Tying together expertise from across the firm’s tax, corporate and M&A, financing, employment, regulatory, real estate, and IP teams, Binder Grösswang‘s private client practice offers entrepreneurs, their families and foundations comprehensive advice on cross-border estate planning, international tax structuring, succession planning and international relocation, as well as assisting with litigation. The core team is led by Andreas Hable, who specialises in international estate and tax planning, and Thomas Schirmer, who focuses on M&A and real estate transactions. Christian Zwick offers further support on M&A, while Mona Holzgruber is the primary contact for change of residency, citizenship and immigration issues. Investments expert Bernd Schneiderbauer left the firm in February 2023.
Private client in Austria
Binder Grösswang
Praxisleiter:
Andreas Hable; Thomas Schirmer
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Christian Zwick; Mona Holzgruber
Referenzen
‘Good knowledge of the ins and outs of Austrian residence and work permits.’
‘Mona Holzgruber is knowledgeable, competant, and very easy to work with. I would strongly recommend her to anyone else with residence or work permit issues.’
‘Very well organised, fast responding, great knowledge and super friendly.’
Highlight-Mandate
- Advising an UHNW family on the purchase of a prominent Viennese cultural institution.
bpv Hügel
Staying true to its exceptional market reputation, bpv Hügel‘s private client and wealth management practice integrates a full-service tax advice component in assisting HNWIs, family-owned enterprises, and foundations with matters of succession planning, asset structuring and estate planning, reorganisations, and the drafting of wills and marital agreements. Practice head Florian Plattner‘s focus on private foundations goes hand-in-hand with his experience in business succession, and private and art investments. Gerald Schachner leads the firm’s tax team and is instrumental in advising HNWIs and foundations on all elements of corporate tax law, including tax restructuring and tax controversy.
Praxisleiter:
Florian Plattner
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Gerald Schachner
Referenzen
‘bpv Hügel has a well-known HNWI practice.’
‘Gerald Schachner is an important part of the team. He has a lot of experience with family businesses. It’s not always just professional skills that are needed, but also social competence.’
‘The team is rather small, but very selected. Short paths lead to great experience and expertise. The advice is goal-oriented and pragmatic. The consultants are very friendly and straightforward.’
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised a family office on the establishment of Austria’s first multi-family office structures in the form of an Austrian umbrella fund for investments to private equity funds and structures for making and holding venture capital investments.
- Advised an Austrian individual on the set of an Austrian private foundation for the purposes of transferring its shareholding in an Austrian company to the newly established foundation, which in turn will sell a substantial share in the Austrian company valued at €200m.
- Advised the shareholders of a multinational enterprise in the healthcare sector on the tax structuring and reorganisation of the entire group involving the transfer of several shares directly and indirectly cross-border to a new Austrian holding company.
Schindler Attorneys
Schindler Attorneys counts among its client portfolio HNWI, families, family offices, family-owned businesses and private foundations, who regularly retain the team for advice on questions of corporate, tax and real estate law, as well as art, family, inheritance and private foundation law. Cross-border interactions with Germany are aided by several team members being admitted there, and the firm also has experience in the CEE/SEE, UK and Brazilian markets. Leadership is split between founding partner and tax expert Clemens Schindler, inheritance, family and corporate law specialist Philipp Hoyos, and Martin Picherer, who focuses on real estate and succession planning. Katharina Schindler, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, is sought after for her experience in art law.
Praxisleiter:
Clemens Schindler; Philipp Hoyos; Martin Picherer
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Katharina Schindler
Referenzen
‘Lots of commercial experience which makes sure that recommendations are practical and really make a difference for the client.’
‘Clemens Schindler is a rare combination of big picture and technical brilliance.’
‘Schindler Attorneys provides an in-house combination of legal and tax advice and they have a focus on private client work which is not very common in Austrian firms. They have long experience in international matters. Their responsiveness is quick and they are solution-oriented. Their billing is reasonable.’
Kernmandanten
Hypo Alpe Adria Mitarbeiter Privatstiftung
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Hypo Alpe Adria Mitarbeiter Privatstiftung on private foundation law and against claims raised by former beneficiaries.
