Binder Grösswang

(Vienna, February 5, 2026) The commercial law firm Binder Grösswang is starting the new financial year with a strengthened team and is appointing two new partners and five counsel. "The appointment of new partners and counsel is a clear sign that we are consistently committed to promoting talent. It is particularly important to us to recognize potential within the firm, develop it in a targeted manner, and offer long-term career opportunities. The conscious decision to fill these positions from within our own ranks underscores this approach and shows that our focus on cohesion, strong team spirit, and sustainable development has proven successful. The new partners and counsel stand for continuity, high professional quality, and a shared understanding of our firm's culture," explains Managing Partner Stefan Tiefenthaler. Two new partners strengthen Binder Grösswang Johannes Bammer (39) is joining Binder Grösswang's labor law team as a partner. He has more than ten years of experience advising national and international companies. He advises on all areas of labor law and employee data protection law. His main areas of expertise include labor court disputes, management and employment contracts, restructuring and staff reduction measures, the implementation of digitalization measures in the workplace (in particular AI implementation), and the optimization and implementation of working time models and teleworking models. Felix Fuith (34) is becoming a partner in the corporate / M&A team. He advises companies and investors on corporate and commercial law matters with a focus on complex M&A transactions and private equity. He has several years of experience advising target companies as well as investors - including private equity investors, family offices, and strategic investors - on national and international transactions. His main areas of expertise include cross-border M&A transactions, corporate law, private equity and venture capital, as well as joint ventures and strategic alliances. Felix Fuith is listed as a Notable Practitioner in the 2025 edition of IFLR1000. Five appointments to counsel strengthen the practice groups Mathias Drescher (36) has been appointed counsel in the banking and finance team. He advises on all aspects of domestic and cross-border financing transactions. His practice focuses on project and, in particular, real estate financing, as well as syndicated and acquisition financing, advising Austrian and international borrowers and lenders. He has many years of experience in structuring and implementing complex transactions and, among other things, provides ongoing advice to clients in the field of renewable energies. Anian Gruber (38) becomes Counsel in the regulatory team. He advises national and international companies on public commercial law. His main areas of expertise include regulatory law (energy and infrastructure), public procurement and competition law, ESG compliance (sustainability and supply chain regulation), administrative and constitutional law. Anian Gruber regularly advises companies on regulatory issues in M&A transactions and advises on complex approval and administrative proceedings, including administrative penalty and public procurement proceedings. Kordula Krankl (32) will become counsel in the dispute resolution team. She advises national and international clients on all matters of contentious civil and commercial law and specialises in representation in international civil and arbitration proceedings. Her main areas of expertise include construction projects and real estate disputes, commercial contracts, distribution law and insolvency-related proceedings. She also has particular experience in representing companies in the automotive sector. She is a lecturer at the ÖVI Real Estate Academy and regularly publishes in the field of dispute resolution. Christoph Raab (32) is joining the firm's competition law team as counsel. He advises national and international clients on all aspects of Austrian and EU antitrust law. His main areas of expertise include strategic advice on merger control, proceedings before national competition authorities and the European Commission, antitrust damages claims, and antitrust compliance. In addition, he has extensive experience in the strategic coordination of partner law firms and economic experts in complex, cross-border mandates. David Rötzer (36) has been appointed counsel in the banking and finance law team. He advises national and international borrowers and financial institutions on complex, mostly cross-border financing transactions. His expertise includes, in particular, syndicated financing, acquisition financing, corporate finance transactions, and structured financing, including green and sustainability-linked financing (ESG). Most recently, David Rötzer has focused on advising clients in the areas of energy and infrastructure as well as restructuring. About Binder Grösswang For more than 60 years, Binder Grösswang has been one of Austria's leading commercial law firms with a strong international focus, advising on all aspects of commercial law. The firm employs over 190 people at its offices in Vienna and Innsbruck and advises renowned national and international companies across all industries. International publishers such as JUVE, Chambers, the Legal 500, and IFLR 1000 regularly award top ratings to all of Binder Grösswang's practice areas. These include international awards such as The Lawyer Law Firm of the Year Austria Award, the Chambers Europe Austrian Law Firm of the Year Award, and the IFLR European Law Firm of the Year Award.

