CORPORATE, COMMERCIAL & M&A
Whether you are a buyer, seller or target, we represent boards and investors with the efficiency and sensitivity you need. We have been at the vanguard of development of the private and public M&A markets across the region, and you benefit from our experience in successfully negotiating and closing all types of transactions ranging from share deals, asset deals, leveraged buyouts, management buy-outs, to management buy-ins including regulatory advice.
You face any number of complex and unusual regulatory requirements in CEE/SEE, so you need specialist and industry teams throughout the region with the strength and experience to help you find consensus with the most exacting of regulators and stakeholders. Our local presence and industry knowledge means you benefit from efficient advice on a wide range of corporate, commercial and strategic issues such as company incorporations, corporate holding and regulatory structures, corporate governance structures, board advice and day-to-day procedures, including submitting annual reports, maintaining business licenses, and shareholder decisions that impact the welfare of your corporation.
From the moment you appoint us, we consider ourselves to be part of your team. From mergers and acquisitions to corporate and commercial law, we will help you identify and manage legal risk so that you have a firm groundwork on which your business can grow and flourish.
Private M&A
Founders, entrepreneurs and investors in privately held companies trust us for the success of their private M&A transactions. Our transaction, regulatory and industry lawyers know how to make cross-border transactions work for you in the globalised marketplace of today. We provide the depth of specialist knowledge and breadth of regional coverage needed to make your venture successful.
Public M&A
We are equally effective in public M&A matters. When consensus seems elusive, we find solutions with regulators and stakeholders in the most complex of matters, including executing the acquisition of controlling and minority stakes and both mandatory and voluntary bids. No matter what side of the transaction you are on, as bidder, seller, target or bondholder, we advise you on the structuring of due diligence, negotiations with other parties, and approvals from regulatory authorities.
Distressed M&A
In your time of need, we are there to help you calmly sort out effective options to reduce debt burden and optimise your legal position in reorganisations and turnarounds. We advise companies, international, national and regional financial institutions, lenders, alternative debt and equity providers as well as special situation funds in domestic as well as cross-border matters. Learn more about our Insolvency, Restructuring & Crisis Management practice.
Privatisation & Liberalisation
Our expert advice is born of the practical business world that you work in: our lawyers have worked in the financial services, telecommunications, airline and energy industries and make their knowledge of the drivers, challenges, valuation and structural issues of these sectors work for the success of your transaction. You can rely on us. We advise clients and sovereigns on privatisation transactions in multiple bidder situations and have experience in negotiating with governments, their advisors, stakeholders and regulatory agencies.
Joint Ventures
Much of what we do is aimed at simplifying the complex and making it work for you. This is especially true for the complexities of joint venture partnerships. We guide you through investigating and implementing funding, management and governance mechanisms that mitigate potential disputes and difficulties. We accompany you over the gamut of the joint venture lifecycle, from initial formation to regulatory approvals, financing, corporate governance and exit structures.
Corporate Governance and Compliance
Compliance is hard enough as it is without accounting for the complications of different jurisdictions. We have the competence you need to deal with corporate law matters, implementing corporate governance regimes and compliance programmes across borders and jurisdictions. Listed companies, privately held groups, private equity fund managers and start-ups are just some of the kinds of entities we have helped guide through the compliance thicket.
Commercial Contracts
We help you with all matters related to procedures and protocols in order to legally run and operate a company, and specialize in rendering corporate services on the basis of standardized and centralized communication and documentation. Our commercial law expertise includes franchise law, commercial agency and sale of goods law, contractual law and distribution law. Finally, in case of possible disputes, there is often the question of including a precautionary agreement on experts, who as arbitrators can clarify difficult technical and/or commercial issues. We work together with our experts in commercial litigation and arbitration to make sure that you avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Private Equity
From fund formation to LP & GP agreements, regulatory compliance and governance and portfolio M&A, we know how to leverage your private equity in Austria and CEE/SEE and make it work for your future. Our M&A specialists facilitate and negotiate transactions for you, and execute other instruments such as complex financings, strategic partnerships, leveraged buyouts, cross-border M&A, carve-out transactions, IPOs and trade sale exits. Learn more about our Private Equity & Funds practice.
Venture Capital & Start-ups
Some say that we have entered the age of the start-up. A number of exciting opportunities for VC investors have led to the growth of a real start-up ecosystem in Austria and CEE/SEE. In such a rapidly and unpredictably developing field, you need proactive advice and advisers who can facilitate collaboration between entrepreneurs and venture capital investors. When time and costs are an issue, our industry specialists allow us to provide real deal value, ensuring successful transactions and a solid foundation for your future growth.
