bpv Hügel > Vienna, Austria > Firm Profile
bpv Hügel Offices
Schreyvogelgasse 2
1010 Vienna
Austria
bpv Hügel > The Legal 500 Rankings
Austria > EU and competition Tier 1
bpv Hügel acts for a number of household names on EU competition proceedings and also advises on antitrust and FDI regulations, working closely with the firm’s Brussels-based team. The practice is frequently requested for high profile cartel proceedings, where it acts for defendants in a variety of sectors, most notably energy, telecoms and waste management among others. The firm’s competition matters are led by Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber and Florian Neumayr, who handle proceedings before the Austrian competition authority and the courts, while Christian Schneider leads on European competition matters. Gerhard Fussenegger splits time between Vienna and Brussels, advising on antitrust, merger control and market dominance. Austrian FDI regulations fall under the remit of Sebastian Reiter.Practice head(s):
Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber; Florian Neumayr; Christian Schneider
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Up to date, hands on.’
‘Florian Neumayr has very good market understanding and regularly finds practicable answers for complex issues.’
‘Strong subject knowledge, practical solutions, always available.’
‘Florian Neumayr provides outstanding services, always respecting his client’s needs.’
‘The firm has good market know-how and a pragmatic approach to complex cases.’
‘Florian Neumayr is very hands on, diligent and easy to reach!’
‘There is always someone, mostly Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber, from the team available who takes time for us and our concerns, even in situations of greatest stress, and always without letting us feel it.’
‘Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber brings incredibly comprehensive knowledge to the table, can break down complicated issues to the essentials in a fraction of a second and is always finding pragmatic solutions.’
Key clients
EEX European Energy Exchange (Deutsche Börse AG)
Austrian Bar
ISS
IGEPA
Paul Bauder GmbH
cargo-partner
Fronius
Yamaha
Kostmann
Eurazeo
A1 Telekom Austria
OMV AG
Gas Connect Austria
RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria
BayWa AG
BP Europa
Beiersdorf
Axel Springer
Verbund
Plansee
card complete (Visa)
BAT British American Tobacco
Nichicon
Borealis AG
Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists
Raiffeisen Holding Niederösterreich-Wien
Immofinanz
Otis
Colgate-Palmolive
Eaton
Fond Of
Work highlights
- Advised longstanding client BP on all Austrian antitrust matters.
- Represented Kostmann in a leniency application as part of the largest antitrust proceeding in Austria since WWII.
Austria > Private client Tier 1
Staying true to its exceptional market reputation, bpv Hügel‘s private client and wealth management practice integrates a full-service tax advice component in assisting HNWIs, family-owned enterprises, and foundations with matters of succession planning, asset structuring and estate planning, reorganisations, and the drafting of wills and marital agreements. Practice head Florian Plattner‘s focus on private foundations goes hand-in-hand with his experience in business succession, and private and art investments. Gerald Schachner leads the firm’s tax team and is instrumental in advising HNWIs and foundations on all elements of corporate tax law, including tax restructuring and tax controversy.Practice head(s):
Florian Plattner
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘bpv Hügel has a well-known HNWI practice.’
‘Gerald Schachner is an important part of the team. He has a lot of experience with family businesses. It’s not always just professional skills that are needed, but also social competence.’
‘The team is rather small, but very selected. Short paths lead to great experience and expertise. The advice is goal-oriented and pragmatic. The consultants are very friendly and straightforward.’
‘The figurehead is Gerald Schachner. He has extensive experience with HNWI and is very good with clients.’
‘What makes Gerald Schachner unique is the combination of (domestic and international) expertise in tax, corporate and HNWI and 23 years of experience, with his personality, which focuses on understanding the clients’ needs and providing practical solutions. This is of utmost importance when it comes to HNWI and family businesses.’
‘bpv Hügel is well known in Austria for its private client practice.’
‘Gerald Schachner stands out from the team. Of course he has great technical skills and experience. His greatest strength is that he is particularly good with people. He is empathetic and can lead teams as well as clients in an outstanding way. This leads to a very high level of satisfaction among clients.’
‘The ability to understand or find out what clients really want is, in my opinion, the most important skill for a HNWI lawyer. Gerald Schachner can��t be beaten at that.’
