Department profile
CMS

Banking & Finance

Europe Guide 2026 : Austria

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CMS

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About

Provided by CMS

Our Banking & Finance team provides legal and tax advice on all transactional, regulatory and other issues that arise across the full spectrum of banking and finance activity. We are an experienced and well-known business partner, having been directly involved in many groundbreaking developments and transactions in Europe and beyond.

We advise clients in the following areas:

  • Acquisition finance
  • Real Estate finance
  • Project finance
  • Asset finance and leasing
  • Structured finance and securitisation
  • Loan-Portfolio transactions
  • Banking regulation and supervision
  • Corporate restructuring and recovery
  • Banking litigation

We work with a wide range of clients – from small, privately held institutions to global corporations. Our range of clients includes:

  • Retail and investment banks
  • Building societies and other lending institutions
  • IFI’s and DFI’s
  • Mutual investment fund companies
  • Asset management houses
  • Underwriters, brokers and financial advisers
  • Finance and operating lessors
  • Asset operators and manufacturers
  • Governments and state entities
  • Major national and multi-national borrowers and issuers

Clients (16)

  • Finanzmarktbeteiligung Aktiengesellschaft des Bundes (FIMBAG
  • Erste Group Bank AG
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Unicredit Bank Austria AG
  • Raiffeisen Bank International AG
  • Bloomberg
  • The European Central Bank
  • Commerzbank
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  • Heta Asset Resolution AG
  • Casinos Austria
  • Zumtobel AG
  • Förderungsverein der Primärbanken
  • European Investment Bank (EIB)
  • Allianz Real Estate
  • Austria Anadi Bank

Industries (15)

  • Financial institutions
  • Banks
  • Energy
  • Real Estate
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Insurance
  • Health care
  • Technology, Hardware & Electronics
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation
  • Media
  • Mining & Metals
  • Travel & Leisure
  • Retail
  • Consumer Products

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance - Austria

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

CMS is a distinguished player in banking and finance, both in Austria and across the CEE region, and is particularly sought after for its cross-border capabilities. The team is regularly mandated for its expertise in project, corporate, real estate and acquisition finance. The law firm possesses further expertise in refinancing transactions and regulatory advice, while also showing valuable experience in facility agreements. The Vienna-based team caters to a diverse portfolio of clients, with a particularly strong following of domestic and international financial institutions.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS advised Erste Group Bank in connection with the EUR320 million refinancing of WIEN MITTE The Mall.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS has a big network in various countries and is very well organised. The team is fast, professional and very good in organising deals.

    Banking & Finance respondentEurope

  • CMS' deep expertise in complex financing transactions, as well as its ability to combine legal know-how with with a practical, business-oriented approach, has consistently exceeded our expectations.

    Banking & Finance respondentEurope

  • CMS is extremely responsive and has a high level of expertise in international project finance. Questions are answered immediately and the team is very solution-oriented.

    Banking & Finance respondentEurope

  • We can rely on CMS to bring its best experts to the table and to deliver great value for us.

    Banking & Finance respondentEurope

  • A key strength of the CMS team is its strong commercial understanding of our business beyond the purely legal aspects.

    Banking & Finance respondentEurope

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Günther Hanslik
    Günther Hanslik

    Günther Hanslik

    Prominent practitioner Günther Hanslik is recognised for his strong following of lender-side clients, advising on project, acquisition and real estate finance transactions, as well as refinancings. While predominantly active in Austria, he is equally well-versed in handling cross-border mandates.

    • Günther Hanslik is sophisticated, cultured and skilled. It is always a pleasure to work with him.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Günther Hanslik is always personally involved and easily available. He has broad knowledge and is also reliable and fast.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Günther Hanslik's experience, deep legal knowledge, industry insight and client-focused approach put him among the very best banking and finance lawyers in Austria.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Günther Hanslik is a great lawyer and very supportive. He is a very good coordinator and knows the banking business inside-out.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Günther Hanslik is very experienced.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope
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  • Stefan Paulmayer
    Stefan Paulmayer

    Stefan Paulmayer

    Stefan Paulmayer continues to impress with an excellent track record in real estate and project financing. He is active across a range of other banking and finance mandates, including syndicated and bridge facility agreements and regulatory advice. He further shows good ability in coordinating cross-border mandates.

    • Stefan Paulmayer is good in this business.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope
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  • Kai Ruckelshausen
    Kai Ruckelshausen

    Kai Ruckelshausen

    Kai Ruckelshausen stands out for his work advising on domestic and cross-border financial transactions and refinancings. He has a strong reputation for working with lender-side clients and is particularly sought out to assist with real estate and project financings.

    • Kai Ruckelshausen is strong both academically and practically.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Kai Ruckelshausen stays calm in complex situations.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Kai Ruckelshausen is an excellent banking and finance lawyer with a strong legal and commercial understanding of the finance and real estate industry.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Kai Ruckelshausen offers a very good level of service and commercial awareness.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope

    • Through his expertise and dedication, Kai Ruckelshausen has proven to be an invaluable partner in getting the most complex and challenging transactions over the finishing line.

      Banking & Finance respondentEurope
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Ranked Individuals at CMS (3)

Austria

Members

Provided by CMS

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