Kinstellar launched its Austrian competition practice in April 2025, with FDI/FSR specialist Agnes Lackenberger joining from Binder Grösswang and Sebastian Reiter, formerly of bpv Hügel, taking up headship of the newly formed team in February 2026 and assisting with matters of domestic and EU competition law.

Thyri Traugott Lukaschek Rechtsanwälte GmbH was founded in August 2025, when former Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG lawyers Andreas Traugott and Anita Lukaschek joined forces with Peter Thyri, forming a boutique geared towards solving challenges of European competition and regulatory law.

Binder Grösswang‘s competition expertise spans the gamut of cartel, merger control and FDI matters within Austria and at the European level, with the ability to ‘make complicated cases smooth and simple’ for clients either bringing or defending follow-on claims, or those looking to secure clearances in Phase I and II proceedings. Raoul Hoffer heads the team and provides decades of experience in handling both merger control hearings and private cartel enforcement proceedings. Christine Dietz is noted for her expertise in both merger control and abuse of dominance matters, while Isabelle Innerhofer is a regular before the Austrian and European courts, appearing on behalf of both cartel claimants and defendants. Christoph Raab is adept at guiding clients through merger controls and assisting them in avoiding Phase II investigations.

bpv Hügel ‘provides exceptional knowledge and attitude’ to clients facing a variety of challenges under Austrian and European competition frameworks. This applies to both the firm’s merger control and cartel expertise, with its members guiding multinationals through merger proceedings before the senior courts and defending the interests of accused parties in cartel leniency applications and follow-on damages claims. The team includes practice head Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber, an expert in guiding multinationals through Phase I and II hearings, Florian Neumayr, whose practice is centred on cartel litigation, and Christian Schneider, who contributes expertise in EU state aid law. Gerhard Fussenegger takes on FDI mandates as they pertain to deals in Austria and around the EU, splitting time between Vienna and Brussels. Sebastian Reiter departed the firm in February 2026.

Cerha Hempel‘s ‘top tier team’ is tasked by global conglomerates and public bodies with overseeing challenges arising under European merger control and state aid regimes, in addition to guiding clients looking to bring private cartel claims or navigate FDI and FSR frameworks. Bernhard Kofler-Senoner spearheads the firm’s competition capabilities, acting for defendants in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and subsequent enforcement proceedings. The ‘highly intelligent‘ Anna Wolf-Posch‘s practice is comprised of both cartel and merger control work, while Michael Mayer helps clients ensure they remain compliant with Austrian and European competition regulations, alongside his merger control practice.

September 2025 saw E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH’s competition team make up William Redl and E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH, with both handling a mixture of internal compliance investigations, abuse of dominance and merger control proceedings. Dieter Thalhammer continues to lead the team, taking on the spectrum of competition matters, including merger control and cartel proceedings before the senior Austrian courts and European authorities. ‘Fantastic competition lawyer’ Judith Feldner is also a regular before the courts and European Commission, acting for defendants in cartel proceedings in addition to guiding corporates and investors through merger control and FDI hearings.

Schoenherr (Schönherr Rechtsanwälte) acts for a variety of Austrian and foreign multinationals, in addition to public bodies, on both sides of cartel damages claims and in coordinating complex merger control proceedings before Austrian, EU and other competition authorities. Active across this spectrum of matters is Christoph Haid, who spearheads the practice, while Hanno Wollmann appears for both claimants and defendants in cartel damages proceedings, with further expertise in the regulations governing state aid. Franz Urlesberger represents clients in private and public cartel hearings, while Stefanie Stegbauer, who joined the partnership in February 2025, assists clients facing merger control and FDI challenges in Austria and before the European Commission.

Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG is the first port of call for corporate and private equity buyers requiring assistance with Austrian and EU merger control filings, and the team is also instructed by clients facing abuse of dominance and cartel investigations, as well as follow-on damages claims. Practice head Günter Bauer‘s ‘unique capabilities’ span cartel and FDI matters, including handling leniency applications, merger control filings and devising training and compliance programmes. Robert Wagner is also instructed on pan-European merger control mandates and large-scale cartel investigations, while Stefan Wartinger acts for regulated sector clients in Phase I and II proceedings and cartel defences.

Barnert Egermann Illigasch Rechtsanwälte GmbH's competition practice is instructed by international media, energy and construction clients seeking Austrian and EU approval for mergers and investments, in addition to providing ongoing compliance support. Leading the group is the 'smart, reliable and highly effective' Isabella Hartung, whose practice spans both merger and FDI clearance proceedings at the Austrian and European level, and cartel-related matters. She has particular expertise in advising on issues arising out of requirements in the Austrian Investment Control Act and EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation, and is also mandated when questions concerning state aid law arise.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH is well positioned to guide clients through the spectrum of competition challenges, including investigations into abuse of dominant positions, merger and FDI control hearings across numerous jurisdictions, in addition to assisting with the development of compliance programmes. Dieter Zandler offers combined expertise in both abuse of dominance and cartel proceedings, with a particular focus on matters in the banking, insurance and energy sectors, among others. He leads the group alongside competition and public procurement specialist Bernt Elsner, whose blend of knowledge allows him to assist clients on competition matters arising out of public tenders.

