Baker McKenzie has advised McDonald’s on the implementation of short-time work for all of its restaurants in Austria due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

It's hard to believe, but some cybercriminals are trying to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis. They seek to exploit IT weaknesses and use our fears and insecurities to obtain passwords, infiltrate company networks or launch cyberattacks. We have therefore put together a short overview of measures to decrease cybercrime risks in the current extraordinary situation.

Cerha Hempel and Schoenherr advised OMV on the acquisition of a 39% stake in Borealis AG from Mubadala for USD 4.68 billion. Allen & Overy, Eisenberger & Herzog, and Binder Groesswang advised Mubadala on the transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

“From the perspective of the Austrian people the government is doing a great job,“ says Raimund Cancola, Partner at Taylor Wessing in Vienna. “We’re really lucky that the current coalition is working in unison – they’re quite complementary. Almost nobody has any substantial negative remarks over their handling of the crisis."

Dorda has successfully represented Willhaben in a dispute against AutoScout24 AS involving the Austrian Unfair Competition Act.

Cerha Hempel has advised Philip Morris Austria GmbH on the launch of a new tobacco product in Austria.

Wolf Theiss has advised Japan's Takeda Pharmaceuticals on its March 30, 2020 acquisition of Plasmaspendedienst GmbH.

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Dorda has advised Greiner AG on the takeover of Eurofoam GmbH from Recticel. The Brussels office of Allen & Overy and Eisenberger & Herzog advised Recticel on the deal. Financial details were not disclosed, and closing remains contingent on regulatory approval.

Weber & Co. has advised OMV AG, the international integrated oil and gas company headquartered in Vienna, on the issuance of multi-tranche corporate bonds. White & Case Frankfurt advised the joint lead managers Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, MUFG Securities, Societe Generale, and UniCredit Bank Austria AG.

Dorda has advised UBS and HSBC as joint global coordinators in the EUR 1.65 billion capital increase of Austria's AMS AG.

Dorda has advised Lernsieg Mobile Media GmbH on data protection issues related to the relaunch of its Lernsieg app, which allows students to evaluate their schools and teachers.

In The Corner Office feature of CEE Legal Matters we ask Managing Partners at leading law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their unique roles and responsibilities. In light of current events, the question for this online occurrence of the feature is: "How are you managing your team working remotely during this challenging period?"

Baker McKenzie has opened a new Procurement Law and Public Law practice in Austria, led by Kathrin Hornbanger.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner has advised VTB Bank Europe on financing provided to an unidentified buyer for its acquisition of 50% of SEMA Vermoegensverwaltung GmbH, the Austrian holding company of the Planquadr.at development and real estate portfolio group, from unnamed sellers.

Dorda has advised Warburg-HIHInvest Real Estate on the sale of a multi-story office building in the Summering part of Vienna to a real estate fund managed by Luxembourg-based Blue Colibri Capital. Reidlinger Schatzmann reportedly advised the buyers.

Dechert and BPV Huegel have advised Valneva Austria GmbH, Vienna, on debt financing it received from the US-based Deerfield and OrbiMed healthcare funds. Dorda advised the lenders.

Binder Groesswang has advised Austrian risk and insurance manager GrECo and its majority owners, the Neubrand family, on the buy-back of GrECo shares from former British partner JLT. Schoenherr advised the sellers on the deal.