(Vienna, February 2, 2026) At the start of the new fiscal year on February 2, 2026, Binder Grösswang is focusing on continuity and confirming the existing management team that forms the firm's Management Board. After the most successful years in the firm's history, the Management Board will continue its work with an unchanged lineup, consisting of Stefan Tiefenthaler, Partner Banking & Finance, who will continue in his roles as Managing Partner and Spokesperson for the firm, and Florian Khol, Partner Corporate / M&A and Capital Markets, who will also retain his position as Managing Partner. Stefan Albiez, Partner for Dispute Resolution, will continue to be responsible for Finance & Organizational Management. Stephan Heckenthaler, Partner in the Banking & Finance team, will remain responsible for Marketing, Communications, and Business Development. Angelika Pallwein-Prettner, Partner specializing in Labor Law, will continue to head the Human Resources department. Markus Uitz, Partner for Real Estate Law, will remain responsible for IT and completes the six-member Management Board. "Our well-established cooperation gives us the momentum to think strategically and actively shape our growth. The past few years, which have been among the most successful in our firm's history, encourage us to take the next steps with confidence and continue to develop as a law firm. With a stable Management Board, we can drive forward ongoing projects in a targeted manner and strengthen our position as a modern, future-oriented law firm. Our focus is on enabling targeted growth – for our clients through reliable, first-class advice and for our teams through an environment that promotes development and creates prospects," says Stefan Tiefenthaler.

Binder Grösswang together with Clifford Chance advises MiddleGround Capital ("MiddleGround") on the acquisition of ZOERKLER Gears GmbH & Co KG ("Zoerkler"). As part of the acquisition, Zoerkler will be integrated into MiddleGround's portfolio company Xtrac, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance transmissions and mechatronic solutions. The share purchase agreement was signed at the beginning of the year. The closing of the transaction took place on 8 May 2025. Zoerkler is a family-owned and owner-managed company based in Jois, Burgenland, with over 120 years of experience in the development and production of high-precision driving systems for the aerospace, automotive and industrial sectors. Zoerkler offers customised complete solutions from design to prototype construction and series production. MiddleGround is a Lexington, Kentucky-based private equity firm with over $3.85 billion in assets under management. MiddleGround makes control equity investments in middle market B2B industrial and speciality distribution businesses with the goal of developing them together with the management team. The Binder Grösswang deal team was led by Thomas Schirmer and Felix Fuith and comprised Anna Talos (Corporate / M&A), Helmut Buchroithner, Verena Müller (both Commercial and IP/IT), David Rötzer, Rafael Wiesner, Tobias Haralter (all Banking & Finance), Alexander Kramer, Yasmina Bouzid (both Real Estate), Johannes Barbist, Anian Gruber (both Regulatory) Finance), Regina Kröll, Anna Krottendorfer (both Sanctions & FDI), Dario Valentin Schmelz, Mathias Wallner (Litigation & Insurance), Clemens Willvonseder, Lisa Salbrechter (both Tax), Sabine Apfl-Trompeter and Livia Hoskovec (both Employment). About Binder Grösswang As one of the leading Austrian commercial law firms with a strong international focus, Binder Grösswang has been advising on all questions of commercial law for more than 60 years. Binder Grösswang employs more than 190 people in Vienna and Innsbruck. The law firm advises well-known national and international companies from all sectors. International legal directories such as Juve, Chambers, The Legal500 and IFLR 1000 regularly award top ratings to Binder Grösswang in all practice areas. These honours include international prizes such as the The Lawyer Law Firm of the Year Austria Award, Chambers Europe Austrian Law Firm of the Year Award and the IFLR European Law Firm of the Year Award.

