‘One of the leading teams in the country’, Cerha Hempel operates across the whole spectrum of high-volume sales, acquisitions, and corporate governance advice. In particular, the team offers notable experience with transactions across the CEE region and regularly works with experts from the firm’s international offices on cross-border transactions. The ‘brilliant’ Clemens Hasenauer heads the corporate transaction department, while the corporate & commercial practice stands under the leadership of Johannes Aehrenthal. Albert Birkner leads the takeover & antitrust practice and praised by clients as ‘the best M&A lawyer in Austria’, with his practice also including corporate reorganizations and joint ventures. Alexander Reich-Rohrwig, Jakob Hartig, and Christoph Reiter were promoted to partner in 2023. Nadine Leitner is further important member of the team.
Commercial, corporate and M&A in Austria
Cerha Hempel
Practice head(s):
Clemens Hasenauer; Albert Birkner; Johannes Aehrenthal
Other key lawyers:
Wolfgang Sindelar; Thomas Trettnak; Nadine Leitner; Christoph Reiter
Testimonials
‘The team is very thorough and extremely responsive.’
‘Thomas Trettnak is very pragmatic and brings calm experience to the table. Christoph Reiter is very dedicated and always on top of things.’
‘The team is one of the leading teams in the country. They are engaged in a number of high=profile transactions. Collaboration is always smooth and seemless.’
‘Thomas Trettnak and Christoph Reiter are well regarded in the market and offer quick and commercially viable solutions to legal problems. They also integrate well in multi-disciplinary teams of accountants, lawyers and other advisors. ’
‘Full-service law firm covering all legal areas relevant for industrials, depth of team and international network ’
‘All lawyers have excellent legal ability and provide business driven advice. Stand-out partners are Clemens Hasenauer and Johannes Prinz. ’
‘The commercial, corporate & M&A practice combines both, outstanding legal skills and the ability to find common ground and viable solutions.’
‘Albert Birkner is the best M&A lawyer in Austria. He is excellent in advising on large transactions as well as SME matters. Clemens Hasenauer is also brilliant. Nadine Leitner is one to watch.’
Key clients
XXXLutz Group
RHI Magnesita Group
IFF International Flavors & Fragrences Inc
AIK Banka a.d.
Gorenjska Banka d.d.
Agri Europe Cyprus Limited
OMV AG
Motion Pictures Licensing Company International Limited
Wien Holding GmbH
OMNES Capital
HeldYn Care GmbH
Stadlmann Tec GmbH
Modul University
Investors in XUND
Vonovia
BUWOG Holding GmbH
FAM AB
NC Management GmbH
NC Growth Fund I GmbH & Co KG
Frequentis Group
STRAGAG SE
FWU
Work highlights
- Advised XXXLutz Group on a share acquisition establishing a 50/50 partnership in Black Red White Group.
- Advised RHI Magnesita GmbH on the acquisition of shareholdings in several Seven Refractories subsidiaries operating in Europe, India and US.
- Advised publicly-listed International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. 3 on the Austrian aspects of a sales transaction, which included Savory Solutions Group.
Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)
Embedded in the firm’s international network, Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)‘s multidisciplinary team delivers first-rate expertise on M&A transactions across the whole CEE region and is also recommended for corporate reorganisations, in particular in the banking and insurance sector. Another standout feature is the wide range of sector knowledge the group provides, covering industries such as energy, financial institutions, telecoms, technology and healthcare. Practice head Roman Perner has a track record of cross-border restructurings and mergers, while Sascha Hödl is described by clients as ‘very knowledgable in all corporate and commercial matters’. Christian Herbst‘s practice encompasses venture capital, public takeover, and corporate finance transactions, whereas Sascha Schulz is regularly instructed by clients from the construction, real estate, financial and telecom sectors. M&A expert Maximilian Lang is another key contact.
Practice head(s):
Roman Perner
Other key lawyers:
Alexander Popp; Sascha Hödl; Christian Herbst; Maximilian Lang; Markus Piuk; Sascha Schulz
Testimonials
‘I appreciate their footprint in CEE and their ability to deliver first-tier advice in the markets they operate in. I do not only appreciate their pragmatic approach, but also their in-depth understanding of commercial topics and how they interplay with the legal side.’
‘My contact person in M&A is Markus Piuk. He is calm and deliberate and at the same time has reached a level of seniority which allows him to accept all challenges of international M&A. ’
‘What truly sets Thomas Kulnigg’s team apart, especially in the realms of startups, venture capital and technology, is their unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding services. They exhibit a remarkable ability to stay at the forefront of the industry, ensuring that clients benefit from the latest developments and trends. Their pragmatic approach to problem-solving is refreshing, always presenting practical solutions to complex challenges.’
‘The team we have been working with can deal with all our complex questions as they have the large Schoenherr lawyer team (both domestic and abroad) to turn to. Our contacts are easy to talk to and can grasp the submitted problems quickly, their answers are complete, accurate and arrive within given deadlines.’
‘Roman Perner has in-depth experience within his field. He enjoys what he is doing, and his team works very well together. The bundled expertise of the team is very valuable to us and supports our strategic decisions.’
‘Broad team, strong expertise and network.’
‘Sascha Hödl: Vvery knowledgable in all corporate and commercial matters.’
‘Maximilian Lang has been providing strategic and pragmatic advice. He is competent, responsive and fully dedicated.’
Key clients
360kompany
América Móvil
Andritz AG
AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals
ARZ Allgemeines Rechenzentrum GmbH
Benteler International AG
Bilfinger Industrial Services Österreich GmbH
Blue Minds Group
BPE 4
Brau Union Oesterreich AG
Cargo-Partner Group Holding AG
Carrier Global Corporation
Caverion
Cerba HealthCare
coeo Inkasso GmbH
Credendo
Deutsche Post AG
Deutsche Telekom
ECOwind Handels- & Wartungs GmbH
Enery Development GmbH
Erste Group
Eucodis Bioscience
Findologic
FirmenABC
Fressnapf SE
Funke Mediengruppe
Gropyus AG
HAR GmbH
HARPS Global
Herba Chemosan
HS Timber Group
Immigon Portfolioabbau
IMMOFINANZ
Interglobe Enterprises Limited
Kellogg’s
Kontron
Liechtenstein Group
OBAG
OMV AG
OMV Petrom
P&I Personal und Informatik
Palfinger
Playbrush GmbH
Red Bull GmbH
REWE
RFR
Rhone Capital
Sanofi-Aventis GmbH
SanusX
SGL Carbon GmbH
Starwood Capital Group
Storyblok
Techbold
Thales Group
UBS Europe SE
UNICORN-Biotech Holding GmbH
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
UNIQA Group
Verbund AG
voestalpine Stahl GmbH
Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA
Wiesenthal Autohandels AG
x+bricks
Zech Bau
Work highlights
- Advised Carrier Global Corporation alongside Linklaters on its acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions in a cash and stock transaction is valued at €12bn.
- Advised Cargo-Partner as global lead counsel on the sale of the entire Cargo-Partner Group to Nippon Express Holdings Inc. for €1.4bn.
