Described by one client as ‘probably the best real estate practice in Austria,’ DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH acts for large real estate investors on acquisitions in Vienna, focusing particularly on the office and logistics markets, but also assisting with transactions in the hospitality and retail arenas. In the latter segment, the team is well versed in advising on lease arrangements, where it acts for several international retailers. The group is led by the ‘dream team’ of Stefan Artner, who advises on real estate-heavy M&A transactions, development projects and tenancy law, and Magdalena Brandstetter, who handles instructions pertaining to forward funding and purchase agreements.

Seen as the ‘leader of the pack,’ DSC Doralt Seist Csoklich Rechtsanwälte GmbH acts for globally active real estate investment funds and financial institutions on high value transactions on the Austrian real estate market and wider afield. Furthermore, the practice was able to grow its presence in the forward purchase arena, where it is carving out a greater presence in the country’s residential market. The ‘brilliant’ Wilfried Seist leads the team, combining a thriving transactional practice with litigious real estate matters. Nina Mitterdorfer is often tasked with handling tenancy and developer contract law issues in addition to asset management, while Antonia Rosenauer handles real estate asset and share deals.

Bringing together ‘outstanding expertise and experience,’ Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) offers real estate funds and asset managers a strong transactional practice, and is able to provide ancillary services, including construction and M&A assistance. ‘Top-notch real estate lawyer’ Michael Lagler, who handles large scale portfolio transactions and the real estate aspects of M&A deals, now leads the team by himself, following Peter Madl‘s departure from the partnership, although the latter continues to assist on real estate development matters in a counsel role. Clemens Rainer was made partner in February 2023, with a practice focused on in- and outbound property investments across the CEE region.

Vavrovsky Heine Marth Rechtsanwälte‘s real estate team takes on a range of domestic and cross-border transactions, with a notable following amongst Austria’s major real estate investors. The practice also advises property managers and developers on the ongoing the development of new facilities in the office, hospitality and retail sectors, assisting with planning, construction and leasing matters. ‘Problem solver’ Christian Marth heads the group, supporting clients engaged in cross-border real estate deals, including forward funding and purchase transactions. Linz office head Lisa Haslinger was made partner in January 2023, merging her knowledge of transactional and developmental real estate law and public economic law.

Showing a ‘willingness to routinely go above and beyond’ for its clients, Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG provides advice on the gamut of real estate issues, from cross-border transactions, including entire property portfolios, to the development and leasing of commercial, hospitality and entertainment venues. The practice is led by a four-person team consisting of the hotel and leisure-focused Erik Steger, transactions specialist Peter Oberlechner, Birgit Kraml, who leads the practice’s newly founded ESG task force, and Karl Binder, whose real estate clients include investment firms and listed companies.

Under the leadership of real estate and construction specialist Peter Vcelouch, Cerha Hempel‘s real estate practice takes on a broad spectrum of transactional and development mandates in Austria and the wider CEE region. Disputes form an additional pillar of the team’s work, including both construction and lease issues. ‘Smooth negotiator’ Mark Krenn counts a number of public sector clients among his roster, whom he assists on the acquisition and disposal of key assets, and is also noted for his innovative use of legal tech.

E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH has built up a strong presence in the hotel and hospitality market, where it acts for real estate investors and developers on transactions for both single properties and hotel portfolios. Practice head Clemens Lanschützer, who handles pure real estate deals in addition to M&As that involve significant real estate assets. Alric Ofenheimer is regularly instructed on hotel and logistics deals, while Johannes Feilmair, who was made partner in July 2023, acts on matters concerning energy and infrastructure. Helena Neuner is a name to note for real estate deals in the hospitality and leisure industry.

SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH boasts a ‘broad knowledge of the real estate sector,’ enabling it to provide tailored advice to domestic and foreign real estate developers and investors on a range of projects and transactions. The team also represents clients in disputes tied to real estate projects. Practice head Immanuel Gerstner handles the financing aspects of real estate transactions, with a notable cross-border practice. He and Lukas Leitner, who acts for several major real estate investors in regard to their acquisitions in Austria, are both admitted to the New York bar. Christoph Luegmair specialises in the structuring of real estate transactions and leasing agreements, while Irene Meingast handles real estate transactions and associated issues of corporate law.

Real estate transactions, regulatory issues, and disputes and tenancy matters form the three core areas of Binder Grösswang‘s real estate practice, which advises a mixture of investors and industries. The team frequently draws on the expertise of the firm’s financing, competition and dispute resolution practice’s to provide clients a full service. Leading the team is Markus Uitz, whose practice encompasses cross-border transactions, regulatory construction matters and advice on tenancy law.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s real estate practice advises a client base consisting of logistics, retail and hotel owners and operators on purchase and leasing deals, and is also sought out for its ability to oversee major real estate developments. Leading the team is Nikolaus Weselik, a seasoned real estate practitioner who combines transactional skill with a wealth of expertise in construction-related disputes. Johannes Hysek specialises in assisting the logistics and hotel sectors, while Mariella Kapoun is focused on ESG developments in the real estate sector, in addition to handling forward funding and purchase deals.

In addition to typical real estate transactions, DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH is often sought out by clients carrying out land purchases and seeking both financing and refinancing for real estate assets. The team also assists both property owners and prospective tenants on drafting and negotiating rental contracts. Practice head Oskar Winkler acts for clients conducting deals across the CEE region, and is noted for his knowledge of mining law and related real estate issues. Real estate and construction financing matters are the domain of Jasna Zwitter-Tehovnik.

EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH works alongside colleagues from the EY network to advise on the structuring of real estate transactions, particularly those centred on residential and retail assets, while also acting for landlords and tenants on leasing contracts. Stephan Größ is the team head, with a practice that ties real estate transactions to project development. Philipp Moritz is noted for his transactional work in the real estate market.

Grama Schwaighofer Vondrak Rechtsanwälte‘s real estate team is noted for its ‘pragmatic approach with excellent academic knowledge,’ has a strong transactional workload, and works closely with the firm’s corporate practice to tackle both pure real estate deals and M&A deals requiring real estate expertise. Andreas Schwaighofer handles transactions, leasing matters and real estate disputes in his role as practice head, with Georg Zacherl providing both real estate and construction as well as corporate law expertise.

The ‘solution-driven’ KWR Karasek Wietrzyk Rechtsanwälte GmbH real estate practice oversees projects from start to finish, advising on initial construction contracts through to the disposal of property to investment funds via share and asset deals. The practice has expanded its presence in the hotel markets in recent years, frequently assisting with transactions in this space. The team is led by a four-man leadership group consisting of Clemens Berlakovits, Georg Karasek, Jan Philipp Schifko and Paul Schmidinger.

Nemetschke Huber Koloseus Attorneys at Law bolstered its real estate practice in May 2023, with landlord and tenant specialist Birgit Harasser joining the firm from BRAND Rechtsanwälte GmbH. The team is well versed in handling real estate transactions for a range of sectors, with the food service industry being a particular area of focus. Project development and financing specialist Alfred Nemetschke leads the team alongside Alexandra Huber, who handles transactions in the residential and commercial sectors.

One client describes Pitkowitz & Partners‘ real estate practice as ‘one of the leading groups in this field,’ and the team is sought out by both private and public sector clients in relation to both commercial, residential and mixed use real estate developments and transactions. Practice head Martin Foerster ‘excels in his field,’ having built up both a buyer- and seller-side transactional practice, while also advising on civil and construction law matters tied to real estate developments.

Barnert Egermann Illigasch Rechtsanwälte GmbH has put together a burgeoning real estate practice in 2023, with the arrivals in February and March 2023 of Roman Jatzko and Elisabeth Peck, both from EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH, and the July 2023 arrival of new practice head Arabella Eichinger from Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte), headlining a year of growth for the firm. The practice has considerable experience in handling both developments and transactions in the hotel and leisure sector, and is also sought after for leasing matters and dispute resolution advice.

In addition to supporting clients’ real estate transactions, BPPA Brandstetter Baurecht Rechtsanwälte GmbH offers assistance with regard to construction, corporate and tax law, helping clients to find the optimum structure for their deals. Team leader Dominik Baurecht advises on issues within the scope of Austria’s BTVG (the Property Developer Contract Act) and financing matters in addition to real estate issues more broadly.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners advises both developers and banks on the sale of assets following the completion of projects, and is also sought after for its cross-border transactional practice. Additionally, the team represents clients in disputes concerning construction defects. Leading the team are Michael Hecht, who regularly advises public bodies on real estate matters, transactions specialist Markus Kajaba and Lukas Flener, who handles the sales of residential properties and real estate portfolios.

FSM Rechtsanwälte supports real estate developers with the construction and refurbishment of a range of property types and their subsequent sales or leases to clients across a range of sectors. Leading the team are Benedikt Stockert, who assists developers and property owners across the life cycle of real estate projects, and Reinhard Pesek, who specialises in landlord and tenant matters in addition to issues of civil and consumer law.

Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte acts for clients at the intersection of real estate and construction law, and has carved out a niche in the hotel sector, which makes up a substantial proportion of the firm’s work. Under the guidance of practice head Alexander Patsch, the team assists clients engaged in transactions for residential and commercial real estate deals, and also handles construction-related litigation.

With an ‘outstanding reputation in the realm of real estate,’ HSP Rechtsanwälte GmbH accompanies development projects from start to finish and provides support on matters of public and civil law in addition to transactional advice. The team, led by private and commercial real estate specialist Peter Fassl and planning and development expert Markus Busta, is also noted for its contentious construction-related work. Made partner in July 2023, Matea Plavotic focuses on real estate transactions and project financing.

Jank Weiler Operenyi is frequently instructed on multi-jurisdictional real estate transactions, with clients coming from the hospitality and leisure, retail and residential sectors among others. Practice head Gabriele Etzl handles both real estate deals and associated financing matters, in addition to advising on private and commercial tenancy law. Miriam Nehajova was made partner in March 2023, and continues to advise on cross-border real estate transactions.

PwC Legal Austria-oehner & partner handles a wide range of real estate matters, including transactions, financing and disputes, and has placed additional focus on sustainability aspects of real estate law over the past year, notably in the area of green leases. Practice head Karl Koller handles both real estate transactions, including forward funding and sales, and construction issues, with a strong presence in the hotel and leisure sector.

Demonstrating a ‘strong commitment to putting clients first’ Schima Mayer Starlinger Rechtsanwälte GmbH covers a broad spectrum of real estate issues, assisting clients seeking new premises with leasing contracts, while also supporting real estate developers and investors with the construction and sale of commercial real estate. Markus Dax leads the team, with experience handling projects from initial structuring to sale, while Philipp Gamauf focuses on leases and transactions.