Dr Nikolaus Pitkowitz > Pitkowitz & Partners > Vienna, Austria > Lawyer Profile

Pitkowitz & Partners
Schwarzenbergplatz 3
1010
Austria

Work Department

Dispute Resolution

Position

Partner

Career

Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz is founding partner and head of dispute resolution at Pitkowitz & Partners, and President of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC).

Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz is considered one of the leading Austrian arbitration practitioners having acted as arbitrator and party counsel in over 130 international disputes, in a range from smaller to multibillion cases. Among others he acted as counsel in the largest ever pending arbitration in Austria, as well as in arbitrations seated across Europe, in the Americas and in Asia. He also regularly acts in high profile litigations, including class actions, in front of state courts and the European Court of Justice. Industries and matters covered include energy, automotive, telecoms, arts, post M&A, real estate and construction.

Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz holds law degrees from Universities of Vienna (JD and PhD) and Sankt Gallen, Switzerland (MBL) and is also qualified and certified as a mediator.

Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz is arbitrator and panel member of all leading arbitration institutions, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). He also acts as Vice-chair of the International Arbitration Committee of the Section of International Law of the American Bar Association (ABA). Furthermore, Dr. Pitkowitz is active as counsel in real estate projects and currently serves as chair of the Advisory Board of the IBA Real Estate Section, the world’s largest association of real estate practitioners.

Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz frequently speaks, lectures and is author of over 50 publications, including a monograph on Setting Aside Arbitral Awards and the Handbook on Third Party Funding in International Arbitration. He is also co-editor of the Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration and co-organizer of the Vienna Arbitration Days.

Pitkowitz & Partners is a leading international law firm based in Vienna, with a distinct focus on international arbitration, ranked by GAR 100 among the world’ s leading practices.

Languages

English, German

Memberships

Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz is President of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC), arbitrator and panel member of all leading arbitration institutions, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). He also acts as Vice-chair of the International Arbitration Committee of the Section of International Law of the American Bar Association (ABA) and as Court Member of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CIMAC).

Education

  • 2004: Admission as Certified Mediator
  • 1999: University St.Gallen, M.B.L.- (Master of European Business Law)
  • 1991: Georgetown University, School of Law (Orientation in the US Legal System)
  • 1984: University of Vienna, legal faculty, Mag.iur (Master) and Dr. iur. (Ph.D)

Lawyer Rankings

Austria > Dispute resolution: arbitration and mediation

(Leading individuals)

Nikolaus Pitkowitz – Pitkowitz & Partners

Since its spin-off in 2021, Pitkowitz & Partners has seen a sharp increase in terms of team size, mandates and client instructions as a result of its ‘unrivalled expertise and dedication to the cause‘. Under the guidance of joint practice heads Nikolaus Pitkowitz and Roxanne de Jesus, the group is frequently involved in international arbitration proceedings spanning multiple jurisdictions and a breadth of industries, including construction, energy, real estate, technology, and media. Pitkowitz was elected President of VIAC in 2022. Senior associate Peter Machherndl joined from CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH in September 2022.

Austria > Dispute resolution: commercial litigation

Since its spin-off in 2021, Pitkowitz & Partners has expanded its portfolio, representing national and international clients in a broad spectrum of contentious matters, including class-action litigation arising in the construction, energy, real estate, technology, and media sectors. The practice is headed by Nikolaus Pitkowitz and Roxanne De Jesus.