Professional notice
Austria
The practice at bpv Hügel prides itself not only on the quantity but the quality of its work – practice head Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber says the team takes on the most “difficult and complex” competition cases in the region. Who’s Who Legal nominee Ablasser-Neuhuber draws praise across the board for her work, while fellow nominee Florian Neumayr is a highly respected litigator. The firm has the only Austrian competition practice with a fully integrated litigation team, acting for defendants in numerous proceedings to fend off injunctions, damage claims and other motions by private and organisational claimants.
The firm frequently takes on work that extends outside Austria to reflect broader EU concerns. Notably, the team are currently acting for EconGas in the European Commission’s investigation of the energy sector, and for voestalpine Austria Draht GmbH in its appeal against a Commission cartel decision to the General Court. Ablasser-Neuhuber is also acting for Logwin and DSV/ABX Logistics in cartel proceedings involving more than 40 freight companies before both Austria’s Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice.
On the national side, the firm is taking on work for BP Europa in proceedings before the cartel court relating to an alleged abuse of dominance of the five largest suppliers of liquefied petroleum gas. Neumayr meanwhile acted for lift-maker Otis in Austrian merger proceedings regarding the acquisition of rival Jeitler-Fida Aufzüge. The deal received unconditional clearance in Phase II – a rare occurrence in Austria. The team has also been working for commodities company Raiffeisen Ware in numerous merger proceedings before the European Commission – notably in the creation of the country’s largest apple juice company – and in the wholesale fuel markets.
bpv Hügel is one of the leading law firms in Austria. Its competition law team, consisting of specialised lawyers in Vienna and Brussels, is one of the most experienced and largest in Austria. The practice group has built up a considerable track record in the following core areas:
- Joint ventures, cooperation agreements and vertical relationships such as distribution systems
- Advice with regard to all aspects of market dominance and abuse issues
- Representation of undertakings subject to antitrust proceedings before national as well as European authorities and courts
- Competition litigation and, in particular, defence in private enforcement cases
- Leniency applications
- Austrian and EU merger control as well as coordination of multi-jurisdictional filings
bpv Hügel not only offers high-quality services in competition law but also provides premium integrated M&A, corporate, regulatory (including public procurement and state aid), real estate, finance, labour and tax law advice to national and international clients.
bpv Hügel is a founding member of bpv LEGAL, an affiliation of independent law firms in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) counselling on cross-boarder transactions and foreign investments in most CEE countries.
Contact details
bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte OG
ARES-Tower, Donau-City-Strasse 11
1220 Vienna
Austria
T: +43 1 260 50 0
F: +43 1 260 50 133
Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber, partner, head of competition law practice
[email protected]