Praised by clients for their ‘efficiency and out-of-box-thinking,’ DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH offers special expertise in construction arbitrations and matters concerning national or international trusts and leverages the expertise of other departments of the firm for a full-service offering. The team is also well versed in handling matters across multiple jurisdictions and is led by the ‘brilliant’ Veit Öhlberger and Florian Kremslehner, who both act as counsel and arbitrators under a range of arbitration rules, including ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, VIAC and CAM. Gunnar Pickl‘s broad practice includes construction and infrastructure litigation and arbitration as well as commercial liability insurance cases, with a specialism in matters with complex technical backgrounds.

With an emphasis on commercial arbitration, investment protection and arbitration-related court proceedings, KNOETZL HAUGENEDER NETAL Rechtsanwaelte GmbH is sought out by major regional and global corporations and is equipped to handle matters across an array of sectors, such as construction and engineering, energy, automotive, IT and healthcare. The team has noted expertise in matters spanning multiple jurisdictions and is jointly steered by Florian Haugeneder, who has vast experience as counsel and arbitrator under the rules of all major arbitral institutions as well as a ‘broad level of expertise and a good understanding of the need of clients,’ and Patrizia Netal, whose broad practice includes construction and engineering, post-M&A and energy matters and international sales contracts. Natascha Tunkel specialises in matters related to new technologies in areas such as life science or intellectual property, while Kirstin McGoldrick’s workload extends to matters involving multiple jurisdictions and multi-contract disputes.

Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG‘s arbitration team is integrated into the firm’s Dispute Practice Group and works seamlessly with other practices, such as employment, regulatory and corporate for widespread advice on an array of arbitration matters, and has a dedicated construction arbitration team with Wolfgang Müller and Thomas Anderl as key contacts. The team frequently advises on cross-border matters and is recognised for its experience in both commercial and investment arbitration. ‘Fantastic lawyer’ Stefan Riegler offers particular expertise in the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors. Riegler heads the dispute group and co-leads the arbitration team with Venus Valentina Wong, who was promoted to partner in September 2022 and has notable knowledge of the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.

Described by clients as ‘one of the best boutiques in Austria,’ Zeiler Rechtsanwälte GmbH advises on a broad range of national and international arbitration proceedings and commercial litigation, and is especially well-versed in employment law related matters. The team is furthermore recommended for its sector expertise in shipping and marine, logistics and transportation, energy and construction. Gerold Zeiler leads the group and is a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, while ‘extremely smart and brilliant lawyer’ Lisa Beisteiner and Alfred Siwy are both experts in all aspects of commercial and investment arbitration, with Siwy having a track record in international arbitration proceedings, and Beisteiner being particularly proficient in handling matters linked to the energy and construction industries.

Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG‘s team combines practice lead Filip Boras‘ experience with working for clients from the SEE region with the firm's international network to comfortably handle complex cross-border disputes. The team advices across a wide ranges of sectors, with notable strength in energy and construction matters. Désirée Prantl is recommended for international commercial arbitration and state court litigation.

Described as ‘quick, sharp and experienced,’ Pitkowitz & Partners specialises in international and high stakes arbitration, and acts in a range of sectors including construction, energy, technology and real estate. The team is jointly steered by ‘international arbitration star’ Nikolaus Pitkowitz, who continues to be nominated as arbitrator in various high-profile disputes while also regularly acting as counsel, and Roxanne de Jesus with her focuses on cross-border litigation and arbitration with special experience in the field of joint venture disputes.

Investor-state disputes under ICSID, UNCITRAL and other rules, as well as commercial disputes and ad hoc proceedings are at the heart of Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte)‘s practice, which clients describe as ‘determined, creative and result oriented.’ Led by Christoph Lindinger, the team’s areas of expertise include national and cross-border pharma, finance and data protection disputes as well as construction matters. ‘Outstanding advocate’ Leon Kopecký offers a specialism in investment-related matters, while dual-qualified (Austria and New York) Victoria Pernt covers the full gamut of international arbitration.

Vavrovsky Heine Marth Rechtsanwälte handles the full range of dispute prevention, representation before arbitral tribunals and the enforcement of judgements with ‘strong legal and analytical skills’. Co-lead Nikolaus Vavrovsky, ‘one of Austria’s pre-eminent authorities in this field,’ excels in commercial arbitration and advises on post-M&A disputes, international commercial contracts, financial transactions and construction projects and regularly acts in cross-border matters, while co-head Florian Stefan focuses on technology, licensing and distribution-related matters and has experience in public international law and investor-state arbitration.

With a broad practice that includes all stages of proceedings, from dispute prevention and planning to representation of clients in accordance with arbitration rules, AKG ADVISORY Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is noted for its capabilities in cross-border disputes and offers particular experience in the energy sector. Practice lead Anne-Karin Grill, who clients praise for her ‘in-depth knowledge of international arbitration law,’ has a track record in treaty arbitration and especially in the field of mediation between investors and states.

Highlighted for the ‘exceptional quality of their service,’ Binder Grösswang‘s varied case load includes domestic and international arbitration under an array of rules such as VIAC, ICC and SCC, the enforcement of arbitral awards from various jurisdictions, as well as dispute resolution by means of mediation. The team is led jointly by Christian Klausegger, who has notable experience in IT and insurance disputes, and commercial cross-border disputes expert Ingeborg Edel.

Cerha Hempel‘s contentious business team is praised by clients for its ‘great competence’ and regularly represents clients as counsel in arbitration proceedings in a range of industries such as manufacturing, construction and energy. Described as ‘one of the top litigators and arbitrators in Austria,’ Irene Welser has a track record of acting as arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings and is recommended for construction, corporate, post-M&A and shareholder disputes.

SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH has a strong pedigree in handling disputes in the construction industry, and is equipped to comfortably deal with cross-border matters, with the team’s experience including advice on matters with complex expert surveys and post-M&A proceedings. Exemplifying this in particular is practice head Markus Fellner, who also offers a specialism in handling large-scale construction projects and is described by clients as ‘highly knowledgeable and dedicated.’ Ria Kucera advises on the whole spectrum of commercial law and is well versed in arbitration proceedings under VIAC and ICC rules.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH provides clients with excellent support in a range of industries such as finance, construction, energy and engineering and transport, with the team’s areas of expertise including domestic as well as international arbitration proceedings and the enforcement of arbitral awards. Co-head Johannes Reich-Rohrwig specialises in corporate and commercial law, which is also a strength of co-head Daniela Karollus-Bruner, who also leads the firm’s insurance team. ‘Fast and diligent’  Sonja Otenhajmer offers particular knowledge of CEE jurisdictions.

PLATTE disputes.solutions is ‘a stellar arbitration boutique’ that specialises in post-M&A, shareholder and sale of goods disputes. Practice lead Martin Platte is a member of the Advisor Board of the VIAC and an Austrian delegate to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, and regularly acts as arbitrator in VIAC and ICC proceedings. Philipp Schwarz left the firm in October 2023.