Deploying ‘one of the biggest and best EU and competition law practices in Austria’, Binder Grösswang handles the gamut of competition matters, guiding clients through Phase I and II proceedings before the Austrian authorities and the EU Commission, while also acting for a host of public bodies in bringing damages claims against cartel members. Practice head Raoul Hoffer handles private enforcement proceedings and is also an expert in Austrian and EU merger control and antitrust law. Christine Dietz add further expertise in the aforementioned domains and is furthermore a specialist in abuse of dominance matters; both she and Isabelle Innerhofer also handle FDI and FSR matters in addition to e-discovery audits.

bpv Hügel is called upon by companies alleged to have been members of cartels to represent them in EU Commission proceedings and leniency applications, with particular experience in acting for energy sector clients. Alongside its contentious work, the firm also oversees FDI and merger control matters across the CEE. Key members of the practice include Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber, who handles merger control matters for energy industry clients among others, while Florian Neumayr handles private enforcement proceedings and market dominance investigations. Christian Schneider takes the lead on matters of EU competition law, with notable expertise in acting for public sector clients. Splitting his time between Vienna and Brussels, Gerhard Fussenegger focuses primarily on FDI controls in addition to EU antitrust law, working closely with Sebastian Reiter.

Cerha Hempel excels at assisting clients with securing Phase I merger clearances, coordinating these efforts at the Austrian and EU level, and is also instructed in private enforcement and follow-on damage claims arising out of cartel investigations. ‘Star individual’ Bernhard Kofler-Senoner steers the practice, wielding his understanding of Austrian and EU cartel law for clients on both sides of cartel proceedings, where he works alongside Michael Mayer, and with additional expertise in navigating Phase I and II merger hearings. Handling both the defence side of cartel proceedings and acting for clients in relation to merger control matters, Anna Wolf-Posch is called upon by clients requiring competition advice on cross-border acquisitions and for assistance with day-to-day competition issues.

E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH combines expertise in defending companies accused of cartel membership with skill in seeing through Phase I and II merger proceedings across multiple jurisdictions, focusing on the digital, pharma, transport and energy sectors. ‘Renowned for his strategic vision’, practice head Dieter Thalhammer maintains a broad practice that covers merger control and cartel proceedings, in addition to representing clients in antitrust damage claims. Judith Feldner appears for clients before Austrian and European competition authorities, while also assisting with investment control matters and running compliance training sessions. Jochen Anweiler, who is admitted to practise in both Austria and Germany, handles merger control hearings before the EU Commission out of the firm’s Brussels office.

Offering ‘unparalleled breadth in Austria and Eastern Europe’, Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) appears for both claimants and defendants in cartel damages hearings, while also operating a strong merger control practice, tackling both Phase I and II proceedings. Heading the team is Christoph Haid, who handles merger and FDI filings across the CEE region, in addition to advising clients on cartel damages strategies. Hanno Wollmann‘s expertise lies in both competition litigation, where he tackles both public and private proceedings, and in designing compliant horizontal and vertical cooperation agreements. Franz Urlesberger assists clients with developing antitrust compliance programmes alongside his private enforcement work, both of which are also areas of focus for Stefanie Stegbauer.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s competition offering includes multi-jurisdictional merger control and FDI filings, advice on state aid regulations, and representation of claimants and defendants in cartel damages proceedings. Heading the team in tandem are Dieter Zandler, who is frequently called upon in cartel damages hearings before the Austrian authorities and to assist with the devising of compliance strategies, and Bernt Elsner, whose expertise in procurement law allows him to advise on bid rigging allegations and public tenders. Marlene Wimmer-Nistelberger is particularly well versed in issues of EU state aid law.

The ‘tailored, effective solutions’ provided by Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG assist clients in navigating FDI clearance and merger control proceedings. Under the guidance of Günter Bauer, the team also advises on EU and Austrian state aid and cartel law, with Bauer handling investigations and leniency applications in addition to bringing private enforcement claims. These are also core aspects of Robert Wagner‘s practice, and he also assists with abuse of dominance matters, in addition to distribution and cooperation agreements. Stefan Wartinger focuses in particular on the telecoms, transport and energy sectors, representing clients in cartel and abuse of dominance cases before the Austrian and EU authorities.

Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG accompanies clients throughout cartel investigations, helping them mitigate risks in their business activities and also appearing for them before the EU Commission and in damages proceedings. Andreas Traugott heads the team, handling merger control and FDI proceedings in addition to supporting clients facing cartel investigations. Anita Lukaschek helps clients secure approval for transactions while also advising on matters of restrictive practices and abuses of dominant positions, with Nina Lenhard overseeing merger control hearings before the Austrian and EU authorities.

