DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s ‘extraordinary team’ is sought after by both technology companies and service users looking to negotiate cloud computing and other SaaS licensing contracts or carry out company-wide IT and communications systems upgrade projects. Under the guidance of ‘brilliant lawyer’ Axel Anderl, the practice is also able to support clients with the challenges associated with bringing new products to market, and also ensures that clients are in line with new regulatory frameworks, including the EU’s NIS2 Directive and DORA Regulation. Anderl himself focuses predominantly on IT law, covering cloud computing and outsourcing, while Alexandra Ciarnau takes the lead on AI-related matters and green tech developments. Nino Tlapak is a data protection expert, specialising in cybersecurity matters and with a growing focus on DORA requirements.

The diverse offering provided by Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG‘s ‘dedicated team of professionals’ covers matters pertaining to social media companies, streaming sites and telecoms providers, among others. The practice is called upon by clients requiring assistance with bringing their media and e-commerce operations into line with DSA requirements, carrying out digitalisation projects and dealing with regulatory agencies. The team is headed by Georg Kresbach, who appears for social media and telecoms clients before the courts, IT outsourcing and licensing specialist Roland Marko and regulatory expert Kurt Retter, whose expertise covers data protection and the regulatory frameworks governing the telecoms sector.

Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG acts for a raft of social media clients in disputes arising out of obligations placed upon them by Austrian law and EU Directives, covering matters tied to customer data usage and broader data protection issues, IP and content moderation requirements. Lukas Feiler heads the team; his expertise spans platform regulation and IT outsourcing matters, with further experience of data protection challenges. Alexander Hofmann focuses on the regulations governing e-commerce platforms.

Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) is often instructed on the acquisition and disposal of Austrian technology companies, and is also tasked with overseeing the market entry into Austria of both start-ups and foreign companies. The practice is also frequently called upon to defend clients’ intellectual property, including under unfair competition regulations. The team is headed by transactions specialist Thomas Kulnigg and Günther Leissler, an expert in data protection matters, including GDPR-related issues. Daniela Birnbauer joined the practice from EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH in October 2024, bringing expertise in AI regulation to the team in addition to experience of IP and IT law.

Binder Grösswang is particularly adept at assisting clients with the setting up of customer apps and digital portals, in addition to overseeing broader digitalisation projects and also advising on the data protection aspects of such matters. Leading the practice is the ‘excellent’ Ivo Rungg, whose practice encompasses IT outsourcing and licensing, regulations governing the use of AI and IP matters.

Cerha Hempel assists clients with the structuring of IT licensing and outsourcing contracts and is also adept at overseeing the data protection aspects of customer-facing projects, including the development of apps and other customer portals. The practice is led by a team consisting of IT outsourcing and e-commerce specialist Hans Kristoferitsch, Armin Schwabl, who is qualified in Austria and the US and handles data protection, transfer and breach-related matters, and Christoph Reiter, who combines expertise in tech-heavy transactions with in-depth knowledge of matters concerning the Internet-of-Things.

The ‘world-class legal services’ offered by CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s practice focus on the digital sector, advising technology start-ups on their seeding rounds and entry into the Austrian market, while also acting for both providers and buyers in the negotiation of IT service contracts. Practice head Johannes Juranek handles matters of IT law and data protection, including GDPR compliance. Klaus Pateter specialises in advising start-ups, advising them on the structuring of their businesses and fundraising efforts, and is also sought after by cryptocurrency exchanges for his regulatory expertise.

The ‘ingenious partners’ at GEISTWERT act for clients hailing from the video game, streaming and social media sectors, assisting them with the protection of trade marks and copyrights and the licensing of software and protected images. The team, consisting of Constantin Kletzer, Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider and Rainer Schultes, is also tasked with the structuring of IT projects, including outsourcing, and handles data protection issues arising out of GDPR and international data transfers.

Knyrim Trieb Rechtsanwälte OG specialises in advising clients on the data protection aspects of a broad spectrum of internal and customer-facing IT projects, acting for a client base that includes, inter alia, players in the automotive, energy and consumer goods sectors. Heading the team are Rainer Knyrim and Gerald Trieb, both of whom are experts in data protection, including GDPR and the regulations governing international data transfers.

Dr Norbert Wiesinger, Law Offices' core competency lies in the telecoms sector, advising clients on accessing telecoms and internet infrastructure networks in Austria and also representing them in disputes with regulators. Norbert Wiesinger, who is qualified in Austria and New York, focuses on matters ranging from frequency licensing and unbundling to the installation of major network infrastructure projects, in addition to liaising with regulators on behalf of his clients.

January 2024 saw KPMG Law - Buchberger Ettmayer Rechtsanwälte GmbH strengthen its data protection and IT law offering with the arrival of Lena Urban from Knyrim Trieb Rechtsanwälte OG. The practice is adept at handling IT and related service contract negotiations, while also supporting technology start-ups with advice on funding rounds and market launches. Practice head Karin Bruchbacher oversees digitalisation and cloud computing projects in addition to handling IP-related matters.

Focusing on media law, Lansky, Ganzger, Goeth & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH acts for Austrian and foreign publishers, TV and radio broadcasters in complying with regulatory and data protection frameworks and securing licences for frequencies in the Austrian market. Heading the team is Gerald Ganzger, whose expertise spans media and entertainment law, including litigation concerning the aforementioned areas.

EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH places particular emphasis on developing digital and e-commerce platforms, assisting cryptocurrency exchanges with navigating the regulatory frameworks governing their operations and helping market entrants with the structuring of their platforms and drafting of terms and conditions. Practice head Martin Hanzl, who made partner in July 2024, specialises in blockchain and cryptocurrency-related matters, while Marie Winter handles IP issues and consumer protection matters.

Taylor Wessing enwc Rechtsanwälte GmbH acts for clients across a raft of sectors on matters of data protection and cybersecurity, and is also consulted on matters concerning developing technologies, such as cryptocurrencies and AI. Data protection advice forms the core of practice head Andreas Schütz‘s practice, and he is also well versed in the regulation governing gaming and digital marketing.