News

• 24. April 2026

  Trend Lawyers’ Ranking 2026 – Three VHM Top 5 Placements

  With Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Dieter Heine and Christian Marth, all three founding partners of VHM have been ranked among the Top 5 in their respective practice areas in this year’s prestigious Trend Lawyer Ranking.

  Nikolaus Vavrovsky (Litigation and Arbitration – Rank 4)
  Dieter Heine (Competition Law – Rank 5)
  Christian Marth (Real Estate Law – Rank 2)

  We would like to thank our clients and peers for their excellent feedback and look forward to what lies ahead!

  Further details on the ranking are available in the current issue of Trend Magazine and online.

  
• 29. March 2026

  VHM partner Nikolaus Vavrovsky participated as discussant at the 14th Bergsten Lecture

  On March 29, VHM-partner Nikolaus Vavrovsky participated as discussant at the 14th Bergsten Lecture at the University of Vienna. The lecture was given by Prof. Dr. Stefan Kröll (Co-director Vis Moot, Director of the Center for international Dispute Resolution) on the topic of "The Law(s) applicable to the arbitration agreement: balancing separability, party autonomy and legal certainty." The Bergsten Lecture has long served as an important forum for thoughtful exchange within the international arbitation community and is held annually during the Vis Moot finals.

  
• 27. March 2026

  VHM hosted its 6th annual Pre-Moot-Event

  Also this year VHM hosted its 6th annual Pre-Moot-event. Big thanks to all participants, arbitrators and our team - Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Florian Stefan, Katharina Linhart und Klara Klingesberger - for making this event a great success. It was our pleasure welcoming four remarkable teams from University of Zurich, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple London, University of Graz and Northwestern University as well as our distinguished arbitrators. Your enthuiasm and dedication were truly inspiring and contributed significantly to the success of the event.

  Congratulations to the winner team from the Northwestern University! We are already looking forward to next year.

  
• 26. March 2026

  VHM at the first ever Advocacy Skills Workshop hosted by Global Arbitration Review (GAR) in Paris

  VHM partner Nikolaus Vavrovsky was speaking at the first ever Advocacy Skills Workshop hosted by Global Arbitration Review (GAR) as part of the Paris Arbitration Week. A hands-on advocacy skills workshop dedicated to the art of cross-examination. We are proud to be supporting this event, bringing together practitioners to sharpen their skills in international arbitration and a great opportunity for practitioners at all levels.

   

   

  
• 25. March 2026

  Further recognition for VHM in the latest Legal500 EMEA ranking

  We are grateful and proud to share that the recently published The Legal 500 EMEA 2026 edition ranks and recommends NIkolaus Vavrovsky, Dieter Heine, Christian Marth, Florian Stefan, Lisa Haslinger and Daniel Gebauer once again in their respective practice areas.

  See the ranking here.

  We would like to thank our clients for their trust as well as our entire team for their tireless dedication.

  
• 24. March 2026

  VHM once again ranked among the top law firms in the latest Chambers Europe Guide

  VHM has once again been featured in the latest published Chambers Europe Guide among Austria's leading law firms.

  Nikolaus Vavrovsky: Arbitration - Band 1

  Christian Marth: Real Estate - Band 1

  Dieter Heine: Litigation - Band 4

  We are particularly pleased of the first-time recognition of Florian Stefan (Arbitration), Lisa Haslinger (Real Estate) and Daniel Gebauer (Real Estate).

  This recognition reflects the dedication, expertise and impact our team continues to bring to our clients and their matters.

  Click here to view the ranking. 

  
• 16. February 2026

  VHM receives further recognition in the Chambers Global Guide 2026

  VHM has once again been ranked among Austria's leading law firms in the fields of arbitration and litigation by Chambers Global. This latest publication reaffirms the outstanding work and continued excellence of our team. 

  Individual rankings:

  Nikolaus Vavrovsky: Arbitration -

  Band 1

  Nikolaus Vavrovsky: Arbitration -

  Band 2

  Dieter Heine: Litigation - Band 4

  Florian Stefan: Arbitration - up and coming

  We would like to thank all our clients for their trust and collaboratio, which have made this achievement possible.

  Click here to view the ranking.

  
• 29. January 2026

  Violence and Hate: Prevention in Schools — The Legal Profession provides guidance

  VHM partner Theresa Nindl delivered a series of lectures on 'Violence and Hate Online' to several classes at the Musikmittelschule Wendstattgasse as part of the school initiative 'Violence and Hate: Prevention in Schools - The Legal Profession provides guideance!', conducted in cooperation with the Vienna Bar Association. We are proud to participate in this important initiative for the third consecutive year and already look forward to the next lecture.