DORDA Rechtsanwälte GmbH is the firm of choice for both public and private sector bodies facing a variety of competition-related challenges, from cartel investigations and subsequent damages claims, to merger and FDI control hearings before the Austrian and European authorities. State aid matters also fall within the team's capabilities, with the firm advising recipients on compliance with Austrian and EU regulations. Heading up the team is 'excellent competition lawyer' Heinrich Kühnert, whose practice covers the spectrum of competition matters, and who offers particular expertise in matters affecting the pharmaceutical and energy sectors, among others.

Haslinger / Nagele Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s competition practice is structured to cover a spectrum of both cartel and merger control matters, with particular expertise in defending the interests of parties accused of participation in cartels. Martin Oder takes the lead on cartel defences and follow-on damage claims, and is also well versed in matters at the intersection of competition and public procurement matters. He leads the group alongside Martin Stempkowski, a regular before the Austrian Cartel Court and in cartel arbitration hearings, and Alexander Hiersche, whose practice encompasses both merger filings and cartel-related proceedings.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH works alongside the firm’s international network to oversee complex pan-European investment and merger control filings, while also advising clients facing investigations by the Austrian authorities or European Commission into abuse of dominance and cartel allegations. The practice is headed up by Marc Lager, whose workload spans the spectrum of European and domestic competition law, and was augmented by the March 2025 arrival of Florian Prischl, formerly of STADLER PARTNER Rechtsanwälte GmbH, who accompanies clients through competition investigations and merger control hearings alike.

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.

Companies facing cartel proceedings and follow-on claims regularly instruct SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH‘s competition specialists, with the firm also tackling related procedural claims before the Austrian courts. The team also leverages its Brussels office to handle pan-European merger control filings. Christina Hummer retains oversight of the group, utilising her qualifications in Belgium, England & Wales and New York to tackle the spectrum of multi-jurisdictional cartel and merger-derived challenges. Markus Fellner provides further contentious competition expertise, while Martin Gassler, who joined from Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG in May 2025, tackles merger control proceedings.

Starlinger Mayer Rechtsanwält:innen GmbH is called upon by clients seeking approval for mergers in the Austrian market and across other European jurisdictions, with particular expertise in the hotel, energy and media sectors, among others. Co-founding partner Christian Mayer heads the competition group, offering expertise in merger control proceedings, and also guiding clients through sector inquiries. Moritz Am Ende is well versed in matters arising under EU FDI and state aid regulations.

Taylor Wessing enwc Rechtsanwälte GmbH‘s competition footprint spans the CEE region, overseeing merger notification filings across multiple jurisdictions, while also advising clients facing allegations of cartel activity in the Austrian market. Heading the firm’s CEE-wide competition group is the ‘very pragmatic competition lawyer’ Martin Eckel, a specialist in handling cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and related follow-up damages claims. David Konrath returned to the firm from EY Law - Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH in September 2025, adding further contentious cartel experience and also advising on FSR guidelines. Verena Stagl departed for Schiefer Rechtsanwälte GmbH in October 2025.

Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners is instructed by clients requiring assistance with Austrian merger notification filings, and is also active before the Austrian courts in fending off damages claims and providing mitigation in fine hearings. Practice head Lukas Flener provides 'very clear and practical' advice on merger control matters, while also guiding clients through cartel enforcement proceedings.

Lansky, Ganzger, Goeth & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH offers ‘deep legal expertise’ in European sanctions law, representing a number of high-profile designated individuals in bringing challenges before the ECJ. The core team consists of managing partner Gabriel Lansky, who acts for a range of energy and financial services clients, in addition to governments, Philip Goeth, who is active at the intersection of EU sanctions and AML law, head of the Russia and CIS desk Anna Zeitlinger and Alexander Egger, who pleads competition and procurement cases before the European courts.

Reidlinger Schatzmann Jergitsch Rechtsanwälte GmbH offers clients ‘in-depth knowledge and long-running experience’ in handling cases before the Austrian competition authorities, including the Cartel Court, in addition to advising on merger control filings and issues at the intersection of competition and public procurement law. Co-founding partner Axel Reidlinger steers the practice, handling the gamut of competition challenges, from domestic merger control hearings to cartel and merger matters before the European courts.

The ‘very service-orientated’ team at Schindler Attorneys is particularly adept at handling Austrian FDI proceedings, in addition to taking on merger control and cartel cases for a host of corporate and private equity clients. Philippe Kiehl leads the practice, tackling a spectrum of matters that spans FDI and merger controls, competition compliance and issues arising under sanctions law.