Event information
The Legal 500 is delighted to formally announce the third edition of GC Summit Austria, taking place on 13th March 2025 in Vienna.
Join leading practitioners and esteemed in-house counsel for comprehensive panel discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities.
Legal 500’s GC Summit Austria will provide practical insights into the evolving role of in-house counsel and the challenges that in-house legal departments are set to face in 2025 and beyond.
In collaboration with our partners, this event will address a range of critical topics, offering practical, hands-on advice tailored for in-house counsel. Key sessions will provide valuable insights into creating an ESG roadmap, with a focus on reporting and disclosure obligations, as well as strategies for navigating cross-border disputes and M&A. Attendees will also explore the transformative impact of AI, the growing importance of cybersecurity, and the role of litigation funding in unlocking new opportunities for legal departments.
This summit is designed to deliver actionable insights and foster meaningful discussions. It is a must-attend event for in-house lawyers in Austria seeking to exchange best practices, stay ahead of industry developments, and expand their professional networks.
Agenda
12.00pm – 1.00pm Registration
1.00pm – 1.10pm Opening remarks
1.10pm – 1.35pm Presentation in association with CERHA HEMPEL
- Armin Schwabl, partner, CERHA HEMPEL
1.35pm – 2.25pm Panel 1 in association with Baker McKenzie
2.25pm – 3.15pm In-house perspectives on the use of litigation funding
As litigation funding continues to reshape the legal landscape, in-house counsel are uniquely positioned to evaluate its strategic and practical applications. This panel brings together seasoned in-house legal professionals and top-notch lawyers to discuss their experiences with litigation funding, from assessing its value as a financial tool to navigating its risks and complexities. Topics will include key considerations for engaging funders, aligning litigation funding with corporate goals, and how funding influences decision-making in dispute resolution. Gain insights into the evolving role of litigation funding from those making critical decisions at the intersection of law and business.
- Stephan Klebes, senior legal counsel, Deminor
- Ulrich Kopetzki, acting director for Europe, ICC
3.15pm – 3.30pm Coffee break
3.30pm – 4.20pm Panel 3 in association with Taylor Wessing
4.20pm – 5.30pm Panel 4
5.30pm – 6.00pm Panel 5
6.00pm – 6.10pm Closing remarks
6.10pm – 7.00pm Drinks and canapes
Speakers
Armin Schwabl, partner, CERHA HEMPEL
Stephan Klebes, senior legal counsel, Deminor
Stephan Klebes joined Deminor as a senior legal counsel in 2023 and specializes in funding of complex commercial disputes. He has broad experience in litigating and advising on cross-border disputes before international arbitral tribunals and state courts, with a particular focus on general commercial disputes and investment recovery cases. Prior to joining Deminor, he was an associate with specialised litigation law firm Quinn Emmanuel where he represented companies in various types of arbitration proceedings as well as complex investment recovery claims before state courts.
Stephan Klebes studied law and economics at the University of Mannheim (LL.B., First State Examination) and the University of Cape Town, South Africa (LL.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution). He also obtained a doctorate at the University of Osnabrück at the chair of Prof Dr Mary-Rose McGuire on an arbitration related topic.
Ulrich Kopetzki, acting director for Europe, ICC
Ulrich Kopetzki is an Austrian lawyer with a focus on dispute resolution and international arbitration. In addition to having supervised over 500 arbitrations as counsel at the ICC, he has acted as counsel, administrative secretary and arbitrator under various institutional rules.
Ulrich graduated from the law school of the University of Vienna. Afterwards, he worked in the arbitration department of WilmerHale in London and at the Secretariat of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris. At the ICC, he served both in the case management team for the German-speaking and Nordic countries and in the Eastern European case management team.
Ulrich is currently acting as the director for Europe and Central Asia for ICC Dispute Resolution Services.
In association with...
For many years, Baker McKenzie Vienna has been one of the leading law firms in Austria. Our lawyers work on some of the most significant matters in the country. No matter how unique the work, or how international the projects, we claim to be ‘one idea smarter’ in advising our clients.
In an increasingly complex world, one thing counts most in legal matters: innovative ideas. Developing such ideas for our clients is what drives us. We are a young, fresh team on the ground, backed by a large international network. We are constantly exchanging ideas with colleagues, both locally and worldwide. And we have a sharp eye for new developments. For what happens in London, New York or Beijing means gaining expertise and being ahead of the curve for the benefit of all our clients – in Austria and all over the world.
CERHA HEMPEL is one of the leading corporate law firms in Central and Eastern Europe with its headquarters in Vienna. With a team of over 200 lawyers, the firm guarantees its clients experience and expertise in all areas of corporate and commercial law, both in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe.
CERHA HEMPEL is proud to be able to look back on a very successful history. Over the past 25 years, CERHA HEMPEL has been involved in a large number of the most significant transactions in Austria. The fact that the firm understands its clients’ businesses has helped CERHA HEMPEL achieve a high rate of success. It is no coincidence that CERHA HEMPEL is the first port of call for a number of long-term clients whom the firm advises comprehensively on all of their day-to-day legal matters. This expertise – combined with the firm’s years of experience in Central and Eastern Europe and its Lex Mundi network – ensures that its clients receive high-quality and sound advice, across disciplines and across borders.
Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world’s most innovative people and businesses. Deeply embedded within our sectors, we work closely together with our clients to crack complex problems, enabling ideas and aspirations to thrive. Together we challenge expectation and create extraordinary results. Our 29 offices around the world are not token presences – they blend the best of local business, industry and cultural knowledge with international experience to provide astutely commercial solutions for our clients.
Established in 1986, our highly ranked Vienna office is centrally located on “Schwarzenbergplatz”, between the cultural and historical neighbourhoods of “Ringstrasse” and the famous Belvedere – a favoured spot for multinational corporations and their European headquarters. With an extensive number of lawyers based in Vienna, we combine international experience and familiarity with local culture and business practices.
Wolf Theiss opened its first office in Vienna in 1957 and soon established a reputation as one of the region’s leading law firms. The firm has since grown into a multinational team of approximately 340 lawyers, making it one of the largest integrated law firms in the region. It has offices* in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.
This presence on the ground is one of the firm’s key strengths. It works in a fast-moving part of the world that requires deep local knowledge and experience. By combining expertise with a strong international network, the firm is well-placed to handle complex cross-border transactions with a high degree of speed and flexibility. Apart from its local offices in 13 CEE/SEE countries, Wolf Theiss also offers extensive regional experience in other countries in the region, such as Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.