Work highlights
- Advised a family office on the establishment of Austria’s first multi-family office structures in the form of an Austrian umbrella fund for investments to private equity funds and structures for making and holding venture capital investments.
- Advised an Austrian individual on the set of an Austrian private foundation for the purposes of transferring its shareholding in an Austrian company to the newly established foundation, which in turn will sell a substantial share in the Austrian company valued at €200m.
- Advised the shareholders of a multinational enterprise in the healthcare sector on the tax structuring and reorganisation of the entire group involving the transfer of several shares directly and indirectly cross-border to a new Austrian holding company.
Austria > Tax Tier 1
Boasting a roster of dual-qualified practitioners, bpv Hügel‘s tax practice draws in clients seeking advice across a range of complex contentious and non-contentious matters, including corporate transactions and disputes, cross-border mandates, tax controversies and fiscal criminal law proceedings. The team also advises on the tax elements of private wealth management for HNWI. Practice head Gerald Schachner has an excellent reputation in tax structuring and reorganisations, while tax dispute and fiscal criminal law expert Kornelia Wittmann and transactions specialist Nicolas Wolski are equally lauded for their technical know-how and experience.Practice head(s):
Gerald Schachner
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The entire team is extremely skilled and provides excellent integrated advice on corporate and tax law matters. The advice is always well founded, and also pragmatic and practical.’
‘Gerald Schachner is an excellent adviser at the interface between tax and corporate law, very pragmatic and solution-oriented.’
‘Kornelia Wittmann is an excellent adviser, very responsive and proactive.’
‘Gerald Schachner’s focus is on practical solutions. Due to his experience he can say what you can do and what you should better not do. Besides his tax knowledge he also knows company law, which makes him a very efficient lawyer when it comes to the tax structuring of corporate reorganisations.’
‘Gerald Schachner has a detailed knowledge of tax and a broad knowledge of corporate law. This combination makes him a key player in structuring. He also has an excellent reputation for tax audits and tax litigation.’
‘Gerald Schachner, Nicolas Wolski, and their team are a small group of experts always solution-driven and available. The high expertise of the respective members in tax, corporate, as well as commercial law makes the discussions very fruitful and to the point.’
‘Nicolas Wolski is an excellent choice in relation to cross-border Austrian-German M&A deals due to his double qualification in both countries.’
‘Kornelia Wittmann stands out because she is brilliant. She is very practical and pragmatic and the person to go to for fiscal criminal law issues and for complicated and challenging tax litigation cases in Austria.’
Key clients
IMMOFINANZ Group
European Directories Group
BP Plc and BP Europe SE
F.A. Food Art Enterprises Limited
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Luxembourg ESG Fund
Work highlights
- Advised Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield on the corporate restructuring of its shareholdings in the two largest Austrian shopping centres.
- Advised Triton and its portfolio company, European Directories Group, on the sale of dogado group to international private equity firm Cinven and global investor Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
- Advised a noteworthy European private equity fund on a deal involving multiple jurisdictions such as Austria, Italy, the US and Brazil and requiring team expertise to analyse complex accounting, tax, IP and trademark issues in connection with the transaction.
Austria > Capital markets Tier 2
Equity and equity linked products are at the core of bpv Hügel‘s offering, with the team’s expertise extending to structuring topics, share acquisition, public takeovers, which are a specialism of lead Christoph Nauer, and cross-border mergers. Roland Juill‘s recent work highlights include advising STRABAG on capital measures to reduce MKAO Rasperia Trading Limited’s shareholding as an effect of EU sanctions, while Barbara Valente specialises in capital markets transactions and compliance. Daniel Reiter left the firm in March 2023.Practice head(s):
Christoph Nauer
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team focuses on the client’s needs, advises with a clear focus, and delivers solutions.’
‘Christoph Nauer helped me a lot to manage difficulties and solve issues in an open and business orientated approach and dialogue.’
‘Christoph Nauer is an excellent lawyer with practicable advice.’
‘Team with experience in all legal fields.’
‘Christoph Nauer is the brain behind the team, guiding us strategically and driving projects forward energetically. Roland Juill has great availability and overview of the projects, and is quick on all details. Barbara Valente handles compliance work like no othe. She quickly grasps the essence of a problem.’
