Banking and Finance
The economic and legal developments in recent years have been posing major, previously unknown problems and challenges for the financial sector. We have long-standing expertise and provide our clients with comprehensive advice on all matters of Banking Law and all types of financing. The primary focus of our advising service is legal feasibility and economic viability.
Our clients include domestic and foreign financial institutions, lenders and borrowers, companies from every industrial sector and of all sizes, including global corporations, insurance companies, investors, public institutions, and authorities.
Another focus of our work is litigation and out-of-court dispute settlement involving banking, regulatory, and capital markets disputes. Over the past few years, we have advised and represented in some of the largest cases/litigations in connection with the financial crisis.
Our Banking and Finance team regularly coordinates with our experts from other relevant areas of expertise, so it is always guaranteed that complex legal matters are solved in the most efficient way.
This mid-sized commercial outfit has been involved in some major financings and debt restructurings, mainly catering for Austrian and international banks. Clients particularly value the lawyers´ regulatory expertise and down-to-earth style. ‘They have an instant understanding of the goal we have in mind, and work toward that goal.’ market sources report.
Contact
Team
Services
- General banking (including prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing)
- Financing of all types including general corporate financing, acquisition, real estate, and project financing (debt and equity transactions)
- Refinancing and debt restructuring, including investments in corporate crisis situations
- Structured investments, including execution of failed investment structures
- Banking supervision and financial market regulation
- Corporate litigation in connection with bank contract and financial market laws, as well as regulatory proceedings before Austrian and international supervisory authorities
News
- Ferdinand Graf und Otto Waechter among the best finance lawyers in Austria
- Regulation of Virtual Currency
- Graf & Pitkowitz once again named as IFLR Top Tier Firm
- Graf & Pitkowitz represents the state of salzburg
- Sophia Strobl wins BDO Awards for the best scientific presentation
- NYSBA European Conference 2015
- Graf & Pikowitz (Dr. Ferdinand Graf and Dr. Otto Wächter) advises the Land Salzburg in connection with the reclamation and cancellation of various financial derivatives
- Paris regional meeting NYSBA
- Graf & Pitkowitz advises Bayrische Landesbank on financing acquisition of Hilton Vienna Danube
- The virtuous company
- Otto Waechter speaks about European anti-corruption measures at the international conference of the NYSBA in the Czech Republic
- A rigorous crackdown - Succeed 4/2011
- American Lawyer, Winter 2011, Focus Europe - Austria
Publications
- Regulation of Virtual Currency
- Beneficiary's repayment obligation following bank guarantee by consumer securing third-party debt
- Subordination agreements, revisited
- Demand guarantees versus sureties on first demand
- Limits set to client communication via e-banking
- Implementation of Fourth Anti-money Laundering Directive in Austria – what to expect
- Supreme court rules on negative interest rates
- Debt recovery made faster, cheaper and more efficient? eapos and their implementation in Austria
- Banking secrecy – made of glass for tax reasons?
- Negative interest – who must take the risk?
- The brave new world of Bitcoin – Austria
- Let´s bail ´em in! Austria and its failing Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank/HETA
- Single euro payments area – have payers´ rights been sacrificed for efficiency?
- Bank guarantees – abuse of rights when demanding payment?
- Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International AG – bail-in on shaky foundations?
- Austrian Report in: International Securities Law and Regulation
- Criminal Liability - Information
- PLC Outsourcing - Austrian Chapter
Conferences
- New York State Bar Associaton Seasonal Meeting 2016 in Paris, France
- First conference of the New York State Bar Association in Vienna with some 150 enthusiastic participants
- INTERNATIONAL SECTION SEASONAL MEETING 2014
- Libor Manipulation
- ARS Jahrestagung: IT-Compliance
- NYSBA International Section - Prague Regional Meeting