- Advised the famous Latvian mezzo-soprano singer Elina Garanca on tax, real estate and residence matters.
- Advising the renowned haute cuisine chef Toni Mörwald on real estate matters and estate planning.
Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG
The CEE/SEE region is the heartland of Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG, with both domestic and international HNWIs and their families seeking out the team for legal and tax-related services covering the range of cross-border estate planning, real estate investments, international planning, advice on family-owned businesses, immigration, marriage and divorce matters, and private and charitable foundations. Tax expert Niklas Schmidt boasts specialised knowledge of cryptocurrency and blockchain assets, and leads the team alongside real estate and wealth-management heavyweight Karl Binder. Eva Stadler supports on international tax law and tax planning. Carolin Ziegler left the firm in June 2023.
Praxisleiter:
Niklas Schmidt; Karl Binder
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Eva Stadler
Referenzen
‘The Wolf Theiss team are the go-to firm for Austria and Eastern Europe.’
‘Niklas Schmidt is an established leader in his field (international cross-border tax and estates).’
‘I have recently started working with Eva Stadler and have been very impressed with her technical cross-border tax knowledge and responsiveness.’
Cerha Hempel
With a strong basis in corporate law, Cerha Hempel guides UHNWI, funds and trusts in an array of matters related to foundations and businesses, estate and wealth management, and succession planning. In addition to heading the firm’s takeovers and antitrust team, Albert Birkner is firmly placed in the private client practice through numerous seats on the supervisory boards of major Austrian foundations. Head of the contentious business team Irene Welser brings to the table exceptional expertise in probate, succession, and estate disputes. Corporate lawyer Heinrich Foglar-Deinhardstein specialises in reorganisations, takeovers, and succession, while tax expert Benjamin Twardosz focuses on estate and tax planning, as well as advising on fiscal criminal law.
Praxisleiter:
Irene Welser; Albert Birkner; Heinrich Foglar-Deinhardstein; Benjamin Twardosz
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Thomas Trettnak; Johannes Aehrenthal
Referenzen
‘Seamless work between team members with easy onboarding of new members if necessary.’
‘Irene Welser is an outstanding lawyer, fully motivated and enthusiastic about fighting for a client.’
Kernmandanten
Kwizda
Karl Wlaschek Privatstiftung (KWPS)
Pichler Privatstiftung
ITI – International Theological Institute
Batthyany-Strattmann
St Johanns Club
Ronald McDonald Kinderhilfe (Children Charities)
Souveräner Malteser Ritterorden
Alex Schütz Familienstiftung (C-Quadrat)
Dr. Pscheidl Privatstiftung
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the Karl Wlaschek Group on a regular basis on all corporate, M&A and real estate related issues, including recently proceedings against a well-known coffee house operator in Vienna regarding unpaid rent due to lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH
CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH is well-known in the private client sphere for its services in aid of HNWIs, their families and businesses, private foundations, and trusts, who seek out the team for the spectrum of asset, inheritance and succession planning matters, including dispute settlement and corporate law elements. Johannes Reich-Rohrwig is the face of the team, with extensive experience in contentious trusts and probate law, encompassing expertise in private and corporate wealth succession, foundations, trusts, gifts, and wills. Arno Zimmermann assists with estate planning, inheritance, and dispute resolution, while Lukas Peissl acts for domestic and international HNWIs at the interface of wealth management and inheritance.
Praxisleiter:
Johannes Reich-Rohrwig
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Arno Zimmermann; Lukas Peissl
DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH
UHNW families and entrepreneurs rely on DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH for comprehensive legal and tax advice on international tax structuring and estate planning, relocation and immigration, as well as contentious family and inheritance disputes. Tax law expert Paul Doralt leads the team and focuses his practice on trust law and structured financing. Katharina Binder advises private trusts, foundations, and international corporations in matters of trust law, succession planning, restructurings, and cross-border tax issues. Stanislav Nekrasov also specialises in tax and fiscal criminal law.
Praxisleiter:
Paul Doralt
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Katharina Binder; Stanislav Nekrasov
Referenzen
‘Extremely experienced and well-connected team with a superb client base. Capable of advising and representing private clients in their most important and complex matters. Clear communication, plain language, ability to describe complex matters in simple terms. Excellent client handling.’
