In a recent decision, the Austrian Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) addressed party status and the requirements for an eligible complaint by recognised environmental organisations (EOs) in permit procedures under water law.

Austria's lawyers are keeping busy these days, with work primarily driven by an active M&A market, restructuring, litigation, and regulatory changes, while those changes are putting increasing pressure on small businesses, according to Act Legal Partner Roman Hager.

The amendment to the Austrian Copyright Act introduces a whole range of new provisions on copyright contract law, strengthening the position of authors and performers. In our first Legal Insight ("Austria: The (new) Copyright Contract Law") we provided some background information and an overview. In our second and third Legal Insights, we introduced the new remuneration provisions ("Austria: The (new) copyright remuneration rules for authors and performers") and the transparency obligation ("Austria: The (new) copyright transparency obligation"), which are based on the DSM Directive.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner has advised Soravia on its acquisition of Austrian hotel group Loisium Holding. 

On 28 November 2022, the Council of the European Union gave its final approval to the Regulation on Foreign Subsidies distorting the Internal Market (FSR) following the adoption of the regulation by the European Parliament on 10 November 2022.

E+H, working with Paris-based Sekri Valentin Zerrouk, has advised the Valtus Group on its acquisition of Management Factory Corporate Advisory. KPMG Law advised the sellers.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Dorda Partner Stefan Artner has worked on 14 reported Austrian Real Estate deals over the past five years – more than any other lawyer?

Cerha Hempel has advised ARE Austrian Real Estate on its acquisition of Vienna's Green Worx office complex from the UniImmo Deutschland real estate mutual fund managed by Union Investment. Schoenherr reportedly advised the sellers.

Former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Senior Associate Ricardo Gardini de Andrade has joined DLA Piper's Vienna office as a Partner to work in the firm's Litigation & Regulatory practice.

Cerha Hempel has advised CA Immo on the sale of a building complex consisting of the Hotel Savoyen and an office building to German real estate agency Horn Grundbesitz.

Late last year, the European Commission ("EC") adopted a legislative package on hydrogen and decarbonised gas, which includes a proposal for a Directive on Common Rules for Internal Markets in Renewable and Natural Gases and in Hydrogen ("Draft Gas Directive"). On 9 September 2022, the EC published a revised version of this directive, the key objective of which is to regulate hydrogen as an independent energy carrier.

Schima Mayer Starlinger has advised +Simple on its acquisition – via German subsidiary Carl Rieck – of a portfolio of insurance brokerages from Austria-based Alt+Partner.

Under Article 30 (5) (c) of Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering or terrorist financing (AML Directive 2015), Member States are obliged to ensure that information on beneficial ownership is accessible by any person or organisation that can demonstrate a legitimate interest in obtaining it.

Cerha Hempel has advised Spar on its cooperation agreement with vegan-vegetarian chef Paul Ivic.

The increasing US-based investor interest in Austrian tech start-ups – despite the hard times and a certain lack of governmental decisiveness – is creating a buzz in the country, according to DLA Piper Austria Managing Partner Christoph Mager.

Wolf Theiss, working with Baer & Karrer, has advised Farner International AG on its acquisition of the Vienna-based Kobza Media Group. B-legal | Blumauer & Partner advised Kobza Media Group.

Dorda, working with Choate, Hall & Stewart and Armstrong Teasdale, has advised PDFTron on its acquisition of Eversign. EY Law advised the sellers.

Starting in February 2023, Partner Alexander Popp will take over as Managing Partner, with Partner Gudrun Stangl continuing in the COO position. Rounding out the Schoenherr Steering Committee are Partners Matei Florea, Thomas Kulnigg, and Franz Urlesberger.