Legal 500
For more than 30 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions.
We have been listed in The Legal 500 for more than 10 years. The most recent edition (2021) recommends us for the areas Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance and Real Estate.
Banking & Finance
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte´s banking and finance group, led by Bernd Taucher, focuses on larger, international syndicated finance transactions. The client roster consists of borrowers, loan service providers and banks, with the team being most active on the borrower side, acting for industrial and enterprise borrowers, typically on cross-border mandates.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is particularly active in borrower-focused work and frequently advises on acquisition finance and refinancing matters alongside venture capital issues but also handles regulatory mandates. Bernd Taucher advised Head Group on several finance transactions with Erste Bank Group, including refinancing matters and a corporate funding transaction, and assisted the Austrian start-up Fittrack with two financing rounds where the financing was provided from international business angels, family offices and investors.
The ‘outstanding’ team at Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte maintains a good relationship with Borealis, which it advised on the purchase agreements relating to a private placement by the company. Bernd Taucher is ‘able to handle significant transactions’ and has ‘a high level of professionalism’.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte’s entrepreneurial and dynamic team impresses its clients: ‘the overall level of service is outstanding and offers real value for money; response times are great, which is crucial’. The team recently advised new client Head USA on a senior secured credit facility. Practice head Bernd Taucher ‘can translate business needs into agreements and understands the crucial parts of a transaction quickly’.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte ‘offers its services at more competitive prices than the big firms’, and is noted for the ‘personal involvement of the partners’. The team, led by Bernd Taucher, is rated for its advice in cross-border matters. In 2010 the practice advised a plastics manufacturer on a €75m credit agreement with a European investment bank.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte’s banking practice is led by Bernd Taucher, whose ‘quality of the work is outstanding. He competes with the bigger firms in Austria and adds a very personal note to his services, having excellent expertise in finance matters, is very business driven and quickly understands a client’s needs’. The firm has some excellent client relationships, and advised new client Sparkassen Immobilien on a high-value property finance deal.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is said to provide ‘uncomplicated, business-friendly counsel that goes further than just providing legal advice’. The team handled some noteworthy work over the last year, including acting for HVB Bank, Czech Republic and German company Eurohypo Aktiengesellschaft on a multimillion-euro real estate refinancing transaction. The firm has particular experience advising foreign companies on the Austrian legal aspects of domestic and foreign investment. Leading individuals include Bernd Taucher and Wolfgang Graf. Bernd Taucher is recommended as ‘clearly experienced in finance matters on an international level. He is strong in drafting agreements, revealing first-rate communication and team-playing skills’.
Work Highlights
- Supported Borealis on a US private placement transaction relating to assignment and assumption agreements with a substantial value.
- Assisting HEAD with an international finance transaction.
- Advised new client APS on the acquisition and the acquisition financing of VB-Leasing International Holding, an Austrian leasing company of the Volksbanken Group with subsidiaries in four southern European countries.
Testimonials
Corporate | M&A
Led by “first-rate corporate lawyer” Wolfgang Graf and “outstanding lawyer” Bernd Taucher, “highly specialised boutique law firm” Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is active in private equity transactions, M&A, general corporate and commercial work, corporate finance matters and corporate restructuring projects.
Much of Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte´s work pertains to M&A and private equity transactions but the team is also well versed in handling corporate restructuring mandates as recently demonstrated by its advice to Head Group on various restructuring issues, including the negotiation of contribution, merger and asset purchase agreements; Bernd Taucher, who jointly heads the team with Wolfgang Graf, led the advice. Other work includes assisting start-ups with financing rounds and advising corporate clients on finance transactions and investment-related matters.
With a focus on acquisition finance, corporate funding and regulatory work, Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte´s knowledgeable and highly skilled team acts for borrowers, banks and other credit providers. The „very professional“ Bernd Taucher assisted the sports and clothing company Head with matters arising form a corporate funding transaction under a promissory notes agreement.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte´s very responsive, knowledgeable and efficient team frequently handles M&A and restructuring mandates, where it is noted for its „straight answers“ and its particular strength in dealing with matters at the intersection of banking and finance law. Wolfgang Graf advised Global TCAD Solutions and its Austrian shareholders on the partial sale of their shares to Silvaco and assisted a group of international investors with the acquisition of an Austrian skiing resort, while Bernd Taucher advised the sports and clothing company Head on international corporate restructuring matters.
At Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte, ‘the overall level of service is outstanding, and good value for money’. The small team is able to handle complex, cross-border transactions, and is led by the ‘down-to-earth’ and ‘cost-efficient’ Bernd Taucher. The firm continues to foster a good relationship with Borealis, recently assisting on the restructuring of one of its main production and distribution units, in its fertilizer business.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte provides ‘great service for a better rate than the big firms. You always get one of the partners and there is little fluctuation, so the lawyers know you and your business’. The team recently advised a subsidiary of Head USA on corporate matters including distribution agreements and licensing. Bernd Taucher and the ‘smart and strategic’ Wolfgang Graf are recommended.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is ‘efficient and provides a cost-effective service’, with clients praising the partner-level input on deals. In 2010 the firm saw an up-tick in M&A work and advised an international investor in the acquisition of a share in an Austrian-listed flight carrier. Wolfgang Graf’s ‘powers of analysis are superb’, and he ‘has outstanding business instincts and is experienced in both corporate work and international transactions’. Bernd Taucher is also highly rated.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte’s Wolfgang Graf provides ‘fast response time, accurate and a very professional service’. 2009 saw the group advise one of Austria’s leading construction companies on setting up a joint venture in Austria and Russia. Bernd Taucher also comes highly recommended.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte has a „friendly and informal atmosphere“ according to clients, who are quick to praise Wolfgang Graf and Bernd Taucher. The team has experience in restructuring, spin-offs, shareholders agreements and joint venture work.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte’s team is said to be very ‘well-connected internationally’, advising clients such as British Telecom on a number of commercial agreements in Austria. Lead partners Wolfgang Graf and Bernd Taucher are viewed as ‘ practitioners who are very hands-on and flexible in meeting the demands of the business’.
