
Cerha Hempel‘s contentious business department frequently attracts clients from the food retail automotive, and insurance segments and is recommended for capabilities in state aid litigation as well as asset tracing and recovery. The team’s busy workload includes advice on preliminary injunctions, cartel damage claims, and contentious insurance claims. Practice head and experienced arbitrator Irene Welser’s practice extends to post-M&A disputes, while Holger Bielesz is recommended for corporate and banking litigation and routinely defends corporate clients against consumer claims.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘It is the the spirit behind the team's practice, and its strong academic background, that makes the unique difference to other law firms. ’
‘The team provides high-quality advice, in particular in the areas of EU & Competition law and litigation in a fast, precise, and pragmatic way. We like their pro-active and business-oriented approach.’
'Litigation partner Holger Bielesz handles high-stake cases smoothly and is always on the spot.’
‘The overall level of quality and service is exceptional. The response times are short and agreed response dates are kept reliably. Highly committed and professional teams that are coordinated, work quickly and efficiently. All CERHA HEMPEL lawyers are down to earth and see the economic dimension of our matters.
‘Irene Welser is an outstanding lawyer who not only has a great deal of experience in litigation, but also excellent negotiating skills. Even complex and difficult issues are handled quickly and professionally by her and her team. Their understanding of client care and service goes far beyond the usual.
Key clients
- Aon Austria GmbH
- NOVOREAL Immobilieninvest AG
- SPAR AG
- City of Vienna / WIENER STADTWERKE
- UNIQA Österreich Versicherungen AG
- HERVIS Sport- und Modegesellschaft m.b.H.
- Wiener Linien GmbH & Co KG
- Vienna Airport
- ASFINAG
- ÖBB Infrastruktur AG
- McDonald’s GmbH
- Wien Energie GmbH
- INTERSPAR Gesellschaft m.b.H.
- MACON A.B.
- William Hill
- Tilmar Hansen (founder of New Yorker)/MTK Real Estate Group
- Wiener Netze
- walt.id GmbH
Work highlights
- Advised SPAR AG on a campaign of an animal welfare association, Verein gegen Tierfabriken.
- Advised Stadt Wien and WIENER STADTWERKE on pending cartel damage claims against five globally renowned trucks manufacturers, all involved in the so-called trucks cartel.
- Represented UNIQA and Wiener Städtische Versicherungen AG against multiple claims for coverage derived from a group fidelity insurance in relation to malversations of a former property manager.
Lawyers

Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Irene Welser