Binder Grösswang is highly adept at handling cross-border work, advising on multi-jurisdictional estate planning and international tax structuring. The firm has ‘deep expertise’ in the full range of matters from succession planning for the families of HNWIs and investments, to philanthropy and immigration. The team is led by Andreas Hable, who provides ‘exceptional legal counsel, especially in matters related to foundations’, Thomas Schirmer who specialises in M&A and real estate transactions and Christian Zwick,who regularly advises entrepreneurs. Mona Holzgruber is also an integral member of the team, focusing on corporate restructurings and wealth and asset management. Adrian Zwettler specialises in litigation.

bpv Hügel continues to be renowned for its tax advice. With this strength in its toolkit, the firm offers HNWIs and foundations advice on a variety of tax-related matters including tax structuring and high-stakes tax disputes. Additionally, the team under Florian Plattner has a strong track record for business succession as well as for private investments, with Plattner having a special focus on private foundations. On the tax front, Gerald Schachner, ‘one of the go-to private client lawyers in Austria’ heads the team with his broad expertise being key to the firm’s proficiency in tax controversy, including fiscal criminal tax law.

Schindler Attorneys regularly advises on inheritance law, asset structuring as well as protection and tax law in relation to the distribution of assets. The team's client roster includes celebrities and entrepreneurs as well as HNW families, who benefit from the firm’s expertise in the structuring of family-held businesses and succession planning. The firm also has strong connections with the German market, allowing for complex cross-border work, including estate planning and relocation. The practice is jointly steered by tax heavyweight Clemens Schindler and family and corporate law specialist Philipp Hoyos.

Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG covers succession, international tax and cross-border estate planning as well as advice on charities and philanthropic projects, with a stronghold in Austria and the CEE/SEE region. The firm has a strong focus on tax-related matters, frequently in relation to immigration and relocation. Having garnered over two decades of experience, co-head and tax specialist Niklas Schmidt stands out for his knowledge of the taxation of capital gains from crypto assets.  Co-head Karl Binder has a full-service approach leading on a broad range of corporate real estate matters for HNWIs, including Forbes-ranked individuals. ‘Excellent lawyer’ Eva Stadler is another key contact.

Cerha Hempel’s robust foundation in corporate law benefits its UHNW and private foundation clients in a whole host of matters encompassing contentious and non-contentious tax matters as well as estate and wealth planning. The team offers a wealth of experience in advising charities, with a particular emphasis on real estate projects. Head of the takeovers and antitrust department Albert Birkner is highly regarded as a ‘stand-out-partner’. Leading the contentious business department, Irene Welser boasts an extensive track record in handling probate, succession and estate disputes. In the firm’s corporate practice, Heinrich Foglar-Deinhardstein is active in trust law, while Benjamin Twardosz is renowned for advising on both the civil and tax law aspects of private foundations. Also a corporate lawyer, Martin Eichinger was promoted to partner in May 2024.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH provides a comprehensive service, with the team's areas of expertise extending to inheritance law and estate planning, succession planning, wills, tax, and foundations. The department’s figurehead Johannes Reich-Rohrwig is well-versed in both contentious and non-contentious matters, regularly drafting succession plans and representing clients in inheritance disputes. Supporting Reich-Rohrwig is Arno Zimmermann who assists with estates, investments, and dispute resolution. Another key member is Lukas Peissl, who works on contentious inheritance matters and disputes related to private foundations.

DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH offers extensive experience in immigration and naturalisation law and is equipped to handle the full spectrum of tax and succession advice, inheritance proceedings, and estate planning. Paul Doralt is the leader of the core team, specialising in wealth protection and tax structuring. Katharina Binder demonstrates proficiency in succession planning and advice on trusts and foundations. The multilingual tax expert Stanislav Nekrasov is another integral part of the team, facilitating complex cross-border work including fiscal criminal tax law matters.

A port of call for private foundations, GRAF ISOLA is adept at working in the interface between wealth management and restructuring. HNWIs also benefit from the firm’s expertise in optimising asset succession and asserting inheritance claims. Practice head Armenak Utudjian is focus areas extend to advice on the use of foundations within succession planning. Cooperation with the sanctions team also bolsters the department, with corporate lawyer Ferdinand Graf being noted for a strong international trade and sanctions law practice that supports private clients.

SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH offers established experience in inheritance and probate proceedings, with proven knowledge of post-marital claims and child custody issues for HNWIs. The team advises on foundations and succession planning, with numerous clients from industrial and engineering-related segments. Having opened a new private client-focused office in Salzburg in June 2024 and promoted Dominique Schichtle to partner in April 2024, the firm has strengthened its practice locally. The team’s leadership is split between Gerald Schmidsberger, whose works centres on corporate succession and private foundations, and Birgit Leb, who advises on contracts between spouses.

Advising Austrian families on the structuring and protection of assets underpins DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH, organizačná zložka’s private client practice. With a strong bench of corporate lawyers, entrepreneurial families and international clients rely on the team for advice on investments and acquisitions, succession planning, relocation,  and tax.  Practice head Christoph Magerhandles a wealth of asset-related matters for clients in different jurisdictions. Elisabeth Stichmann regularly advises on complex family situations and asset-related disputes. Also noted is Dimitar Hristov, who is reputed for his cross-border experience with the Eastern European and Brazilian markets.

Leveraging the expertise of the firm’s tax professionals, auditors, consultants, as well as financial and risk advisory specialists, Jank Weiler Operenyi provides a comprehensive wealth and private asset management service for international family offices, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. Leading the team, Maximilian Weiler is a port of call for wealth and asset management, while Gabriele Etzl plays a key role in supporting real estate and real estate finance transactions across Austria and the broader CEE region.

Foundation law makes up the bulk of Müller Partner Rechtsanwälte’s private client practice, including the execution of foundations and the establishment of sub-foundations. Alongside this key strength, the firm has capabilities in prenuptial agreements, the division of marital savings as well as charity law. Figureheads Katharina Müller and Martin Melzer act as board members of various private foundations and are sought after for inheritance or divorce disputes, especially if private foundations are involved.

RIZZI Rechtsanwalts GmbH has a special focus on private foundations as well as inheritance and succession related planning and litigation. Private foundations and family businesses benefit from practice head Paul Rizzi’s expertise in corporate law and litigation, particularly on succession matters involving corporate structures. Other areas of strength include the transfer of real estate, tax and estate planning.

Forging a focus on the CIS region, HSP Rechtsanwälte GmbH provides a full range of services for HNWIs with an emphasis on matters with connections to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The team under practice head Nikolaus Becker is adept at real estate investments and fiscal criminal proceedings. Becker is particularly recommended for advice on the protection of private assets and the structuring and safeguarding of corporate succession. Jörg Winkler departed in August 2024.

Comprehensive support on succession strategy, foundation law, M&A transactions, restructuring processes and corporate law implications resulting from the transitions of family enterprises to the next generation marks PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner’s private client offering. With significant experience in corporate law, practice head and managing partner Christian Oehner predominantly advises companies on restructurings and investments. Michael Lind provides transactional advice to foundations, trusts and HNWIs.