative but also a confident negotiator.’
‘The team works strictly focused on the client’s interest, with a very time- and cost-efficient approach. Briefing of the team is very straightforward. Access to the team is always easy and calls are returned promptly and with good answers.’
‘Elke Napokoj quickly gets to the key points in any discussion and is capable of providing creative solutions that fit the client’s needs.’
‘Strong know-how, reliable partner.’
‘bpv Hügel is the first choice in Austria in the area of corporate law / M&A. The firm always delivers the right solution in an extremely short time.’
‘Thomas Lettau has an incredible amount of transactional experience and is one of the leading lawyers in this field in Austria. He is an excellent negotiator and always finds a solution.’
‘Good coverage of different sectors by partners and employees.’
Key clients
IMMOFINANZ AG
RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG
Valenva SE
Unibail-Rodamco Westwood S.A.
BP Europa SE
VERBUND AG
OMV Aktiengesellschaft
HYPO NOE Landesbank
AnaCap Financial Partners
BAWAG P.S.K.
Cemex S.A.
International Airlines Group
Vueling Airlines SA
Hookipa Biotech AG
REHAU Group
Enso hydro
Sapura Offshore SDN BHD
ISS Group
STRABAG SE
Constantia Flexibles
Zeus Packaging Group
AVS Marketingberatung Gesellschaft m.b.H.
DDS Digital Documentation Systems GmbH
dogado GmbH
eHydro 500
Haufe Group (Germany)
KELLER AG für Druckmesstechnik (Switzerland)
Work highlights
- Advised the Irish Zeus Packaging group on the acquisition of Austrian-based food packaging solutions business, Petruzalek with subsidiaries in 12 countries in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.
- Advised a family-owned holding company on the sale of its majority shareholding in the traditional Viennese WOJNAR Group and on entering into a strategic partnership with VIVATIS Holding AG
- Advised IMMOFINANZ on its high-profile €1.14bn takeover bid for S IMMO AG (ATX).
CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Clients can expect 'efficient, centralised transaction management and execution from the corporate team in Vienna' when utilising CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH's international network. The group covers the full range of commercial, corporate and transactional matters, and is particularly active in industries such as consumer products, energy, hospitality, and life sciences, among others. Peter Huber specialises in privatisations, public takeovers, and corporate governance. He and Rainer Wachter lead the practice, which also includes M&A specialist Alexander Rakosi and corporate practitioner Johannes Reich-Rohrwig . 'Calm negotiator' Clemens Grossmayer is also noted.
Practice head(s):
Peter Huber; Rainer Wachter
Other key lawyers:
Alexander Rakosi; Johannes Reich-Rohrwig; Clemens Grossmayer; Mario Maier
Testimonials
‘CMS has a strong network covering almost all CEE jurisdictions and they appear to be closely integrated and really work as a team. This facilitates the execution of cross-border M&A transactions, as it allows us to have the benefit of local expert knowledge in several involved jurisdictions but still having efficient, centralized transaction management and execution from the corporate team in Vienna.’
‘Clemens Grossmayer is very pragmatic, commercial and goal-oriented, he is a calm negotiator and also ensures that every process runs smoothly and efficiently, we were always happy to have him on our side.’
‘Mario Maier really stood out as well and impressed us with his excellent drafting skills and quick response times.’
‘Know-how, quick response and availability of the team.’
Key clients
A1 Telekom Austria AG
Plastic Omnium
eFriends Energy GmbH
CA Immobilien
Bechtle AG
Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Poseidon Group
Mitiska REIM
Freudenberg Group
Finexx
Equitey
Worldline
VC Fund Ponooc
Modine
Steiermärkische Bank und Sparkassen AG
Vertica Capital Partners
ALPLA
a I linus gmbh
Work highlights
- Supporting the Austrian Central Bank in the project “Felix Austria”.
- Advising Equitex on the conditional acquisition of stakes in six public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
- Advising Modine on the sale of part of its European air-cooled automotive business.
DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH
DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH fields a team of corporate advisors, who have 'a good understanding of the local market which gives them access to a wide range of international clients and law firms'. It has Austrian and foreign corporations, investment banks and private equity houses on its client roster, and covers higher end transaction as well as a range of corporate matters. Martin Brodey 'stands out as an amazing asset, he has an excellent understanding not only of legal but also of practical questions'. Jürgen Kittel is experienced in takeovers, public M&A and PE transactions; together, they lead the team. Andreas Mayr combines M&A and capital markets know-how, while Bernhard Rieder is the corporate law specialist. Christian Ritschka is 'a very skilled and practised M&A lawyer'. Associate Patricia Backhausen is a key contact for digital industry clients.
Practice head(s):
Martin Brodey; Jürgen Kittel
Other key lawyers:
Andreas Mayr; Bernhard Rieder; Christian Ritschka; Patricia Backhausen
Testimonials
‘Simply a top-quality law firm.’
‘I have worked most with Jürgen Kittel, an M&A partner. He is very responsive, knowledgeable, pragmatic and experienced in international transactions.’
‘They provide clear advice.’
‘Very responsive.’
‘Very professional and experienced M&A team under the leadership of Dr. Jürgen Kittel, innovative and pragmatic approach regarding typical and non-typical M&A issues.’
‘Dr. Kittel is a hands-on, business-oriented lawyer, who facilitates all necessary support to get the deal done.’
‘Austrian practice with a great international network; places diversity and technology on top.’
‘Martin Brodey understands extremely well his clients and the industry they are in, extremely efficient and well organized creative solutions.’
Key clients
Deurowood Holding GmbH
DIF Capital Partners
DIF Infrastructure IV (DIF IV)
Easypark A.B.
Greiner AG
Guidepost Growth Equity
Kwizda Pharmahandel GmbH
Novartis Pharma Austria
Sandoz
SAZKA Group
Silhouette International Schmied AG
Warburg Pincus
Deurowood Holding GmbH
DIF Capital Partners
DIF Infrastructure IV (DIF IV)
Easypark A.B.
