DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH is able to assist clients active across a range of sectors with their real estate transactions, but is particularly adept at handling deals in the hospitality sector, overseeing the acquisition and divestment of single hotels and portfolios thereof. Development projects also fall within the group’s purview. Birgit Kraml leads the practice, offering expertise in transactions, including distressed deals, development projects within Austria and across the CEE region, Austrian tenancy law and real estate-driven litigation. Magdalena Krasser, who joined the team from KWR Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH in June 2025, brings a specialisation in leasing matters and issues tied to construction and project development.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The DLA team in Vienna is highly competent, very responsive and always available to clients! You couldn't wish for a better collaboration.’
- ‘Birgit Kraml, in particular, is always available to answer questions and provides answers ad hoc and quickly. Her approach is always well-founded, understandable and strategically forward-looking.’
- ‘Birgit Kraml has exceptional skills with regards to broader real estate law and a deep technical understanding of all relevant steps when it comes to real estate. She also has a very direct, hands-on approach, very fast delivery, a high degree of collaboration, and a very efficient way of working and delivery of tailor-made services. All in all, one of the best real estate teams in Austria.’
- ‘To hire Birgit Kraml as head of their Austrian real estate practice was a lucky punch for DLA Piper. Birgit is a highly versatile and highly competent individual. She is able to play the game very competently, from transactions to litigation and will probably within the next years bring the firm onto the radar screen in real estate in Austria.’
Key clients
- Intercontinental Hotels Group
- Unibail Rodamco Westfield
- Ibersol Group
- Deka-Immobilien Fokus Büro Wien GmbH
- Bob W
- Erlinger Holding GmbH
Work highlights
Advised Intercontinental Hotels Group on its €110.5m acquisition of the Ruby Group hotel brand, comprising 20 hotels across Europe and 10 additional planned sites.
Assisted the Ibersol Group with its entry into the Austrian market and the negotiation of a hotel lease agreement for a hotel in Vienna.
Assisted Bob W with its entry into the Austrian market by setting up an Austrian company and negotiating a forward deal for a hotel in Vienna.
Practice head
Birgit Kraml
Other key lawyers
Magdalena Krasser