Legal 500 IP (2022)
The boutique law firm GEISTWERT has a strong team of ‘very skilled and experienced, very focused’ experts – the firm’s founding partners Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider, Rainer Schultes and Constantin Kletzer – who work together on IP matters. The practice is diverse, ranging from representing clients in trademark infringement and copyright infringement proceedings to trademark and design portfolio management, or IP due diligence for investments. The legal tech tools developed by the firm play a key supporting role. The team acts for clients from a wide range of sectors that include household name brands and companies, not only within Austria and Europe but also internationally. Testimonials: “The GEISTWERT team is really a pleasure working with! Top client service, excellent work and also great personalities! It is fun working with such friends!” “An extremely engaged team of former “large firm” lawyers who give you first class service at competitive rates and with experienced partners as the primary contacts.” “Constantin Kletzer has an excellent knowledge of IP, he is practical and creative but at the same time very attentive to detail and accuracy in work.”
Legal 500 TMT (2022)
TMT boutique GEISTWERT excels in advising clients on matters in a host of IT-related projects. Constantin Kletzer, Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider and Rainer Schultes are well versed in topics ranging from interactive gaming and data protection to start-ups and outsourcing. Another distinctive feature of the boutique is its dedicated Italy-desk headed by Messner, who is admitted in both Austria and Italy. Testimonials: “The team is uniquely good professionally. The partners are very sociable and work hand in hand. You always get feedback quickly and the requirements of the business are also taken into account.” “Juliane is an excellent lawyer. She is excellent in handling complex IT-projects, not only regarding the content, but also in respect of dealing with deadlines and pushing other project members to keep the timeline. As a client she tells you exactly what to do, when to do it, how to do it and why to do it: crystal clear and to the point. You can feel in every project that she loves her work and she understands your specific business needs.”
Chambers Europe IP (2022)
Strengths: One satisfied client notes: “The strengths lie in the know-how of the people. They have a very practical approach and can illustrate the facts well. They give many examples, which helps our understanding.” Another client adds: “The whole GEISTWERT team is not only particularly competent, but also very easy to deal with and can be reached quickly. They have very fast response times and give clear answers.”
Chambers Europe TMT: Information Technology (2022)
Alexander Schnider advises clients on questions pertaining to gaming, NFTs and streaming platforms. He is further active on data protection mandates and provides advice on contracts. A client confirms: “He knows the game industry like no other lawyer in Austria.”
Chambers Europe TMT: Information Technology (2022)
GEISTWERT is a boutique firm offering dependable expertise in IT and related IP matters. The practice is noted for high-quality work in software contracts and game development. It additionally handles related IP aspects, especially copyright and trade mark matters. GEISTWERT’s further areas of activity include data protection and regulatory advice for tech companies. It is often seen advising technology startups as well as numerous clients in the media, entertainment and electronics industries. The team represents state-owned and private companies on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters.
JUVE Austria IP (2021)
Often recommended: Alexander Schnider (“knows the games industry like no other lawyer in Austria”, client).
JUVE Austria IP (2021)
Comment: In the seven years since it was founded, Geistwert has not only managed to include its fancy name as part of the firm’s name in the company register, but has also established itself as one of the market-leading firms in trademark and competition law. […]
The five partners of the Vienna boutique have become strong challengers to the market leaders. Competitors highlight the team’s large presence in IP litigation. A recent highlight was the representation of Red Bull against Bullsone, which led to a substantial extension of trademark rights and a Union-wide injunction. Another example is the representation of the Russian optics producer Krasnogorsky Zavod against Lomografische AG to enforce an arbitration award obtained and a counterclaim under unfair competition law. Partner Messner most recently acted internationally as chair of the arbitration tribunal in Milan in an international trade mark infringement case involving a luxury fashion brand.
The law firm scored a success on its own account with a landmark decision before the Supreme Court, which allowed it to register its fancy name Geistwert as a law firm in the company register. […] The firm plays in the top league especially in pharmaceutical lawsuits and represents, for example, Genentech and Hoffmann La Roche against Sandoz in the international dispute over the cancer drug Rituximab. The team is also involved in several SPC proceedings. Recently, it has also been involved in major international proceedings through its good contacts with leading patent teams in Germany and the UK.
Since its foundation, the partner-centred approach and close cooperation between the partners have been trademarks of the firm. Whether this concept will bear fruit in the long term or slow down the dynamic development so far remains to be seen. Geistwert has so far used the time that other firms invest in promoting young talent to develop IT solutions for their clients.
Strengths: Consistent focus on IP issues with a partner-centric approach; infringement litigation around pharma patents.
Practice areas: Extensive advice on trademark, design and competition law. Focus on patent infringement litigation in the pharmaceutical and mechanical engineering sectors. Also advises the tourism and automotive sectors. Also trademark administration (almost 900 trademarks).
iam Patent 1000 (2021)
Trailblazer GEISTWERT is hailed as “a ground-breaking firm that has changed the face of the market. There is no other comparable set-up, where five innovative partners are all stars in the IP field”. “The firm works on a partner level, which gives clients utmost confidence in its super-clear results. Its response times are ultra-quick and its entrepreneurship allows the team to fully see and understand each company’s commercial goals.”
