Cerha Hempel delivers ‘practical solutions’ in the field of data protection, advising clients on their responsibilities around cross-border outsourcing, data transfer and cloud computing projects, while also representing clients in actions before the Austrian data protection authority and the courts pertaining to data breaches. Team head Hans Kristoferitsch offers his clients a ’pragmatic approach’ to data protection, assisting international clients on the rollout of new mobile apps and other matters that concern handling of customer data, while also advising on GDPR compliance and contentious EU law cases. Armin Schwabl, who is also admitted in New York, advises on regulatory data protection matters, while Boris Treml supports businesses in implementing GDPR, carrying out data risk assessments and IT outsourcing projects.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'We have been working with Cerha Hempel for many years and are extremely happy with the support. In particular we appreciate that they offer a full service and can also cover issues under public and administrative law as well as all technical aspects of data protection.'
  • 'Hans Kristoferitsch is always available, has great experience in dealing with the DPA and in proceedings before the civil and administrative courts. Boris Treml has helped us greatly in linking the worlds of IT and law.'
  • 'We think that what makes Cerha Hempel stand out is its ability to offer full service in data privacy, also covering all related aspects under civil law as well as the technical aspects (data security, privacy by design and default etc).'
  • 'Hans Kristoferitsch is very pleasant to work with, very experienced in all matters of privacy law, with a pragmatic approach which has helped us a lot in connection with the digitisation of our business processes.'
  • 'Cerha Hempel has truly outstanding capabilities in the area of data protection and TMT; they are highly skilled and reliable, it is a fantastic team to work with. '
  • 'Hans Kristoferitsch is definitely one of the leading privacy lawyers in Austria; his advice is always clear and to the point and you constantly feel that he has tremendous experience in this area.'
  • 'Boris Treml combines legal with technical expertise, providing unequalled insights and advice as to data, network and information security.'
  • 'Armin Schwabl is an excellent lawyer, he is always available and pragmatic, he really goes out of his way to help solve your legal problems.'

Key clients

  • SPAR
  • Wiener Stadtwerke GmbH and subsidiaries
  • City of Vienna
  • Hervis Sport- und Modegesellschaft m.b.H.
  • via donau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen GmbH
  • Wien ENERGIE GmbH
  • Wiener Netze GmbH
  • Wiener Linien GmbH
  • Wiener Lokalbahnen GmbH
  • ASFINAG Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • NTS Netzwerk Telekom Service AG
  • CA Immobilien Anlagen AG
  • Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria)
  • Österreichischen Fonds zur Dokumentation von religiös motiviertem politischen Extremismus (Dokumentationsstelle politischer Islam)
  • ÖRAG Österreichische Realitäten AG
  • COVID-19 Finanzierungsagentur des Bundes GmbH
  • Flughafen Wien AG
  • Land Vorarlberg
  • Isovolta AG
  • Fundermax GmbH
  • Danube Private University
  • Deutsche Vermögensberatung Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Work highlights

  • Assisted SPAR with all legal matters around the creation of a new app and provided the legal documents and contracts, data protection impact assessment and data protection notices.
  • Advised Wiener Stadtwerke GmbH and all of its subsidiaries on a group-wide project introducing a Single-Sign-On mechanism and a centralized user account for customers of all group entities.
  • Advised the City of Vienna on the redesign and merger of their communication platforms targeted at 1.9mn residents.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Hans Kristoferitsch

Other key lawyers

Armin Schwabl, Stephanie Maier-Herbeck, Boris Treml