‘Without a doubt, Paul Doralt is one of the best private client specialists in Austria.’
‘DORDA’s private client practice is one of the key advisers of the Austrian establishment, with the breadth of covering all relevant areas (corporate, trust, tax, accounting).’
Kernmandanten
Schmidt-Chiari Family
Stephanie Privatstiftung
Croma-Pharma
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the shareholder-family of Croma-Pharma on their personal tax consequences of the first De-SPAC transaction in Austria.
GRAF ISOLA
Private foundations in particular benefit from the extensive experience of the team at GRAF ISOLA, which provides support on wealth management and restructuring, and also assists HNWIs with succession law and estate planning, inheritance claims, and related tax matters. Practice head Armenak Utudjian doubles up his well-known expertise in foundation law and succession planning with his duties as the President of the Austrian Bar Association, while head of the commercial and M&A team Ferdinand Graf supports on matters at the intersection of international trade and sanctions law.
Praxisleiter:
Armenak Utudjian
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Ferdinand Graf
Referenzen
‘Trust, more than only legal advice, speed.’
Kernmandanten
Kay Horstmann Privatstiftung
Peter Lisec Privatstiftung
Motycka Privatstiftung
Talent Privatstiftung
Medem Privatstiftung
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised a family foundation in defending against claims worth millions of euro in an ongoing arbitration proceeding before the Austrian courts.
- Appointed to the board of directors of the Peter Lisec Foundation and in this capacity advised on the administration of the foundation’s assets, including the subsidiary Lisec group of companies, real estate and financial assets.
- Advised a renowned Group of Austrian foundations and their subsidiaries on a wide range of legal topics, including defending them against legal claims in an Austrian court.
SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH
A robust offering in family and probate law underpins SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH‘s private client team, which advises UHNWI and HNWI on post-marital claims involving shareholdings and assets, child custody issues, inheritance claims, as well as on corporate law questions of asset structuring, succession, and wealth management. The team is jointly led by Gerald Schmidsberger, who works on corporate succession, investments and trusts, and Birgit Leb, who is primarily engaged in contentious family and inheritance proceedings. Corporate and M&A-focused Bernhard Gonaus specialises in shareholder disputes and was promoted to partner in October 2023.
Praxisleiter:
Gerald Schmidsberger; Birgit Leb
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Bernhard Gonaus
Referenzen
‘The team are excellent at treating complex and sophisticated matters. They have uncomplicated, simple and understandable procedures. The breadth of their team, their service level and their responsiveness are outstanding.’
‘SCWP have a perfect network and specialists in all sectors.’
Kernmandanten
Greiner AG
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted the Greiner Group with a range of private client issues, including inheritance, charity and power of attorney matters, arising from the restructuring of the family office.
DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH
A strategic focus on advising domestic entrepreneurial families on asset structuring and management sees DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH frequently engaged in complex cross-border structures and succession planning. International HNWI with private foundations in Austria also seek out practice head Christoph Mager for assistance with multi-jurisdictional asset structuring and the execution of wills, while Elisabeth Stichmann is recognised for her extensive knowledge of foundations law. Dimitar Hristov supports on tax matters, particularly in relation to the CEE/SEE and Brazilian markets.
Praxisleiter:
Christoph Mager
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Elisabeth Stichmann; Dimitar Hristov
Referenzen
‘Best understanding of clients’ needs.’
‘Christoph Mager is a great team leader and problem solver.’
‘Very efficient and good approach to the relevant problem.’
Kernmandanten
H.M.Z. Privatstiftung
Nowikov Family
Continuatio Privatstiftung
JN Privatstiftung
Avinos Privatstiftung
HSP Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Carving out a niche in the CIS region, HSP Rechtsanwälte GmbH supports HNWI with real estate investments, corporate structuring and acquisition, tax planning and structuring, and fiscal penal law. Between them, practice heads Jörg Winkler and Nikolaus Becker assist clients with rights of domicile, asset management, and succession planning.