Key clients
IMMOFINANZ
STRABAG
Valneva
BAWAG P.S.K.
BP plc
Raiffeisen Holding Noe-Wien
Raiffeisen Landesbank Noe-Wien
Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller
CMC Markets
Weilburg Family Office
Work highlights
- Advised Weilburg Family Office on the launch of a new private equity module with private equity funds of funds.
- Advised VSE-listed STRABAG SE as target company on the €580m public takeover bid by its Austrian core shareholders, including a potential €400m treasury share acquisition in the course of the takeover bid.
- Advised ATX and Warsaw listed IMMOFINANZ as target company on competing takeover bids by CPI Property Group (€3.1bn) and S IMMO (€300m).
Austria > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
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.
Austria > Administrative law and public sector Tier 3
Offering its clients longstanding strengths in the energy sector, bpv Hügel‘s areas of expertise also include telecoms and state aid law as well as public procurement and environmental law, with a particular focus on handling planning and waste management-related matters for municipalities as well as national and international companies from a range of sectors. The team is well-equipped to handle litigation before administrative courts and works closely with the firm’s Brussels office on EU law matters. The department is jointly steered by Christian Macho and Christian Schneider.Practice head(s):
Christian Schneider; Christian Macho
Testimonials
‘Christian Schneider: Excellent knowledge of public law.’
‘Christian Schneider is the expert in the administrative law and public sector field; very pragmatic approach, exceptional commercial knowledge, always on point.’
‘Excellent co-operation of the administrative law team with the antitrust team, fast and hands-on advice, always on point, no lengthy memos.’
Key clients
Mayer & Co GmbH
British American Tobacco
Dachverband der Sozialversicherungsträger
Marktgemeinde Maria Enzersdorf
City of St. Pölten
Marktgemeinde Alland
Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists
Die NÖ Umweltverbände
Work highlights
- Advised MAYER GRUPPE on environmental law.
- Advised British American Tobacco on all tobacco-related matters.
- Advised Marktgemeinde Maria Enzersdorf on all administrative law matters.
Austria > Dispute resolution: commercial litigation Tier 3
Austria > Projects and energy Tier 3
Under the leadership of the highly experienced regulatory and competition lawyer Christian Schneider, bpv Hügel assists clients with issues of Austrian and EU state aid law, with a broad client base consisting of stakeholders in the electricity, gas and biofuels industries. The team is also active in the telecoms sector, and has additional expertise in handling matters of environmental law.Practice head(s):
Christian Schneider
Testimonials
‘Christian Schneider identifies problems quickly and proposes serious solutions. The biggest upside to his advice is that he makes us aware of potential risks as opposed to simply going ahead with the client’s wishes even when there is no prospect of success.’
‘The flagship regarding energy law within bpv is Christian Schneider. His accuracy, knowledge and competence are outstanding.’
‘Effectiveness, this is the first word that comes to mind when I think about Christian Schneider, success is the second one because we won all of our litigations with him.’
Key clients
VERBUND AG
OMV AG
KELAG
Österreichs Energie
Erdöllagergesellschaft
Fachverband Gas Wärme
Kärnten Netz GmbH
IG Holzkraft
TIGAS
Gas Connect Austria
Nawaro
Vienna Airport
Work highlights
- Advised VERBUND AG on energy matters and represented it before the courts.
- Acted for OMV AG on energy matters and represented it before the courts.
- Asssted KELAG on energy matters and represented it before the courts.
Austria > Banking and finance Tier 4
Recommended by clients for their ‘very solution-oriented and hands-on approach’, bpv Hügel‘s team is geared to handle an array of financing transactions, including asset, project, acquisition and trade financings. The firm regularly advises on lending arrangements in connection with energy, infrastructure, construction and real estate projects and also noted for its capabilities in refinancing work and its extensive regulatory expertise. Ingo Braun and Stefan Gaug head up the team and both have a track record of handling cross-border finance transactions. Daniel Reiter left the firm in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Ingo Braun; Stefan Gaug
Other key lawyers:
Christoph Nauer
Testimonials
‘Christoph Nauer is an excellent lawyer with practicable advice.’