- Advised Deutsche Telekom AG alongside Gleiss Lutz on the sale of a majority stake in its towers business to a bidding consortium for €17bn.
Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG
With a particularly strong M&A practice and numerous offices across Central and South Eastern Europe, Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG maintains a client roster that encompasses strategic investors, venture capital clients, financial institutions as well as national and international corporations and has developed a particular specialism for clearing transactions under FDI approval proceedings. The team is jointly steered by Horst Ebhardt, who specialises in cross-border M&A, private equity and restructuring transactions, and Florian Kusznier, who is recommended for advice on joint ventures, public takeovers and corporate governance as part of his wide M&A practice. Kusznier also covers ESG-related topics alongside Sarah Wared, while Hartwig Kienast has acted in numerous transactions in the infrastructure, energy, consumer goods and pharmaceutical sectors.
Practice head(s):
Horst Ebhardt; Florian Kusznier
Other key lawyers:
Doris Buxbaum; Clara Gordon; Sarah Wared; Christian Mikosch; Hartwig Kienast
Testimonials
‘High professional competence with a personal touch. Polite and respectful lawyers.’
‘There is no question about the team’s professional competence and highly appreciated pragmatism. The team was courteous, listened attentively, and was at the same time transparent about potential weaknesses in the client’s legal position.’
‘The team is led by an excellent professional, Horst Ebhardt, who takes over responsibility for the whole team, assigns individual contacts and is ready to contribute with his excellent technical knowledge, professional expertise and great business skills.’
‘Horst Ebhardt really leads the team with a hands-on approach. The team has very good technical skills and is perfectly organized.’
‘We consider Wolf Theiss to be the corporate law firm in Central and Eastern Europe. ’
‘Horst Ebhardt is the gold standard – a great lawyer and a wonderful human being.’
Key clients
ista
Farner International
Müller Transporte
Oracle
Österreichische Beteiligungs
Tofane
H2 Energy Europe
Katharo Ventures
Hartree Partners
ŠKODA Group
Bain Capital
Telix Pharmaceuticals
DOCUFY
CPI Property Group
GastroDat
Geodis
Work highlights
- Advised CPI Property Group on a mandatory €1.2bn takeover offer by devising a unique structure to abolish a voting cap in S IMMO AG’s articles.
- Advised Czech-based group AGROFERT on all legal and regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Borealis’ nitrogen business across Europe, which includes plant nutrients, melamine and technical nitrogen.
- Advised high-speed broadband operator Magenta on all legal aspects regarding the set-up of its joint venture with renowned European investor Meridiam.
Binder Grösswang
Binder Grösswang shows particular strength in private equity matters with an international focus and works together seamlessly with other teams of the firms such as tax, banking and finance and dispute resolution to comfortably handle the full spectrum of M&A transactions. Both Thomas Schirmer and the ‘excellent M&A and general corporate lawyer’ Philipp Kapl are among the firm’s key contacts for cross-border transactions, as are Florian Khol, who is also well-versed in auction proceedings and public takeovers, and Andreas Hable, whose focus areas include reorganisations, international tax structuring, and corporate governance.
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Schirmer; Andreas Hable; Florian Khol; Gottfried Gassner; Christian Zwick; Philipp Kapl; Michael Kutschera
Testimonials
‘Highly competent and approachable team. Understand the client’s needs and act appropriately. Trusted advisor.’
‘Andreas Hable: highly competent and pragmatic approach.’
‘They are able to address all areas of Austrian law and provide practical examples from their past experiences. They relate well to American clients, quickly and directly getting to the point. ’
‘Philip Kapl is an excellent M&A and general corporate lawyer. He is incredibly effective in communicating with busy American GCs and legal teams, functioning more as an extension of them than as traditional outside counsel. He also communicates very effectively with business clients, with practical and direct advice, earning the role of trusted advisor.’
‘Very strong team of experts with deep industry knowledge. Easy to work with and very responsive.’
‘Outstanding legal advice, individuals are hands on and very compatible to large corporations as well as mid sized companies’
‘The Binder Grösswang teams has a comprehensive understanding of our business and the challenges we are facing. Needless to say, that their legal knowledge is top notch and always up to date.’
‘The partners we work with are highly experienced in supporting the transactions we are running and are not shy from adding their experience in order to ensure processes run smoothly and all goals are achieved to our full satisfaction. In addition, they are proactively taking responsibility and think critically, when needed. ’
Key clients
Apleona GmbH
Aptiv
Attestor Capital LLP, Interritus Limited
Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH
Beycelik Holding
Biome Diagnostics GmbH
BNP Paribas
Cerberus Frontier
ChargePoint Holdings
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
CPB Software
Cryoshelter GmbH
DOM Security
Dussmann Group
EIC Fund
Eurogast Österreich GmbH
Gemspring Management LLC
Grissemann Gesellschaft m.b.H
Lenzing Fibers GmbH
Limestone Investment GmbH
Linde Verlag
Macquarie Asset Management
Mubadala
Mutares SE & Co. KGaA
Nissan Center Europe GmbH Niederlassung Österreich
ORLEN S.A.
PAI Partners
Semperit AG Holding
Swiss Life Asset Management
Trill Impact
Trimetis AG
Work highlights
- Advised Polish energy company ORLEN S.A. on the acquisition of the petrol stations network Turmöl.
- Advised Semperit Aktiengesellschaft Holding on the acquisition of Rico Group.
- Advised indirect shareholders of Kommunalkredit Austria AG on the sale of their shares to Altor.
bpv Hügel
Praised by clients for ‘delivering beyond expectation’, bpv Hügel's diverse caseload primarily encompasses corporate and M&A matters, with a particular specialism in multi-jurisdictional transactions. Co-head Thomas Lettau is described as a 'first choice for complex transactions across all industries’, whereas co-head Elke Napokoj‘s broad practice includes advice on acquisitions and spin-offs. With an ‘excellent understanding of the financial industry’, Christoph Nauer handles numerous of the firm’s most complex and high-volume mandates.
Practice head(s):
Elke Napokoj; Thomas Lettau
Other key lawyers:
Florian Gibitz; Christoph Nauer; Stefan Gaug
Testimonials
‘We were always extremely fund of their way to negotiate and structure the deals.’
‘Exceptional collaboration with Thomas Lettau. He and his team are delivering beyond expectation. ’
‘Great communication, vast experience, down-to-earth approach. ’
‘We highly recommend the firm. Fantastic service. They have an incredible track record across the board. Really first-class advice and go-to firm for corporate, M&A, finance and capital markets in particular. Really excellent corporate/M&A department, first choice for complex, high-value transactions. bpv has a strong presence in CEE, giving it an edge in cross-border matters.’
‘A key-person is Christoph Nauer. You want him on your side: smart, calm and strategic. He has an impressive track record in public M&A, great corporate know-how and an excellent understanding of the financial industry. We further recommend Thomas Lettau as excellent corporate and M&A lawyer who is clearly first choice for complex transactions across all industries. He impressed with strong PE capabilities.’
