Competition/European Law
Europe Guide 2024 : Austria
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+43 1 2 60 50 0About
Provided by bpv Huegel
Our competition practice is among the premier groups in the Austrian market, with one of its largest and most experienced teams. We regularly advise clients on a full spectrum of complex competition matters, including merger control, cartel defence (including leniency applications and dawn raids), abuse of dominance cases, follow-on private damages claims, the formation of joint ventures and cross-border M&A transactions, internal investigations, antitrust compliance, and various antitrust counselling matters. Our roster of blue-chip clients includes some of the largest organisations in Austria, as well as multinationals from around the world.
In addition to Chambers and Partners, we are also recognised as Band 1 by Legal 500, JUVE, and Global Competition Review.
Thanks to the firm’s affiliation with other top-ranked bpv Legal offices in the CEE as well as specialised firms across Europe, bpv Huegel provides a seamless cross-border service for the entire range of competition law issues arising in European jurisdictions, including multinational merger filings. With our office in Brussels, we also regularly advise in cases with a nexus to Austria or a bpv Legal jurisdiction on a merger, cartel, and abuse of dominance matters before the European Commission.
Chambers Review
bpv Huegel remains one of the leading competition law firms in Austria, with impressive experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team represents clients in investigations into allegations of cartel involvement and market inquiries, as well as in leniency applications and follow-on damages claims. It also assists with merger notifications for cross-border transactions and state aid queries for beneficiaries. Clients benefit from the firm's presence in Brussels for assistance with matters before the European Commission.
Work Highlights
- bpv Huegel represented Kostmann in an investigation into a possible cartel in the Austrian construction market.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"We have a very good overall impression. The lawyers know the market very well and they are very hands-on, keep to the deadlines and are very pragmatic."
"The team gives very detailed advice that is correlated with current business practice and how the authority perceives certain issues."
"bpv Huegel is our first point of contact for antitrust in Austria. The lawyers are really responsive and give very fast and reliable advice."
"The lawyers do not just think twice but three times about the best advice they can give you, while being extremely quick at the same time."
"bpv Huegel has an office in Brussels and when our cases are international we always speak with them - the office in Brussels is good for dealing with EU issues."
"We have a very good overall impression. The lawyers know the market very well and they are very hands-on, keep to the deadlines and are very pragmatic."
"The team gives very detailed advice that is correlated with current business practice and how the authority perceives certain issues."
"bpv Huegel is our first point of contact for antitrust in Austria. The lawyers are really responsive and give very fast and reliable advice."
"The lawyers do not just think twice but three times about the best advice they can give you, while being extremely quick at the same time."
"bpv Huegel has an office in Brussels and when our cases are international we always speak with them - the office in Brussels is good for dealing with EU issues."
Notable Practitioners
Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber offers a market-leading practice that covers both obtaining Austrian clearance for proposed mergers and joint ventures, as well as representing clients in high-profile behavioural cases before the Austrian authorities.
"She is definitely top notch."
"We like to work with Astrid. Her motivation is incredible."
"She is definitely one of the big figures there and can make things move quickly if needed."
"She fine-tunes every detail and leaves nothing out of consideration, which is particularly good from the client's perspective in large-scale proceedings where a lot is at stake."
Florian Neumayr frequently represents clients in contentious competition law matters, including damages actions, leniency applications and antitrust arbitration.
"He has the ability to recognise facts very quickly and to make a legal assessment."
"He is really easy to contact."
Gerhard Fussenegger is based in the Brussels office of bpv Huegel and assists clients with behavioural investigations before the Austrian competition authorities and merger control filings involving Austria.
"He is a good Austrian lawyer in Brussels."
Ranked Lawyers at
bpv Huegel
Austria