‘They respond rapidly and are open to suggestions. ’
‘The team has a very solution-oriented and hands-on approach. They definitely know their stuff.’
‘Ingo Braun has a deep knowledge of relevant legal concepts and interpretations of law and court rulings; perfect sparring partner in banking & finance transactions and regulatory banking matters. ’
Key clients
IMMOFINANZ AG
dogado Group
Standard Chartered Bank, New York Branch
STRABAG SE
CMC Markets
Raiffeisen Holding
Raiffeisenlandesbank NÖ-Wien AG
Valneva SE
RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG
Work highlights
- Advised Standard Chartered Bank (New York Branch) on the amendment of a $200m green finance credit line.
- Advised IMMOFINANZ AG on a €340m intra-group long-term senior facility agreement with CPI Property Group.
- Advised a group that is active in the financing and implementation of photovoltaic plants in Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Chile and Romania on a bridge financing, including collateral agreements, adjustment of the financing, and prolongation.
Austria > Dispute resolution: arbitration and mediation Tier 4
Austria > Employment Tier 5
bpv Hügel > Firm Profile
The firm: bpv Huegel is one of the leading law firms in Austria. It is regarded as the first choice for highly complex matters that require specialised legal and tax knowledge, many years of experience and a practical business sense. In addition to several offices in Austria and an office in Brussels, the law firm is a founding member of “bpv LEGAL” – an alliance with offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague – and has a strong presence in the CEE region as well as broad international reach through worldwide partner offices.
Exceptional commitment to its clients, excellent know-how and results-oriented efficiency make bpv Huegel the first choice for challenging legal issues, significant transactions and critical litigation.
bpv Huegel strives to provide the highest standard of advice in each core area. As a result, bpv Huegel has been one of the leading providers in all areas of commercial law for many years. The full-service law firm covers all relevant specialties, including corporate and business, mergers and acquisitions, capital market/financing and banking, tax, competition/antitrust/EU, real estate, labour, reorganisations, litigation/arbitration, dispute resolution, restructuring and insolvencies, regulatory and public procurement, environment and energy, IP/IT/data protection, private clients, foundations and business succession.
Located in Brussels next to the EU institutions, bpv Huegel also offers an international platform for EU matters (with a focus on antitrust/merger control, regulatory and public procurement law, as well as general EU law).
The firm, which specialises in national and international commercial law, was founded in 1979 and currently employs over 100 staff and around 50 lawyers.
Areas of practice
Corporate/M&A – recent work highlights: European Directories Group, a Triton portfolio company, in connection with the unification of its fully-owned Austrian group company, Herold Business Data GmbH and its majority-owned subsidiary dogado GmbH, based in Dortmund; Zeus Group in its acquisition of Petruzalek Austria with 11 branches in the CEE region; Raiffeisen Informatik on its exit from SoftwareONE.
Competition, antitrust and EU: representation of Nichicon, one of the largest Japanese producers, in the so-called Capacitors Case in the proceedings before the European Commission; liaising and co-ordination with other counsels worldwide; representation of BP Europa SE in all antitrust matters in Austria; representation of A1 Telekom Austria AG in all antitrust matters in Austria; representation of Gas Connect (OMV Company) in all antitrust matters; representation of OTIS in numerous proceedings with regard to claims for compensation for damages following the Elevator Cartel; representation of representation of RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG in all merger control and antitrust matters in Austria.
Capital markets, banking and finance: €4.1bn merger between RZB and listed RBI (highest profile transaction in the Austrian banking industry in 2017); joint Bookrunners on €305.6m capital increase of BUWOG; €1.6bn BUWOG spin-off; €660m capital increase of Erste Group Bank AG; €350m Valneva (NYSE, ATX) SE – cross-border merger of Intercell and Vivalis.
Tax: tax advice in the M&A transactions listed above, cross-border group structures, private foundations, estate planning; tax litigation; other tax advice confidential.
