Herbst Kinsky among the 21 best performing law firms overall
PRACTICE GROUPS:
1. Administrative Law And Public Sector
2. Banking & Finance
3. Capital Markets
4. Commercial, Corporate and M&A
5. Data Protection
6. Dispute
7. EU and Competition
8. IP
HALL OF FAME:
Christoph Herbst
LEADING ASSOCIATES:
Maximilian Kröpfl
Valerie Mayer
Irmgard Nemec-Stadtmann
RECOMMENDED LAWYERS:
Phillip Dubsky
Sonja Hebenstreit
Philipp Kinsky
Stephan Lenzhofer
Florian Steinhart
Wolfgang Schwackhöfer
Christoph Wildmoser
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW PUBLIC SECTOR
Christoph Herbst - HALL OF FAME
Stephan Lenzhofer
Valerie Mayer - Leading Associate
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH is recognised for its abilities in administrative and constitutional law. Under the leadership of Christoph Herbst, the firm’s public law team routinely handles matters of state aid law, public procurement, energy and regulatory matters. Stephan Lenzhofer undertakes public economic law, insurance and white collar crime mandates, while FDI matters are overseen by Valerie Mayer .
Quotes
‘Valerie Mayer is an outstanding lawyer, representing the younger generation at Herbst Kinsky. Very knowledgeable and good to work with. Extremely responsive. Known for her public procurement work specifically.’
‘Very pragmatic and responsive.’
‘As a law firm focusing on start-up investments, a strong FDI practice is crucial for Herbst Kinsky. Their FDI team, led by Valerie Mayer, is one of the leading teams in Austria, with a strong track record in Phase II investigations.’
‘Valerie Mayer has advised in many of Austria's the most sensitive FDI proceedings. She combines an academic background in administrative law, with strong case management skills to deliver excellent results for clients.’
BANKING AND FINANCE
Christoph Herbst
Wolfgang Schwackhöfer
Christoph Wildmoser
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH is particularly well-versed in acquisition finance and refinancing matters. Under the leadership of Christoph Wildmoser, Christoph Herbst and Wolfgang Schwackhöfer, the banking and finance team is also recognised for its expertise in aviation and rail financing transactions. Wildmoser acts for both lenders and borrowers in acquisition finance and syndicated lending transactions, while Schwackhöfer is a key contact for regulatory banking and fund structuring matters.
Quotes
'There is a long-standing, trusting relationship that has developed as a result of professional expertise and good cooperation. The lawyers are always easy to reach and provide meaningful answers.'
‘We mostly work with Wolfgang Schwackhöfer's team. The biggest advantage is that we can work with Wolfgang's team as if they were a single source.’
‘Wolfgang Schwackhöfer is the perfect partner for us; he is precise and yet pragmatic, fast and responsive.’
COMMERCIAL, CORPORATE AND M&A
Phillip Dubsky
Philipp Kinsky
Florian Steinhart
Christoph Wildmoser
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH is recognised for its capabilities in M&A and private equity transactions, as well as matters concerning venture capital and start-ups. Important team members include Phillip Dubsky, a key contact for tech companies and Philipp Kinsky whose diverse practice encompasses corporate, M&A, private equity and start-up matters. Christoph Wildmoser is also well-versed in private equity transactions, while Florian Steinhart handles an array of corporate and start-up challenges.
Quotes
‘Christoph Wildmoser is my main point of contact and I would recommend him wholeheartedly.’
‘Excellent across all projects: highly professional, responsive and commercially minded.’
'Herbst Kinsky’s practice stands out for the exceptional expertise and pragmatic approach of its partners, whose deep legal knowledge and strong negotiation skills have consistently been instrumental in advancing our interests.'
'We value them not only for their excellent legal expertise, but for the way they work with us, as true partners who understand our business, our goals and our pace.'
'Philipp Kinsky is deeply involved in the early stages of a mandate, providing his associates with the structural framework for the deal.'
DATA PROTECTION
Maximilian Kröpfl - Leading Associate
Sonja Hebenstreit
A number of notable pharmaceutical and life sciences companies come to Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH for advice in relation to their GDPR compliance programmes, as well as on requirements under the Data Act and DSA, among others. Sonja Hebenstreit leads the firm’s data protection offering and is frequently appointed as an external data protection officer, in addition to overseeing clients’ implementation of new data protection and customer data retention systems. Maximilian Kröpfl acts for clients before the DPA and civil courts, and is active at the interface between data protection and AI.
Quotes
'Well connected to different industry sectors. Always informed about data privacy-related rulings in the EU.'
'Maximilian Kröpfl is exceptionally experienced in data privacy law, has a large number of relevant publications, and is probably the most up-to-date lawyer in his field.'
'The Herbst Kinsky data team stands out for its forward-looking approach and holistic understanding of the market. Rather than reacting to issues as they arise, they anticipate regulatory changes and craft bespoke strategies that keep clients one step ahead.'
'Maximilian Kröpfl is remarkably responsive and accessible, offering outstanding legal advice thanks to his deep expertise and years of experience. Above all, working with him is always a genuine pleasure. He has consistently proven himself as a go-to expert, earning my utmost confidence.'
'High knowledge on current technology and outstanding expertise in the current case law of national and European courts and data protection authorities.'
'Maximilian Kröpfl is an excellent expert in data protection law and gives great advise on dealing with courts and authorities.'
EU AND COMPETITION
Sonja Hebenstreit
Christoph Herbst
Valerie Mayer - Leading Associate
Austrian merger control and FDI filings form the core of Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH‘s competition practice, with the team often being called upon to see clients through Phase II procedures, in addition to overseeing FDI hearings. The ’outstanding lawyer’ Valerie Mayer spearheads the firm’s merger and FDI control efforts, overseeing such mandates across the DACH region. Further members of the leadership group include co-founding partner Christoph Herbst , who is a judge on the Constitutional Court, and Sonja Hebenstreit, whose practices both cover a range of competition matters.
