Corporate/M&A
Europe Guide 2024 : Central & Eastern Europe
Band 2
About
Provided by Wolf Theiss
Wolf Theiss has the largest team of corporate lawyers in CEE/SEE and is ideally positioned to handle regional and local corporate and transactional work in all countries where it operates.
Through our offices in 13 countries, we can rely on the support of specialized lawyers on the ground. Each office works on transactions that rank among the most significant in its market. This ensures high quality project and transaction execution and in-depth coverage in relation to regulatory, due diligence and corporate restructuring work.
Our team is backed by experts in employment, financing, real estate, regulatory and competition/antitrust, capital markets, procurement, litigation and IP in all our offices and can therefore deliver an aligned high-quality work product. Our recognitions in the region include the "Law Firm of the Year: South Eastern Europe" award 2023 from The Lawyer.
We are often retained by major global or national law firms out of the US, the UK, Europe and China that do not have offices in CEE/SEE because of our capacity to cover an entire region as a single firm.
We have also built a strong regional FDI control practice, clearing transactions under a CFIUS-like clearance regime aimed at protecting critical industries from being taken over by non-EU buyers. In addition, we have expanded our offering by providing dedicated ESG advice, both in a transactional context (including ESG diligence) and from a corporate governance perspective.
Chambers Review
Wolf Theiss leverages vast resources spread across a number of CEE jurisdictions, acting on global transactions that revolve around acquisitions, takeovers, disposals, joint ventures and investments. Clients also turn to the team for its expertise in due diligence as well as regulatory tasks. The law firm is also often selected by European and global corporate clients to handle the CEE aspects of wider group restructurings and reorganisations. The team regularly works in close collaboration with employment and competition partners.
Work Highlights
- Wolf Theiss advised Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on its acquisition of a 24.9% stake in OMV from Mubadala, amounting to around EUR3.9 billion.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Wolf Theiss team was always responsive and available."
"The lawyers were very available and we always got the information on time."
"Wolf Theiss has the necessary expertise to properly advise the client on complex matters."
"We are extremely satisfied with Wolf Theiss' responsiveness and service levels. The lawyers are always available and ready to help."
"The Wolf Theiss team was always responsive and available."
"The lawyers were very available and we always got the information on time."
"Wolf Theiss has the necessary expertise to properly advise the client on complex matters."
"We are extremely satisfied with Wolf Theiss' responsiveness and service levels. The lawyers are always available and ready to help."
Notable Practitioners
Vienna-based partner Horst Ebhardt regularly deals with high-value acquisitions and disposals, coordinating the law firm's offices in several jurisdictions in the CEE region.
"Horst Ebhardt is both a highly experienced legal professional with great knowledge of the law and an excellent manager leading his team so that it provides the best output."
"He represents client interests in a practical fashion and has good commercial sense."
"Horst Ebhardt has a very hands-on approach and understands the business very well so he can contribute greatly to the success of the whole deal."
"Horst Eberhardt is a highly professional, experienced lawyer who is dedicated to his work."
Vienna-based Christian Mikosch has a notable track record of advising on multi-jurisdictional acquisitions. He represents clients active in the energy, technology and agricultural sectors. He is dual-qualified in Austria and the Czech Republic and leads the firm's Kosovo desk.
"We have a really good relationship with Christian Mikosch. He is a proactive, pragmatic and go-to lawyer."
Ranked Lawyers at
Wolf Theiss
Central & Eastern Europe
Members
Provided by Wolf Theiss
Andrea Gritsch
Anna Dąbrowska
Bartosz Kuraś
Bruno Štefánik
Bryan Jardine
Christian Hoenig
Clara Gordon
Daniel Lungenschmid
Florian Kusznier
Hartwig Kienast
Izabela Zielińska-Barłożek
Jacek Michalski
Janos Toth
Katarzyna Wójcik-Bąkowska
Krzysztof Libiszewski
Maciej A. Szewczyk
Maciej Olszewski
Marcin Pietkiewicz
Peter Daszkowski
Sarah Wared
Clients
Provided by Wolf Theiss
A&M Capital Partners
Altor Equity Partners
Apollo Global Management
BNP Paribas
Bain Capital Private Equity
Blackstone
CPI Property Group
Elvaston
KKR
One Rock Capital Partners
RWA
Raiffeisen Bank International
T-Mobile
Tricentis
Vienna Insurance Group (VIG)
Waterland Private Equity Investments
Industries
Provided by Wolf Theiss
Aerospace
Automobiles & Parts
Banks
Chemicals
Construction
Consumer Product Manufacturing
Energy
Financial Services
Food & Beverage Producers
Forestry & Paper
Healthcare
Insurance
Media
Pharmaceuticals
Real Estate
Retail
Software & Computer Services
Sports
Technology
Telecommunication
Transportation
Travel & Leisure