Herbst Kinsky continues on its growth course and is strengthening its core practice areas – antitrust law, merger and investment control, as well as corporate law, M&A, and private equity – with two internal promotions. Dr. Valerie Mayer and Dr. Alexander Lotz, LL.M., two long-standing members of the firm, have been appointed Contract Partners; they have played a key role in further developing their respective practice areas in recent years.

Both completed most of their legal training and built their careers as attorneys at Herbst Kinsky, exemplifying the firm’s continuous development and the sustained cultivation of expertise within the firm.

Dr. Valerie Mayer – Contract Partner, Antitrust Law, Merger Control, and Investment Control

Valerie Mayer advises national and international clients on all aspects of antitrust law, with a particular focus on merger control, and investment control law. In addition, she has extensive experience in selected areas of public commercial law, particularly public procurement law.

In recent years, Valerie has played a leading role in establishing Herbst Kinsky’s investment control practice and has strategically expanded the firm’s antitrust practice, particularly in the area of merger control. She has a strong international network in these areas and regularly advises on cross-border transactions.

Her advisory experience spans numerous industries, particularly technology, energy, infrastructure, and healthcare. Her expertise is recognized by international rankings such as JUVE, Chambers, and Legal 500 EMEA.

Valerie has been with Herbst Kinsky since 2018. Prior to that, she was a teaching assistant at the Institute for Constitutional and Administrative Law at the University of Vienna.

Dr. Alexander Lotz, LL.M. – Contract PartnerCorporate Law, M&A, and Private Equity

Alexander Lotz has extensive experience in domestic and international M&A and private equity transactions and also advises on corporate law matters and selected commercial law issues. His practice focuses on the healthcare, energy, and technology/IT sectors.

His advisory approach combines deep legal expertise with a strong understanding of economic contexts and strategic decision-making processes. Clients particularly value his negotiating skills and his ability to execute complex transactions efficiently and in a solution-oriented manner.

Alexander heads the firm’s Linz office and, as a Contract Partner, will continue to expand the Corporate/M&A practice in Upper Austria and beyond.

Prior to joining Herbst Kinsky in 2018, Alexander Lotz was a university assistant at the Institute for Civil and Corporate Law at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and a constitutional law researcher at the Constitutional Court.

Important step for Herbst Kinsky:

These two appointments mark an important step in our firm’s strategic direction and reflect our commitment to quality and our ongoing efforts to develop our team: professional excellence, international experience, and strong leadership. Dr. Christoph Herbst, founder and partner at Herbst Kinsky, explains: “We are delighted to appoint Valerie Mayer and Alexander Lotz as Contract Partners – two outstanding attorneys who, building on the training they received here, have established themselves in their respective practice areas and are highly valued by their clients. They will enrich our firm and our partnership.”