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’.

Capital markets (Tier 1)

Within Capital markets, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a first tier firm,
Capital markets is one of CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati’s real strengths, and the firm continues to attract work in a quiet market. This includes acting for impressive clients such as OIAG, advising on the privatisation of Austrian Airlines. The firm’s first-class client roster also features the likes of Erste Bank and Strabag. Clients are quick to point out that ‘ the quality of service given by the firm at all stages is professional and accurate, with partners getting directly involved’. Head of practice Edith Hlawati is well respected throughout the market.

Central and Eastern Europe (Tier 1)

Within Central and Eastern Europe, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a first tier firm,
Described as ‘highly motivated, responsive, and solution-focused’, clients say that ‘some of the bigger competitors look “very old” compared to CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati’. The firm, led by the extremely capable Albert Birkner, continues to be massively acquisitive in the CEE region, opening three proprietary offices over the past year alone. The talented head of practice, Peter Hoffmann, is ‘top-quality’, while Georg Konrad ‘ is very business-minded and makes things happen’. Johannes Aehrenthal is also singled out by happy clients for ‘having a good track record providing solutions and quick responses’. The firm acts for a large number of significant CEE players, including client MID Group.

Corporate and M&A (Tier 1)

Within Corporate and M&A, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a first tier firm,
CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati proved its worth in the market over the past year, producing an exceptional deal list. Said to be ‘absolutely triple A’, work handled is often at the very top-end, and has included acting for Austria Tabak on a €2.6bn restructuring. Other highlights include advising Q-Cells on one of the first cross-border mergers to be seen in Austria. Benedikt Spiegelfeld leads the impressive department, which also fields star performers such as managing partner Albert Birkner (who is singled out by clients for praise), Peter Hoffmann, Clemens Hasenauer and Thomas Zivny. Clients praise the ‘good network, good team, and flexible approach’.

Dispute Resolution (Tier 1)

Within Dispute Resolution, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a first tier firm,
CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati’s ‘excellent’ dispute resolutions team – one of the largest that Austria has to offer – is described as ‘historically strong’. Irene Welser leads the group, which also includes Benedikt Spiegelfeld, Julian Feichtinger and Peter Vcelouch. 2008 was consistently busy, with highlights including acting for the Austrian national bank on the bankruptcy receiver of Rieger Bank. The firm has a desirable client list which includes Unilever Austria, and long-standing clients Uniqa and Yves Rocher. According to clients, ‘although it is a big law firm, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati differs from other big names by offering an individual service’.

EU and competition (Tier 2)

Within EU and competition CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a second tier firm,
Clients say ‘the quality of service from the CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati team is outstanding, as are its guidance and co-operation with law firms abroad. It is capable of solving complex issues, highly reliable, available on short notice and uncomplicated. Their great experience is irreplaceable’. 2008 saw the firm advise Strabag on merger control issues following its acquisition of Efkon. Bernhard Kofler-Senoner, Peter Lewisch and Irene Welser are all highly regarded for their excellent track record in this area.

Employment (Tier 3)

Within Employment, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a third tier firm,
With an excellent client base, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati offers a very adept employment practice. Julian Feichtinger leads a team which had a very good year providing employment advice to names such as Brussels Airlines, Burberry and Danone on a regular basis. Irene Welser and Peter Vcelouch are also well-regarded.

IT and telecommunications (Tier 2)

Within IT and telecommunications, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a second tier firm,
Described as ‘an excellent firm that produces stellar results’, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati offers an accomplished IT and telecoms team, which is led by Julian Feichtinger and Georg Konrad. Highlights include advising Hooters of America, and Altova on anti-piracy copyright matters. Clients are pleased to note that the team provides ‘innovative, out of the box thinking’.

Insolvency and corporate recovery (Tier 3)

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a third tier firm,
CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is particularly adept at contentious proceedings arising from insolvency and restructuring, having advised Unilever Austria over the past year in a dispute with an insolvent supplier of frozen goods, and Vienna International Airport in damage proceedings against the bankruptcy receiver of Mandl & Eckl. Irene Welser and Benedikt Spiegelfeld are recommended.

Intellectual property and media (Tier 3)

Within Intellectual property and media, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a third tier firm,
CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati provides ‘innovative, out of the box thinking, and is immensely deliberative and professional’. Irene Welser and Julian Feichtinger are the names of note for contentious work, and data protection issues.

Real estate (Tier 2)

Within Real estate, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a second tier firm,
CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati has made real strides over the past year, and the practice is gaining in momentum. The four-partner team offers great expertise in the shape of practice head Peter Vcelouch, who specialises in construction, Peter Hoffmann, Johannes Aehrenthal and Thomas Zivny. 2008 saw the team garner some attractive mandates, including advising Harte Holdings on the €300m acquisition and development of a Greg Norman golf course in Austria. The team also acted for key client Vienna airport in the acquisition of real estate portfolio Mazur Holding.

Tax (Tier 2)

Within Tax, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati is a second tier firm,
CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati’s tax work is led by Johannes Prinz and Clemens Hasenauer, and is supported by banking and corporate finance partner Peter Knobl. The team attracts some significant names, including Credit Suisse, which it regularly advises on the tax issues associated with structured finance transactions. Prominent work over the past year has included advising Germany-based Q-Cells on the fiscal implications of one of the first cross-border mergers in Austria.

Source:
The Legal 500: Europe, Middle East & Africa, 2009 Edition