The boutique law firm GEISTWERT covers a broad range of data privacy and data protection issues, ‘pairing legal expertise with a hands-on approach.’ Juliane Messner, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider, Rainer Schultes and Constantin Kletzer are the practice heads. The team supports clients with GDPR implementation or represents them in proceedings before the data protection authority and in court. The firm employs various legal tech innovations, such as a web-based data-protection-research and management-tool. Messner stands out as ‘an excellent data privacy and data protection lawyer’ together with Mosing a CIS – Certified Data Privacy Officer. 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.” “Geistwerts team is pairing legal expertise with a hands-on approach, leaving unnecessary formalities aside and immediately focusing on the relevant parts.” “Juliane Messner and Max Mosing both convinced us with their expertise and their focus on relevant matters.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

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.”

Max Mosing advises clients from the entertainment and tech sectors on a range of IT matters, including development contracts, data protection and questions surrounding NFTs. He further assists with the launch of video gaming platforms and provides regulatory support for tech companies.

Max Mosing is known for his expertise in IT and media-related IP work. He demonstrates a focus on trade mark mandates, while also advising clients on copyright and domain law issues. One client comments: “His communication and know-how are good. He knows the industry, including media law, image and video rights. He can say if something worked for others, or gives advice whether something would or wouldn’t work in practice.”

Constantin Kletzer represents clients in trade mark disputes and further advises clients on non-contentious trade mark matters. He also assists with copyright issues, domain law and unfair competition. One client lauds: “He is a talented litigator and it is always a pleasure to work with him because he is able to provide practical solutions to complex issues.”

Alexander Schnider boasts strong experience in gaming and tech-related IP issues. He advises clients on trade marks, licensing and unfair competition as well as trade secrets and copyright issues. One client attests: “He knows the gaming industry like no other lawyer in Austria.” The client adds: “His advice is well founded and he is also happy to explain the legal background for strategic decisions.“

What the team is known for: GEISTWERT is a well-known firm offering an IP service comprising patent and trade mark-related advice, including portfolio management and infringement litigation. The law firm boasts additional experience in domain disputes as well as licence agreements and contentious as well as non-contentious copyright mandates. The team attracts clients from various industries, including gaming, food and drink, life sciences and construction.

Juliane Messner is the only lawyer in Austria who is also ranked for “Foreign Expertise in Italy”: Italian-qualified Juliane Messner advises prominent clients on trade mark and copyright questions, also in reference to Italian intellectual property law. She has previously been active on trade mark arbitration tribunals convened by the Milan chamber of arbitration. One satisfied client attests: “Juliane Messner is very focused, brings the relevant topics to the point and then immediately shows solutions. She is a brilliant lawyer.”

Rainer Schultes is particularly active defending pharmaceutical companies against trade mark and unfair competitions claims. He additionally assists with international domain disputes. One client notes: “He is very pragmatic and solution-oriented.”

Its “five innovative founding partners and their diverse personalities” have shaped GEISTWERT into “a ground-breaking Austrian law firm that is virtually unrivalled on the market”. A prime pick for any and all branding matters, the team “has revolutionised the local landscape and acts on innovative cases that have yet to break ground in the courts”. As is evident from the amount of spontaneous feedback it attracts, the 2014-established outfit has worked hard to position itself as a premier destination and its efforts have not gone unnoticed. “It is not easy to impress new clients and convince them to work with you,” comments one foreign associate, “but the GEISTWERT team not only does that – it also carries on performing at an exceptional level day in, day out. Their interest in legal, business and technological developments guarantees innovative solutions to complex problems.”

Two of its stars are Rainer Schultes and Constantin Kletzer, both of whom “are incredibly knowledgeable and easy to work with. They anticipate the needs of clients before they even ask”. “Schultes has a perfect understanding of his field and an excellent approach to IP matters”; while Kletzer is a “fabulous lawyer who easily comprehends the reality of international business”.