  
• 19. December 2025

  Recognition in the JUVE Ranking 2025 for Dispute Resolution

  We are very pleased that three VHM-partners - Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Dieter Heine and Florian Stefan - have been recognized and prominently featured in the current JUVE ranking for the practice area of dispute resolution. This recognition once again places us among the leading law firms in the fields of arbitration and litigation. 

  JUVE is the most renowned legal trade publication in the German-speaking region, evaluating law firms on the basis of comprehensive research, client surveys and market analyses.

  
• 05. December 2025

  The newly released Lexology Index: Arbitration 2026 report, published in association with Global Arbitration Review, recognises Nikolaus Vavrovsky as one of the world’s leading practitioners in arbitration. Additionally, Florian Stefan has been ranked as Future Leader in this field. We are incredibly proud of these outstanding achievements. Congratulations from the entire VHM team! 
  A heartfelt thank you to our peers and clients for their great feedback!
  
  Learn more!

  
• 27. November 2025

  Lisa Haslinger and Marlene Heiling publishing once more in baurechtliche blätter:bbl

  Partner Lisa Haslinger and attorney Marlene Heiling in issues 5 and 6 of the trade journal baurechtliche blätter:bbl.
  In this two-part article, the Linz team examines the strict regional planning regulations applicable to commercial enterprises in the federal states and explores scope for reuse or expansion in areas where new construction would not be permitted today.
  Part 1 (issue 5) of the article deals with the federal states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Carinthia, while part 2 (issue 6) examines the federal states of Upper Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg.

  Learn more!

  
• 14. August 2025

  Lisa Haslinger and Marlene Heiling in the latest issue of bbl:baurechtliche blätter

  In the latest issue of the journal bbl:baurechtliche blätter, Lisa Haslinger and Marlene Heiling examine the transitional provision under regional planning law, Section 53(8)(1) of the Lower Austrian Regional Planning Act, in terms of its potential for the reuse of existing building sites for commercial enterprises seeking a location. In their article Raumordnungsrechtliche Übergangsbestimmungen als Potential für Handelsbetriebe? – Zur „Wiedererrichtung auf dem selben Bauplatz“ iSd § 53 Abs 8 Z 1 nö ROG 2014, the authors take a critical look at the decision of the Lower Austrian Provincial Administrative Court of December 4, 2024, LVwG-AV-105/001-2024 and LVwG-AV-106/001-2024.

  >> Learn more!

  
• 20. August 2025

  FALTER.morgen - Interview with Florian Stefan

  In today's edition of the FALTER.morgen newsletter, journalist Soraya Pechtl focuses on a legal issue: “A ruling by the Vienna Regional Court for Civil Matters has caused quite a stir. Several media outlets are reporting that the court has allowed Sharia law. But is that true?”
  Partner Florian Stefan answers the question and explains the legal background in an interview – read the full article here!

   

  
• 16. July 2025

  JUVE Ranking 2025 Real Estate and Construction

  The July/August issue of JUVE Magazine features an exciting analysis of the fields of real estate and construction law in Austria, as well as this year's rankings in these areas. We are delighted to have once again been recognized as leading experts by the German business law magazine . Partner Christian Marth has been recognized again this year as one of the top players in the real estate law landscape in Austria, and VHM has also been highlighted for its numerous renowned clients. Partner Lisa Haslinger, head of our Linz office, is also recognized and praised as an interface to public law for her attention to detail, creativity, and analytical thinking. The outstanding work of attorney Daniel Gebauer in the field of real estate transactions is highlighted as well.

  
• 25. April 2025

  Trend Ranking 2025

  This year's Trend ranking once again recognizes VHM partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky (litigation and arbitration), Dieter Heine (competition law), and Christian Marth (real estate law), naming them among the leading experts in their respective fields. Congratulations to our partners and a big thank you to our peers for the great feedback!

  More information can be found in the latest issue of the Trend magazine and online!

   

  
• 18. April 2025

  VHM Pre-Moot 2025

  Recently, VHM hosted the 5th annual Pre-Moot and we want to thank all the participants, the arbitrators and our team - Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Florian Stefan, Sofiia Nachosa, Thaïs Stemmelin and Klara Klingesberger - for this great event!
  During this year's Pre-Moot, our office had the pleasure of welcoming four remarkable teams from Université Paris Cité, National Law School of India University, Universität Bonn and Northwestern University. We are truly grateful for your enthusiasm, commitment and the genuine Vis Moot spirit you brought with you to our VHM Pre-Moot!