Greiner AG
Guidepost Growth Equity
Kwizda Pharmahandel GmbH
Novartis Pharma Austria
Sandoz
SAZKA Group
Silhouette International Schmied AG
Warburg Pincus
Work highlights
- Advising SAZKA in the “takeover battle” for control in CASAG for several years.
- Advised Greiner on the acquisition of shares in Recticel, which marked a starting point for a tender offer by Greiner with a view to acquiring a majority interest in Recticel.
- Advised the Boston-based growth equity fund Guidepost as lead investor in the acquisition of an interest in Austrian tractive GmbH.
E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH
E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s ‘know-how in complex cross-border transactions is outstanding‘; it works closely with reputed law firms from various jurisdictions to support clients in international matters. The team is well versed in regulated industries, with special emphasis on the energy and infrastructure sector, and assists corporate as well as private equity clients in their endeavours. Peter Winkler also deals with capital markets and banking transactions. He leads the practice with Alric Ofenheimer. Both Ofenheimer and Marco Steiner have experience in real estate deals. Philipp Nidal Karaman also offers public procurement know-how.
Practice head(s):
Peter Winkler; Alric Ofenheimer
Other key lawyers:
Clemens Lanschuetzer; Josef Schmidt; Marco Steiner; Philipp Nidal Karaman
Testimonials
‘Very strong individuals (e.g. Josef Schmidt) working seamlessly in a team -broad spectrum of services in-house.’
‘Very responsive -commercial problem-solving ability to assess escalation points.’
‘Very efficient, reliable, great responsiveness and reasonable billing.’
‘Highly professional and thinking about all possible events.’
‘Good understanding of the industry and a clear view for the relevant decisions to be taken.’
‘We are grateful to work with Peter Winkler and Philipp Schrader. They are both experts in M&A transactions in the Austrian banking sector. Peter Winkler is a trusted advisor in M&A transactions as well as in banking regulatory matters. He has an extremely quick grasp and thinks towards long-term success.’
‘In our opinion, Eisenberger Herzog is one of the top law firms in Austria. Especially their know-how in complex cross-border transactions as well as their reputation on the market are outstanding.’
‘Swift, reliable, focused on solutions, efficient and reasonable billing.’
Key clients
Mubadala Petroleum and Petrochemicals Holding Company LLC
LGT Group Bank AG
Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund
Canva
Ronny Pecik Group
Allianz SE / öGIG GmbH
WIEN ENERGIE GmbH
Sartorius Group
SAP SE
TeamViewer
KELAG
Shareholder Group Krenhof AG
Bergfexcurecomp Software Services GmbH
Bregal Unternehmerkapital
Gebrüder Weiss Konzern
Benteler
Work highlights
- Advising Mubadala Petroleum and Petrochemicals Holding Company LLC as a seller of an indirect stake in Borealis AG, to OMV AG with a transaction volume of $4.68bn.
- Advising LGT Group Bank AG, the banking institute of the Liechtenstein Princely House, on the acquisition of the Austrian private wealth management business from UBS Bank AG.
- Advising the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund on an investment in a large volume infrastructure company.
Wolf Theiss
Wolf Theiss has a considerable track record in mid-to large-cap M&A transactions, with recent activity in the life sciences, telecoms and financial institutions space. With offices in Poland and Ukraine, among others, it is noted for its ‘strong footprint in the CEE‘. The team can also advise on foreign direct investment control, corporate structuring, commercial agreements, and governance matters. Horst Ebhardt also knows corporate financings well, and leads the practice jointly with public takeover specialist Florian Kusznier . Hartwig Kienast is further well versed in restructurings and reorganisations, and Sarah Wared has know-how in the VC and PE area. Christian Mikosch ‘is an amazing business partner.‘
Practice head(s):
Horst Ebhardt; Florian Kusznier
Other key lawyers:
Clara Gordon; Sarah Wared; Christian Mikosch; Hartwig Kienast
Testimonials
‘What I appreciate of WT team is their flexibility in providing the client what they need in an expedite and efficient manner, also cost-wise, while maintaining a very high quality of the legal support.’
‘Christian Mikosch is an outstanding lawyer, with a deep understanding of the commercial aspects and reason of any legal support requested. Christian is an amazing business partner and cooperates with the client in an integrated and efficient manner.’
‘Solution provider, great knowledge of M&A Transactions, perfect in negotiations.’
‘Professionalism transparency competence are the strengths of WT.’
‘I really appreciate the support of the partner Mr. Christian Mikosch: he is a brilliant lawyer, offering always smart and business-oriented solutions. Moreover, he is always available, reachable and answers quickly until the requested deadline. He is able to understand the needs granting effective support.’
‘Strong footprint in CEE.’
Key clients
Koninklijke DSM N.V. (Royal DSM)
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
Vienna Insurance Group AG (VIG)
BMI Group
Allianz Capital Partners GmbH and SNAM S.p.A.
Innio Jenbacher
IAC Group
QUAERO EUROPEAN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND II SCSp
Hensoldt
Assa Abloy
Lagardère Travel Retail
Telekom Austria AG
Blackstone
Work highlights
- Advising Bright Machines on the CEE legal aspects of its merger with an NYSE-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
- Advising Cellnex Telecom on all Austrian legal and regulatory aspects of its acquisition of the European telecommunications tower assets of CK Hutchison Holdings with the matter value of €1.2bn.
- Advising Koninklijke DSM on the €1bn acquisition of ERBER Group in Austria and other CEE jurisdictions.
BRANDL TALOS Attorneys at law
According to clients, BRANDL TALOS Attorneys at law distinguishes itself by working ‘in small and dedicated teams consisting of very experienced professionals’. It combines know-how in corporate law, capital markets, administrative and regulatory matters, and is particularly known for its work in the gaming sector. Roman Rericha also handles PE and VC transactions, and Thomas Talos has ‘exceptional skills’; together, they lead the practice. Markus Arzt is a key contact for venture capital funds for financings and exits.
Practice head(s):
Roman Rericha; Thomas Talos
Other key lawyers:
Markus Arzt; Stephan Strass
Testimonials
‘We are working with BRANDL TALOS for several years now and they still manage to impress us with the quality of their services, their reliability and the response times. Believe that when it comes to funding structuring, corporate and M&A, the team of BRANDL TALOS is outstanding both in terms of experience and value for money.’
