Isabella Hartung

Practice Areas

Isabella has long-standing experience in advising national and international companies on all aspects of competition/antitrust law and energy law. Lately she also focuses on foreign direct investment.. Isabella's clients include private sector companies, industry associations, public utilities and other public bodies/authorities. She represents them in proceedings before the Austrian competition and regulatory authorities, civil courts as well as the EU Commission.

Career

Isabella joined Barnert Egermann Illigasch as a partner in 2007. She started her career as an associate with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in their Vienna and London offices (2000-2006).

Professional Memberships

Vienna Bar Association, Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht. Isabella co-founded the initiative "Women in Competition Law Network Austria – WCNA" (www.wcna.at) in 2018.

Publications

Author of several articles on competition law topics and co-author of a text book on Austrian competition law ('Das österreichische Kartellrecht – Ein Handbuch für Praktiker', Linde Verlag, 4th edition; 5th edition to be published in the course of 2024).

Personal

Born 1975. University of Vienna (Mag. jur. 1997, Dr. jur. 2000); College of Europe, Bruges (LL.M. 1999); internships at European Parliament (1996) and European Commission (1998); admitted to Vienna bar 2003. Speaks German, English and French.

Clients

ASFINAG, Bertelsmann, Curium Pharma, EnBW, EVN, Gebrüder Weiss, Netz Niederösterreich, PORR, RTL

Work Highlights

Advised Bertelsmann on obtaining Austrian merger clearance for the acquisition of all shares in Studyflix GmbH (Germany). Studyflix operates the largest career platform for high-school and university students in German-speaking countries.

Advised Accenture on competition law aspects in connection with Accenture's acquisition of Allgemeines Rechenzentrum GmbH (ARZ), a technology service provider specializing in the Austrian banking sector.

Advised PORR Umwelttechnik GmbH on the merger filing required for the acquisition of PANNONIA Kiesgewinnung GmbH and its subsidiaries. PANNONIA Group owns 11 million tons of gravel resources and is also active in earthworks and landfill operations.

Advised EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, Germany, in connection with the acquisition of a 25.1% stake in E mobility services provider SMATRICS GmbH & Co KG, Austria, from VERBUND, Austria, and obtained unconditional Austrian merger clearance in phase 1.

Advised RTL in the Austrian merger control proceedings required for RTL's acquisition of Disney's 50%-share in Super RTL.

Obtained Austrian merger clearance for a cooperation between Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.) regarding national print advertisements.

Obtained approval under the Austrian foreign direct investment rules regarding Curium Pharma's acquisition of the IASON-Group.

Industry Sector Expertise

Regulatory Energy Law

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Austria

Languages Spoken

German, English and French

Experience

Advised PORR on merger control and other competition law aspects regarding the sale of PORREAL Group to Caverion Österreich GmbH, which is part of the international Caverion Group.

Advised an international sports equipment company on merger control as well as on supply and distribution matters.

Advised BMG Rights Management GmbH, part of the Bertelsmann group, on obtaining Austrian merger clearance for their acquisition of Telamo Musik & Unterhaltung GmbH, a German company active in the recorded music business.

Advised EnPro Holdings, Inc on Austrian FDI issues and on the Austrian merger filing required for the sale of EnPro's GGB Business (production and sale of journal plain bearings) to the Timken Company, a US corporation.

Education

Awards