GRAF ISOLA > Vienna, Austria > Firm Profile
GRAF ISOLA Offices
STADIONGASSE 2
1010 WIEN
Austria
GRAF ISOLA > The Legal 500 Rankings
Austria > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1
With insolvency administration as a pivotal tool in its belt, GRAF ISOLA rounds out its practice with extensive expertise in restructuring, complex refinancing negotiations with banks, and distressed M&A, advising the full range of debtors, creditors and investors. Regularly appointed by courts as insolvency administrators, co-practice heads Alexander Isola
and Stefan Weileder combine experience in advising large, family-owned enterprises and managing directors and boards of companies on the brink of insolvency. David Seidl supports on insolvency mandates with a view to white collar crime implications, fraud, avoidance and capital maintenance.
Practice head(s):
Alexander Isola; Stefan Weileder
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team really works for the customer. They have a broad experience in Austrian insolvency law, which helped us to get the best out of our insolvency process.’
‘Stefan Weileder was there for us literally day and night. His outstanding commercial knowledge pushed us ahead even we were struggling into insolvency process before our contact.’
‘Alexander Isola is the “good fairy” in the background, always with a good idea in time.’
‘David Seidl helped us in fulfilling our tasks and was the communicator to our employees.’
Key clients
Christof Industries Austria GmbH
McStrom GmbH
Teleos GmbH
Salzburg Schokolade GmbH
VGN Medien Holding GmbH
Noventure, Trenka / Custos
ESCADA Logistik GmbH
ESIM
Steiermärkische Bank und Sparkassen AG
Andritz AG
Tally Weijl Austria GmbH
Work highlights
- Acted as insolvency administrators of Christof Industries Austria in one of the largest insolvency proceedings in Austria.
- Acted as insolvency administrators of McStrom GmbH in the first Austrian insolvency proceedings of an energy supplier with more than 11.000 customers.
- Acted as insolvency administrator of Tally Weijl Austria GmbH, the Austrian branch of a major international fashion retail group.
Austria > Private client Tier 2
Private foundations in particular benefit from the extensive experience of the team at GRAF ISOLA, which provides support on wealth management and restructuring, and also assists HNWIs with succession law and estate planning, inheritance claims, and related tax matters. Practice head Armenak Utudjian doubles up his well-known expertise in foundation law and succession planning with his duties as the President of the Austrian Bar Association, while head of the commercial and M&A team Ferdinand Graf supports on matters at the intersection of international trade and sanctions law.Practice head(s):
Armenak Utudjian
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Trust, more than only legal advice, speed.’
Key clients
Kay Horstmann Privatstiftung
Peter Lisec Privatstiftung
Motycka Privatstiftung
Talent Privatstiftung
Medem Privatstiftung
Work highlights
- Advised a family foundation in defending against claims worth millions of euro in an ongoing arbitration proceeding before the Austrian courts.
- Appointed to the board of directors of the Peter Lisec Foundation and in this capacity advised on the administration of the foundation’s assets, including the subsidiary Lisec group of companies, real estate and financial assets.
- Advised a renowned Group of Austrian foundations and their subsidiaries on a wide range of legal topics, including defending them against legal claims in an Austrian court.
Austria > Intellectual property Tier 3
GRAF ISOLA's caseload primarily consists of contentious IP work, with the team representing clients from a diverse array of sectors on matters of trade mark and patent disputes against infringers in Austria, Europe and further afield. The ‘very reliable’ Claudia Csáky heads the team, advising on unfair competition matters on top of her patent and trade mark disputes practice. Csaky is also noted for her extensive experience in applying for new trade marks, and the management of IP portfolios.Practice head(s):
Claudia Csáky
Testimonials
‘The team is very well versed in the law and collaborative. The GRAF ISOLA team always takes a very thoughtful approach and works through difficult issues. Every attorney we have dealt with is of the highest quality.’
‘Very responsive and professional team. Nice to work with.’
‘Claudia Csáky provides well-informed advice to clients. Her ability to analyse complex legal issues and develop creative solutions is a valuable quality. She can explain complex legal concepts in a way that clients can easily understand. Dr. Csáky consistently meets deadlines.‘
‘Claudia Csáky is very reliable, quick and has outstanding expertise.’
‘The IP team is very competent and quick. They support us in all IP matters, especially trade mark filing/registration and trade mark disputes.’
‘Claudia Csáky has great knowledge and a lot of experience with IP matters.’
‘GRAF ISOLA is able to understand different markets and their IP needs and offers huge experience nationally and internationally. The collaboration is outstanding and is getting even better.’