‘Roman Rericha is our key point of contact – he is very experienced, always available and guides us not only through the legal but – even more important – also through the commercial issues of a transaction. I can – without any reservations – fully recommend this firm which I believe is one of the best in the Austrian market.’
‘Roman Rericha is very smart and has an incredible understanding of economic matters. He is available 24/7 and – without compromises – supports us in getting issues solved and transactions done. Further, I really appreciate Roman’s respectful negotiation style; this is particularly important in venture capital transactions as you are partnering with emerging companies for years.’
‘Markus Arzt is an exceptionally experienced M&A lawyer who regularly solves difficult situations excellently due to his calm negotiation style. Believe that he is one of the rising stars in the Austrian markets and may – without any reservations – recommend him as one of the outstanding market players.’
‘Thomas Talos is one of the most experienced and highly recognized M&A professionals in Austria. In case he takes on an engagement, he is extremely committed to achieving the best possible outcome – I am really impressed by him.’
‘Believe that the corporate/M&A team is one of the most underestimated teams in the market. What really differentiates them in relation to other M&A practices is that they are working in small and dedicated teams consisting of very experienced professionals – as a result, the transactions run very efficiently and smoothly. They always keep an eye on the (commercially) sensitive issues and do not get lost in unimportant details.’
‘Thomas Talos is one of the most experienced and outstanding M&A professionals in Austria. He is extremely smart and always available – working with Thomas is really a pleasure and I am impressed by his exceptional skills. He has an incredible understanding of the commercial relevant issues of a transaction and is always committed to go the extra mile to achieve the best possible results.
‘Roman Rericha is very active in the private equity/venture capital sector and is one of the most successful M&A professionals at the age of 40. Roman is extremely focused on the (commercially) relevant issues of a transaction and does not get lost in academic discussions. Roman is extremely reliable when push comes to shove during a transaction and was always available to support us when needed. Roman is a tough negotiator but always very respectful of the other side.’
Key clients
SPORTRADAR AG
Ring International Holding AG/BOA Group
aws Fondsmanagement GmbH (AWS Mittelstandsfonds and AWS Gründerfonds)
Novalpina Capital
GVC Holdings PLC
Tipico Group Limited
APEX Ventures
Uniqa Ventures GmbH
startup300
Allcyte GmbH
Work highlights
- Advised Ring International Holding AG on the acquisition of the Burger King franchise network in Norway, Sweden and Denmark as well as the master franchise rights for US-based fast food chain, Popeyes, in the UK.
- Assisted Sportradar in the course of a landmark data license deal with the US National Hockey League.
- Advised APEX Ventures on the structuring and registration of its Digital Health Fund as well as its Best in Class-Fund.
DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH
The team at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach ‘does an excellent job bridging local considerations against the global perspectives‘. It is well positioned to advise on cross-border transactions and reorganisations; its dedicated China and Russia desks are to be noted here. The client portfolio includes in particular companies from the life sciences, energy and financial services sectors. Practice head Christoph Mager also counsels private clients and entrepreneurs. Maria Doralt is a key contact for PE and VC clients, and Elisabeth Stichmann has ‘an excellent sense of identifying risks.’
Practice head(s):
Christoph Mager
Other key lawyers:
Maria Doralt; Elisabeth Stichmann; Sabine Fehringer
Testimonials
‘Christoph Mager: he has an outstanding feeling for the client’s needs.’
‘Elisabeth Stichmann: very diligent, excellent sense of identifying risks.’
‘DLA Piper has a broad range of legal consultants and can cover a big variety of topics. Billing is very flexible and pragmatic.’
‘I have worked on a major project led by Maria Doralt. To me, Maria Doralt is the best corporate lawyer I have ever met. She has it all – legal excellence, business drive, pragmatic solutions, clear communication and integrity.
‘Clear interface per project – high motivation and reliability – high professional and personal skills.’
‘Very good experience with different people key contact: Elisabeth Stichmann, Vienna, outstanding performance.’
‘The Austrian team has a very strong understanding of the ways of American business, and does an excellent job bridging local considerations against the global perspectives.’
‘Elisabeth Stichmann is tremendously responsive, creative, and intelligent. She is willing to step in and help at a moment’s notice.’
Key clients
VTB Bank
Erber AG
Graphic Packaging
Knorr Bremse.
Renaissance Insurance Group
J.M. Huber Corporation
Maguar Capital GmbH & Co KG
Heidelberger
Gebauer & Griller
UniCredit S.p.A.
FFF Real Estate
Gazprom
Danaher Corporation
General Electric
Pfizer
Ardagh Group
Work highlights
- Advising Erber AG and its management board in relation to the €980m acquisition of Erber Group by Royal DSM.
- Advising Graphic Packaging on its $1.45 bn acquisition of AR Packaging, Europe’s second-largest manufacturer of fibre-based consumer packaging from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI.
- Advising Gazprom Export OOO in connection with the acquisition of Centrex Europe Energy & Gas AG.
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH provides clients with ‘profound and highly experienced legal expertise in all fields required‘. The firm has established itself as a go-to practice for venture capital funds and start-ups in the market. It has a particularly strong standing in the biotech area. The names to note are Phillip Dubsky, Philipp Kinsky, Wolfgang Schwackhöfer, Florian Steinhart and Christoph Wildmoser.
Practice head(s):
Phillip Dubsky; Philipp Kinsky; Wolfgang Schwackhöfer; Florian Steinhart; Christoph Wildmoser
Other key lawyers:
Carl Walderdorff
Testimonials
‘Very diverse team with a different focus and key areas of knowledge; very customer oriented and able to deal with a start-up-founder, but also with a big corporate client.’
‘They all are always very professional, open and service-oriented. I never had such great experiences with others. They all know what’s going on and are always looking for solutions even in complicated situations.’
