Dr iur Christian Schmelz > Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) > Vienna, Austria > Lawyer Profile

Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) has ‘an extremely competent and broad team in all the necessary specialist areas for the evaluation and implementation of projects in the energy sector‘. The group is particularly focused on environmental and climate change law, as well as planning and permitting procedures. The trio leading the team comprises Bernd Rajal, Christian Schmelz, and counsel Johannes Stalzer, who focuses on public procurement matters. In team news, Christoph Cudlik was promoted to counsel in August 2022.

Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)‘s full service team ‘has deep knowledge of applicable EU rules and regulations and is well equipped to advise on cross-border transactions‘; a standout practitioner in this regard is Johannes Stalzer, who heads up the team together with Bernd Rajal and Christian Schmelz. The offering sits within the firm’s wider regulatory group, and on the regulatory side the work includes assisting with the design of a regulatory framework for promoting renewable projects in Austria and Europe. The group is also well versed in environmental and climate change law, as well as planning and permitting procedures.

Environmental and climate change law are the key areas of focus for Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte), with environmental impact assessments being a key part of the firm’s offering. The firm regularly advises infrastructure and renewable energy developers in relation to obtaining the necessary construction permits from public bodies, and has also supported technology companies involved in developing self-driving cars, AI products and drones. The practice group is led by a four-part team consisting of Bernd Rajal, Christian Schmelz, Günther Leissler and Johannes Stalzer and also includes counsel Benjamin Schlatter.

Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) are extremely active in the renewables sector, and the energy sector more generally. Recently, this has involved providing advice in connection with the acquisition and development of wind parks. Constantin Benes, who heads up the team alongside Peter Madl and Christian Schmelz, also has a particular focus on matters relating to the industrial sector, as well as the development of housing and office projects. Generally, the group has a strong regulatory practice and leverages its close ties to the firm’s real estate and regulatory experts.