‘Christoph Nauer – excellent in M&A und commercial law. Thomas Lettau – outstanding in negotiations.’
Key clients
IMMOFINANZ AG
RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG
Valenva SE
Unibail-Rodamco Westwood S.A.
BP Europa SE
VERBUND AG
OMV Aktiengesellschaft
HYPO NOE Landesbank
BAWAG P.S.K
Cemex S.A.
International Airlines Group
Vueling Airlines SA
Hookipa Biotech AG
REHAU Group
Enso hydro
Sapura Offshore SDN BHD
ISS Group
STRABAG SE
Zeus Packaging Group
AVS Marketingberatung Gesellschaft m.b.H.
DDS Digital Documentation Systems GmbH
dogado GmbH
eHydro 500
Haufe Group
KELLER AG für Druckmesstechnik
Würth Group
Global Hydro Energy GmbH
Aurelius Group
Mayr Melnhof Group
FRONIUS INTERNATIONAL GmbH
Work highlights
- Advised STRABAG SE on the €580m takeover offer of core shareholders combined with the €400m back-to-back acquisition of tendered shares as treasury shares.
- Advised Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 4 on the sale of Energie Steiermark stake to the Province of Styria for a purchase price of €525m.
- Advised European Directories Group, a portfolio company of PE house Triton Partners, on the sale of dogado group to the international private equity firm Cinven and investor Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH
CMS offers a wealth of experience in the financial services, packaging and telecoms industries and offers a specialism in advising foreign investors targeting domestic and regional companies, and is highlighted by clients as a ‘one-stop shop for multinational projects’. Peter Huber leads the team, combining corporate and M&A expertise to advise on corporate transactions, shareholder agreements, restructurings, and governance matters, while Alexander Rakosi bolsters the group’s offering with his ‘very good commercial understanding’ and M&A expertise. The firm promoted several members to partner in 2023, including Florian Mayer and David Kohl. Former co-head Rainer Wachter left the firm in January 2023.
Practice head(s):
Peter Huber
Other key lawyers:
Florian Mayer; Alexander Rakosi; Johannes Reich-Rohrwig; Clemens Grossmayer; David Kohl
Testimonials
‘Multi-perspective approach from legal and commercial standpoints. Very structured with excellent negotiation tactics and skills.’
‘Florian Mayer – 100% professionalism and competence. Full dedication to client‘s success.’
‘The CMS team, we have been working with, is a very reliable partner. They are truly professionals, not only when it comes to legal expertise but in particular when it comes to availability of the team and understanding of the issues of a transaction.’
‘Alexander Rakosi has a transparent and clear communication style and is always result-oriented. He also has a very good commercial understanding which is very helpful when negotiating the legal details of a transaction.’
‘CMS Austria are reliant, responsive and employ only the best in the field. They have a very well-structured practice and can always provide expert advise, even in complex industries. CMS is very convenient for multi-national projects that can be centrally coordinated by this one-stop shop.’
‘David Kohl is a very attentive, detail-orientated and efficient attorney. He was always ready to support us with all of our different requests during the M&A process and also provided excellent advice. He provides clear and precise information and is always on top of the developments. ’
‘Very good knowledge, to the point advice, clear and helpful answers.’
Key clients
B2 Holding ASA
Deutsche Telekom
Mayr-Melnhof Karton
Deutsche Private Equity
Shareholders of Panthronics
Best in Parking AG
ABB Asea Brown Boveri
Phillips 66 Limited
R.E.M.D.
Hasslacher Gruppe
ALPLA
Mutares
Milchwerk Jäger
Work highlights
- Advised B2 Holding ASA in eleven countries on an international M&A/restructuring project, including a multitude of share and assets deals in various jurisdictions as well as the establishment of a new European servicing set-up.
- Advised Deutsche Telekom on the Austrian law aspects of the sale of its Tower portfolio in Germany and Austria (aggregate value €17.5bn) to a consortium including Digital Bridge and Brookfield, with a focus on the long-term lease agreement and various buyback options.
- Advised the Mayr-Melnhof Group on the sale of two packaging branches in Russia to the local investor Granelle.
DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH
DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH's client base encompasses national and international companies, investment banks, and private equity firms, and the team particularly excels at handling cross-border M&A. Offering ‘exceptional legal advice’, Martin Brodey leads the private M&A as well as the CEE practice, while Andreas Mayr heads the public M&A practice group and specialises in complex multijurisdictional transactions as well as corporate governance and compliance matters. Christoph Brogyányi co-heads the firm’s corporate practice and is noted for his capabilities in reorganisations, joint ventures, squeeze-outs and corporate litigation. Patricia Backhausen co-heads the firm’s digital industries group and covers tech-related M&A transactions.
Practice head(s):
Martin Brodey; Andreas Mayr; Christoph Brogyányi
Other key lawyers:
Jürgen Kittel; Bernhard Rieder; Christian Ritschka; Patricia Backhausen
Testimonials
‘Very professional strong team with fast availability. Always solution-oriented approach. ’
‘Jürgen Kittel is highly responsive and has outstanding professional knowledge.’
‘Responsive and attentive advisors.’
‘This team, comprised of exceptional legal professionals, has consistently demonstrated their dedication, expertise, and commitment to delivering outstanding legal services. They have seamlessly coordinated efforts on numerous complex cases, displaying a remarkable ability to pool their talents and resources to achieve favorable outcomes for our clients.’
‘Martin Brodey has consistently exhibited exceptional legal expertise and a dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients. He has consistently displayed a strong work ethic and dedication to his responsibilities, as well as demonstrated strong leadership within the team. His ability to effectively coordinate efforts and motivate team members has been instrumental in our successful case outcomes’
‘The team is excellent – they are very client oriented, with a clear focus on ensuring they are available throughout the deal, no matter time or day. In difficult transactions, this becomes particularly important.’
‘Martin Brodey – an excellent senior lawyer, managing his team very well. Patricia Backhausen – ambitious, focused and solutions-oriented, you can really count on Patricia getting things done.’
‘I worked with Patricia Backhausen and she showed not only her expertise but also her enthusiasm to help the client solve problems. What’s more, Patricia was very thoughtful about the potential issues the client may encounter and could always attend to the client’s questions timely.’
Key clients
Croma-Pharma
Raiffeisen Beteiligungsholding
DigitalBridge Group, Inc
Brookfield
Sofiproteol
AVRIL Industrie
MELECS EWS
Merkur Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
BaseTech Ventures AG
Nosto Solutions Oy
ZF Friedrichshafen Group
CANCOM SE
IMMOFINANZ
PDFTron Systems
PDFTron Belgium Acquisition Co NV
Work highlights
- Advised Croma-Pharma on the first De-SPAC transaction in Austria.
- Advised DigitalBridge as Austrian counsel on the acquisition of GD Towers.
- Advised CANCOM SE on the €165m acquisition of K-Businesscom.