‘From a company’s perspective that fully relies on outside legal expertise, the one-stop-shop approach is very efficient and convenient. We obtain profound and highly experienced legal expertise in all fields required – commercial, labour law, investments. Our requests are centrally coordinated and efficiently routed to the experts who complement and stand-in for each other where needed.’
‘We appreciate the outstanding responsiveness and the individual 1:1 consultancy where required. Each partner fully understands our needs and demands and promptly provides tailored guidance and services.’
‘The practice of Herbst Kinsky has an excellent reputation in the start-up and VC/PE market with exceptional experience and know-how in this sector. The team is very versatile and responsive and easily handles international matters due to their strong international network. One of their strengths is certainly the problem-solving and goal-oriented approach of their highly committed and competent lawyers.’
‘We appreciate the work with Carl Walderdorff who is exceptionally competent, versatile, focused, efficient, accurate and pragmatic. He is smart and extremely committed and hard-working to work out the best solution for his clients both from a legal as well as a commercial perspective. At the same time, he has a very friendly and refreshing personality. Carl is really one of the most trustworthy persons I know and it is a real pleasure to work with him.’
Key clients
ams AG
Biogena Group
Russmedia
Chatvisor/Xaleon
ProALPHA
Neoviva Logistics
Sandvik A.B.
Marinomed Biotech
GoStudent
Ardian
Byrd
Refurbed
Propster
Allcyte
ESIM Chemical
Valsoft Corp
Sonova
Firestart
GEOX
Neoh
Equistone Partners Europe
Woom
AppRadar
Arkem
IST Cube – Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Work highlights
- Advised GoStudent on a €205m financing.
- Advising Xaleon shareholders on the sale of the company to TeamViewer.
- Advised ESIM Chemicals on the spin-off and sale of its Intermediates & Specialty Chemicals division to Vertellus.
Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners
Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners acts on banking, real estate and corporate M&A transactions as well as on restructurings. Besides foreign and national corporations and banks, it also advises family offices and private equity houses. Markus Fellner also handles contentious matters. Together with Paul Luiki, Florian Kranebitter and Lukas Flener, he leads the practice.
Practice head(s):
Markus Fellner; Paul Luiki; Florian Kranebitter; Lukas Flener
Testimonials
‘Markus Fellner is very knowledgeable in the banking space and a very energetic counsel. He negotiates very passionately for his client.’
‘Out of the box thinking, solution oriented.’
‘Markus Fellner – top in banking law.’
‘Paul Luiki – international approach.’
‘Strong and efficient Team, always reachable and short response time. Excellent standing in the market, well connected and excellent industry know-how.’
‘Extremely short response times; proven industry expertise.’
‘Working with the team for years now and I am still impressed by the professionalism, speed and precision that is part of the everyday contact/collaboration! We have had a broad range of contacts in the field and are sticking with FWP now for these reasons.’
‘FWP has an outstanding team. We have been working with them for many years regarding various topics.’
Key clients
BAWAG Group
Grand Casino Baden AG
GreenOneTec Solarindurstie GmbH
Hanno-Vito Group
Immobilien Holding GmbH
S.E.M. Servicegesellschaft für Elektrik und Mechanik mbH (Germany)
SORAVIA
Steinhoff Europe AG
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
UniCredit Leasing (Austria) GmbH
BAWAG Group
Grand Casino Baden AG
GreenOneTec Solarindurstie GmbH
Hanno-Vito Group
Immobilien Holding GmbH
S.E.M. Servicegesellschaft für Elektrik und Mechanik mbH (Germany)
SORAVIA
Steinhoff Europe AG
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
UniCredit Leasing (Austria) GmbH
Work highlights
- Advising UniCredit Bank Austria in connection with the enforcement of its minority rights resulting from UniCredit Bank Austria’s position as shareholder of the institutions forming the 3Banken Gruppe.
- Advised SORAVIA on the establishment of a cooperation and the transfer of the IMMO-CONTRACT companies from Volksbanken Group to SORAVIA.
- Advised the BAWAG Group on the acquisition of online broker Hello bank! Österreich from French financing group BNP Paribas.
Jank Weiler Operenyi
Jank Weiler Operenyi, which is part of the Deloitte Legal network, is noted for its ‘pragmatic and solution-oriented work style‘. The team is particularly well versed in corporate restructurings, but also handles public and private M&A transactions, corporate housekeeping and litigation. Practice heads Alexander Operenyi and Maximilian Weiler both specialise in advising foreign and domestic clients on deals. Andreas Jank can also advise on banking and finance matters.
Practice head(s):
Alexander Operenyi; Maximilian Weiler
Other key lawyers:
Andreas Jank
Testimonials
‘Very proactive, easily reachable.’
‘Very responsive, proactive and pragmatic; Unique understanding for both, legal and commercial issues; Very committed with hands-on qualities; Pragmatic and solution-oriented work style.’
‘Maximilian Weiler and Alexander Operenyi are outstanding partners. Both are definitely among the top corporate lawyers in Austria as both are able to think outside the box to find the optimum solutions.’
‘Great experience in M&A transactions; very accurate and quick; great cross-border experience.’
‘Mr. Alexander Operenyi is very experienced in M&A transactions. He has a great strategic approach.’
‘Mr. Weiler is Austria’s top reorganization expert.’
‘Alexander Operenyi is highly skilled in fulfilling clients’ demands in a balanced and reasonable way, without jeopardizing or weakening the client‘s legal position. His knowledge about the M&A matter is outstanding.’
‘Hard working, fast, very responsive, precise, great overview, well organized.’
Key clients
Waldviertler Sparkasse
Generali Real Estate SpA
Denzel Group (Wolfgang Denzel Auto AG)
Krüger Group
CB International Holding GmbH
Akron Real Estate Management GmbH
Birkenstock Gruppe
T-Mobile Austria / Deutsche Telekom
Hallmann Holding International Investment GmbH
Bauer Media Group (Heinrich Bauer Verlag Beteiligungs GmbH)
Maersk
SW Umwelttechnik Stoiser & Wolschner AG
Allianz Investmentbank Aktiengesellschaft
OMV AG
Kronos Liegenschaftsverwaltungs und Beteiligungs GmbH
Work highlights
- Advising Waldviertler Sparkasse in connection with the sale of its Czech business by way of an auction process.