Work Highlights
- Advised Canopy Growth Corporation on its €226m acquisition of the German cannabinoid flagship Bionicsa.
- Assisted Czech APS with its acquisition of the Volksbanken leasing group, active in southern and central Europe.
- Advised the Head group on its international corporate restructuring process
Testimonials
Dispute Resolution
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte has particular strength with respect to commercial disputes in the areas of construction and real estate development. In addition to M&A and M&A-related litigation, the team is also noted for its proficiency in investors´claims, including investor claiming damages from misleading statements of issuers. Clemens Freisinger leads the practice, which also represents clients from the automotive and water purification industry, as well as suppliers of raw materials.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is ‘quick to get to the essence of a matter’, and the firm’s ‘overall level of service is extraordinary’. It has particular expertise in construction cases. Wolfgang Graf gives ‘detailed advice’, and is ‘really impressive’.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte recently advised a German construction company in a dispute relating to the construction of an open-air theatre in Spain. ‘Fees are below the level of the bigger firms and we get high-quality advice’, says one client. Clemens Freisinger is a ‘very efficient and cool-headed litigator’.
Wolfgang Graf is the name of note at Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte, predominantly advising a significant number of largely German and international investors on Austrian capital markets issues.
Work Highlights
- Acting for various claimants in six class actions against Volkswagen in the emissions scandal.
- Representing Eller Consulting ZT GmbH, an Austrian civil engineering company, in a number of interconnected court proceedings, all around alleged planning and construction damages and deficiencies (real estate.)
- Representing OÜ Pölva Piim, an Estonian dairy, in court proceedings against a major Austrian dairy.
Testimonials
Real Estate
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is particularly active in the hotel and residential property sectors, where it predominantly advises on lease agreements and transactions. Team head Alexander Patsch advised Bierwirth & Kluth on leasing matters pertaining to a hotel building near Vienna International Airport.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte acts for project developers and private investors on matters including acquisitions of commercial and retail property, and project development. Practice head Alexander Patsch led a team that advised the Czech T-Centrum on a project development and construction transaction, which includes an M&A share deal by which the centre intends to set up and construct a model railway project in the famous Viennese Prater.
The team also assisted ÖAD Wohnraumverwaltung with a deal with Central European University concerning the provision of a large number of student hostel places for the University, which is currently moving to Vienna.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte advises investors, private clients and property developers on property transactions, lease agreements and real estate projects. Demonstrating its experience in the hotel sector, team head Alexander Patsch assisted Bierwirth & Kluth with the lease of a hotel near Vienna International Airport. Advising on residential property matters is another key area of expertise.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte´s very competent, reliable and knowledgeable team always tries very hard to find the best solution and has commercial construction and real estate sector disputes at its core. “Very well-prepared” team head Clemens Freisinger defended archiguards, a group of architects and civil engineers, against alleged construction and planning deficiencies brought by its clients.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte has been active advising a variety of developers on new building projects in Vienna. Alexander Patsch, who is fluent in Russian and Polish, is popular among east European investors in Austria.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte is ‘highly responsive, commercial and practical, with reasonable fees’. The firm has a strong record advising on Vienna real estate transactions and is developing a niche advising Russian investors purchasing property in Vienna. Alexander Patsch is recommended.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte benefits from being ‘not being too big but not too small’ and is ‘still “hungry” enough to provide a massive client with excellent advice’. The team is headed by Alexander Patsch and has developed solid experience advising Russian clients.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte advised a major Austrian construction company on a series of lease agreements for infrastructure projects in the CEE. Alexander Patsch is rated.
Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte „provides very high quality at all stages; its lawyers are very ambitious and smart”, with one client commenting that “the advantage of this firm is that you don’t have to deal with many different lawyers on one transaction so invoices are decent and you always know who is working on your case.” Alexander Patsch heads the real estate department, and is well known in the market for his CEE experience. Over the past year the firm has advised A.M. Alpha, a CEE-based real estate developer, in the financing and acquisition of an historical building in central Vienna.
BAI, the main real estate development company of Bank Austria Creditanstalt, is a marquee client for Graf Patsch Taucher Rechtsanwälte. Strabag also kept the firm busy over the past year, instructing Alexander Patsch’s team in relation to a number of construction projects across Russia and the CIS. Clients are pleased with ‘ the good reputation of the firm, and its network and knowledge across Eastern Europe’.
Work Highlights
- Advised Bierwirth & Kluth on the leasing of a hotel building next to the Vienna International Airport.
- Assisted the Bridge Group with a residential real estate development project on the outskirts of Vienna.
- Acted for Nesta and other private investors on the acquisition of six commercial retail locations in a deal worth €12m.