MMag Dr Bernt Elsner > CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH > Vienna, Austria > Lawyer Profile

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s competition practice group is characterised by a strong track record, and covers the full range of competition law from advice on cartels, vertical agreements, merger control, distribution agreements, state aid, foreign direct investments and compliance, to private antitrust litigation. Led by Bernt Elsner and Dieter Zandler, the team acts for domestic and international claimants and defendants in multiple jurisdictions, often at the intersection of public procurement law. Due to its strong global network, the team can provide its local and international clients with a comprehensive dawn raid package.

The group at CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH works across the energy sector, and has recently been highly active in mandates relating to transport and renewable energy. Bernt Elsner leads the firm’s public procurement group, while Thomas Hamerl leads the energy and climate change sector group. Construction law expert Nikolaus Weselik completes the roster of key contacts at leadership level. The group is consequently able to operate as a cross-practice team with a broad offering, as well as a targeted national team with deep sector knowledge.

The group at CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH is particularly prolific when it comes to PPP projects and work in the infrastructure and healthcare sectors, and the team is lauded for its ability to handle complex procurement projects. Practice head Bernt Elsner is referred to by one client as ‘the mastermind behind the well-coordinated team‘, and often works on contentious issues stemming from public procurement matters. On the regulatory side, Robert Keisler and Thomas Hamerl are the key names to note.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH focuses on providing advice at the intersection of public and commercial law, assisting energy and pharmaceuticals clients with matters ranging from trade and EU state aid work to regulatory and construction mandates. The practice routinely represents clients before the state and federal administrative courts in addition to the constitutional court and has been involved in complex litigation in relation to the Austrian government’s Covid policies. Public procurement, EU and antitrust law specialist Bernt Elsner and public commercial law expert Robert Keisler lead the practice, while Thomas Hamerl is responsible for energy and construction law matters in addition to public procurement work.