- Advising Wolfgang Denzel Auto AG in connection with the sale of a 100% share in MOTIONDATA VECTOR Software GmbH by way of a share deal to the Canadian Volaris Group.
- Advising Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile Group (Magenta Telekom) on a joint venture with the City of Vienna as a result of the integration of the UPC Group and a squeeze-out of the minority shareholder of a group company as a result of the integration of the UPC Group.
Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners (SCWP Schindhelm)
Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partners (SCWP Schindhelm) is a go-to counsel for clients from the hi-tech, financial, industrial and construction sectors. Its scope encompasses M&As, investments, restructurings and asset deals. The names to note are Immanuel Gerstner, who also handles financial and real estate transactions, and structuring specialist Franz Mittendorfer. Wolfgang Lauss has CEE-experience.
Practice head(s):
Immanuel Gerstner; Franz Mittendorfer
Other key lawyers:
Sebastian Hütter; Wolfgang Lauss
Testimonials
‘Fast reaction, competent advice, solution-oriented.’
‘Very broad range of competencies in all legal areas; high level of experience;’
‘Stand-out partner: Sebastian Hütter, very good negotiating skills; extensive competencies; highest commitment in projects.’
Key clients
Pankl AG
Landeshypothekenbank Steiermark AG
SoReal GmbH (part of Soravia Group)
Baumit Beteiligungen GmbH
AVV Investment GmbH
JR Investment GmbH
Invest Unternehmensbeteiligungs AG
Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems AG
Shareholders of DACH Medical Group Holding AG
Mate GmbH
Primevest Capital Partners
Presidio Advisors LLC
Unimarkt Gruppe GmbH
dm drogerie markt Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H.
LSW GmbH
HLSW GmbH
Neuson Industries GmbH
Reintrieb GmbH
Pankl AG
Landeshypothekenbank Steiermark AG
SoReal GmbH (part of Soravia Group)
Baumit Beteiligungen GmbH
AVV Investment GmbH
JR Investment GmbH
Invest Unternehmensbeteiligungs AG
Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems AG
Shareholders of DACH Medical Group Holding AG
Mate GmbH
Primevest Capital Partners
Presidio Advisors LLC
Unimarkt Gruppe GmbH
dm drogerie markt Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H.
LSW GmbH
HLSW GmbH
Neuson Industries GmbH
Reintrieb GmbH
Work highlights
- Advising Landeshypothekenbank Steiermark AG on completion of a major corporate restructuring exercise executed through the transfer, via asset deal, of independent bank branches to local Raiffeisen banks.
- Advising Unimarkt Group on the acquisition of the entire Unimarkt Group as part of a management buyout.
- Advised Invest AG and OÖ Invest, both legally independent funds of Austria’s leading private equity group, on their investment in Kapsch BusinessCom AG.
Schindler Attorneys
Schindler Attorneys' 'key strength is its multidisciplinary ability to advise the client, being strong not only in core legal issues but also in financials and with an entrepreneurial mindset'. The firm specialises in private equity matters, corporate reorganisations, shareholder syndicates and joint ventures as well as M&A transactions. Among its clients are investors, listed companies as well as family businesses, and the work often includes multiple European jurisdictions. Practice co-head Clemens Schindler furthermore has Latin America know-how. He leads the group together with Florian Cvak, who is a key contact for private equity.
Practice head(s):
Clemens Philipp Schindler; Florian Cvak
Other key lawyers:
Martin Abram; Katharina Schindler
Testimonials
‘Despite the broad range of services they are real experts. But also their strong network abroad recently has been very helpful for us. We have 100% trust in them!’
‘We mainly work with Martin Abram and Clemens Schindler. It is great to have strong lawyers at the table. Clemens Schindler is a real high performer and deal maker. When it comes to tax issues, other lawyers need to call an expert while he solves the problem. He has a great teamwork with Martin Abram, who deals with all the day to day issues on such projects and had been very diligent with the contracts and paperwork.’
‘Katharina Schindler – She has a great know-how in the art sector.’
‘A key strength of the firm is its multidisciplinary ability to advise us, being strong not only in core legal issues but also in financials and with an entrepreneurial mindset. Also having two partners as counterparts is very helpful to us as clients since responsiveness is always ensured. Also, the way they partner up the team combines the strength.’
‘Clemens Schindler – His legal skills are top, but likewise important is that he really gets the things done.’
‘Martin Abram is a true delight to work with. He is very knowledgeable too.’
‘Katharina Schindler – You could see that she is a specialist in that topic. The other involved advisors were impressed by her know-how.’
Key clients
Aptean Corporation
Allianz
Accent Equity
ACTS Group
AIG
Alba Communications
Alten SA
Ardian
ARES
Beach Majors (Red Bull Affiliate)
Bertelsmann
Bird Rides Inc.
BTG Pactual
Carlyle Group
Capvis
Checkrobin
Christof Group
Daifuku Co., Ltd.
Deutsche Telekom
Do&Co
Egeria Capital
Equistone
Elvaston Capital
FIEGE
Frey Holding GmbH
Global Attractions SPI and Accent Equity
Genui Partners
Getaround Inc.
Goldman Sachs
Hexagon
Huawei
IDS Group L.P.
ILOS Capital
Increase AG
Innogy
JD Sports Fashion
J&F
Konica Minolta
Kühne + Nagel
Liberta Partners
OAS Group
OpCapita
Paragon Partners
Riverside
Sanmina INC
Schirmer, Maximilian
Sdiptech AB
Siemens
Steadfast Capital
SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa GmbH
Toyota Frey Group
United Energy Group
Vivaldi Bioscience
VR Equity Partner
Wood & Co.
Work highlights
- Advising Agnaten SE & Lucresca SE as co-lead counsel on the relocation of the two holding companies incorporated as European Companies (SE) from Austria to Luxembourg.
- Advising Carlyle as lead transaction counsel on the acquisition of AGILOX Group.