‘Claudia Csáky and her team are beyond state of the art. She is curious to understand complex new territories and applies her knowledge and experience in the right way. She is always digging into the topic and asking the right questions.’
Key clients
KTM Fahrrad GmbH
Digip AB
UAB Furniture1
HyCentA Research GmbH
cortical.io AG
J&L Garrigues, S.L.P.
LUKOIL International GmbH
Brokkoli Advertising Network GmbH & Co KG
EMTensor
Delux Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised KTM Fahrrad GmbH on an infringement of a license agreement by the motorcycle manufacturer KTM group.
- Acted for Digip AB on an infringement of the regulations laid out in the Act on Unfair Competition.
- Assisted the Esterházy group with a number of trade mark and copyright matters.
Austria > Data privacy and data protection Tier 4
Described as ‘fantastic in every aspect,’ GRAF ISOLA frequently handles data protection matters in conjunction with broader instructions including M&A transactions and competition disputes, advising on data transfers and GDPR implementation. Practice co-head Marija Križanac ‘provides excellent data protection advice’ with deep expertise in GDPR matters and significant experience in data-related litigation. Alongside her, co-founding partner Ferdinand Graf is admitted to the New York State Bar.Practice head(s):
Marija Križanac; Ferdinand Graf
Testimonials
‘We worked with a client on a ‘bet the company’ matter with GRAF ISOLA. They have clear data protection & tech expertise, and Marija Križanac is very client-centred and responsive.’
‘Marija Križanac clearly knows her stuff. She’s great at understanding a client’s needs & interacting with regulators. She was able to work seamlessly in German & English and was very responsive.’
‘Marija Križanac provides excellent data protection advice in English, she has a can-do attitude, she is very helpful and turns around matters very quickly. I highly recommend her.’
‘Marija Križanac has built a great practice for all relevant data protection matters, including data protection-related litigation. I trust them even with the most complex challenges. The fact that the practice group is female-lead is a cherry on top!’
‘Practice head Marija Križanac is very intelligent, experienced and solution-oriented; she is truly an expert in her field. ‘
‘The practice, led by Marija Križanac, is fantastic in every aspect – fast response time, hands-on approach, creative solutions. Big recommendation.’
‘Marija Križanac is an absolutely brilliant lawyer and my go-to for GDPR matters; I highly recommend her.’
‘I always recommend Marija Križanac. I like her approach to legal problems; it always shows deep understanding of the respective economic backdrop.’
Key clients
LUKOIL International GmbH/LUKOIL Group
VELUX A/S, VELUX Österreich GmbH, VKR Holding A/S
Open Society Foundations
Victorinox
therapie-info PSISYS GmbH
Logwin Group
JobRad GmbH
MEWA Textil-Service GmbH
EMTensor
Leggett&Platt Inc/Schukra Berndorf GmbH
kraftwerk | Agentur für neue Kommunikation GmbH
MyHomeRoast GmbH
AM Baugeräte und Handels GmbH
KOPFWERK Datensysteme Ges.m.b.H.
Ineltro Electronics GmbH
Cortical.io AG
DANUTEX GmbH
neckermann.at GmbH
MAG machines GmbH
CoPlanner GmbH
Drees & Sommer
Deluxe Corporation
RELX EMEA
Samariterbund
HILL Racingteam, e.V.
Work highlights
- Advised LUKOIL (Austria) in connection with all aspects of data protection law, including international data transfers and whistleblowing.
- Assisted cortical.io with all legal aspects, including data protection law, surrounding the roll-out of a new revolutionary SaaS solution in the field of natural language understanding.
- Represented Deluxe Corporation in proceedings before the Austrian data protection authority, which are part of the “Cookies” campaign undertaken by NOYB.
Austria > Dispute resolution: commercial litigation Tier 4
GRAF ISOLA deals with disputes in the areas IP, employment, real estate and construction, with insolvency litigation being one of the team’s core strengths. Dual-qualified (Austria and New York) Jakob Widner leads the practice, while ‘top-notch attorney’ Ferdinand Graf acts in M&A disputes, and offers expertise in commercial, competition and regulatory law. Sebastian Mahr joined the team in October 2023 from PHH Rechtsanwält:innen GmbH, strengthening the team’s expertise in the insurance sector.Practice head(s):
Jakob Widner
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is highly skilled and results-oriented. The Graf Isola team always is well prepared, understands and masters the legal landscape and is adroit with the facts so that the clients are well-positioned to make good choices. The team is very collaborative, with the clients, themselves, and coordinating counsel.’
