Within Banking and finance, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a first tier firm,
CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati has a thriving banking and finance practice. Standout work during 2008 included advising key client Erste Bank on a series of financings valued at $200m. The solid, seven-partner team is led by well-known Edith Hlawati, and features leading individuals such as Volker Glas, Peter Knobl, and newly recruited former Dallmann & Juranek partner, Thomas Zivny. Clients say ‘ the quality of service is excellent; compared to other law firms they work very fast and are always reliable’.

Cerha Hempel's reputation for banking mandates has increased, with the firm acting in some outstanding deals. One client, when asked why they chose Cerha Hempel for a large and complex financing deal, says: "This is what their reputation is based upon, their ability to perform in this tricky world. I'd worked with them before, so I knew that." Members of Cerha Hempel's finance team are well known on the market. Edith Hlawati led a team advising Commerzbank on its €5.1 billion purchase of, and merger with, Dresdner Bank, which involved dealing with Austrian, Hungarian and Bulgarian banking and competition law aspects. Peter Knobl advised Iceland's Kaupthing Bank in its founding of an Austrian branch in the summer of 2008. Soon after finalising the registration details, the Icelandic bank fell bankrupt, asking Cerha Hempel to stay on-side to assist in liquidation of the branch. Volker Glas advised Telekom Austria/Mobilkom Austria on a series of cross-border financings, including the re-allocation of posted collateral and the negotiation of termination agreements. Albert Birkner and Peter Knobl also represented Alon Israel Oil Company in its efforts to finance the requisition of all shares in a large specialist Austrian bank.

Leading lawyers
Volker Glas
Peter Knobl

While perhaps best known for its outstanding capital markets work, this “friendly and proactive firm” also offers quality advice on banking and finance matters, particularly on the regulatory side. Capital markets whizz Edith Hlawati heads the 22-lawyer banking and corporate finance department, which includes M&A and capital markets specialists. Acting for the likes of Barclays and Deutsche Bank, the team is praised for its local expertise in international transactions and is, as one client pointed out, “superb in investment funds.” The group recently advised Investkredit on a USD52 million credit facility for the financing of a vegetable oil production plant and aided ACP Capital on a second-lien loan agreement for Austrian subsidiaries of Nordsee Group. International banks turn to Volker Glas for his advice on credit facilities. Regulatory expert Peter Knobl wins praise for his knowledge of structured banking products and securitisations, and for his dedication: “He always finds time to answer questions, even when he is busy,” clients said. Representation in Eastern Europe is another forte of this firm, with offices in Serbia, Belarus, Romania, and other CEE countries.

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