- Advising Global Attractions SPI (GASPI) and Accent Equity as co-lead counsel in relation to the acquisition of five subsidiaries in Austria, Germany and Slovakia.
Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG
Led by Gerhard Hermann, the team at Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG handles cross-border transactions and corporate litigation matters.
Practice head(s):
Gerhard Hermann
KPMG Law in Austria
KPMG Law in Austria showcases expertise in the energy, TMT, food and life sciences sector; here, it advises Austrian corporations, private equity houses and venture capital funds on M&A transactions, financing rounds and corporate litigation. Practice head Wendelin Ettmayer is also knowledgeable in the automotive industry. Stefan Arnold has experience of takeovers.
Practice head(s):
Wendelin Ettmayer
Other key lawyers:
Stefan Arnold; Stephanie Sauer
Key clients
bank99 AG
DEUTZ AG
ElringKlinger AG
EVLI Growth Partners
Shareholder of impactit GmbH
Shareholders of incubed IT
Shareholders of Kaleido AI
LLT – Lannacher Lager- und Transport GesmbH
Meister group
SWARCO AG
Work highlights
- Advising Österreichische Post AG’s subsidiary bank99 in connection with the acquisition of ING’s private customer business in Austria.
- Advising the sole shareholder of impactit GmbH in connection with the sale of all shares in impactit GmbH to DBAG-backed FAST LEAN Smart Group GmbH including a reinvestment in the Luxembourg-based joint holding company.
- Advising the shareholders of Kaleido AI in a significant start-up exit, including a participation in Canva.
Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH, which is part of the EY network, places emphasis on reorganisations and restructurings with a cross-border element as well as joint ventures, public and private M&A transactions in Austria, the CEE and the CIS region. The group also handles public takeovers and is active in real estate transactions. Helen Pelzmann combines labour and corporate know-how, while Mario Gall is a key contact for technology and financial services clients; together they lead the practice. Georg Perkowitsch is another prominent advisor.
Practice head(s):
Helen Pelzmann; Mario Gall
Other key lawyers:
Georg Perkowitsch
Testimonials
‘Key strengths and capabilities: profound expert knowledge, trustful cooperation, reliable in terms of execution and deadline keeping.’
‘The individual people are extremely involved in the cases and you can tell in this office you are not just any number, but a valued customer.’
‘The team is always available for the client and you feel extremely well cared for.’
Key clients
apilayer
Link Mobility
Erber Aktiengesellschaft
Sirap GEMA
Donhauser Group (DoN)
Gnutti Carlo
TCG Unitech
Anticimex GmbH
BWT Aktiengesellschaft
PALFINGER AG
Work highlights
- Advised Link Mobility, a leading provider of mobile messaging and CPaaS solutions in Europe, on the acquisition of atms and sms.at (WebSMS)
- Advised Julian and Paul Zehetmayr on the sale of their company apilayer (apilayer Data Products GmbH) to US-based Idera Inc.
- Advised SIRAP Gema on the sale of the packaging company Petruzalek GmbH as well as the German subsidiary Sirap GmbH to Irish Zeus Packaging Group.
PHH Rechtsanwälte GmbH
PHH Rechtsanwälte GmbH 'shows deep knowledge and understanding of the local market'. The team is frequently instructed by listed companies to assist in their corporate, M&A and private equity matters; it has particular know-how in the TMT, retail and manufacturing space. Furthermore, with Lukas Röper it also expanded activity in the financial sector. Practice head Rainer Kaspar is also well versed in distressed transactions.
Practice head(s):
Rainer Kaspar
Other key lawyers:
Matthias Fucik; Lukas Röper
Testimonials
‘Very professional team focusing on client-oriented results, immediate responses, always available when you need them, many years of experience.’
‘Efficiency, customer relationship building is exceptional.’
‘Rainer Kaspar – extremely knowledgeable, bridgebuilder, commercial awareness.
‘Matthias Fucik – fast, responsive.’
‘The team of PHH really make a deal happen. PHH shows deep knowledge and understanding of the local market. Good international experience allows them to provide more tailored services. At the same time, their flexible approach with the billing makes cooperation more effective and “value for cost”.’
‘Their Partner Lukas Roeper is always available and ready to assist. He supports you with all questions you may have, and being 24 hours what is not usual for the Austrian market he provides truly personally tailored services.’
‘PHH has a very hands-on approach and is fast moving.’
‘Rainer Kaspar and Mathias Fucik did an outstanding job in working on our transaction. There were very difficult negotiations to be done with several parties included and they took the lead, resulting in a very good result for all parties involved. Excellent execution.’
Key clients
Logic Endeavor Group GmbH
HPS Holding
Wien Energie (Wiener Stadtwerke)
EP Industries, a.s. / AVE CEE Holding GmbH
SOVA Capital Limited
DIF Capital Partners
Bondi Immobilien-Consulting GmbH
S-Quad Handels- und Beteiligungs GmbH
Elkay Interior Systems Inc
“Stolz auf Wien” Beteiligungs GmbH
Igor Strehl
Cipo Partners
Nuki Home Solutions GmbH
Vertiseit AB
UberGrape
EDV Solutions G.Fucik Dienstleistungs GmbH
Work highlights
- Advised on the €80m sale of the Logicdata Group to Chinese Jiecang Group.
- Advised on the €50m acquisition of Posojilnica Bank by Sova Capital from Raiffeisen group.
- Advised EP Industries, a.s. and its Austrian affiliate AVE CEE Holding GmbH on the €98m export upstream merger with its Czech parent company, ANDELTA, a.s.
Taylor Wessing enwc Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Taylor Wessing LLP is instructed by national and international companies to advise on all stages of the corporate lifecycle, from forming companies and joint ventures to winding-up, restructuring or buy-outs. The team is particularly well versed in cross-border mergers - particularly those relating to the CEE/SEE region - and the corresponding legal and regulatory challenges as well as in the start-up scene. Practice head Raimund Cancola is supported by financial services specialist Claudia Steegmüller and capital markets advisor Philip Hoflehner.
