Schoenherr is strengthening the ranks of equity partner, contract partner and counsel with new promotions effective as of 1 February 2020. With Pawel Halwa and Thomas Kulnigg, Schoenherr promotes two longstanding Schoenherr experts to equity partners. Constantin Benes, Leon Kopecký, Günther Leissler, Laurenz Schwitzer, Manuela Zimmermann, Georgiana Bădescu, Mădălina Neagu and Miloš Laković are promoted to contract partners, and at counsel level, Dominik Hofmarcher and Clemens Rainer have moved up in the ranks.

"I am delighted that we are recognising such an exceptional and international group of partners and counsels this year. They will play an important role in delivering the advice our clients demand in an increasingly complex world, requiring expertise and experience across practice groups and industries," said Michael Lagler, Managing Partner of Schoenherr.

As of 1 February 2020, Schoenherr's newly elected Steering Committee ("SC") will come into effect, consisting of Michael Lagler, Gudrun Stangl, Martin Ebner, Alexander Popp and Slaven Moravčević.

Equity partners

Equity Partner – Paweł Halwa has been with Schoenherr since 2011. He has longstanding experience as a cross-border transactional lawyer, specialised in corporate/m&a, regulatory and banking and finance law. As office managing partner in Poland, he plays an important role in further strengthening Schoenherr's CEE footprint.

Equity Partner – Thomas Kulnigg is an experienced corporate/m&a lawyer and was crucial in the establishment of the Schoenherr technology & digitalisation group. He was among the first participants of Schoenherr's SSAP in 2005 and joined Schoenherr as associate in 2006, directly after his graduation. He has made a name for himself within the technology & digitalisation industry and the start-up/venture capital scene.

Contract partners - Austria

Contract Partner - Constantin Benes is a specialist in real estate and construction law with more than ten years of experience at Schoenherr. He advises clients in connection with construction projects, urban developments, real estate transactions as well as construction litigation.

Contract Partner - Leon Kopecký joined Schoenherr in 2015 and focuses on international arbitration. His vast experience helped the Schoenherr team gain international recognition and win among the largest investment and commercial arbitrations in the region.

Contract Partner - Günther Leissler heads the data protection group at Schoenherr. Having joined the regulatory practice group in Vienna in 2006, he specialises in data protection, gaming and telecommunications law as counsel. He represents various clients in all kinds of privacy-related proceedings.

Contract Partner - Laurenz Schwitzer joined the banking, finance and capital markets practice group at Schoenherr in Vienna in 2013. He has vast experience in complex asset financing and financial restructuring with special focus on real estate finance, mezzanine financing, direct lending and green finance.

Contract Partner - Manuela Zimmermann joined Schoenherr as a dual-qualified attorney in 2010. She is admitted to practise both in Austria and Germany. As counsel, she specialises in insurance contract and insurance regulatory law, and primarily advises national and international insurance companies on their market entries and daily legal matters.

Contract partners - Romania

Contract Partner - Georgiana Bădescu is head of the eu & competition practice group in the Schoenherr Bucharest office. As a local partner she has been working for Schoenherr since 2017, bringing with her a wealth of expertise in competition law.

Contract Partner - Mădălina Neagu is local partner at Schoenherr Romania where she joined the corporate/m&a practice group in 2008, with many years of experience in large m&a transactions and takeovers, competition matters, acquisition finance, and the privatisation of state-owned companies.

Contract partners - Serbia

Contract Partner - Miloš Laković joined Moravčević Vojnović and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr in Serbia in 2007. He specialises in regulatory matters with vast energy-law experience, leading the highly ranked energy department in the Belgrade office.

Counsels

Counsel - Dominik Hofmarcher joined the Vienna office in 2012 and specialises in ip, unfair competition/advertising and protection of trade secrets. His advisory also covers media, personality rights and sports & entertainment law.

Counsel – Clemens Rainer joined Schoenherr in 2013 as a corporate/m&a associate, later moving to the real estate transaction team. He specialises in advising and accompanying national and international real estate projects and transactions, being involved in numerous high-volume transactions in Austria and CEE.

Schoenherr Steering Committee 2020+

Michael Lagler, Gudrun Stangl, Martin Ebner Alexander Popp and Slaven Moravčević are appointed members of Schoenherr's Steering Committee ("SC") effective from 1 February 2020. Michael Lagler will once again chair the SC as managing partner with both Martin Ebner and Gudrun Stangl continuing on the SC board. Matija Vojnović will step down as SC member. In his place Slaven Moravčević will join the SC. Furthermore, Alexander Popp will take on the new HR role on the SC.