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

Pitkowitz & Partners
Schwarzenbergplatz 3
1010
Austria

Work Department

Dispute Resolution

Position

Founding 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. He acted as party counsel and arbitrator in over 130 international disputes, in a range from smaller to multibillion cases, located in Europe, the United States and Asia. Most notable is his role 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 has also acted as party counsel in a variety of complex litigation proceedings and has handled cases of great public interest, including before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Dr. Pitkowitz is experienced in a variety of industries, including energy, automotive, telecommunications, 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 Court Member of the Casablanca International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (CIMAC) and as Vice-chair of the International Arbitration Committee of the Section of International Law of the American Bar Association (ABA). 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, based in Vienna, is a leading commercial law firm. The firm is focused on international arbitration and complex litigation, as well as on real estate and construction law. Pitkowitz & Partners is ranked by GAR 100 among the world’s leading arbitration firms.

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

Described as ‘quick, sharp and experienced,’ Pitkowitz & Partners specialises in international and high stakes arbitration, and acts in a range of sectors including construction, energy, technology and real estate. The team is jointly steered by ‘international arbitration star’ Nikolaus Pitkowitz, who continues to be nominated as arbitrator in various high-profile disputes while also regularly acting as counsel, and Roxanne de Jesus with her focuses on cross-border litigation and arbitration with special experience in the field of joint venture disputes.

Austria > Dispute resolution: commercial litigation

Pitkowitz & Partners operates across a range of sectors, with the team’s recent workload including disputes in the manufacturing, retail and energy sectors. Nikolaus Pitkowitz has a track record of real estate disputes, and leads the group alongside Roxanne de Jesus, who focuses on advising international clients in cross-border litigation. Peter Machherndl joined the firm in September 2022 from CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH, with his practice extending to advice on investment-related claims, corporate disputes and class actions.