Austria 2025

It is my pleasure to announce another edition of Legal 500’s GC Powerlist: Austria. The 2025 edition of the Powerlist once again recognises some of the pre-eminent in-house counsel across the country.

I would like to congratulate all those featured in this year’s Powerlist and thank everyone who took part in the research process.

Throughout our conversations with general counsel from an array of companies across different sectors, several recurring themes emerged – ones that in-house counsel should keep in mind. As Dr. Michael Stelzel, group general counsel and chief compliance officer at HOERBIGER, points out, ‘extremely fast-moving sanctions regimes and geopolitical economic and political power games’ are forcing organisations to stay on top – and ahead – of various emerging trends. And in-house counsel are often at the forefront of these efforts.

Among the most frequently cited issues were AI and digitalisation. Philip Pauser, group general counsel at Alpega, cited AI as ‘a key trend, if not the key trend’. As AI continues to impact the way that companies operate, GCs are having to strike a balance between embracing new technology and maintaining the high standard expected of legal departments. Amanda Neil, general counsel at Head Group, notes: ‘law is an area which demands a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, and some tools are not yet adequate to the task.’

However, as AI continues to be incorporated into organisations and the legal sector more widely, Dr. Roswitha Stöllner, general counsel at SPAR Österreichische Warenhandels-AG, reminds us that ‘the potential for efficiency and accuracy gains is significant and worth monitoring closely’.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns are also a priority for many in-house counsel across Austria – despite ongoing global political shifts – as GCs play an integral part in the adoption of ESG initiatives. Mario Zlattinger, Head of Legal Austria and Switzerland at ALD Automotive Fuhrparkmanagement und Leasing, emphasises that the GC ‘plays a critical leadership role in embedding ESG principles into the corporate fabric.’ He examines several ways in which in-house counsel can ensure that they carry out this crucial role, from training to curating the very culture of the company.

After all, as Christian W. Schaumann, Head of Central Legal Services at Greiner, points out: ‘ESG principles and compliance is not a trend, but a business enabler and a potential USP in the competition for sustainable business opportunities.’

And, as the majority of our honourees agreed, in-house counsel are are integral to organisational success. As Nicole Christ, Head of Legal (EU/CIS & META) at RHI Magnesita GmbH, puts it: ‘legal acumen is, of course, foundational, but the ability to apply that expertise in a commercially pragmatic, risk-balanced way is what really adds value to the business.’

Name

Industries

Powerlist

Adam Kozielski

Alexander Höller

Alexander Krause

Alexander Schall

Alexey Gorlatov

Amanda Neil

Benim Saric

Christian Siller

Christian Sparl

Christoph Löhmann

Christoph Oswald

Christopher Fischer

Claudia Lettner

Constantin Fladerer-Burgess

DDr. Manuela Kohl

Derik Zusann

Dr. Bernard Reviczky

Dr. Christian W. Schaumann

Dr. Gefion Hauer

Dr. Jasmin Hintner

Dr. Jonas Hermann

Dr. Michael Stelzel

Dr. Peter Lachinger

Dr. Roswitha Stöllner

Elias Pressler

Elvira Schmid

Ernest Jędrzejewski

Eva Hickl

Eva Ritter

Fabian Reinisch

Florian Wirth

Franz Fazekas

Franz-Michael Hohensinn

Gerald Watzinger

Gregor Gessner

Hannelore Schulz-Schmidt

Hasmik Baroian-Haftvani

Ingo Steinwender

Jakob Geyer

Johannes Tuerk

Karl Wagner

Katerina Schenkova

Katharina Majchrzak

Katja Tautscher

Katrin Rauch

Klemens Keferboeck

Lucia Kautzky

Majda Meric Iljazovic

Manfred Klika

Manuel Ritt-Huemer

Marc Schütt

Maria Lepushitz

Marielouise Gregory

Mario Zlattinger

Martin Lukas

Meera Ramakrishnan

Melis Mani

Michael Pelzl

Michael Zane-Svoboda

Michaela Mayr

Michal Stofko

Nicole Christ

Nora Frizberg

Norbert Pannagl

Odett Pászti

Patricia Leeb

Peter Hiller

Philip Pauser

Renata Hrnjak

Renate Krenn

Richard Zingl

Rita Wittmann

Robert Gulla

Robert Ranftler

Roland Ebenhoch

Roland Schreiner