Vienna, (28 May 2025) – The commercial law firm Binder Grösswang has reached another milestone in its digitalisation strategy with the company-wide introduction of the AI tool ‘James’. It’s specific aims are to reduce the burden of routine tasks, make work processes more efficient and thus create space for what really matters: personal client service and professional advice at the highest level. A generative AI-tool with the potential to grow ‘James’ is flexible, modular and develops according to the firm's requirements. The tool thrives on input from all employees and is constantly evolving with the aim of making knowledge more accessible within the firm as well as strengthening collaboration across the teams. It uses state-of-the-art AI models, including advanced reasoning models that, compared to conventional GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) systems, are able to structure complex legal issues, classify relevant connections and efficiently prepare information. The system thus supports routine tasks and provides a high-quality basis for evaluation by legal experts. In addition, the technology used enables the development of customised AI applications for specific use cases – a central component of consulting services that are precisely tailored to the needs of clients. The driving force behind the introduction of ‘James’ is law firm partner Ivo Rungg, a proven specialist in legal tech, information technology and data protection. He has been in charge of implementing the AI platform and is driving the strategic integration of intelligent technologies into the firm's workflows. "By using sophisticated reasoning models, we are creating a digital way of working that specifically supports our legal expertise – while not replacing it. It helps us to structure information more quickly, analyse complex issues more efficiently and thus makes our advice even more informed and client-oriented. This frees up time, especially when it comes to recurring tasks, which we can then use to focus on strategic and content-related issues,’ says Ivo Rungg. Innovation is firmly anchored in the firm's DNA. For Binder Grösswang, the responsible use of artificial intelligence is the next logical step in a long-standing innovation strategy. System security is a top priority: the model is provided and operated by the firm's own IT department and remains in a secure environment. ‘With “James”, we are expanding our digital foundation in a targeted and future-oriented manner. Innovative technologies such as these are not a self-serving purpose – they strengthen our way of working where they create real added value. Our claim remains clear: personal, excellent legal advice – supported by cutting-edge technology,’ emphasises Managing Partner Stefan Tiefenthaler. Artificial intelligence has long been more than just a buzzword for the future – it is becoming an integral part of legal practice, enabling us to work faster, more knowledgeably and with our clients’ needs in mind. About Binder Grösswang As one of the leading Austrian commercial law firms with a strong international focus, Binder Grösswang has been advising on all questions of commercial law for more than 60 years. Binder Grösswang employs more than 190 people in Vienna and Innsbruck. The law firm advises well-known national and international companies from all sectors. International legal directories such as Juve, Chambers, The Legal500 and IFLR 1000 regularly award top ratings to Binder Grösswang in all practice areas. These honours include international prizes such as the The Lawyer Law Firm of the Year Austria Award, Chambers Europe Austrian Law Firm of the Year Award and the IFLR European Law Firm of the Year Award.

