Regional general counsel & group compliance officer | ANDRITZ AG
Senior legal counsel, head of global practice area | ANDRITZ AG
Head of Legal, Compliance & Risk Management Department Southeast Europe | Schenker & CO AG
Head of Legal Department | Wirtschaftskammer Wien
Head of group legal and compliance | TÜV AUSTRIA HOLDING AG
General counsel South East Europe | Siemens Energy Austria
Head of central legal services | Greiner AG
General counsel (Head of legal, compliance and insurance) | Kwizda Holding GmbH
Group general counsel & chief compliance officer | HOERBIGER
General counsel/head of group legal | SPAR Österreichische Warenhandels-AG
Head of Legal & Compliance | Bundesrechenzentrum GmbH
Regional Compliance Officer Central/Eastern Europe/CIS | thyssenkrupp AG
Group compliance officer and general counsel | IMS Nanofabrication
Head of legal (Austria and Switzerland) | ALD Automotive Fuhrparkmanagement und Leasing GmbH
Head of legal and compliance | Liechtensteinische Landesbank (Österreich) AG
Vienna Group Lead International Legal/PPP Department | STRABAG
General counsel | Niederösterreichische Verkehrs-organisationsges.m.b.H
Head of legal and compliance | Wiener Stadtwerke GmbH (Vienna Utilities Services Group)
Country legal director, ethics and compliance officer | Coca-Cola
Head of legal affairs Austria | ALSTOM Transport Austria
General counsel/Managing Director Zürich Service GmbH / ZSG (subsidiary of Zurich) | Zürich Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
Head of legal and Corporate Affairs Director | Tobaccoland Handels GmbH & Co KG
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.’
The Legal 500 was pleased to host the launch of the GC Powerlist: Hong Kong 2025, in association with Jones Day, LexisNexis, and SS&C Intralinks. The event brought together many of Hong Kong’s most esteemed in-house legal leaders for an evening of insightful discussion and networking.
The evening commenced with opening remarks from Joelle Lau, Partner in Charge at Jones Day Hong Kong, who set the scene with her perspectives on the evolving role of general counsel in Asia.
This was followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring Noel Francisco, former Solicitor General of the United States, and Partner at Jones Day’s Washington, DC office, who offered valuable perspectives on who shared his vision of what makes an exceptional lawyer, emphasising the importance of client trust, integrity, and commitment to doing what is right.
Cindy Hui, Global General Counsel of Alibaba, delivered the keynote address, sharing practical insights on building diverse legal teams, enhancing predictability in legal operations, and leveraging AI to drive efficiency in legal practice.
The event concluded with a drink’s reception, where guests enjoyed the opportunity to connect with peers in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
We extend our sincere thanks to all our distinguished speakers for their valuable contributions, and to Jones Day, LexisNexis, and SS&C Intralinks for their support in recognising Hong Kong’s outstanding general counsel community.