‘The individuals I have worked with, including Ferdinand Graf, are top-notch attorneys. The team is creative and seeks solutions that are tailor-made for the client.’
‘The competence that we particularly value is support through crises.’
Key clients
Christof Industries Austria
KTM Fahrrad GmbH
Borckenstein
Tröpfl Privatstiftung
Star Agro
Consortium of Creditors/CTP
Austria > Employment Tier 4
With a specialism in labour and pensions law, GRAF ISOLA is described by clients as a ‘state-of-the-art law firm with dedicated experts’. Exemplifying the team’s strength in representing clients before all relevant courts and authorities, practice head Jakob Widner also leads the firm’s dispute resolution practice group. Axel Guttmann primarily advises clients on employment issues arising in the course of corporate restructurings.Practice head(s):
Jakob Widner
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team can be considered a modern, state-of-the-art law firm with dedicated experts, customer-oriented administration, and hands-on support in case of special requests.’
‘High levels of expertise of counselors and a distinct focus on client support differentiates this law firm from its competitors.’
‘Very responsive and we always receive quality advice.’
‘Jakob Widner is a professional, quick, friendly, and pragmatic lawyer.’
‘Jakob Widner was excellent: very responsive, excellent knowledge, and receptive to our specific needs. I would not hesitate to recommend Jakob to others seeking Austrian employment law advice.’
Key clients
JTC
EMTensor
Danucem
MCC
Modul University Vienna
Schauspielhaus
Sunotec
WKÖ
JobRad Österreich GmbH
Austria > Banking and finance Tier 6
Work highlights
Austria > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 6
Clients ‘strongly recommend’ GRAF ISOLA’s practice under the leadership of Ferdinand Graf and Andreas Edlinger, which is especially recommended for work in the energy, tech and automotive industries. Recent activities of the team include advising on distressed M&A, due diligence, and share purchase agreements, as well as handling numerous strategic acquisitions. Katharina Weiss is another important contact in the team.Practice head(s):
Ferdinand Graf; Andreas Edlinger
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘I can strongly recommend Ferdinand Graf and his corporate and commercial team.’
‘Excellent and competent lawyers; quick and promt in answer.’
‘Well informed when helping us to deal with a Austrian M&A matter.’
Key clients
LUKOIL International GmbH
Leggett & Platt group
Pfaff Werkzeug- und Formenbau
Andritz
cortical.io AG
Peter Lisec Privatstiftung
VKR Holding
Erdöl-Lagergesellschaft mbH
Sozialbau
Dexia Credit Local
Work highlights
- Advised LUKOIL International GmbH on a share acquisition of an Austrian real estate company.
- Advised PFAFF Werkzeug- und Formenbau on the acquisition of a business branch of Z-Werkzeugbau.
- Advised the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Alapítvány on the acquisition of the majority of the shares in the Austrian private university Modul.
GRAF ISOLA > Firm Profile
The firm: GRAF ISOLA was founded in 1994 and is one of the leading independent Austrian commercial law firms with offices in Vienna and Graz. The full-service firm advises in all fields of Austrian and European business law with a client base from all sectors of industry – both domestic and foreign – as well as public authorities.
GRAF ISOLA has 25 qualified lawyers including six partners – most are recognised experts in their field and have years of international experience. The firm is internationally known for its hard work approach and efficient and creative way of handling complex cases in a solution-oriented manner. GRAF ISOLA has an extensive network with international leading law firms across the globe – with whom the firm regularly co-operates based on a best friends philosophy.
Areas of practice
Banking and finance: the firm provides advice on the full range of banking law and on all types of financing, in particular acquisition and project financing. The firm has built a strong banking litigation practice involving banking, regulatory, and capital markets disputes -it has advised and represented in some of the largest cases/litigations in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Competition and antitrust: the firm has extensive expertise in (national and European) merger control, cartels and antitrust proceedings, dawn raids and internal audits, abuse of market dominance proceedings, structuring of distribution systems and co-operation agreements between companies.
Compliance and white-collar crime: the firms expertise in corporate criminal law matters is top-notch and the attorneys are especially skilled and qualified when it comes to defending clients in bankruptcy, accounting fraud, financial crimes, breach of trust / embezzlement, corruption and money laundering.
Corporate/M&A: the firm’s specialists advise on all matters of corporate law – often on complex corporate transactions such as restructurings, spin-offs, mergers and transformations – both in Austria and cross-border. Recent work highlights include advising a prominent Russian conglomerate on cross-border restructurings and capital measures and advising one of the largest Austrian publicly listed corporations on the spin-off and subsequent merger of subsidiaries.