Praxisleiter:
Jörg Winkler; Nikolaus Becker
Referenzen
‘HSP works with a very professional and international team in an extremely client-oriented manner. Legal know-how paired with a very expeditious way of working enable a very efficient cooperation.’
‘Nikolaus Becker and his entire highly professional team are active in the field of residence law at the highest level. Their expertise is impressive due to many years of professional competence and the cooperation with them is characterised by profound knowledge and implementation quality at the highest level.’
‘HSP’s precision and reliability in handling legal issues are truly exemplary. HSP is a modern law firm that is technically up-to-date.’
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the Jewish Russian-speaking Community Vienna, which consists of approximately 10,000 members, on a number of legal matters.
Jank Weiler Operenyi
Drawing on the combined strength of the firm’s tax advisors, auditors, consultants and financial advisory and risk advisory experts, Jank Weiler Operenyi offers international family offices, foundations and HNWI a one-stop-shop for wealth and private asset management. Founding partner Maximilian Weiler heads the team, focusing on the structuring and execution of strategic investments, while Gabriele Etzl supports on real estate and real estate finance transactions in Austria and the wider CEE/SEE region.
Praxisleiter:
Maximilian Weiler
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Gabriele Etzl
Referenzen
‘Outstanding and highly reputable practice integrated in seamless one-stop-shop together with tax experts, thus biggest fully integrated practice in Austria.’
‘Maximilian Weiler’s difference from competitors is his approach: there is always a solution.’
‘Maximilian Weiler offers an extraordinary commitment to his clients.’
Kernmandanten
Liechtenstein Group
Stiftung Fürst Liechtenstein
Neue Wege Privatstiftung
Esterhazy Family Office
Rauch Group
M. Müller Privatstiftung
Wolschner Privatstiftung
Veit Sorger
Frauscher Group
Paulaner Group
Betha Zwerenz Krause GmbH
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Stiftung Fürst Liechtenstein, the foundation established by the Prince of Liechtenstein, in connection with its international asset management entity and its subsidiaries with focus on the investment and the management of real estate, agriculture, forestry and renewable energy projects.
- Advised Wolschner Privatstiftung and its subsidiaries on asset management and general corporate matters.
- Advised Neue Wege Privatstiftung in its establishment and the establishment of a structure with regard to various business ventures.
Müller Partner Rechtsanwälte
Müller Partner Rechtsanwälte primarily acts as adviser to founders, beneficiaries and board members on the establishment and management of foundations, with additional competencies in testamentary dispositions and succession planning. Private foundations, corporate and estate law expert Katharina Müller heads the team alongside Martin Melzer, who supports clients in the development, organisation and implementation of charitable projects.
Praxisleiter:
Katharina Müller; Martin Melzer
Referenzen
‘Profound knowledge of private client matters.’
‘Outstanding experience in the field from Katharina Müller and Martin Melzer.’
‘Very good knowledge, excellent combination of legal and economic education and approach specially for private foundations. Good availability.’
PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner
Interdisciplinary advice on corporate, foundation, succession and private law frames PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner‘s practice which acts for UHNWI, private foundations and family businesses in their transitions to next generations, M&A transactions, and restructuring processes. Christian Öhner heads the team, harnessing extensive corporate experience in advising on restructurings, and financial and strategic investments. Michael Lind is retained by private foundations, trusts, and HNI in corporate transactions and joint ventures.
Praxisleiter:
Christian Oehner
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Michael Lind
Kernmandanten
W.A.C.M. Privatstiftung
Founder of Dedicaid GmbH
JS North Asia Investments Limited forming part of the JS Group
Atomos
Owner Miraculix Business Beteiligungs GmbH
Schachinger
JCL
fangocur GmbH
Grüner Handels & Projekt GmbH
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised W.A.C.M. Privatstiftung on the sale of Walter Mauser GmbH in an auction procedure to the Finnish Fortaco Group.
- Advised on the exit of AI software developer Dedicaid GmbH to Telix Pharmaceuticals headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.
- Advised JS, a financial services investment company based in Pakistan, on its acquisition of a substantial equity interest in Austrian-based crypto start-up Blockbase Group.