Dr iur Christian Schmelz > Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) > Vienna, Austria > Lawyer Profile
Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) Offices
SCHOTTENRING 19
1010 VIENNA
Austria
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Dr iur Christian Schmelz
Work Department
Regulatory practice group
Position
Partner
Career
Christian Schmelz is specialised in project development, planning & permitting, environment & climate change, and has also a track record in technology regulation and communications. He has been serving not only national and international corporate clients but also municipalities, provinces, the federal administration, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the European Commission. He frequently acts for clients in the energy, infrastructure, automotive, steel, food, retail, waste, research, pulp and paper industry as well as the financial industry. Christian has a strong expertise in all kinds of power plant, storage and grid infrastructure projects. He is a honorary professor and a lecturer at the University of Vienna and regularly member of advisory boards on legislative projects.
Languages
German, English
Memberships
IBA
OEWAV – Austrian Water and Waste Management Association
ÖVG – Austrian transportation studies society
Education
University of Vienna, Vienna/Austria (Dr. iur. 1979)
Lawyer Rankings
Austria > Administrative law and public sector
(Hall of Fame)Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) fields a team of environmental experts and also exhibits proficiency across product compliance, gaming, pharma and public transport-related mandates. Noted by clients for offering a ‘full service on all aspects of public law’, the firm is especially recommended for its experience with environmental impact assessments, permission procedures, public procurement, and regulatory issues in the tech sector. Christian Schmelz heads the planning & environment team and is described as ‘the leading expert in his field’, while Bernd Rajal leads the firm’s public law group and Günther Leissler heads up the data protection & privacy group. Johannes Stalzer leads on public procurement matters, while Benjamin Schlatter‘s focus areas are environment, energy and tech.
Austria > Projects and energy
(Leading individuals)With ‘huge experience’ in handling complex projects, Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) is frequently instructed on energy generation projects requiring special permits and environmental impact assessments, having assisted with such matters in connection with several major renewable energy projects. The team also advises clients on applying for project tenders and represents clients in appeals following unsuccessful bids, while acting for successful bidders in procurement matters. Leading the team is the trio of Bernd Rajal, who assists with administrative, energy and environmental law issues, planning and environmental specialist Christian Schmelz, and Johannes Stalzer, who focuses on public procurement matters. Christoph Cudlik is noted for his administrative and constitutional law work, with a particular niche in climate change and planning law.
Austria > Construction
Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) is noted for its work in the energy and infrastructure sector, where it supports developers on planning and construction issues, while also advising on the forward sale of residential and office developments. Leading the team is the ‘standout’ Constantin Benes, focusing on industrial construction projects and disputes. Assisting him in steering the team are managing partner and real estate specialist Michael Lagler and Christian Schmelz, who advises on planning and environmental matters. Former co-head Peter Madl left the partnership in 2023, but continues to advise investors on real estate investments as a counsel.
Lawyer Rankings
- Administrative law and public sector Austria
- Hall of Fame Austria > Administrative law and public sector
- Leading individuals Austria > Projects and energy
- Projects and energy Austria
- Construction Austria
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Administrative law and public sector
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution: commercial litigation
- EU and competition
- Intellectual property
- Projects and energy
- Real estate