Data protection: the firm advises clients on all matters of data protection law and support them in making necessary modifications to their data protection infrastructure, as well as advice about how to deal with a data breach.
Dispute resolution and litigation: GRAF ISOLA is a top-tier firm for all types of complex commercial litigation and arbitration – both domestic and international. The firm has extensive experience in arbitration proceedings under all leading institutional rules and has become increasingly well known for its work in high-profile cases in the areas of restitution of looted art, social media/data protection, telecommunication, white-collar crime and shareholder disputes.
Employment law and expats: advice on all areas of individual and collective employment law – both in terms of an ongoing consultation, as well as in the course of restructurings and business acquisitions (M&A-related).
Estate planning/trust and estates: leading expertise on counselling individuals, enterprises and family-run businesses on asset structuring and succession planning.
Insurance law: the firm specializes in guiding insurance companies and insured entities through complex insurance and damage claims. Services include: handling major claims, coordinating mass litigation, overseeing complex legal proceedings, forensic examinations and risk assessments.
Insolvency and restructuring: the firm has for decades long been a leading firm for insolvency and restructuring and has in recent years advised on almost every major insolvency/restructuring case in Austria. Key strength areas include in particular: advice on restructuring and insolvency (in and out of court), insolvency administration, distressed M&A, voidance law, capital replacement law, capital maintenance law, insolvency dispute resolution and international insolvency law.
IP and IT: advice on all areas of intellectual property law and information technology spanning from the registration of trade marks, strategic advice on trade mark creation, and development and the protection of all sorts of intellectual property claims (including patent rights).
International trade/foreign trade law and sanctions: the firm advises clients on the regulations of international trade in goods and services and focus on national and multinational export control restrictions and economic sanctions. The group assists with bespoke contractual arrangements, litigate contentious matters before administrative and criminal tribunals and manage exposure to legal risks through trade due diligence advice.
Projects/procurement and infrastructure: the firm is renowned for its advisory work on large-scale projects especially in the infrastructure and transport sector (PPP projects and project finance), leading expertise on preparation and structuring of procurements, conduct of procurement proceedings and on advising private bidders in their procurement participation (classic and sectorial area).
Real estate and construction: the firm provides comprehensive advice relating to real estate and property spanning real estate transactions in the form of asset and share deals, project development, real estate financing including collateral agreements, developer and condominium agreements, building rights agreements, rent/lease (commercial and housing), leasing, special licence agreements and Austrian property transaction law.
Regulatory: the firm provides comprehensive advice in a wide variety of areas of public commercial law. Pertaining to pharmaceuticals and medical devices, the services range from product approval to the choice of a suitable distribution structure and advertising restrictions. Further areas are regulations on hospitals and social insurances regarding fees for panel doctors, national insurance contract partner law (ASVG) and legal problems of pension and health care funds.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking and finance | Stefan Weileder | s.weileder@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Banking and finance | Ferdinand Graf | f.graf@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Competition and antitrust | Ferdinand Graf | f.graf@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Compliance and white-collar crime | Alexander Isola | a.isola@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Compliance and white-collar crime | David Seidl | d.seidl@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Corporate/M&A | Ferdinand Graf | f.graf@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Data protection | Marija Križanac | m.krizanac@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Dispute resolution and litigation | Jakob Widner | j.widner@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Employment law and expats | Jakob Widner | j.widner@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Estate planning/trust and estates | Armenak Utudjian | a.utudjian@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Insurance law | Sebastian Mahr | s.mahr@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Insolvency and restructuring | Alexander Isola | a.isola@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Insolvency and restructuring | Stefan Weileder | s.weileder@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| IP and IT | Claudia Csáky | c.csaky@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| International trade/foreign trade law and sanctions | Marija Križanac | m.krizanac@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Projects/procurement and infrastructure | Marija Križanac | m.krizanac@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Real estate and construction | Armenak Utudjian | a.utudjian@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
| Regulatory | Jakob Widner | j.widner@grafisola.at | (+43 1) 401 17-0 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Dr Claudia Csáky | Claudia Csákys practice covers the entire field of intellectual property law with… | View Profile |
|
Dr Ferdinand Graf | Ferdinand Graf heads the M&A, competition and cartel law practice groups. He… | View Profile |
|
Dr Sebastian Mahr | Sebastian Mahr is a partner in the dispute resolution practice group and… | View Profile |
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Dr Armenak Utudjian | Armenak Utudjian is recognized as an expert especially in the fields of… | View Profile |
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Mag Jakob Widner | Jakob Widner heads the firm’s Labour and Employment Law Practice and has… | View Profile |