  Click here to learn more!

  
• 26. March 2025

  The Legal 500 EMEA 2025 ranks VHM

  The Legal 500 EMEA 2025 edition ranks and recommends partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Dieter Heine, Christian Marth, Florian Stefan and Lisa Haslinger once again in their respective practice areas. Also, VHM gets ranked as „Firm in the Spotlight“, Nikolaus Vavrovsky and Christian Marth are among the „Leading Partners“ and attorney Daniel Gebauer gets recommended in the practice area Real Estate for the first time.
  
  See all the rankings here!

  
• 20. March 2025

  Chambers Europe ranks VHM once again

  The Chambers and Partners Europe Guide has just been launched and we are more than proud of VHM being ranked in four practice areas. Special applause to partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Dieter Heine and Christian Marth, who – once more – got ranked among Austria’s leading experts:
  
  Christian Marth: Real Estate | Band 1
  Nikolaus Vavrovsky: Arbitration | Band 2
  Nikolaus Vavrovsky: Arbitrators | Band 2
  Dieter Heine: Litigation | Band 4

  Learn more

  
• 07. January 2025

  STRABAG RE pruchases Weitblick project

  Strabag Real Estate is taking over the Value One high-rise project, thereby concluding one of the biggest deals of the year. The company was legally advised and represented by Vavrovsky Heine Marth Rechtsanwälte. At the end of December 2024, the final steps were taken to sign the purchase agreement for the 120-meter-high tower at the Stadion U2 station. For STRABAG Real Estate, acquiring the Weitblick project means at the same time playing a key role in the creation of a visionary, sustainable and innovative concept. 

   >> See press release

  
• 13. February 2025

  Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2025 ranks VHM

  The Chambers Global Guide 2025 ranks VHM and partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky and Dieter Heine in Arbitration and Litigation once again among Austria’s most renowned experts!
  Nikolaus Vavrovsky: Arbitration | Band 2, Arbitrators | Band 2
  Dieter Heine: Litigation | Band 4

  Firm Ranking:  Arbitration | Band 3 and Litigation | Band 4 
  
  Congratulations to our dispute resolution team and a big thank you to our clients and peers for the great feedback!

  >> See rankings

  
• 16. December 2024

  Lexology Index 2025 Rankings

  To end the year on a happy note we are thrilled to share the Lexology Index 2025 rankings with you. Partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky and Florian Stefan are recommended and ranked in the practice area Arbitration.

  Congratulations to the partners and the whole team!

  >> See ranking

  
• 28. April 2024

  Trend ranking 2024: VHM partners once again among the best ranked lawyers

  This year's Trend ranking is out now and we are pleased that VHM is among the best ranked lawyers in Austria. Partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky (litigation and arbitration), Dieter Heine (competition law) and Christian Marth (real estate law) have once again achieved excellent rankings! Moreover, on pages 68 and 69, you will find an exclusive interview with the partners!
  Big congratulations and thank you for the outstanding rankings!

  >> Trend Magazine

  
• 16. April 2024

  Top Real Estate Lawyers 2024: Lisa Haslinger ranked in the Immo Magazin

  In the latest edition of the Immo Magazin the ranking of the best real estate lawyers 2024 was published. We are proud that VHM partner and head of our offce in Linz Lisa Haslinger is among the top real estate lawyers 2024. Congratulations to Lisa and a big thank you to the editors for the great article! 

  >> Article

  
• 10. April 2024

  ÖVI Businessbreakfast Linz

  Today we had the pleasure of organising a business breakfast at our office in Linz together with the Austrian Real Estate Association ÖVI. The participants enjoyed the presentation, held by Lisa Haslinger, Partner at VHM, and Anton Holzapfel, Managing Director of ÖVI, as well as a lively exchange on various topics from the real estate sector.
  A big thank you to the speakers and all participants!

  
• 25. March 2024

  HK45 & YAAP Cocktail Reception

  Last Saturday, VHM had the pleasure to sponsor the HK45 & YAAP Cocktail Reception, which was held on the occasion of the 31st Vis Moot in Vienna. Attended by more than 100 practitioners and coaches, the event was a great opportunity for good conversations and delicious cocktails. Congratulations to VHM partner Florian Stefan for this great event!
  Big thank you to the organisers HK45 and YAAP as well as to our Co-Sponsors Baker McKenzie and Prince's Chambers. 