Finance Monthly Legal Awards 2021
Alexander Schnider awarded “Winner in the category of – Intellectual Property – Austria”
Legal 500 (IP, 2021)
IP, IT and TMT boutique firm GEISTWERT fields five dedicated partners with a strong focus on patent and trade mark litigation, design law and copyright law. In terms of patent litigation, the team is particularly adept at representing clients in the biochemistry, biotech, chemistry and pharmaceutical industries. The group also has notable strength in trade mark portfolio management and makes use of its own legal tech applications to facilitate such projects. Founding partners Constantin Kletzer, Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider and Rainer Schultes are the key names. Testimonials: “GEISTWERT is the coolest IP/IT law firm in Austria. With 5 partners handling all matters by themselves, you get a unique think tank and one or more lawyers handling your agendas with great experience, not only from a legal but also from a business perspective. In contrast to firms using (senior) associates, salary partners and other staff who are not entrepreneurs themselves, this is priceless for me.”; “Very nice good and pragmatic people, not very old-fashioned Austrian. Very informal good advice for international clients.”; “Alexander Schnider continues to impress since the day we started working together. Alexander’s most important strength is that he does not only know all the legal details and case law about Austrian IP and IT matters, but more importantly also the video game business as such and therefore, most importantly, also the positions and desires of the stakeholders in the industry and thus also of our contract partners. This is tremendously helpful when negotiating contracts as you simply cannot achieve the best results when you don’t know about the business goals and needs of the companies that are involved in a video game deal.” Constantin Kletzer, Max Mosing and Rainer Schultes are explicitly mentioned as “Leading Individuals” in IP.
Legal 500 (Privacy & Data Protection, 2021)
TMT, IP and data privacy boutique GEISTWERT has a strong track record in data protection that extends beyond the introduction of GDPR. Jointly led by Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider, Rainer Schultes and Constantin Kletzer, the practice is particularly experienced in advising finance, pharmaceutical and life sciences clients. To assist with GDPR implementation, the firm is able to call on its home-grown GDPR-tool. The fully bilingual and dual-qualified Messner is also in charge of the dedicated Italy desk, and Mosing is a CIS-certified Data Privacy Officer. Testimonials: “Communication is fast, competent and uncomplicated is probably the “secret of success” for GEISTWERT on the Austrian market. It is undoubtedly unique in Austria that so many partners in a law firm can serve the same area of law at such a high level – really a pleasure working with the GEISTWERT team”; “All partners are easy to reach, competent, uncomplicated and have at least basic knowledge of the projects of the other partners. That is definitely unique in Austria.” Juliane Messner is explicitly mentioned as “Leading Individual” in Data Privacy And Data Protection.
Legal 500 (TMT, 2021)
The team at IP and IT boutique GEISTWERT has a core focus on classic media, internet communication and high-tech matters with a strong presence in software and technology development, licensing and e-commerce. Constantin Kletzer, Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider and Rainer Schultes are equally involved in TMT work, with the dual-admitted Messner also in charge of the firm’s Italy Desk, which often assists publishing houses and tourism clients. Testimonials: “All partners are easy to reach, competent, uncomplicated and have at least basic knowledge of the projects of the other partners. That is definitely unique in Austria!’“; “My primary GEISTWERT contact is Max Mosing. However, it is impressive how the other partners from GEISTWERT can take over immediately if needed; the GEISTWERT internal communication seems to work just great.”’
Chambers Europe IP (2021)
Alexander Schnider is best known for his work on trade marks, frequently representing clients in infringement proceedings. He also assists with licensing matters. Clients commend his “pragmatic, concise, customer-tailored and clear advice,” adding: “He is extremely tech-savvy, provides ultra-fast turnaround times and is fun and smooth to work with.”
Chambers Europe IP (2021)
Ranked in Gold Tier: What the team is known for: Increasingly visible firm, moving up to the top ranking due to its IP service comprising patent and trade mark-related advice, including portfolio management and infringement litigation. Additional experience in domain name as well as licence agreements and copyright disputes. Also assists with counterfeiting and customs measures. Attracts clients from various industries, including fintech, food and drink, life sciences and construction. Strengths: Source endorse the firm’s efficiency, stating: “All the partners are helpful, and in terms of responsiveness they deserve a gold medal. They also guarantee high quality.” One client enthuses: “It is a think-tank of great and curious minds which no other firm can offer at this level.”
Chambers Europe TMT (2021)
What the team is known for: TMT boutique offering dependable expertise in IT and related IP matters. Noted for high-quality work in software contracts and game development. Additionally handles related IP aspects, especially copyright and trade mark matters. Further areas of activity include data protection, international e-commerce and IT outsourcing. Often seen advising technology startups as well as numerous clients in the media, entertainment and electronics industries. Represents state-owned and private companies on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters. Strengths: A client describes the team as “dedicated, hard-working but fun, and always up to date. They recognise trends and set standards.” Another satisfied client enthuses: “In any area that we need legal advice for, their expertise seems highly profound and state-of-the-art. If some matters are somewhat unrelated to their specialisation, their international network allows them to easily reach out to other law firms to enquire about their view on the matter.”