Austria is facing a challenging economic landscape marked by rising insolvencies, sectoral struggles, and shifting legislative priorities, according to Schoenherr Partner Markus Piuk, who highlights the resilience of the legal profession and the transformative potential of AI in reshaping it.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As sunny days recede, the fall conference season is upon us, so we asked: How do you determine which Partner attends which events?

On December 7, 2023, Austria saw a significant shift in its tax regulations with the suspension of key provisions in the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Russia.

E+H has advised the Munich-based investment company VTC on its acquisition of a majority stake in the Austrian scaleup Wood_Space. Akela advised Wood_Space.

E+H and Stapf Neuhauser have advised a fund managed by Austrian financial investor SOL Capital Management on the acquisition of Simplon Group. Sutterluety, Klagian, Braendle, Gisinger, Lingenhoele reportedly advised the shareholders of Simplon.

In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rendered a judgment in preliminary ruling proceedings concerning the international FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) in relation to the freedom of movement of workers principle of the EU.[1] For the first time after the Bosman judgment in 1993[2], the legal framework of international football might face major changes.

Bernitsas Law has advised Thanos Hotels & Resorts on a EUR 107 million refinancing package from Piraeus Bank.

Schoenherr has advised Siemens Energy Holding on the acquisition of a 76% stake in Slovenia-based Gridpulse from Mosdorfer and C&G Skupina Investiranje in Svetovanje. Advant Beiten reportedly advised the sellers.

Schindler Attorneys, working with Kirkland & Ellis, has advised GTCR on its USD 1.33 billion investment in Tricentis.

Cerha Hempel has advised HeldYn Care on securing a financing package from the Weilburg Family Office. Pusch & Stoffl reportedly advised the Weilburg Family Office.

Taylor Wessing has advised the Irish Staycity Group on acquiring a 74.9% majority stake in the Felix Group from Denkmalneu. 

Brandl Talos has advised Springtime Technologies on a growth equity investment from Scottish Equity Partners. Nomos advised Springtime as well.

CMS has advised Florian Prasky on co-founding with Katharina Porenta Wattwise FlexCo.

On November 14, 2024, banking and finance experts from Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Poland sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss digitalization and the impact of tech on the banking sector in CEE.

Wolf Theiss has advised Raiffeisen Bank International on the issuance of EUR 650 million fixed to reset rate additional tier 1 notes and on its tender offer for the repurchase of EUR 650 million fixed to reset rate additional tier 1 notes issued in 2017. Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer reportedly advised the banks.

On November 7, 2024, M&A experts from Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine participated in a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the FDI screening regimes in their country and key developments in the area on the horizon.

E+H has advised Austrian Ski Association's subsidiary Austria Ski Team Handels- und BeteiligungsgesmbH on a joint venture concerning the online platform Skizeit.

Few topics have sparked as much controversy in 2024 as the seizure and examination of mobile data carriers and the data found therein. Despite an urgent need to have the legal framework amended by the end of 2024, a new draft bill was published only on 20 November 2024. We take a look.