(Vienna, 07 May 2025) hobex, a leading Austrian company in the field of digital payment transactions, has acquired around 1,500 customers and 13 employees, as well as technology, from the Graz-based payment specialist Qenta Payments through the specifically founded hobex Service IT GmbH, a fully owned subsidiary of HOBEX AG. This acquisition strengthens hobex' position as an innovative provider of cashless payment solutions and takes e-commerce payments to a new level for its customers. Binder Grösswang advised hobex extensively on this strategically significant acquisition. The acquisition of Qenta Payments marks an important milestone for hobex and highlights the company's innovative strength in the field of digital payments. ‘We are thrilled that we were able to successfully support hobex in this important step – the acquisition of Qenta Payments and the associated expansion of its service portfolio,’ explains Stephan Heckenthaler, Partner at Binder Grösswang. With this transaction, Binder Grösswang has once again demonstrated its extensive expertise in M&A projects in the context of financial market regulatory law. The project was led by Stephan Heckenthaler (Partner, Banking & Financial Services) and Mona Holzgruber (Partner, Corporate/M&A). The team also included Florian Höllebauer (Associate, Corporate/M&A), Sabine Apfl-Trompeter (Counsel, Employment), Ivo Rungg (Partner, IP/IT), Julia Otto (Associate, Banking & Financial Services), Livia Hoskovec (Associate, Employment), Clemens Willvonseder (Partner, Tax), Lisa Salbrechter (Associate, Tax), Stefan Frank (Partner, Banking & Financial Services) and Thomas Stiglbauer (Counsel, Real Estate). About Binder Grösswang As one of the leading Austrian commercial law firms with a strong international focus, Binder Grösswang has been advising on all questions of commercial law for more than 60 years. Binder Grösswang employs more than 190 people in Vienna and Innsbruck. The law firm advises well-known national and international companies from all sectors. International legal directories such as Juve, Chambers, The Legal500 and IFLR 1000 regularly award top ratings to Binder Grösswang in all practice areas. These honours include international prizes such as the The Lawyer Law Firm of the Year Austria Award, Chambers Europe Austrian Law Firm of the Year Award and the IFLR European Law Firm of the Year Award.

19 February 2025 - Raiffeisen Bank International sells its shares in card complete Service Bank AG to EAVISTA. Raiffeisen-Invest-Gesellschaft m.b.H., a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG, sold its shares (25.1%) in card complete Service Bank AG to EAVISTA Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH by way of a purchase agreement on 17 February 2025. At the same time, UniCredit Bank Austria AG also sold its 50.1% stake in EAVISTA. AVZ GmbH (AVZ Privatstiftung) remains a shareholder. The closing of the agreement is subject to approval by the regulatory authorities. Raiffeisen Bank International provides credit cards directly to bank customers of the Austrian Raiffeisen sector. card complete will continue to provide payment solutions for retailers as well as credit cards for private and corporate customers. EAVISTA Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH is owned by Arif Babayev, a British entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector. Together with Nurlan Zhagiparov, he founded the UK-based payment services company DNA Payments Limited. The Binder Grösswang transaction team was led by partner Thomas Schirmer and partner Mona Holzgruber (both Corporate / M&A) and consisted of and associate partner Stephan Heckenthaler (Banking Regulatory), Christopher Marchel (Corporate / M&A), attorney David Rötzer (Banking & Finance), attorney Christoph Raab (Competition Law), partner Clemens Willvonseder (Tax Law), attorney Dario Schmelz (Dispute Resolution), partner Ivo Rungg (IP/IT) and partner Regina Kröll (Regulatory/FDI). Dorda advised UniCredit Bank Austria AG under the leadership of Christoph Brogyányi and Christian Ritschka. EAVISTA was advised by bpv Hügel led by Christoph Nauer and Thomas Lettau. About Binder Grösswang As one of the leading Austrian commercial law firms with a strong international focus, Binder Grösswang has been advising on all questions of commercial law for more than 60 years. Binder Grösswang employs more than 190 people in Vienna and Innsbruck. The law firm advises well-known national and international companies from all sectors. International legal directories such as Juve, Chambers, The Legal500 and IFLR 1000 regularly award top ratings to Binder Grösswang in all practice areas. These honours include international prizes such as the The Lawyer Law Firm of the Year Austria Award, Chambers Europe Austrian Law Firm of the Year Award and the IFLR European Law Firm of the Year Award.