Quotes
'Herbst Kinsky has very successfully built up its know-how and standing for EU and competition. Particular strengths include Austrian merger control matters and Austrian FDI matters.'
'Valerie Mayer has established herself over the last years as a trusted advisor to national and international clients on merger control and FDI matters in Austria. She is very responsive and very well connected.'
'Valerie Mayer leads this practice and is an outstanding lawyer and tough negotiator. She is from the younger generation of Austrian lawyers covering EU and competition, very knowledgeable and pragmatic at the same time, very good to work with. Makes this practice appealing for clients from new as well as traditional industries.'
'Very pragmatic and responsive.'
'Dynamic, young team built around team head Valerie Mayer . Valerie is one of Austria's leading FDI lawyers and has built a strong record in competition cases, including Phase II mergers and competition enforcement.'
'Valerie Mayer has an impressive track record in transactions, including Phase II FDI and merger investigations, and an increasing presence in competition investigations. Her academic background and excellent case-management skills make her stand out among the peers of her generation.
CAPITAL MARKETS
Philipp Kinsky
The capital markets team at Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH excels in a range of capital markets and related matters, routinely handling public offerings and takeovers as well as alternative financial offerings, SPOs and private placements. Under the leadership of Philipp Kinsky, the team is particularly well-regarded for its experience in sustainable finance, blockchain-based tokenisation and green bonds.
Quotes
‘Philipp Kinsky: comprehensive understanding of industry, great network, excellent expertise.’
‘High competence in start-up financing and small/midcap M&A transactions.’
'What makes this practice unique is its outstanding combination of flexibility, solution-orientation, and strong personal engagement. The team is always accessible and responds quickly, which provides a high level of reliability and trust.'
'Compared to other firms, the practice stands out for its pragmatic, results-driven approach and its ability to adapt swiftly to client needs without unnecessary bureaucracy.'
'Philipp Kinsky consistently delivers work of exceptional quality. He combines deep legal expertise with a nuanced understanding of the economic implications behind each decision. What truly sets him apart is his strong instinct for the personal dynamics at play - he not only addresses the legal dimensions but also anticipates financial dimensions and the human impact of strategic choices.'
DISPUTE RESOLUTION commercial litigation
Christoph Herbst
Stephan Lenzhofer
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH‘s commercial litigation practice has acted for prominent clients in the public, financial and retail sectors on damages, trade mark and competition disputes, and the firm also acts for clients in the process of insolvency and restructuring measures. The group is helmed by the 'prompt and professional' Stephan Lenzhofer, who has experience in class action and insurance disputes, while Christoph Herbst defends corporations and directors in civil proceedings.
Quotes
‘I keep collaborating with colleagues at Herbst Kinsky on a regular basis in matters concerning international dispute resolution. One of the few practices in Austria that act as advisors in alternative dispute resolution in the narrow sense and with success!’
‘Stephan Lenzhofer has proven his legal skills many times over. He is focused, determined and legally on spot. He has a background in public law from which he benefits greatly. Definitely one to watch in the Austrian legal landscape!’
‘Stephan Lenzhofer put a lot of effort into the case and was well aware of all the details, even the non-legal ones. He kept us up to date on all legal steps and explained everything in details and in easy to understandable ways.’
‘Herbst Kinsky offers a strong team with experience in all the legal areas I need as a corporate lawyer.’
‘I especially appreciate the prompt and professional support of Stephan Lenzhofer.’
‘Herbst Kinsky has a highly sophisticated dispute resolution team with exceptional expertise in complex commercial litigation. It combines strategic thinking with pragmatic, business-oriented advice and delivers consistently excellent results.’
IP
Irmgard Nemec-Stadtmann - Leading Associate
Sonja Hebenstreit
Herbst Kinsky Rechtsanwalte GmbH is recognised for its advice on unfair competition issues, especially regarding pharmaceutical advertising and the marketing of dietary supplements. The firm delivers comprehensive expertise in complex licensing matters, with a strong emphasis on the life sciences and tech sectors. The practice is led by Sonja Hebenstreit, who advises on competition, trademark, and copyright issues. The ‘exceptionally proactive’ Irmgard Nemec-Stadtmann is a key member, focused on trademark strategy and the intersection of IP and IT.
Quotes
'The team truly focused on our needs as a client and did not attempt to oversell or overdeliver unnecessarily. They took the time to fully understand our requirements, and after leaving a very positive first impression, provided services that were perfectly aligned with our company’s size and our original ideas.'
'Our main contact was Irmgard Nemec-Stadtmann. Had I known her earlier, I would have gladly collaborated with her over the past years. I can wholeheartedly recommend her to any company. She is highly professional, possesses both deep and broad expertise, and is truly outstanding in her field.'
‘We worked a lot with Irmgard Nemec-Stadtmann and she totally understood our problem from the beginning. She was very structured, clear in her communication, and always focused on practical, business-oriented solutions. Her legal expertise, especially in complex transactional matters, combined with her calm and solution-driven personality, made her an outstanding partner throughout the entire project.’
‘Exceptional service from end-to-end, from consultation to execution. I have used this law firm in the past, was open to trying other firms, but was not able to find anyone matching Herbst Kinsky.’
‘Our primary contact, Irmgard Nemec-Stadtmann, was exceptionally proactive and supportive in all cases. She not only fulfilled our needs but also consulted on a broader level. Irmgard was always available when we had questions, everything was perfect, and on time. She has great knowledge of IP-related topics. Can strongly recommend her.’
‘Great team of lawyers specialised in life sciences and intellectual property.’