Capital Markets: Austria
Department head Edith Hlawati is an "illustrious figure" in Austrian capital markets. She is widely recognised for her strong client relationships and her part in many landmark deals.
Thomas Zivny impresses clients with his "extremely efficient" work, and sources single him out as a top debt capital markets lawyer. Recent deals include advising Spar Austria on its securities offering to retail investors.
Volker Glas is well regarded for his prospectus-writing prowess and wins accolades from clients for his pragmatism.
Peter Knobl is a regulatory expert who bridges capital markets and banking work. His command of derivative products is particularly admired.
Andreas Mayr maintains a strong presence in all areas of capital markets and is "responsive, knowledgeable, commercial, and transaction-oriented," say sources.
Christoph Brogyanyi "has a good handle on all the parameters of a deal," according to commentators, and has a clear equity market focus.
Tibor Varga brings a wealth of debt capital markets experience to the team and has a reputation for always drafting "top-notch" documents.
Andreas Zahradnik handles complex regulatory issues, representing banks, investment funds, private equity houses and venture capital firms. Sources note his "in-depth knowledge of the financial services industry."
Friedrich Jergitsch is well known for his banking and finance practice. He is considered a go-to lawyer for advice on structured products, covered bonds and hybrid capital instruments.
Stephan Pachinger enjoys a growing profile in the capital markets arena. Clients describe him as "extremely hard-working and thorough."
Claus Schneider maintains his reputation as a highly specialised debt capital markets expert. He notably advised Barclays Capital and JPMorgan on OMV's EUR750 million multi-jurisdictional hybrid bond placement.
Richard Wolf is a "leading figure" in equity capital markets, besides being a respected corporate and banking lawyer. "Experienced and sharp – he's good to work with," say sources.
Senior associate Alexander Haas impresses clients with his proactivity and prompt delivery. He is active on many of the firm's key transactions.
Eva-Maria Segur-Cabanac is the team's resident US expert, being admitted to practice in New York as well as Austria. She remains active on notable capital markets deals such as Lenzing's secondary public offering.
Philipp Spatz is well regarded in this field, with a reputation for equity transactions in particular. Besides the Lenzing 're-IPO' he also handled the Warimpex convertible bonds issue.
Florian Khol's position in the field has grown stronger thanks to his experience in Lenzing's capital increase, and clients are "exceedingly happy" with his work.
With a practice spanning banking and finance and capital markets, Tibor Fabian continues to handle a steady stream of debt work. He also took a key role in the Lenzing 're-IPO'.
Sources regard Peter Feyl as an excellent lawyer for banking and capital markets deals. His recent work includes instructions from the majority shareholder in the 're-IPO' of Lenzing and from the banks on the Schaeffler high-yield bond issues.
Widely recognised as a capital markets specialist, Ursula Rath continues to act as lead partner on a large portion of the firm's capital markets work, including advising the majority shareholder on the secondary public offering of Lenzing.
Martin Ebner heads the banking, finance and capital markets practice group, and is a respected figure for his work on bond issues.
Ernst Brandl is well regarded for his in-depth capital markets knowledge, and comes highly recommended for his regulatory work.
Thomas Talos wins praise for his technical excellence and ability to build positive working relationships. Clients describe him as "commercial and knows how to get a deal done."
Martin Zuffer is the capital markets expert at the firm. His recent work includes advising Hypo Alpe Adria Bank on its EUR800 million tender offer for notes out of its MTN programme.
Sources describe practice head Christian Temmel as a lawyer who knows his clients' business inside out. He handles capital markets transactions and public M&A.
Rainer Wachter often plays a co-ordinating role leading teams of international lawyers on cross-border capital markets transactions.
Recently hired from Shearman & Sterling, Stephan Hutter is an equity market expert based in Frankfurt with wide experience of transactions not only in Austria but also in Switzerland.
Katja Kaulamo, another lateral hire from Shearman & Sterling, is a "hard-working and brilliant lawyer" according to interviewees. She is based in Frankfurt but involved in many transactions in Austria.
Christian Thaler recently joined Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners from Brandl & Talos Rechtsanwälte where he was involved in Bwin's merger with Partygaming. Clients say he is an excellent lawyer with a strong grasp of the technical aspects of a deal.
Philipp Kinsky of Herbst Kinsky continues to lead the team and has a strong reputation for equity as well as debt capital markets.
Stefan Weber of Weber Rechtsanwälte GmbH has a formidable reputation in this area.
"He knows everything; he is the go-to guy for these questions," say clients. Banks often approach him on complex matters and he is regularly involved in large transactions.
Foreign Experts (Based Abroad)
Gernot Wagner heads the US law group of Allen & Overy LLP in Frankfurt and specialises in equity capital markets. He is active in Austrian deals with cross-border aspects.
George Hacket of Clifford Chance's Frankfurt office, a well-known figure in the Austrian market, is frequently involved in both equity and debt transactions. He is extremely well connected and often links up with the firm's team in the USA on cross-border deals.
John Banes of Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP is active in both Austria and Switzerland and wins praise from clients for his practical approach.
"He knows what works and what doesn't. Exactly what you need when dealing with tricky topics," say sources. Recent work includes advising financial institutions on Oesterreichische Kontrollbank's USD2.25 billion notes offering. He has solid experience of both debt and equity capital markets.
Rüdiger Malaun of Latham & Watkins in Munich is particularly well regarded for debt market assignments and remains active in Austria.
Marco Carbonare also of Linklaters in Frankfurt, was a member of the team advising Lenzing on its capital increase as international counsel and is regarded as an up-and-comer by observers.
Herbert Harrer of Linklaters in Frankfurt is well known in Austria for his experience in equity market transactions.
Also in Linklaters' Frankfurt office, Austrian
Peter Waltz is
"one of the best lawyers in Germany for equity and structuring," according to sources. He took a leading role in Lenzing's 're-IPO', advising the company as international counsel.
Shearman & Sterling LLP's
Marc Plepelits is a well-known name in Austria thanks to his experience in capital markets. Based in Frankfurt, he assists financial institutions and is lauded as a
"quick-witted, client-oriented" adviser.