fwp lawyers compete to win, with a detailed view of the big picture

Always on the ball and highly efficient, the lawyers at Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners (fwp) know their game. Highly praised by both clients and peers, the firm is constantly expanding its circle of specialised and competent partners while at the same time keeping internationally connected through influential networking.

Commitment is the key word and fwp likes to use sports-related language when they speak about their passion for law: “When it comes to working out the best strategies for our clients, we get right into the thick of things. A precise knowledge of the rules of the game and maximum effort keep us always at it. Down to the last mile, on any court, at any match.” Compete to win, indeed, with a detailed strategy laid out upfront.

As an internationally active Austrian law firm, fwp covers the entire spectrum of business law. The specialised know-how of the partners and their teams in their respective fields guarantees expertise for all scenarios. fwp represents mainly Austrian and international private companies, but also has clients from the public sector.

With top modern office spaces set in the heart of Vienna, the one stop-shop law firm of Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners has made accessibility and service their highest aims. Their clients experience and appreciate a 24-hour availability. At fwp, fast response, quality and efficiency are the measure of all things. Academically based legal expertise combined with economic and commercial know-how form the pillars of the firm’s international success.

Modern offices.

Founded in 1999 in the heart of Vienna by co-founders and lawyers Markus Fellner and Kurt Wratzfeld, the firm started out with a staff of five. Immediately adopting a pioneering role, the firm has since followed the vision of a modern working approach matching contemporary needs. fwp was founded with the goal of growing into a large law firm with a wide-reaching structure.

Today, fwp has more than a hundred qualified personnel. The fwp competence teams are led by 22 partners. One of the leading Austrian law firms in the business sector, fwp offers legal support for banking and finance, corporate, M&A (mergers and acquisitions), real estate, infrastructure and public procurement as well as reorganisation and restructuring. While mostly looking after Austrian and international companies, fwp also works for the public sector.

Markus Fellner advises on high-profile corporate / M&A transactions, banking and finance law, dispute resolution and antitrust and competition law as well as on complex corporate restructurings / insolvencies. He has been extensively involved in bank rescues and restructurings of large corporations. Besides his law degree, Markus Fellner holds a degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.

Co-founder and partner Kurt Wratzfeld specialises in individual and collective employment law as well as general civil law. He studied in both Vienna and Linz, where he gained his doctorate, and has been working as a lawyer since 1997 before co-founding fwp in 1999.

fwp reception area.

A classic tool for fwp’s own business strategy is networking. As Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner’s work has become increasingly international, they can rely on an intensive longstanding cooperation with international partner firms. To fwp it makes all the difference and is one of the most important criteria for success. fwp has a widespread international referral network with law firms in over 110 countries. The firm is also part of the global law firm network TerraLex having more than 15,000 lawyers as members. fwp is also part of the Association of European Lawyers (AEL), which provides a strong platform for pan-European cross-border transactions and legal advice.

fwp ranks among the best of Austria’s law firms. Their wide-ranging excellence in corporate/M&A, banking & finance, capital markets, as well as labour law places them regularly at the top of rankings. This year, partner and co-founder Markus Fellner took first place in the FORMAT lawyers’ ranking in the category of banking law. A total of 100 law firms voted in 22 categories. Other top rankings went to Kurt Wratzfeld for labour law, Paul Luiki for CEE work and Gregor Schett in the field of investor lawsuits.

Dr. Kurt Wratzfeld. Photo: © fwp

Banking & Finance: fwp advises major banks on financing issues on an ongoing basis, not only about project financing, but also in connection with funding complex consortiums and financing for company reorganisation purposes. fwp can anticipate the legal challenges and issues, and guide its clients accordingly.

Corporate / M&A: Developing optimal solutions in these fields requires extensive knowledge and vast experience in many different legal areas, including corporate, tax, capital market, labour and tenancy as well as numerous other fields. fwp advises national and international companies in the acquisition and sale of companies as a core strength of the firm. The services cover everything from legal due diligence to antitrust regulations – and fwp’s wide experience in the private and public sector, especially relating to cross-border transactions, takeover bids, private equity and venture capital – ensures the highest degree of efficiency and deal stability.

Other subfields of commercial and business law covered by fwp’s specialists are real estate, infrastructure and procurement as well as dispute resolution, both in court and before arbitral tribunals.

Antitrust violations, another specialist field of fwp, have become more and more costly. Entire industries have come under the scrutiny of antitrust authorities. fwp is helping clients to become pro-active right from the start, for instance by implementing suitable compliance programmes. fwp also provides advice on merger control, antitrust and market abuse proceedings, before Austrian and European courts as well as antitrust authorities.

Dr. Markus Fellner. Photo: © Photo: fwp

Transaction law makes up one of the biggest chunks of fwp’s work and has received significant international recognition. With long-standing experience in structuring tailor-made solutions and an all-encompassing understanding of business matters under their belt, the teams at fwp feel right at home in this area. In the ‘Chambers and Partners’ Europe 2016 rankings, fwp and especially co-founder Dr. Markus Fellner have recently received high accolades: “Very efficient, quick and straightforward. A top choice for large-scale, complex mandates with an excellent level of service.”

Clients mention outstanding negotiation skills and the ability to see the big picture in a transaction. A “market leader with an impressive track record”, Dr. Markus Fellner is known for possessing a detailed commercial understanding and for efficiently pushing transactions forward.

Fast response, efficiency and a view of the whole while never forgetting a crucial detail make for the highly committed full-service strategy of Fellner Wratzfeld & Partners. When fwp throws a ball, it will be the perfect throw. They are happy to catch yours at any time, safely and securely.

fwp.at

TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI | PHOTOS: CHRISTOPH PANZER