Western Europe - Austria

Cerha Hempel

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‘One of the leading teams in the country’, Cerha Hempel operates across the whole spectrum of high-volume sales, acquisitions, and corporate governance advice. In particular, the team offers notable experience with transactions across the CEE region and regularly works with experts from the firm’s international offices on cross-border transactions. The ’brilliant’ Clemens Hasenauer heads the corporate transaction department, while the corporate & commercial practice stands under the leadership of Johannes Aehrenthal. Albert Birkner leads the takeover & antitrust practice and praised by clients as ‘the best M&A lawyer in Austria’, with his practice also including corporate reorganizations and joint ventures. Alexander Reich-Rohrwig, Jakob Hartig, and Christoph Reiter were promoted to partner in 2023. Nadine Leitner is further important member of the team.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is very thorough and extremely responsive.’

  • ‘Thomas Trettnak is very pragmatic and brings calm experience to the table. Christoph Reiter is very dedicated and always on top of things.’

  • ‘The team is one of the leading teams in the country. They are engaged in a number of high=profile transactions. Collaboration is always smooth and seemless.’

  • ‘Thomas Trettnak and Christoph Reiter are well regarded in the market and offer quick and commercially viable solutions to legal problems. They also integrate well in multi-disciplinary teams of accountants, lawyers and other advisors. ’

  • ‘Full-service law firm covering all legal areas relevant for industrials, depth of team and international network ’

  • ‘All lawyers have excellent legal ability and provide business driven advice. Stand-out partners are Clemens Hasenauer and Johannes Prinz. ’

  • ‘The commercial, corporate & M&A practice combines both, outstanding legal skills and the ability to find common ground and viable solutions.'

  • ‘Albert Birkner is the best M&A lawyer in Austria. He is excellent in advising on large transactions as well as SME matters. Clemens Hasenauer is also brilliant. Nadine Leitner is one to watch.’

Key clients

  • XXXLutz Group
  • RHI Magnesita Group
  • IFF International Flavors & Fragrences Inc
  • AIK Banka a.d.
  • Gorenjska Banka d.d.
  • Agri Europe Cyprus Limited
  • OMV AG
  • Motion Pictures Licensing Company International Limited
  • Wien Holding GmbH
  • OMNES Capital
  • HeldYn Care GmbH
  • Stadlmann Tec GmbH
  • Modul University
  • Investors in XUND
  • Vonovia
  • BUWOG Holding GmbH
  • FAM AB
  • NC Management GmbH
  • NC Growth Fund I GmbH & Co KG
  • Frequentis Group
  • STRAGAG SE
  • FWU

Work highlights

  • Advised XXXLutz Group on a share acquisition establishing a 50/50 partnership in Black Red White Group.
  • Advised RHI Magnesita GmbH on the acquisition of shareholdings in several Seven Refractories subsidiaries operating in Europe, India and US.
  • Advised publicly-listed International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. 3 on the Austrian aspects of a sales transaction, which included Savory Solutions Group.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Albert Birkner

Hall of fameCerha Hempel

Managing Partner Head of Department of Takeovers & Antitrust Areas of practice: Mergers & Acquisitions Corporate Private Clients & Trusts Private Equity & Venture Capital Insolvency & Restructuring

Leading individuals

Clemens Hasenauer

Clemens Hasenauer

Cerha Hempel

Managing Partner Head of Department Corporate Transactions Areas of practice: Mergers & Acquisitions Banking & Finance Capital Markets Corporate Compliance & Investigations Private Equity & Venture Capital

Next Generation Partners

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Clemens Hasenauer, Albert Birkner, Johannes Aehrenthal

Other key lawyers

Wolfgang Sindelar, Thomas Trettnak, Nadine Leitner, Christoph Reiter