Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)

The firm: Schoenherr is a leading full-service law firm in Central Europe. Operating in a rapidly evolving environment, we are a dynamic and innovative firm with an effective blend of experienced lawyers and young talent. As one of the first international law firms to move into CEE/SEE, we have grown to be one of the largest firms in the region. With 15 offices and several country desks, our comprehensive coverage of the region means we can offer solutions that perfectly fit the given industry, jurisdiction and company.

Schoenherr has offices, country desks and permanent cooperation partner, and is in compliance with the respective local legal standards and conduct rules in all countries where it is active; therefore, the local firm name may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Areas of practice
Banking and finance: The firm advises on general banking, including investment fund matters, and project, asset and structured finance including cross-border (equipment and facility) leases.

Capital markets: The firm has an IPO Practice and advises on crossborder equity and debt offerings, advising issuers, underwriters and transaction counsel.

Business to consumer protection: Schoenherr’s business to consumer protection group helps clients to ensure compliance with applicable consumer protection laws and regulations, litigates on their behalf, and provides instant assistance in urgent situations.

Compliance and criminal defence: Criminal compliance risks are present in all areas of business. In response to this, Schoenherr has established a dedicated compliance and criminal defence team. The team has substantive legal and practical expertise in this area and is well equipped to handle all aspects of criminal compliance and criminal defence matters.

Corporate investigations and crisis management: As response times to  emergency situations rapidly shorten in a connected world, Schoenherr has established a dedicated multi-faceted team of legal experts. It investigates the facts, advises on immediate next steps and assists with their implementation.

Corporate/M&A:The core practice of the corporate/M&A team is advising and representing clients on transactions and complex corporate and commercial matters. The team has an outstanding track record on key transactions in Austria and throughout CEE/SEE.

Dispute resolution: Schoenherr stands for excellence in litigation, arbitration,
and investorstate disputes. The team has scored some of the most publicised wins at ICSID and in the national courts. Clients value the first-rate legal skills and hands-on approach.

EU and competition: The EU and competition practice group advises clients
in merger control, anti-trust and state aid matters at European and national levels throughout the firm’s comprehensive network in the CEE region, and its office in Brussels.

Healthcare and life sciences: Schoenherr’s healthcare and life sciences group combines lawyers with particular industry expertise with specialists from various teams across the firm’s practice groups and offices. The group advises all stakeholders active in this industry.

Insolvency and restructuring: Schoenherr’s insolvency and restructuring team handles complex, multi-creditor financial restructurings and distressed refinancings of corporates and financial institutions. Further the team advises in insolvency proceedings and insolvency related litigation.

Insurance: Schoenherr’s insurance practice group advises many of Austria’s and Europe’s leading insurers on transactions in the insurance sector, as well as on distribution structures, product design, and all related regulatory and tax matters for life, non-life, and reinsurance business.

IP and unfair commercial practices: The Schoenherr IP practice group has long-standing experience in inter alia trademark, design, patent, copyright and unfair competition matters. Its members frequently represent parties in groundbreaking court cases in national and European courts.

Labour and employment: The labour and employment team advises on all
aspects of employment law, for both contentious and non-contentious matters. It focuses on inter alia issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, workforce restructuring and cross border transfer of employees.

Real estate and construction: The real estate and construction practice group enjoys high visibility in the region’s largest and most important transactions and development projects. The team advises on all aspects of acquisition of real estate, development/construction, restructurings, and real estate and construction- related litigation and arbitration.

Regulatory: By providing a wide-ranging and consistently reliable service, the regulatory practice group has successfully advised leading players across a wide spectrum of sectors, and in all matters of constitutional and administrative law.

Start-up and venture capital services: The Schoenherr team covers the full range of commercial legal services, and is well equipped to handle all aspects that become relevant during the life cycle of a start-up. We advise investors and founders in Austria and CEE.

Tax: Schoenherr’s tax practice advises domestic and international clients on their most sophisticated and challenging tax matters. It supports clients not only in detecting tax risks but in providing simple, clear and practical tax solutions.

Technology and digitalisation: The technology and digitalisation team provides 360° legal advice in the ever evolving world of new technology and digitalisation. Our experts from across our legal sectors ensure a comprehensive understanding of our clients’ needs.