Practice head(s):
Raimund Cancola
Other key lawyers:
Claudia Steegmüller; Philip Hoflehner
Key clients
Encavis AG
Pollard Banknote Limited
Körber Group
amedes group
Angelini
AviaRent
DKV Mobility Services Group
Eternit Österreich GmbH / Swisspearl Group
Festo
Haberkorn
KGAL
LafargeHolcim
Nestlé SA / Nestlé Österreich GmbH / Nespresso
Norske Skog AS
Österreichische Apotheker-Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H.
Pirelli GmbH
REWE Group
Swarovski shareholders
The Rohatyn Group
Tyrolit
Volaris Group Inc.
Vorwerk Austria
Warimpex
Walstead Group
ZGONC
Work highlights
- Advising Pollard Banknote Limited in connection with the acquisition of Next Generations Lotteries AS (NGL) with respect to its material Austrian subsidiary Next Generations Lotteries GmbH and NGL group related aspects governed by Austrian law.
- Advising Volaris Group on the acquisition of MOTIONDATA VECTOR Group which, next to its core business in Austria, included entities in Germany and Switzerland as well.
- Advised the German Encavis AG on the sale of a 49% minority stake in its wind farm portfolio in Austria to the largest regional Austrian energy provider Wien Energie.
DSC Doralt Seist Csoklich Rechtsanwälte GmbH
DSC Doralt Seist Csoklich Rechtsanwälte GmbH demonstrates know-how in advising clients from the real estate, banking sectors and gaming industries. The group advises in particular on takeovers, corporate housekeeping and restructurings, and traditional M&A. The practice is led by ‘sharp thinker‘ Christoph Diregger and Christoph Leitgeb, who also covers litigation matters.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Especially when comparing the fees to some of the other Viennese firms recently, Doralt Seist Csoklich continues to offer excellent value for money as the projects are staffed efficiently and with the right level of expertise.’
‘Christoph Diregger has a great understanding of what is really needed from a business perspective and how to make it work legally. Especially when it comes to the “high end” of corporate law issues, he knows how it is done. You do not get a “no” but a “maybe not this way, but here is how you should do it”’
‘Very good generalist approach by partners. Very goal-orientated and efficient. Absolutely top in efficiency, clarity and knowledge of the law.’
‘Dr. Diregger: very quick and sharp thinker, able to give good advice almost always immediately, identifies with the client and is absolutely reliable, in particular when help is really needed. Very good at judging and describing situations, mindful of all aspects.
Key clients
CA Immobilien Anlagen AG
S IMMO AG
BAWAG Group AG
ViennaEstate Immobilien AG
Wiener Privatbank SE
Best Gaming Technology GmbH
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
BRM Burgenländische Risikokapital Management AGx.news information technology gmbH
Work highlights
- Advised S IMMO AG in the successful defence against a hostile takeover by IMMOFINANZ AG.
- Advised CA Immobilien Anlagen AG in the course of an anticipatory takeover offer by Starwood Capital Group.
- Advised S IMMO AG in an Accelerated Book Building capital increase in the amount of €150m.
Eversheds Sutherland | Stolitzka & Partner RAe OG
Eversheds Sutherland | Stolitzka & Partner RAe OG offers comprehensive counsel for businesses setting up operations in Austria, including corporate and trade license matters. Clients from the construction and engineering, consumer, energy as well as industrials, real estate and life sciences and health seek out the internationally-positioned group. Silva Palzer knows cross-border transactions and restructurings well, and leads the practice together with real estate specialist Alexander Stolitzka.
Practice head(s):
Alexander Stolitzka; Silva Palzer
Other key lawyers:
Aurelius Freytag
Testimonials
‘I want to draw attention to Silva Palzer as she is always available, comes back with answers and proposals right in time and is able to find the right approach to all issues I came across with.’
‘The personal contact combined with a lot of experience and knowledge makes a unique experience. The variety of specialists gives a good feeling to get expertise in any field. The quick response of the partners is essential when you need support.’
‘Experience, pace of success and personal contact to the same person makes the individual stand out compared to competitors.’
‘The Team is very experienced and has always a practical approach, also when urgent, the team react reacts very quickly and offers useful advice.’
‘Mr Stolitzka has always advised and represented us extremely competently and at a very high technical level; incredibly dedicated, friendly and helpful and is even available during vacation.’
Key clients
Badger Meter
G4S Group
DAI Group
NBC Universal
Xylem GroupTyco/Johnson Controls
Kering Group
Blackrock Group
Experian
Microsoft
Next
MOL Group
Hytera Group
ORF Enterprise
Cisco
Legero
AR Packaging Group
Parker Hannifin
Kering Group
WashTec Austria
Work highlights
- Assisting Parker Hannifin with all its Austrian corporate matters including regular company secretary work as well as cross-border mergers, and liquidations.
- Advised Badger regarding the acquisition of all shares in the Austrian company s::can GmbH (formerly known as Scan Messtechnik GmbH).
- Assisted Experian with the Austrian law parts of a joint venture together with Arvato Infoscore GmbH.
GRAF ISOLA
GRAF ISOLA recently advised foreign and domestic corporations from the energy, TMT, hardware and software industries in corporate matters. The focus is on traditional and distressed M&A. Ferdinand Graf leads the practice group, which also includes Andreas Edlinger; he further advises on corporate restructurings.
Practice head(s):
Ferdinand Graf
Other key lawyers:
Andreas Edlinger
Testimonials
‘The team regularly advises our company on complex international issues. I would say their expertise is unique – experts of such calibre are rare in any market. Top-level professionals with a matter-oriented approach, being experts in their business sector. Attention to clients’ needs and details.’
‘Professional high-level approach of Andreas Edlinger.’
Key clients
Cherry GmbH
NetDoktor.de GmbH (Hubert Burda Media)
Tyson Foods (Tyson Foods Europe BV)
LUKOIL International GmbH
Kraftwerk (“kraftWerk” technologies GmbH”)
cortical.io AG
Erdöl-Lagergesellschaft mbH
Dexia Credit Local
Peter Lisec Privatstiftung
VKR Holding A/S
Work highlights
- Advised Cherry on the acquisition of Theobroma Systems GmbH.