E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH
E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH fields a team of M&A experts and is particularly well versed in distressed transactions and post-M&A disputes. Peter Winkler leads the practice alongside real estate expert Alric Ofenheimer, whose offering encompasses advice on corporate law, private equity deals, and cross-border strategic transactions. Austria and New York-qualified lawyer Dominik Juster joined the team in November 2022 from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Johannes Feilmair, who has specialist knowledge of the pharma and biotech industries, was promoted to partner in July 2023 alongside ‘outstanding lawyer’ Stefan Jeitler .
Practice head(s):
Peter Winkler; Alric Ofenheimer
Other key lawyers:
Clemens Lanschuetzer; Marco Steiner; Philipp Nidal Karaman; Josef Schmidt; Stefan Jeitler, Johannes Feilmair
Testimonials
‘The team at this law firm is unique in that it brings together specialists from all areas. You are not only advised from a legal point of view, but especially in the field of M&A, you are also advised on accounting and tax issues. Another strength of the firm is the responsiveness of the entire team.’
‘Highly professional M&A practice, seasoned staff with a personal attitude. Good mixture of corporate and personal firm culture. ’
‘Philipp Schrader is both highly competent and pleasant to work with.’
‘The highly skilled M&A team is renowned for its exceptional capabilities and expertise in the field. Comprising a group of seasoned professionals, this team is well-equipped to handle complex M&A transactions with precision and proficiency.’
‘Clemens Lanschuetzer is a highly regarded M&A practitioner renowned for his expertise in navigating complex cross-border transactional environments.’
‘They are very distinguished lawyers and excellent experts, always available and can handle very complicated isues extremely well.’
‘Peter Winkler, Philipp Schrader and Steven Jeitler are outstanding lawyers. They are skilled, very experienced and responsive and pleasant to work with.’
‘Josef Schmidt has advised us on many transactions and has never let us down. He is very flexible, supportive, creative in finding compromises and has an immense knowledge. We always feel very comfortable to have him on our side.
Key clients
KBC Bank Group
Various Hypo Banks
Affiris Group
Materna Group
KKR
IFM Investors
IFM Global Infrastructure Fund
GRAWE Banking Group
B&C Privatstiftung
Kommunalkredit Austria AG
Wien Energie
Antin Infrastructure Partners
Wallenko Family
STARK Group
öGIG GmbH
Shareholder of TAC GmbH
KanAm Grund Group
Wienerger AG
BWT Group
Bregal Unternehmerkapital
Work highlights
- Advised the B&C group on a range of matters, including compliance and financial restructuring as well as post-M&A disputes.
- Advised Wienerberger AG on the acquisition of major business units of the Terreal Group.
- Advised the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund on its increased stake in Flughafen Wien Aktiengesellschaft, operating Austria’s main airport.
BRANDL TALOS Attorneys at law
‘Delivering an outstanding service’, BRANDL TALOS Attorneys at law combines proficiency in corporate and capital markets law with particularly strong regulatory expertise. The practice is well known for high-quality advice in the gaming & entertainment sector, which is a specialism of Thomas Talos, who leads the team alongside Roman Rericha. Stephan Strass was promoted to partner in January 2023 and is described by clients as ‘one of the upcoming stars in the M&A market’.
Practice head(s):
Roman Rericha; Thomas Talos
Other key lawyers:
Stephan Strass; Markus Arzt
Testimonials
‘Very dedicated team that combines profound legal knowledge with very good people skills and pragmatic solutions. They are very hands-on and pragmatic.’
‘Thomas Talos: Extremely knowledgeable, never uses too many words, and is able to really understand the client’s needs.’
‘Stephan Strass: young partner, extremely solid lawyer, but very business-minded and pragmatic. Has a great attitude and is always available. ’
‘The M&A team of is outstanding. They are delivering an outstanding service while focusing on commercially relevant issues. They always come up with good solutions when being confronted with obstacles.’
‘Thomas Talos is a star individual in the Austrian M&A market.’
‘Roman Rericha is a pleasure to work with, always constructive and respectful to the other side. ‘
‘Stephan Strass is definitely one of the upcoming stars in the M&A market. He is outstanding, very talented and focused on getting things done.’
‘Markus Arzt is one of the most talented professionals within the corporate/M&A market.’
Key clients
SPORTRADAR AG
Ring International Holding AG
Tipico Group Limited
APEX Ventures
C-QUADRAT
Exscientia GmbH
Quadrille Capital
MOSTLY AI Solutions MP GmbH
Hadean Ventures
AC Immune SA
LEA Partners
Cavalry Ventures
Invest Unternehmensbeteiligungs AG
Swarovski International Holding AG
Ready2order GmbH
KOMPAS Ventures
AGCF – Austrian Growth Capital Fund
Creandum VC
N26 GmbH
Work highlights
- Advised Sportradar on the acquisition of Vaix Group and the formation of a joint venture with Ringier Group in 2022.
- Advised Invest Unternehmensbeteiligung AG on several transactions, including an investment in an international company headquartered in Austria with subsidiaries and branches in Hungary, China, Mexico and the US.
- Advised LEA Partners on its first transaction in Austria.
DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Described by clients as an ‘excellent international M&A practice with global outreach and strong local expertise‘, DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH is known for acting in cross-border transactions in addition to handling matters related to governance and corporate reorganisations. The latter is a key specialism of practice head Elisabeth Stichmann, who is a key contact for the group’s US clients. Leading the firm’s private equity practice, Maria Doralt acts on many of the firm’s M&A matters, as does Christoph Mager, who is highlighted for being ‘very strong in negotiations’.
Practice head(s):
Elisabeth Stichmann
Other key lawyers:
Sabine Fehringer; Maria Doralt; Christoph Mager
Testimonials
‘Excellent international M&A practice with global outreach and strong local expertise. ’
‘Christoph Mager – very hands on and commercial, exceptionally client-oriented and hard working.’
‘Elisabeth Stichmann – a very disciplined and well-organized lawyer being able to handle and coordinate the most complex cross border transactions.’
‘Maria Doralt – a strong lawyer speaking multiple languages with excellent contacts with large corporates on the Austrian market.’
‘Very agile team, responsiveness is excellent. Very good combination of excellent research but also hands-on approach.’
‘Christoph Mager is always available when there is urgent need of advice on various topics. Very strong in negotiations.’
‘Elisabeth Stichmann is very committed, determined and very pleasant to deal with. Fully recommended.’
‘Maria Doralt is outstanding in personality as well as in know-how. She is the one to adress when you want your M&A deal to succeed.’
Key clients
Advanced Medical Solutions Group Plc
Airport Vienna AG
Avinos Investment GmbH
BRF GmbH
Capvis
Cube Infrastructure Partners
DN8 Networks Ltd
Fiege Austria GmbH
General Electric Company
Intercept pharmaceuticals
J&F Mineracao Ltda
KML Linear Motion Technology GmbH
Los Angeles Football Club
Leidos Inc
Merkur Sportwetten
Moestino Investments Limited
PetroRio
Pfizer
POLLMANN International GmbH
PORR AG
Pragmatech Limited
Renesas Electronics Corporation
Rudolf Heintel Gesellschaft m.b.H.