10 January 2025 - Binder Grösswang advised Aptiv PLC, together with the global law firm Clifford Chance, on the sale of Aptiv’s equity share in TTTech Auto AG to the Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductors NV. TTTech Auto is a leading provider of platform products and services focusing on system safety and security for the software-defined vehicle (4SDV) and is headquartered in Vienna. The USD 625 million transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. The Clifford Chance team for Aptiv was led by partner Mark Aschenbrenner and included partner Volkmar Bruckner and associate Mona Fuchs (all Corporate/Private Equity, Munich). The Binder Grösswang team consisted of partner Thomas Schirmer, senior associate Christoph Schober and associate Michael Mittermair (Corporate/M&A). About Binder Grösswang As one of the leading Austrian commercial law firms with a strong international focus, Binder Grösswang has been advising on all questions of commercial law for more than 60 years. Binder Grösswang employs more than 190 people in Vienna and Innsbruck. The law firm advises well-known national and international companies from all sectors. International legal directories such as Juve, Chambers, The Legal 500 and IFLR 1000 regularly award top ratings to Binder Grösswang in all practice areas. These honours include international prizes such as the The Lawyer Law Firm of the Year Austria Award, Chambers Europe Austrian Law Firm of the Year Award and the IFLR European Law Firm of the Year Award.

Binder Grösswang has won the race for the coveted “Austrian Law Firm of the Year” award from the respected legal publisher The Lawyer. The prize was presented at a ceremony in London on 28 November 2024. The Lawyer assesses both the current position, reputation, and influence of the law firm in its respective market, as well as its strategy for the future and innovations, including in the areas of client service, ESG, AI and legal tech tools. The quality of the advice and the entrepreneurial success also play an important role. “We are incredibly proud to accept this prestigious award. This recognition is well deserved by the entire Binder Grösswang team, whose tireless efforts in all areas have made it possible to achieve this kind of success,” said Managing Partner Stefan Tiefenthaler. “At the same time, we see this award as both an incentive and an obligation for the future. We will continue to support our clients with the same commitment and dedication.” The Lawyer The Lawyer recognizes leading law firms from across Europe for their outstanding performance each year. The winners are carefully selected by a jury of experts consisting of lawyers and renowned legal experts from various industries. All participating law firms must apply in advance by means of an extensive submission, which is evaluated by the jury. Go to The Lawyer European Awards 2024: The Winners  

Binder Grösswang has won the race for the coveted “Austrian Law Firm of the Year” award from the respected legal publisher The Lawyer.The prize was presented at a ceremony in London on 28 November 2024. The Lawyer assesses both the current position, reputation, and influence of the law firm in its respective market, as well as its strategy for the future and innovations, including in the areas of client service, ESG, AI and legal tech tools. The quality of the advice and the entrepreneurial success also play an important role. “We are incredibly proud to accept this prestigious award. This recognition is well deserved by the entire Binder Grösswang team, whose tireless efforts in all areas have made it possible to achieve this kind of success,” said Managing Partner Stefan Tiefenthaler. “At the same time, we see this award as both an incentive and an obligation for the future. We will continue to support our clients with the same commitment and dedication.” The Lawyer The Lawyer recognizes leading law firms from across Europe for their outstanding performance each year. The winners are carefully selected by a jury of experts consisting of lawyers and renowned legal experts from various industries. All participating law firms must apply in advance by means of an extensive submission, which is evaluated by the jury. Go to The Lawyer European Awards 2024: The Winners  

Dario Schmelz (31) supports the Dispute Resol­u­tion Team of Binder Grösswang as an attorney at law with immediate effect. He has already been working in this team as an associate since 2020. "I am looking forward to the exciting challenges of my new position as a lawyer and to continuing to provide our clients with comprehensive advice together with my great team," says Dario Schmelz. His areas of expertise include advice regarding national and international civil law disputes, insurance law disputes, white-collar crime and advice regarding the automotive sector. "Dario has been an important part of our practice group for several years and does outstanding work for our clients. I am proud to have him on my team and look forward to continuing our successful collaboration," says Christian Klausegger, Partner in the Dispute Resolution Team at Binder Grösswang. Dario Schmelz has been part of the Dispute Resolution Team since 2020. Previously, he gained practical experience in a renowned law firm specialising in litigation and as a legal trainee at the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office. He studied law at the University of Vienna (Mag. iur, 2019) and also worked as a legal assistant in a commercial law firm specialising in banking and insurance law. In January 2023, he passed the Austrian bar exam with distinction.