- Advised Burda on the acquisition of netdoktor.at and netdoktor.ch.
- Advised Tyson Foods on a cross-border restructuring.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte
The practice at Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte 'has proven to be very competent, fast and practice-oriented.' Wolfgang Graf handles M&A and finance transactions as well as corporate restructurings; he leads the practice together with Bernd Taucher, who advises on transactions and corporate housekeeping. Both also have capital markets expertise.
Practice head(s):
Wolfgang Graf; Bernd Taucher
Other key lawyers:
Jutta Harm; Julia Satala
Testimonials
‘The cooperation is first-class from a legal point of view as well as personal and human. We can only recommend Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte GmbH and especially Mr. Bernd Taucher.’
‘Working together with Mr Bernd Taucher and his team makes you feel been legally represented in an excellent manner in Austria as well as personally valued.’
‘We are now working for almost 20 years with GPT and we could not remember one issue that remained unsolved.’
‘Each team member is committed, highly qualified, analytic and quickly implemented.’
‘Small team, great communication skills and transaction experience. Uncomplicated, smart.’
‘The team is just great. Legal advice is provided fast, uncomplicated and comprehensible.’
‘We rely on Wolfgang Graf and his corporate team with Jutta Harm and Julia Satala. Wolfgang is always to-the-point, reliable, and a really nice guy. He has proven to be able to come up with drafts in almost no time and with impressive quality and saved us more than once in tricky situations.’
‘Bernd Taucher and Julia Satala are doing an amazing job.’
Key clients
VBR Innovations GmbH, Austria
Monbat Group, Bulgaria
Braunsperger Innovations Services GmbH, Austria
Genesis Motor Europe
New Mobility Enterprise-NME GmbH, Austria
easy2taxfree GmbH, Austria
Purple Lamp Studios, Austria
Global TCAD Solutions, Austria
APS Group, Luxembourg
ARAMARK Group, Germany, Austria
Head Group, Austria/UK
Canopy Growth Corporation, Canada
Soler & Palau Ventilation Group SL, Spain
FL3XX GmbH, Austria/US
T-Centrum. CZ, a.s., Czech Republic
innovation incubation center i2c TU Vienna, Austria
SWISS HEALTH & NUTRITION AG, Switzerland
Braintribe Technology GmbH, Austria
Spectrum Therapeutics Austria GmbH, Austria
MEB Austria GmbH, Austria/France
Work highlights
- Advised the selling shareholders of Purple Lamp on their transaction with Embracer Group, including on drafting and negotiating transaction documents.
- Advising Canopy Growth in Austria on corporate and commercial matters.
- Advising APS on the sale of its Serbian leasing portfolio, including implementing an internal cross-border restructuring prior to closing the transaction.
Grama Schwaighofer Vondrak Rechtsanwälte
The group at Grama Schwaighofer Vondrak Rechtsanwälte advises clients on M&A, international contract law, corporate matters as well as related litigation. Bernd Grama is the key contact.
Practice head(s):
Bernd Grama
Other key lawyers:
Mirza Benca
Work highlights
- Advising the MOVER group on corporate law issues in Austria and general restructuring of the group (including refinancing and a cross-border merger).
- Assisted BUWOG in the purchase of a state-of-the-art residential project on Bruno Marek Allee in the Nordbahnviertel by way of a share deal for two project companies.
- Advised ADOMO Beteiligungs GmbH, a SORAVIA Group company specialising in property and facility management, on the acquisition of a 74.9% stake in LEHNER Group.
PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner
Led by Christian Öhner, the team at PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner advises on matters relating to mid-cap M&A, private equity and restructurings. Its applied legal tech solutions offer clients added value. The practice was enhanced by the arrival of Michael Lind in February 2021; he was previously at Raiffeisen-Holding.
Practice head(s):
Christian Öhner
Other key lawyers:
Michael Lind; Mario Steinkellner
Key clients
bex technologies GmbH
dataformers GmbH
JCL AG
Karl Schragen GmbH & Co KG
Softwerk Automation GmbH
TMS Turnkey Manufacturing Solutions GmbH
ventopay gmbh
Vienna House Capital GmbH
Work highlights
- Advising JCL AG on a multinational M&A transaction.
- Advising ventopay gmbh on the course of the issuance of new shares subscribed by Unternehmensbeteiligungs AG.
- Advising Vienna House on a global group restructuring transaction, in particular, to separate real estate from operating business.
Torggler Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Boutique firm Torggler Rechtsanwälte GmbH offers support in corporate, private client and dispute resolution instructions. In the M&A space, it advises Austrian and foreign corporations on small- to mid-sized deals. Transaction-specialist Kathrin Weber and Reinhard Kautz, who covers commercial and corporate matters, lead the practice group.
Practice head(s):
Kathrin Weber; Reinhard Kautz
Testimonials
‘TORGGLER’s M&A practice has very extensive deal experience and market knowledge. They are very well connected, so when I need an expert in eg Germany, Poland or Turkey, I can rely on their recommendation.’
‘What I like most and what I deem outstanding is their hands-on mentality: with them, you get a deal through within a few weeks (if necessary).’
‘You will always get partner attention, therefore their advice is always well thought out and proven in practice. In summary: If you want personal and custom-made legal advice, go to TORGGLER!’
‘I regularly work with Kathrin Weber: She has a vast experience in corporate and M&A matters. I particularly like her economic education which is very helpful in commercial matters. During the years, she has become my sparring partner. Kathrin thinks two steps ahead – but without making your life more complicated. This is very important in corporate projects with huge impact on the company.’
Key clients
MaxLinear Inc
FreyWille
Gurktaler AG
TÜV Austria
MTH
Sastre Holding SA
Swarovski
Arcadia Live
Work highlights
- Advised TÜV AUSTRIA HOLDING AG on the acquisition of a company located in Upper Austria specialized in technical advice and construction supervision.
- Advised Dr. Hönle AG on the acquisition of 51% of the shares in Sterilsystems, an Austrian company specialized in sterilization products.
- Advised publishing house WEKA on its sale to Paragon Partners.