Schoenherr has announced the appointments of Austria-based Miriam Simsa, Bulgaria-based Alexandra Doytchinova and Czech Republic-based Vladimir Cizek to Equity Partners. The firm also promoted Austria-based Dominik Hofmarcher and Slovakia-based Sona Hekelova to Partners.
The appointments are effective as of February 1, 2022.
Simsa specializes in insolvency, restructuring, banking, and finance. She joined the firm as an Associate in April 2008, starting her career in the M&A department. Later she was promoted to Attorney-at-Law and Partner in Schoenherr's Vienna office in 2014 and 2017 respectively. According to a Schoenherr press release, "in Austria, Miriam regularly advises national and international financial institutions on all aspects in connection with distressed borrowers, including refinancings and loan sales. She also advises lenders and borrowers on finance and refinances transactions."
Starting her career with Schoenherr Austria, Doytchinova later moved to Schoenherr’s Sofia office in 2004 and has been leading the firm's Bulgarian operations ever since. Doytchinova focuses on corporate M&A. According to the firm, "her ability to work to international standards blended with a thorough local understanding of clients' business and strategic, legal and commercial needs, was key to establishing Schoenherr's leading position in Bulgaria."
Cizek has been with Schoenherr for over eight years, having first joined the firm in 2013 as a Senior Associate and later promoted to Partner in 2015. Before that, he spent more than six years at Hogan Lovells. According to Schoenherr, he specializes in M&A transactions, corporate, banking & finance, capital markets, technology & digitalization, as well as white-collar crime & compliance.
Hekelova joined Schoenherr in 2012 as an Attorney-at-Law and was later promoted to Partner and to Managing Partner of the firm’s Bratislava office in 2014 and 2017, respectively. Hekelova specializes in M&A and finance transactions in Slovakia. According to the firm, "she has a strong track record in the energy, automotive, and financial sectors. Apart from many years of rich experience, she is known for her strong client-oriented approach and commitment to mandates."
Hofmarcher has worked at Schoenherr for over nine years, first joining as an Associate in 2012 and later promoted to Attorney-at-Law in 2015. Since 2020, Hofmarcher has been a Counsel in Schoenherr's Vienna office. "He specializes in IP and unfair commercial practices with a focus on copyright, trademarks, B2B competition, and trade secret," according to the firm.
"Each one of these lawyers has over the years proven to have excellent entrepreneurial and legal skills leading to high local market recognition," Schoenherr Managing Partner Michael Lagler commented. "It is a pleasure welcoming them in their new positions. I am sure that they will have a significant impact on the future development of our firm."
"We have followed a clear strategy over the past years with the ultimate goal being to strengthen our firm from within by building upon a new generation of Schoenherr lawyers and lifting next-generation talent into our senior ranks," Schoenherr Partner Alexander Popp added. "Looking at the skilled individuals who will be promoted in February, I see proof that this strategy is already paying off."