Barnert Egermann Illigasch Rechtsanwälte GmbH assists with both M&A and joint venture competition clearance proceedings, with particular expertise in handling FDI clearance screenings. Practice head Isabella Hartung maintains a varied practice that covers contentious cartel hearings and merger control, with noted expertise in overseeing proceedings arising under the Austrian Investment Control Act. Hartung is also called upon in relation to competition law compliance and distribution agreements.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH acts for international clients in securing EU merger clearances and is also able to assist clients looking to bring private damages claims in the wake of cartel investigations, with the firm leveraging its international network to oversee multi-jurisdictional merger proceedings. Team head Marc Lager advises clients on the implications of both horizontal and vertical agreements, abuse of dominance and cartel investigations, and merger control hearings. Claudine Vartian has experience of advising clients in the wake of dawn raids and other competition-related investigations.

DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s competition team works closely alongside its public law team to support clients requiring merger and FDI clearance, representing them in both Austrian and EU proceedings, and is also able to advise clients facing cartel investigations. The ‘simply outstanding’ Heinrich Kühnert heads the team, operating a practice that encompasses Austrian and European merger control proceedings, representation in cartel cases and follow-on damage claims. Kühnert is also able to assist clients looking to conclude competition law-compliant R&D cooperation agreements.

SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH is noted for its expertise in cross-border merger filings, appearing frequently before the European Commission on this front, and is also tasked with acting for clients in the scope of cartel investigations. Practice head Christina Hummer splits her time between Vienna and Brussels, allowing her to tackle antitrust proceedings before the ECJ, ranging from large-scale cartel investigations to merger filings and issues tied to state aid. Markus Fellner focuses on competition litigation, pleading cartel and abuse of dominance cases before the Austrian and European authorities.

Both merger and FDI clearance proceedings fall within the scope of Schima Mayer Starlinger Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s competition team, which assists clients in achieving clearance before the Austrian and EU authorities, with notable strength in the tourism, leisure and energy sectors. Practice head Christian Mayer is sought after for representation in sector inquiries undertaken by the competition authorities and also offers expertise in merger control hearings. Moritz Am Ende focuses on contentious matters tied to EU regulations governing the energy and telecoms sector and issues arising under state aid law.

Taylor Wessing enwc Rechtsanwälte GmbH has a ‘proven ability to handle complex, high-stakes cases’, from helping clients to set up antitrust compliance systems to guiding them through dawn raids and multi-jurisdictional merger control clearance filings. Martin Eckel spearheads the firm’s CEE competition team, with a broad practice that includes liaising with competition authorities in the full scope of antitrust and abuse of dominance investigations. Lindner Stimmler Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG‘s Verena Stagl joined the group in January 2024, providing advice on Austrian and European competition law.

EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH takes on a variety of competition matters across the CEE region, leveraging its ties to the firm’s multinational presence to assist clients with securing merger control clearances, while also helping clients to mitigate risks by conducting internal investigations into their operations and assisting with e-discovery procedures. Practice head David Konrath appears for clients in merger and FDI clearance procedures in addition to antitrust investigations.

Haslinger / Nagele Rechtsanwälte GmbH appears for defendants in cartel investigations and claimants in subsequent private enforcement actions, and is also able to act for clients facing issues under state aid law. Heading the team is a group consisting of Martin Oder, who focuses on follow-on damages procedures, cartel litigation specialist Martin Stempkowski and Alexander Hiersche, an expert in Austrian state aid law.

Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH is often called upon by clients facing Phase II merger control proceedings, and is also well versed in navigating Austrian FDI requirements. Leading the practice is a three-person team made up of Sonja Hebenstreit and Christoph Herbst (the latter is also a member of the Austrian Constitutional Court), both of whom handle antitrust matters, and Valerie Mayer, who takes the lead on merger and FDI control issues.

Lansky, Ganzger, Goeth & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH is particularly adept at representing designated individuals before the European courts, assisting them in challenging sanctions brought against them by the EU. Leading the practice are co-founding partner Gabriel Lansky, whose client base ranges from banks to energy companies, EU sanctions law specialists Philip Goeth and Anna Zeitlinger, and Alexander Egger, whose practice combines both competition and sanctions disputes.

Schindler Attorneys delivers ‘quick, clear and to-the-point answers’ to questions of merger and FDI controls, while also representing clients accused of bid rigging and membership of cartels. Practice head Philippe Kiehl‘s practice covers both competition and corporate law, allowing him to help clients structure mergers so as to avoid falling foul of competition regulations, and also includes niche expertise in sanctions law.