Ranking tables

Competition/European Law | Europe

Austria

The Competition/European Law section in Austria ranks lawyers and law firms based on their recent work in merger clearance matters, foreign direct investment notifications and behavioural investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance or cartel involvement. It also covers the representation of clients in leniency applications and private enforcement claims for damages based on decisions by competition authorities. State aid issues and sector inquiries conducted by the Federal Competition Authority are also covered by this section. Issues around sustainability and the energy sector appear to be growing trends. This section also features a table highlighting lawyers based outside Austria but doing notable work before the Austrian authorities.

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. BINDER GRÖSSWANG Rechtsanwälte GmbH
    1
    BINDER GRÖSSWANG Rechtsanwälte GmbH
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 1 | 17 Years Ranked
    BINDER GRÖSSWANG offers impressive activity on both contentious and non-contentious competition law matters. The firm is well regarded for assisting with merger clearance filings before the FCA, including multi-jurisdictional transactions and phase II investigations. Team members often represent clients in high-profile damages actions arising from competition investigations. It has further strength assisting clients with potential cartel and abuse of dominance infringements. The team also handles state aid matters, as well as the compliance with competition law of distribution agreements, and sustainability issues.
  2. bpv Huegel
    1
    bpv Huegel
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 1 | 17 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH
    1
    E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    Entering the top tier of the rankings this year, E+H has a strong focus on advising clients on merger clearance mandates and has a growing reputation in the field of foreign direct investment. The law firm additionally represents clients in behavioural investigations and in subsequent high-profile damages claims. Team members also handle state aid matters and competition compliance issues, particularly in relation to distribution agreements. The team is popular with clients from the technology and transportation sectors. The firm is able to handle matters before the European Commission as well thanks to its presence in Brussels.
  4. Schoenherr
    1
    Schoenherr
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 1 | 17 Years Ranked
    Schoenherr continues to be one of the most highly regarded competition law firms in Austria. The team covers the full range of antitrust matters, advising on complex phase II investigations into proposed mergers, long-running cartel investigations and high-profile follow-on damages claims. Clients benefit from the firm's network of offices across the CEE region and in Brussels for assistance with multi-jurisdictional matters, including European Commission investigations.
2

Band 2

  1. CERHA HEMPEL
    2
    CERHA HEMPEL
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 2 | 17 Years Ranked
    CERHA HEMPEL is well known for assisting clients with foreign direct investment and merger clearance notifications, including phase II investigations. The law firm offers additional experience in significant behavioural investigations, as well as high-profile follow-on damages claims and state aid matters. Team members also act on competition compliance matters, particularly in relation to commercial agreements. It is a popular choice with clients from the retail and transportation sectors.
  2. Wolf Theiss
    2
    Wolf Theiss
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 2 | 17 Years Ranked
    Wolf Theiss often represents clients in behavioural investigations, including in relation to allegations of bid rigging, price fixing and information sharing. In addition to its work on behavioural matters, the team is very active in merger clearance and FDI notifications. It is also accomplished in compliance mandates. The firm's network of offices in the CEE region allows it to help clients with multi-jurisdictional matters in the area.
3

Band 3

  1. Baker McKenzie
    3
    Baker McKenzie
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 3 | 15 Years Ranked
    Baker McKenzie frequently handles contentious competition law matters, including representing clients in significant behavioural investigations and acting in follow-on damages litigation. The Austrian office often works with the firm's network of international offices on the competition law aspects of multi-jurisdictional corporate transactions, advising on merger clearance and foreign direct investment notifications.
  2. DORDA
    3
    DORDA
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 3 | 17 Years Ranked
    DORDA has a broad competition law practice. On the non-contentious side, it assists clients with phase I merger clearance and FDI processes. The law firm's contentious practice represents clients in significant behavioural investigations, as well as in subsequent appeals and high-profile damages claims. The team often assists with competition compliance matters, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, and with state aid matters in the transport industry.
  3. Reidlinger Schatzmann Attorneys-at-Law
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Barnert Egermann Illigasch
    4
    Barnert Egermann Illigasch
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 4 | 16 Years Ranked
    Barnert Egermann Illigasch is a popular choice with clients from the pharmaceutical, energy and construction sectors. The law firm particularly advises clients on merger clearance and foreign direct investment notifications. The team also acts on abuse of dominance and cartel investigations. It offer further experience in the areas of state aid and the competition law compliance of distribution agreements.
  2. CMS
    4
    CMS
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 4 | 17 Years Ranked
    CMS is particularly active in merger clearance matters before the Austrian authorities, often collaborating with the law firm's offices in other jurisdictions on filings for multinational transactions. The team additionally handles contentious matters, representing clients in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and follow-on damages claims.
  3. SCHIMA MAYER STARLINGER Rechtsanwälte GmbH
    4
    SCHIMA MAYER STARLINGER Rechtsanwälte GmbH
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    SCHIMA MAYER STARLINGER often assists clients with merger clearance notifications and the competition law clearance for joint venture agreements and research collaboration agreements. The law firm also acts on competition compliance issues, including advising beneficiaries on state aid issues.
  4. 4
    Taylor Wessing
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 4 | 15 Years Ranked
    Taylor Wessing's Austrian team often collaborates with the firm's offices in Germany and the UK on competition law matters. The team has a strong focus on compliance matters, advising on the competition law aspects of commercial agreements. The law firm also acts on merger clearance and foreign direct investment mandates, including the Austrian aspects of multi-jurisdictional filings. It also represents clients in challenges to authority decisions.
  5. Haslinger / Nagele Rechtsanwälte GmbH
    Competition/European Law
    2024 | Band 4