AKELA leverages capabilities across both banking and capital markets matters, catering to start-ups and medium-sized companies, as well as multinational corporations, banks and insurance companies. Regulatory expert Martin Pichler co-heads the team alongside Michael Kollik, who handles financing matters. The team was bolstered by the arrival of Michail Fouzailov and Alexander Schultmeyer , both formerly of DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH, in January 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Martin Pichler is an excellent lawyer. He has big knowledge of the market and knows how to solve difficult tasks.'
- ‘AKELA is an up-and-coming law firm. They are strongly engaged with the fintech and crypto community and have a deep market understanding.’
- 'They are hands-on and fun to work with.'
- 'The team is very creative and solves tasks fast.'
- 'The team has an incredible knowledge about Austrian banking and securities regulation and a deep insight into the regulator's work.'
- ‘Michael Kollik stands out with his tremendous knowledge and application of banking regulations on the national and international level. He also is incredibly capable of identifying and supporting in our business decisions.’
Key clients
- CMTA AG
- OeKB CSD GmbH
- Wiener Börse AG
- CCP Austria Abwicklungsstelle für Börsegeschäfte GmbH
- Bluefin Payment Systems LLC
- PRIVATCONSULT Vermögensverwaltung GmbH
- EXAA Abwicklungsstelle für Energieprodukte AG
- Sunrise Securities GmbH
- Landfair Capital Limited
- Venionaire Invest GmbH
Work highlights
Advised CMTA AG on connecting to the SWIFT network, the Austrian National Bank, and on capital market infrastructures.
Advised an SPV belonging to Landfair and its local joint venture partner in acquiring a Marriott hotel in an off-market deal.
Advised the EXAA Austrian Electricity Exchange on its market expansion into France and Belgium.
Practice head
Martin Pichler; Michael Kollik
Other key lawyers
Alexander Schultmeyer; Michail Fouzailov