SIA Joom
Stephan Zöchling
Tyrolit AG
VCP Partners
Wilk Technologies Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised PetroRio, a Brazilian headquartered oil and gas company, on the acquisition of Dommo Energia SA.
- Advised Cube Infrastructure Partners on the acquisition of 70% of shares in Müller Logistics-Group.
Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners
Led by Markus Fellner, Paul Luiki, Florian Kranebitter, and Lukas Flener, Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners demonstrates particular prowess in corporate disputes, which it handles for a broad roster of clients in the banking, real estate, green tech and energy sectors. Luiki also covers the full range of M&A transactions, with a particular focus on cross-border matters, while Kranebitter contributes financing expertise. With special knowledge of syndicate agreements, Fellner’s portfolio encompasses advice on share acquisitions and the enforcement of minority rights.
Practice head(s):
Markus Fellner; Paul Luiki; Florian Kranebitter; Lukas Flener
Testimonials
‘Team is internationally thinking, straight to the point, and solution oriented.’
Key clients
Bawag Group
Bertsch Energy
Grand Casino Baden AG
GREENoneTEC Solar Industry GmbH
IKEA
Kommunalkredit Austria AG
Raiffeisen Bank International AG
S.E.M. Group
SORAVIA
Spielglück GmbH
Stadtcasino Baden AG
Steinhoff Group
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
Zucchetti s.p.a.
Work highlights
- Advised SORAVIA on the acquisition of shares in the Austrian hotel group Loisium Holding GmbH.
- Advised Target Kommunalkredit Austria AG on the acquisition of an 80% majority stake in Kommunalkredit by Swedish private equity investor Altor.
- Advising UniCredit Bank Austria on the enforcement of its substantial minority rights as a shareholder of the 3Banks Group.
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH
Offering a ‘perfect balance of expertise, speed and pragmatism’, Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH Kinsky remains a household name in the venture capital and start-up field. The team is jointly steered by Phillip Dubsky, the ‘highly skilled’ Philipp Kinsky, Florian Steinhart, and Christoph Wildmoser. Dubsky has a focus on advising tech companies on M&A and private equity transactions, whereas Wildmoser mainly advises private equity investors and corporates and contributes to the firm’s cross-border offering, which was further strengthened with the arrival of Johanna Höltl from DLA Piper in January 2023.
Practice head(s):
Phillip Dubsky;Philipp Kinsky; Florian Steinhart; Christoph Wildmoser
Other key lawyers:
Johanna Höltl
Testimonials
‘Extremly experienced, dedicated, commited. Deliver always on time.’
‘What makes the team unique is the perfect balance of expertise, speed and pragmatism.’
‘The team has a very strong combination of skills, dedication and a personal touch to make clients feel comfortable when choosing them. ’
Philipp Kinsky is a highly skilled, dedicated and pleasant individual and stands out in terms of the quality of interactions and outputs. ’
‘They always make time to explain things in detail. They are super informed about every aspect of the matter.’
‘The firm offers quick access to the relevant matter expert. Each expert is excellent in their area, highly customer-oriented, focussed on understanding the customer’s problem and offering feasible solutions in short time.’
‘Good industry knowledge and pragmatic approach.’
‘Alexander Lotz did a great job in pushing a difficult deal over the line.’
Key clients
UNIQA Insurance group
EMZ Partners
Intel Capital Corp
Province of Lower Austria
Nestlé SA
Storylution
Woom
Neoh Invest AG
basic AG
Work highlights
- Advised UNIQA Insurance Group as shareholder of listed STRABAG SE on a new syndicate with Haselsteiner Group and a mandatory tender offer.
- Advised Nestlé SA on the acquisition of pro medico Handels GmbH, a distribution company active in the trade of food supplements manufactured by Nestlé, by an Austrian group company of Nestlé SA.
- Herbst Kinsky advised NÖ Landes-Beteiligungs GmbH on the increase of its shareholding in Flughafen Wien AG, the operator of Vienna airport.
Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG
Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG is geared to act on M&A for both buyers and sellers across a range of industries, including the pharma, energy, financial and IT sectors. Leveraging the firm’s global network, the ‘highly skilled and experienced’ team demonstrates prowess in cross-border transactions, reorganizations and carve-outs. ESG-related topics are a specialism of Eva-Maria Ségur-Cabanac, who leads the team alongside Gerhard Hermann. Both are well-supported by Sophie Schubert.
Practice head(s):
Gerhard Hermann; Eva-Maria Ségur-Cabanac
Other key lawyers:
Phillip Stanek; Sophie Schubert
Testimonials
‘Excellent team of corporate, M&A and tax experts, highly skilled and experienced, well positioned in the Austrian market, very responsive and pleasant to work with. The Austrian team is well connected within the global Baker network which facilitates the management of global transactions. ’
‘Eva-Maria Ségur-Cabanac, Philipp Stanek, and Sophie Schubert form a great team covering the full range of corporate and tax advice necessary to implement global transactions, working in an efficient manner seamlessly with other counsels and inhouse teams. The team provides a good mix of senior and more junior resources that keep up the quality.’
‘The team has a great expertise in corporate and M&A. It´s a young and motivated team, managing the cases closely. Cooperation within the team and with experts across the fields of expertise within their organization works perfectly fine.’
Key clients
Accenture GmbH
ATOS
Thales SA
Sika
VINCI Energies S.A.
Colt Technologies Services
Refurbed
Johnson & Johnson
FCC
Sartorius BIA Separations separacijske technologije d.o.o.
New Mountain Capital
MOL Slovenia Downstream Investment B.V.
Work highlights
- Advised Accenture on the acquisition of the entire business of ARZ Allgemeines Rechenzentrum GmbH.
- Advising ATOS on a carve-out in preparation for a potential separation into two publicly listed companies.
- Advised Sika on an Austrian reorganization project implementing the carve-out of the concrete admixtures business.
Jank Weiler Operenyi
Fielding ‘outstanding, highly-reputed legal experts’, Jank Weiler Operenyi also benefits from connections to Deloitte Legal and deals with cross-border transactions, corporate reorganizations, as well general corporate and litigation matters. The ‘highly qualified’ Alexander Operenyi acts in various of the firm’s sales and acquisitions mandates, as does Maximilian Weiler, who leads the team alongside Operenyi. Andreas Jank is another important team member.
Practice head(s):
Alexander Operenyi; Maximilian Weiler
Other key lawyers:
Andreas Jank
Testimonials
‘Outstanding, highly-reputed legal experts embedded in a seamless one-stop-shop together with tax experts and financial advisory experts.’
‘Proactive solutions beyond mere analysis.’
‘Deep M&A expertise and pragmatic approach.’
‘Alexander Operenyi is both highly qualified and up-to-date in terms of his legal M&A expertise, as well as showing outstanding social and communication skills towards client and involved parties. ’
‘Young, professional and openly co-working team. Available specialists for niche-topics, well coordinated by the core advisor.’