Dispute resolution: representation in ad-hoc as well as VIAC corporate and contract interpretation arbitration matters; lead counsel in ICC arbitration following multi-million international M&A project in the automotive industry; advice to and representation with regard to competition law implications in an ICC energy arbitration case; representation in complex litigation proceedings in the building industry; defence in multi-plaintiff follow-on private enforcement cases; advice and representation in litigation matters in the energy industry.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Administrative, procurement | Christian F Schneider | ||
Administrative, procurement | Florian Neumayr | ||
Asset finance/securitisation | Stefan Gaug | ||
Asset finance/securitisation | Elke Napokoj | ||
Banking and finance | Florian Gibitz | ||
Banking and finance | Christoph Nauer | ||
Capital markets | Elke Napokoj | ||
Capital markets | Christoph Nauer | ||
Competition and EU | Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber | ||
Competition and EU | Florian Neumayr | ||
Competition and EU | Gerhard Fussenegger | ||
Dispute resolution | Florian Neumayr | ||
Dispute resolution | Markus Schifferl | ||
Dispute resolution | Florian Plattner | ||
Energy and natural resources | Christian Schneider | ||
Energy and natural resources | Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber | ||
Corporate and commercial | Thomas Lettau | ||
Corporate and commercial | Florian Gibitz | ||
Employment | Florian Plattner | ||
Employment | Walter Niedermüller | ||
Environment | Christian Schneider | ||
Foreign direct investment | Florian Gibitz | ||
Foreign direct investment | Thomas Lettau | ||
Foreign direct investment | Elke Napokoj | ||
Foreign direct investment | Stefan Gaug | ||
Infrastructure and project finance | Christian Schneider | ||
M&A; private client and trusts | Thomas Lettau | ||
M&A; private client and trusts | Florian Gibitz | ||
M&A; private client and trusts | Elke Napokoj | ||
M&A; private client and trusts | Stefan Gaug | ||
Tax | Gerald Schachner | ||
Insolvency and reorganisations | Bernhard Schatz | ||
Insolvency and reorganisations | Georg Rupprecht | ||
IP/IT | Sonja Dürager |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
MMag Dr Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber | Partner | View Profile | |
MMag Sabine Alvarez Privado | Attorney at Law | View Profile | |
Dr Wolfgang Berger | Attorney at Law | View Profile | |
Ingo Braun | Partner and co-head | View Profile | |
Mag Erin Burton | Associate | View Profile | |
Dr Sonja Dürager | Partner | View Profile | |
Mag Stefan Gaug | Partner | View Profile | |
Dominik Geyer | Partner and Co-Head Real Estate | View Profile | |
Dr Florian Gibitz | Partner | View Profile | |
Lucas Hora | Associate | View Profile | |
Roland Juill | Attorney at Law | View Profile | |
Katrin Kernbichler | Associate | View Profile | |
Thomas Lettau | Thomas Lettau is a partner and co-head of the Corporate/M&A practice group… | View Profile | |
Mag Filip Lukacic | Associate | View Profile | |
Johannes Mitterecker | Johannes joined bpv Huegel’s Corporate/M&A practice group in 2021 as an Attorney… | View Profile | |
Dr Elke Napokoj | Partner | View Profile | |
Christoph Nauer | Partner | View Profile | |
Dr Florian Neumayr | Partner | View Profile | |
Mag Walter Niedermüller | Attorney at Law | View Profile | |
Tim Pasternak | Tim Pasternak is specialized in corporate law, M&A transactions, private equity and… | View Profile | |
Dr Michaela Pelinka | Partner | View Profile | |
Konstantinos Pravitas | Associate | View Profile | |
Dr Sebastian Reiter | Attorney at Law | View Profile | |
Georg Rupprecht | Co-head of the insolvency and restructuring department, court-appointed insolvency administrator and advisor… | View Profile | |
Gerald Schachner | Partner | View Profile | |
Bernhard Schatz | Co-head of the insolvency and restructuring department, court-appointed insolvency administrator and advisor… | View Profile | |
Dr Markus Schifferl | Partner | View Profile | |
DDr Christian F Schneider | Partner | View Profile | |
Jasmin Slavik | Associate | View Profile | |
Mag Philipp Stengg | Associate | View Profile | |
Barbara Valente | Associate | View Profile | |
Kornelia Wittmann | Partner, Attorney at Law (Munich Bar Association), Tax Advisor | View Profile | |
Nicolas Wolski | Partner, attorney at law (Austria and Germanys), certified tax advisor (Austria and… | View Profile | |
Mag Andrea Zinober | Partner | View Profile |