  
• 27. March 2024

  The Legal 500 2024

  This year’s The Legal 500 EMEA ranking has just been launched and VHM gets ranked as Top Tier Firm in the practice area Real Estate! Congratulations to our real estate team as well as to our head of department Christian Marth, who is once again recognized as Leading Individual in Real Estate as well as Recommended Lawyer in the practice area Construction! 
  Moreover, VHM is recommended in the practice areas Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Mediation (Tier 2), Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (Tier 3) as well as in Construction (Tier 3). Congratulations to Nikolaus Vavrovsky being ranked as Leading Individual in the practice area Arbitration and recommended in the practice areas Commercial Litigation and Construction! 
  And big applause to Nina Sterzl who is once again recognized as Rising Star in Commercial Litigation! 
   
  Recommended lawyers and key lawyers:

  Dieter Heine in Commercial Litigation
  Lisa Haslinger in Real Estate and Construction
  Florian Stefan in Arbitration and Commercial Litigation

  
• 14. March 2024

  Chambers and Partners Europe ranks VHM once again

  Vavrovsky Heine Marth Rechtsanwälte is once again recognized as a market leader in the practice areas Dispute Resolution and Real Estate! 

  VHM partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Dieter Heine and Christian Marth are highlighted as leading experts in their practice areas and achieve top rankings.

   

  >> Rankings

  
• 15. February 2024

  Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2024

  The renowned Chambers and Partners Global Guide ranks in its this year's edition Vavrovsky Heine Marth again amog the leading law firms in the practice area Dispute Resolution.

  Partner Nikolaus Vavrovsky is ranked in the areas Arbitration and Most in Demand Arbitrators. Partner Dieter Heine is again recognized as leading expert in the area Litigation.

   

  >> Rankings

  
• 18. January 2024

  Maria Grabner, Lukas Lanzerstorfer and Nina Sterzl promoted to partners

  Maria Grabner, Lukas Lanzerstorfer and Nina Sterzl have been promoted to partners at Vavrovsky Heine Marth.

  Maria Grabner, who has been working in the real estate team since 2016, specialises in tenancy law, real estate management as well as the handling of projects in accordance with the Developer Contracts Act.

  Lukas Lanzerstorfer focuses on supporting real estate project development, real estate transactions and asset management. Together with Maria Grabner, he heads the team responsible for Projects in accordance with the Developer Contracts Act. He has been part of VHM's real estate team since 2015.

  Nina Sterzl advises in the dispute resolution team on intellectual property law, media law matters and the enforcement of real estate-related claims. She has been with VHM since 2013 and has been part of the Dispute Resolution team ever since. She will now be head of the Salzburg office, which was previously headed by Dr Karl-Ludwig Vavrovsky.

  
• 28. November 2023

  JUVE Ranking Dispute Resolution

  The German legal journal JUVE ranks Vavrovsky Heine Marth Rechtsanwälte among the best law firms in Austria in the field of Dispute Resolution. Partners Nikolaus Vavrovsky, Dieter Heine and Florian Stefan are highlighted and recommended as leading experts in the areas Litigation and Arbitration and Mediation.

   

  >> View our LinkedIn post

  
• 17. November 2023

  Dublin International Arbitration Day 2023

  On 17th November Ireland's 11th annual conference on arbitration took place in Dublin. Florian Stefan, partner at Vavrovsky Heine Marth, acted as panelist on the quick fire round moderated by the Hon. Justice David Barniville.

   

  >>Learn more

   

   

  
• 08. November 2023

  VIAC-YRAP-YAAP conference 2023

  This year's VIAC-YRAP-YAAP conference took place in Bucharest. Vavrovsky Heine Marth was not only pleased to contribute to the event as a sponsor. Partner Florian Stefan also shared his expertise and experience as a speaker in a panel on "New Horizons in Construction Arbitration".

   

  >>View our LinkedIn post

  
• 24. October 2023

  Urban development project QUADRILL: Constitutional Court rejects neighbour's complaint

  Partner Lisa Haslinger successfully represented BODNER Group in the proceeedings before the Constitutional Court, in which a neighbour claimed the unconstitutionality of the development plan and building permit for the QUADRILL urban development project in Linz.
  Lisa Haslinger, head of our office in Linz says: "We are very happy for our client that the legality of the project has now also been confirmed by the highest court."

  With the QUADRILL project, the BODNER Group is creating around 18,000 m² of office space, 8,400 m² of residential space and 2,800 m² of retail and restaurant space. The eponymous 109 meter high QUADRILL Tower will be Austria's tallest office and hotel building outside of Vienna. This means a skyline-defining construction project for the city of Linz and a booster for the Upper Austrian economy.

   

  >>Press release