‘Non-hierarchical approach in meetings. Open communication across levels, especially in client-facing meetings.’
Key clients
Armacell International S.A.
Liechtenstein Group
Telefonica Tech
VALUKA Privatstiftung
UNITED Marketing Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
ELK Group S.à.r.l
Roxcel Group
SW Umwelttechnik Stoiser & Wolschner AG
CCE Group
Berndorf Aktiengesellschaft
Work highlights
- Advised Armacell International S.A. on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Austroflex Rohr Isoliersysteme GmbH.
- Advised Telefonica Tech in connection with the acquisition of various entities of BE-TernaGroup.
KPMG Law - Buchberger Ettmayer Rechtsanwälte GmbH
KPMG Law - Buchberger Ettmayer Rechtsanwälte GmbH shows proficiency in structuring and implementing reorganisation projects and cross-border mergers and is noted for established client relationships with venture capital funds, financial clients, and corporates in the energy and TMT sectors, the latter of which is also a focus area of team lead Wendelin Ettmayer. Described as an ‘extremely strong negotiator’, Stefan Arnold covers public M&A and related capital market aspects. Stephanie Sauer was promoted to partner in January 2023.
Practice head(s):
Wendelin Ettmayer
Other key lawyers:
Stefan Arnold; Stephanie Sauer; Pablo Essenther
Testimonials
‘The team at provides high-quality legal advise in all areas of business law and has a notably strong M&A team. They have a strong presence in the Austrian start-up and VC scene. Their experienced team of experts enabled us to finalize our main legal issue in an extremely efficient way.’
‘Our key contact persons are Stefan Arnold and Pablo Essenther, who also advised us in connection with our financing round. Pablo is an exceptional young lawyer, who is a true expert in the start-up scene with a remarkable track record. Stefan is an enduring and extremely strong negotiator, who always strives for the best and yet efficient results for us. His ability to anticipate legal risks throughout the transaction was very impressive. It is a true pleasure to work with such an experienced and motivated team.’
‘Very good specialist knowledge, very pragmatic and understandable solutions, and extremely quick response times, access to tax experts simplifies collaboration on interdisciplinary issues.’
Key clients
adesso orange AG
Austriacard Holdings AG
Deutz AG
Dürr AG
Österreichische Post AG
RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG
Serviceplan group
Shareholders of Swarovski group
SWARCO group
UNIQA group
VERBUND AG
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Work highlights
- KPMG Law advised Salzburg AG on the entry of the German investment group STAR Capital with a start-up investment of up to EUR €75m.
- Advised Wüstenrot Versicherungs AG on the sale of its Croatian subsidiary Wüstenrot životno osiguranje d.d. to Merkur.
SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH
The SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH‘s team is jointly led by Franz Mittendorfer and ‘very smart lawyer’ Immanuel Gerstner, with Gerstner advising domestic and foreign companies on M&A with a focus on the real estate sector and Mittendorfer offering experience with high-volume share sales and transactions with complex financing or structuring elements. Sebastian Hütter was promoted to partner in April 2023, while Gregor Haidenthaler joined in May 2023 and strengthens the firm’s corporate offering.
Practice head(s):
Franz Mittendorfer; Immanuel Gerstner
Other key lawyers:
Sebastian Hütter; Wolfgang Lauss; Lukas Leitner; Gregor Haidenthaler
Testimonials
‘Broad knowledge of both national and international law, wide industry knowledge, good global network, fast response, practical approach.’
‘Fast response, practical approach, solution oriented, structured process.’
‘The firm has an excellent M&A practice and general level of service.’
‘The team always offers a solution and is able to translate complex legal topics in an easy language.’
‘Convincing performance and competence. The professional processing, fast and short response times, and the extremely convincing approach are very important and decisive for us.’
‘Due to our years of collaboration, a relationship of trust has developed that is based on reciprocity.’
‘A very well-coordinated professional team around Immanuel Gerstner, who advised us efficiently and purposefully on our restructuring. ’
‘Immanul Gerstner is very focused, gets things done and is a very smart lawyer. Lukas Leitner gave us excellent advice and gets to the heart of even very complex issues’
Key clients
Raiffeisen Landesbank Steiermark AG
Invest Unternhemensbeteiligungs Aktiengesellschaft
AVV Investment GmbH
DI Günther Haffner, MBA
Hexagon Composites ASA
Hexagon Purus ASA
State of Upper Austria
Energie AG Oberösterreich
Raiffeisen Beteiligungsholding GmbH
MONTENOR GmbH
Rupert Trawöger Privatstiftung
GRUPO ORENES S.L.
S.E. Holding GmbH
Medlog Austria GmbH
SUNEX SA
QbD Growth BV
Shareholders of RICO Group
MAGELLAN Privatstiftung
Pierer Group
ARE Austrian Real Estate GmbH
Voltlabor bzw. MIBA Battery Systems
MIBA Group
Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m.b.H.
Hoppichler Gesellschaft m.b.H.
JR Investment GmbH
Soravia Group
PFEIFFER Beteiligungs GmbH
Pfeiffer HandelsgmbH
Soravia Investment Holding GmbH
Pollmann International GmbH
Morgan Stanley Real Estate
IFA Institut für Anlageberatung AG
Radius-Kelit Infrastructure GesmbH
Strenia Engineering & invest GmbH
Lambert Immobilien GmbH
Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich Aktiengesellschaft
Greiner AG
Work highlights
- Advised Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark on corporate issues relating to a restructuring aimed at creating the leading banking IT infrastructure company Austria.
- Advised Invest Unternhemensbeteiligungs Aktiengesellschaft on the transfer of its interest in K-Businesscom to German IT giant Cancom.
- Advised AVV Investment on the sale of its shares in Panthronics to Japanese Renesas Group.
DSC Doralt Seist Csoklich Rechtsanwälte GmbH
DSC Doralt Seist Csoklich Rechtsanwälte GmbH has established experience with public takeovers as well as post-M&A and shareholder disputes. The ‘extremely refined and clever’ Christoph Diregger advises on a range corporate transactions and is noted for his work in the real estate sector. He heads the team with Christoph Leitgeb, who has a specialism in entertainment, engineering and healthcare matters.
Practice head(s):
Christoph Diregger; Christoph Leitgeb
Testimonials
‘Great combination of academic expertise and practical experience.’
‘The sound and seasoned advice paired with a unique access to other relevant stakeholders.’
‘Christoph Diregger and his team combine premier expertise in both banking & finance, and corporate/M&A. Drawing from years of experience, the team is at home in corporate law and transactions. Their advice is legally impeccable and very business savvy, they’re up-to-date on legal developments.’
‘Christoph Diregger focuses on solutions not problems. Most of all, he is not only legally but also economically extremely refined and clever, always providing deep understanding of the client’s business needs. On a personal level, it is also very pleasant to work with him and his team.’
Key clients
Austria Cards Holding AG
Land Steiermark
FONDS Eiffel Gaz Vert S.L.P.
Management BIOQUADRAT Energie- und Wassertechnik Holding GmbH
A1 Telekom Austria AG
BAWAG Group AG
Best Gaming Technology GmbH
BRM Burgenländische Risikokapital Management AG
CA Immobilien Anlagen AG
Kerbler Family Office
S IMMO AG
ViennaEstate Immobilien AG
Wiener Privatbank SE
Work highlights
- Advised the federal state of Styria on its €525m acquisition of a 24.9% stake in Energie Steiermark AG from Australian financial investor Macquarie Investments.
- Advised S IMMO AG as target company on its majority shareholder’s €1bn takeover offer and achieved a significant increase of the offer price.
- Advised Kerbler Holding AG on its sale of a 9.99% share in Wiener Privatbank SE, a listed Austrian bank and financial services provider.
EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Offering an ‘excellent legal practice’, EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s focus areas are split between the two practice heads, Helen Pelzmann and Mario Gall. Gall is a key contact for public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures and public takeovers, while Pelzmann specialises in cross-border reorganisations, carve-outs and restructurings. Georg Perkowitsch offers experience in various sectors, including TMT, packaging, and food.
Practice head(s):
Helen Pelzmann; Mario Gall
Other key lawyers:
Georg Perkowitsch
Testimonials
‘The firm offers a broad range of services, working with them is always a pleasure. ’
‘The partners and associates are fully committed, proactive and have excellent technical and social skills. They are responsive and clients can benefit from their experience.’
‘Very practice oriented and hands on. Great availability and excellent legal practice.’
Key clients
Zehetmayr Foundation
Anticimex
ReGreen
Wienerberger
The MoonVision
Weber Hydraulik GmbH
Venture Capital & Private Equity Investor
Work highlights
- Advised an international hotel group with >10,000 hotel rooms on the acquisition of an international hotel group engaged in Austria, Germany, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- Advised the founders on the sale of their cloud-based e-signature solution provider Eversign GmbH to PDFTron.
- Advised Anticimex GmbH on the acquisition of various Austrian targets through share and asset deals.
PHH Rechtsanwält:innen GmbH
PHH Rechtsanwält:innen GmbH‘s recent workload includes joint ventures and advice on a variety of M&A transactions, such as cross-border acquisitions and group restructurings. Being well-versed in private M&A and private equity transaction and corporate governance matters, head Rainer Kaspar exemplifies the team’s broad offering. Philip Rosenauer has been promoted in February 2023, while Lukas Röper left the firm.
Practice head(s):
Rainer Kaspar
Other key lawyers:
Matthias Fucik; Philip Rosenauer; Wolfgang Guggenberger
Testimonials
‘We had a professional contact person and advisor at our side at all times, who supported the process professionally.’
‘Philip Rosenauer has outstanding negotiation skills.’
‘Very client oriented, competent, solution driven and good to work with.’
Key clients
adapa Holding GesmbH
Austria Cancer Association
Drees & Sommer
Elkay Interior Systems International
GR Real
Hat Trick S.r.l.
Hofmeister & Meincke
Invest Unternehmensbeteiligungs AG
Lotus Cars Europe B.V.
Madaster
Meridiam
Nestlé Österreich GmbH
Preformed Line Products Company
Planmeca OY
Sidion
Smino
YAASA GmbH
Work highlights
- Advised the French infrastructure fund Meridiam on the establishment of a joint venture with Magenta Telekom.
- Advised GEIS CARGO International Luxembourg G.m.b.H on the acquisition of AUGUSTIN QUEHENBERGER GROUP GmbH.
- Advised Hat Trick, a Belgian investment managing firm specializing in sustainable forestry, on establishing a joint venture with HS Timber Group for the construction of a saw mill and the distribution of saw mill products in Argentina.
Taylor Wessing enwc Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Highlighted for its ‘experience with international clients’, the team at Taylor Wessing enwc Rechtsanwälte GmbH demonstrates particular strength in the TMT sector and is also recommended for matters related to energy and life sciences. The team’s areas of expertise include acquisitions, asset sales, divestments, restructurings and group structure reorganisations. Lead Raimund Cancola is proficient in cross-border M&A and private equity transactions.
Practice head(s):
Raimund Cancola
Other key lawyers:
Claudia Steegmüller; Philip Hoflehner
Testimonials
‘Professional, fast turnarounds, experience with international clients’
‘Philipp Hoflehner is outstanding.’
‘Very proactive and innovative support.’
‘Prompt reaction on every request.’
‘Taylor Wessing boasts an outstanding track record in handling our corporate matters. Their stands out for their remarkable efficiency, unwavering dedication and an incredibly pragmatic approach. Their in-depth understanding of our business shines through in their consistently on-point advice.’
‘Claudia Steegmüller combines brilliance and unwavering commitment that drives success. She always provides invaluable counsel.’
‘Highly professional, fast responding, wide range of expertise, CEE competence.’
Key clients
amcs
amedes
Austrian Apotheker-Verlagsgesellschaft
Campfire Solutions
Emerald Technology Ventures
Eternit Österreich GmbH
Swisspearl Group
GeoGebra
Haberkorn
Lafarge
Ross Video Limited
Vebego
Wefox
Comeon Group
Cardo Systems Ltd
SkySpecs
Work highlights
- Advised Ross Video Limited on the acquisition of Austria-based spidercam, a global supplier of broadcast cable camera solutions.
- Advised SkySpecs on the acquisition of i4SEE.
- Advised Emerald Technology Ventures on a Series B million-dollar investment round into eologix.
Eversheds Sutherland Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Eversheds Sutherland Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s team works seamlessly with the firm’s global expert groups and is jointly headed by Silva Palzer and Alexander Stolitzka. Palzer is an expert for cross-border mergers and restructurings, while Stolitzka has a strong track record of acting on real estate transactions and also acts across various sectors such as banking and finance, life sciences, fashion and engineering. Lukas Plösch left the firm in October 2023.
Practice head(s):
Silva Palzer; Alexander Stolitzka
Other key lawyers:
Clemens Stieger
Testimonials
‘Besides having very good knowledge, they are extremely well connected all over the world, easily reachable, nice to talk to and work with.’
‘Their treatment in the background is handled by various specialists, but I have one contact person for everything. This makes life a lot easier for me as a client.’
‘I can approach Silva Palzer with anything, and trust and rely on that it will be dealt with promptly.’
‘Great practice. Very motivated, friendly and extraordinarily competent team.’
‘Always reachable, highly motivated at all times, very competent with various matters, and super friendly.’
Key clients
Kering Group
Experian
nLIGHT, Inc
Horizon Therapeutics Group
Microsoft
Global People Group
Inmunotek Group
NBC Universal
Blackrock Group
Hytera Group
Work highlights
- Advised an independent insurance broker on a due diligence regarding the purchase of an Austrian group including nine entities in Austria.
- Advised a textile service company on their entry into the Austrian market.
- Assisted Experian Austria GmbH with the restructuring of its Austrian group entities, including an upstream merger.
GRAF ISOLA
Clients ‘strongly recommend’ GRAF ISOLA’s practice under the leadership of Ferdinand Graf and Andreas Edlinger, which is especially recommended for work in the energy, tech and automotive industries. Recent activities of the team include advising on distressed M&A, due diligence, and share purchase agreements, as well as handling numerous strategic acquisitions. Katharina Weiss is another important contact in the team.
Practice head(s):
Ferdinand Graf; Andreas Edlinger
Other key lawyers:
Katharina Weiss
Testimonials
‘I can strongly recommend Ferdinand Graf and his corporate and commercial team.’
‘Excellent and competent lawyers; quick and promt in answer.’
‘Well informed when helping us to deal with a Austrian M&A matter.’
Key clients
LUKOIL International GmbH
Leggett & Platt group
Pfaff Werkzeug- und Formenbau
Andritz
cortical.io AG
Peter Lisec Privatstiftung
VKR Holding
Erdöl-Lagergesellschaft mbH
Sozialbau
Dexia Credit Local
Work highlights
- Advised LUKOIL International GmbH on a share acquisition of an Austrian real estate company.
- Advised PFAFF Werkzeug- und Formenbau on the acquisition of a business branch of Z-Werkzeugbau.
- Advised the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Alapítvány on the acquisition of the majority of the shares in the Austrian private university Modul.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is noted for its experience with M&A, private equity, corporate finance and restructuring matters. Praised by clients for his ‘great analytical and negotiation skills’, Bernd Taucher has led a variety of international transactions in recent years, as has ‘sharp minded attorney‘ Wolfgang Graf, who leads the team alongside Taucher.
Practice head(s):
Bernd Taucher; Wolfgang Graf
Testimonials
‘Very responsive to client needs. ’
‘Bernd Taucher keeps the overview and is always in control.’
‘The team is unique in the sense that they are working very smoothly, even on large transactions. I was always very happy about their performance, responsiveness and their ability to draft and negotiate international M&A and finance agreements in large volume. Bernd Taucher is quick, has great analytical and negotiation skills and is a perfect communicator.’
Key clients
Canopy Growth Corporation
LOWA
Bierwirth & Kluth Hotel Management
EFS Consulting Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Semizen Austria GmbH
Proofcheck
NovoArc
Easy2TaxFree GmbH
APS Group
EFESO Consulting Group
FL3XX GmbH
BehaviorQuant
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
VISA Europe Limited
Soler & Palau GmbH
Fortegra Insurance Group
T-Centrum. CZ, a.s.
Denkstatt GmbH
Monbat Group
Storyblok GmbH
Emeren New Energy Austria GmbH
Butchershop Global
International Road Dynamics Inc.
Quarterhill – Inc.
Genesis Motor Europe GmbH
Borealis AG
IDEAL Live Marketing GmbH
MEB Austria GmbH
Innovation incubation center i2c TU Vienna
VBR Innovations GmbH
EFESO Consulting
Work highlights
- Advised Canopy Growth on selling the German/Austrian C³ Group to Dermapharm for around €120m.
- Advised EFESO Consulting on the acquisition of 60% of the shares in Tsetinis.
Grama Schwaighofer Vondrak Rechtsanwälte
Grama Schwaighofer Vondrak Rechtsanwälte‘s ‘very professional’ team combines expertise in corporate and tax matters and is instructed by a range of clients, from family-owned businesses to listed companies. Practice head Bernd Grama's portfolio covers the full range of M&A and international contract law as well as corporate litigation and compliance.
Practice head(s):
Bernd Grama
Other key lawyers:
Daniel Mathe; Philip Vondrak
Testimonials
‘The team was very professional and yet hands-on, which is important especially when serving foreign clients.’
The experience of Mr. Bernd Grama combined with the young and eager attitude of Mr. Daniel Mathe served us well, self-evidently with an appropriate level of substantive knowledge of M&A. ’
‘They have a young and very ambitious team with experts in every lagal sector. Great to work with all of them.’
Key clients
VERBUND AG
BRF GmbH
Accelerate Property Fund
F. LIST GMBH
BUWOG Group GmbH
Hypo NOE Group
Brutkasten Media GmbH
Real I.S. AG
hpc DUAL Holding GmbH
ADOMO Beteiligungs GmbH
TÜV SÜD AG
Omega Handelsgesellschaft m.b.H.
CSH Group Oy
FCC Austria Abfall Service AG
VI-Engineers Gruppe
Niederösterreichische Versicherung AG
HYPO NOE Landesbank für Niederösterreich und Wien AG
Work highlights
- Advised HYPO Noe Landesbank für Niederösterreich and Wien AG on the sale of their insurance brokerage unit.
- Advised CSH Group Oy on the sale and transfer of 100 % of the shares in the Austrian ski manufacturer Augment Ski GmbH to VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports Equipment GmbH.
- Advised SoReal GmbH on the restructuring in connection with the financing of a share deal.
PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner
PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner offers a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses commercial and tax advice in addition to corporate matters, and the team has recently been involved in matters related to market entries, exit deals and various acquisitions. Lead Christian Öhner is recommended for advising on M&A, joint ventures, corporate law and restructurings, while Michael Lind‘s specialisms include distressed M&A. Mario Steinkellner has since left the firm.
Practice head(s):
Christian Oehner
Other key lawyers:
Michael Lind
Key clients
W.A.C.M. Privatstiftung
Founder of Dedicaid GmbH
JS North Asia Investments Limited
PwC Holdings Germany GmbH
Axcel
Owner Miraculix Business Beteiligungs GmbH
IVC Evidensia
Planmeca Oy
Plandent GmbH
Light & Wonder Inc.
IMCD
Shareholder of Komet Austria GmbH
ClimateTrade Corp.
Work highlights
- Advised W.A.C.M. Privatstiftung on the sale of Walter Mauser GmbH in an auction procedure to the Finnish Fortaco Group.
- Advised Dedicaid GmbH on the exit to Telix Pharmaceuticals.
- Advised JS on the acquisition of a substantial equity interest in Blockbase Group.
Torggler Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Torggler Rechtsanwälte GmbH is a boutique firm that straddles corporate advice, M&A, and litigation. Reinhard Kautz and Kathrin Weber lead the group, with Kautz having a track record of arbitration proceedings as part of his broad M&A practice and Weber serving as a key contact for clients seeking entry into the Austrian market by means of strategic acquisitions.
Practice head(s):
Reinhard Kautz; Kathrin Weber
Other key lawyers:
Gregor Gutleder
Key clients
Swarovski Auslandsholding GmbH
D. Swarovski KG
TÜV Austria Holding AG
IGO Technologies GmbH
Cura Domo Holding GmbH
geomix AG
Silikon Austria Labs GmbH
Volue ASA
Trinicum Lab GmbH
ICON Luxembourg SARL
C.E. Noerpel GmbH
Work highlights
- Advised ICON Luxembourg SARL on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in the ICON Clinical Research Austria GmbH.
- Advised Cura Domo Holding GmbH on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in SeneCura Hauskrankenhilfe GmbH.
- Advised Trinicum Lab GmbH on acquisition of 100% of the shares in Genymed Labor GmbH.