Chambers Global IP (2021)
What the team is known for: Offers a well-regarded comprehensive IP service with a particular focus on patent and trade mark-related advice, including portfolio management and infringement litigation. Additional experience in domain name and co-existence matters as well as licence agreements and copyright disputes. Also assists with counterfeiting and customs measures. Attracts clients of various industries, including fintech, food and drink, life sciences and construction.
WTR 1000 (2021)
“A go-to for any and all trademark matters, GEISTWERT changed the face of the Austrian legal landscape when it was set up. Its unique strength comes from its five highly experienced, innovative and ambitious founding partners, who are all absolute stars in their respective specialisations. Their entrepreneurial spirit, ultra-quick response times and the results they achieve instil clients with utmost confidence.” First on the team sheet, “Alexander Schnider is an extremely clever strategist, skilled negotiator and logical thinker, and his courtroom presence is absolutely striking. The great thing about Alexander is that he never sees problems – only solutions. He cuts straight through any white noise and gets right to the heart of the issue”. “Both Rainer Schultes and Constantin Kletzer are extremely knowledgeable, quick and easy to work with. They know what rights holders need even before they do.” Schultes is a technology whizz who handles high-profile cases with ease; while Kletzer “combines a thorough knowledge of statutory and case law with a great business acumen, all to the benefit of his clients”. Max Mosing also comes in for particular praise: “He is a renaissance man in the area of intellectual property and somehow still manages to surprise with the breadth of his knowledge and forward thinking. As a practical and commercially minded litigator, he knows all the tricks when it comes to enforcing marks, while providing a comfortable environment for his clients. He is super-friendly, easy to reach, dispenses with the legalese and is always fun to work with.” Completing the line-up is Juliane Messner: “An outstanding negotiator, she drafts bulletproof contracts and handles corporate matters with great diligence. Her advice gets to the crux of each issue and her solutions are hands-on and business oriented.” Juliane is the first-choice for start-ups as well as established companies in the life sciences and ITsectors.
The Global IP Awards presented by iam and WTR
Global IP Awards – IP Firm of the Year 2020 – Austria
The 2021 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Awards
All GEISTWERT partners were honored by the 2021 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Awards as follows: Juliane Messner: Privacy Law Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 & Data Protection Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 (together with max Mosing); Constantin Kletzer: Industrial Property Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021; & Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 & Copyright Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 (together with Rainer Schultes); Rainer Schultes: Patent Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 & Copyright Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 (together with Constantin Kletzer); Max Mosing: IT Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 (together with Alexander Schnider) & Data Protection Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 (together with Juliane Messner); Alexander Schnider: IT Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021 (together with Max Mosing) & IP Lawyer of the Year in Austria 2021
The Patent Lawyer Law Firm Rankings 2020
GEISTWERT has been included within the top 10 Austrian Patent firms
Handelsblatt: Austria’s Best Lawyers 2020 – in cooperation with Best Lawyers
Handelsblatt in cooperation with Best Lawyers awarded GEISTWERT as follows for Austria 2020: Law Firm of the Year for Industrial Property: GEISTWERT. Lawyer of the Year for IT-Law: Max Mosing. Amongst the best lawyers for Industrial Property: Juliane Messner, Constantin Kletzer, Max Mosing, Alexander Schnider and Rainer Schultes. Amongst the best lawyers for IT-law: Max Mosing & Alexander Schnider. Amongst the best lawyers for technology law: Juliane Messner & Alexander Schnider. Amongst the best lawyers for dispute resolution: Constantin Kletzer.
iam patent 1000, 2020
Nimble, aggressive and energetic, GEISTWERT brings the heat in Austrian patent litigation and cuts a dash at the deal negotiating table too. The partners in this outstandingly collaborative group link up well and play off each other’s strengths to carry the day in critical disputes. A team formed by Constantin Kletzer, Rainer Schultes and Alexander Schnider, for example, recently prevailed for TeleTan in a widely reported infringement claim against one of Austria’s largest banks, which had used TeleTan’s online banking authentication process on its own platform. Kletzer “works fast, thoroughly and effectively, with an intense focus on solutions. With him, you’re in the best of hands.” Schultes is hailed as an “extremely smart lawyer with excellent technical knowledge”; while Schnider is an authority on software and internet law. While these assured litigators all know how to cut a deal, the firm’s top transactional specialists are Max Mosing and Juliane Messner. Coming in for particular praise, Messner has a “deep understanding of business issues” and “only sees solutions, not problems”.
MIP IP Stars 2020
Alexander Schnider was named an IP Star 2020 for Trademarks and Copyrights
Legal 500 EMEA, IP 2020
GEISTWERT is unique for being the only Austrian IP boutique with a dedicated Italian desk. The firm covers the full range of IP matters and has developed its own applications to offer added value, including a plugin for MS word to detect and link to relevant trade mark registries and a web-based data protection, research and management tool. The team is co-led by the firm’s five partners, each offering specialisation in different areas of IP law: the “hands-on” Constantin Kletzer; “legal rockstars” Max Mosing and Juliane Messner; “expert in the legal area of digital games” Alexander Schnider; and Rainer Schultes, who “brings a technical background to the table and is a great listener”. – Testimonials on the firm: “Geistwert is likely the hottest IP Firm in Austria. The team covers all fields of Intellectual Property Law. They work hands on, they are quick and are all super nice.” “One of the most impressive feats that still surprises us every time is Geistwert’s immediate availability: I do not recall a single time when it took them longer than one or two hours to reply to a spontaneous enquiry via email.” “Geistwert is a great firm. It is very down to earth in a legal market that can be very conservative.” “The law firm Geistwert is an IP and IT-niche boutique, which is highly dedicated to IP and IT law. A far as I can assess they have been shaking up the Austrian market in that area since their formation only some years ago.”
Legal 500 EMEA, IP 2020 – Testimonials on Individuals
“Alexander Schnider is an expert in the legal area of digital games.”
Legal 500 EMEA, TMT 2020
The TMT team at GEISTWERT is very well known on the Austrian IT and IP legal market’. The team has a strong focus on IP, IT and data protection. Juliane Messner and Max Mosing ‘have a clear understanding of the interfaces between law, business, especially project work, and technology’. The ‘very hands-on and practical’ Constantin Kletzer and the ‘go-to’ Alexander Schnider are also noted alongside the experienced Rainer Schultes. Testimonials on the firm: “Geistwert has an outstanding reputation within my environment, namely the Austrian tech start-up scene. Geistwert is here often named as the firm to go to.” “The team’s unique strengths and key capabilities are: very efficient, very pragmatic, very solution-driven and they love technology which is key to understanding our business.” “Geistwert is a great firm – it is a very down to earth and very un-Austrian a legal market that can be very conservative. In that sense Geistwert is the exception as it has a super international outlook.” “Fast, hands-on advice in complex situations.”
Legal 500 EMEA, TMT 2020 – Testimonials on Individuals (also see Legal 500 EMEA, IP 2020 Ranking)
“Alexander Schnider is the go-to lawyer in Austria for interactive entertainment, he knows the business as such and our business goals like no other.”
Chambers Europe – TMT: Information Technology
Alexander Schnider is best known for acting on complex gaming, betting and gambling mandates as well as consumer protection matters. One client enthuses: “His working style is fast, accurate, solution-oriented and efficient.”
Chambers Europe – TMT: Information Technology
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 start-ups 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: The firm receives praise by a client who enthuses: “Cross-border work is handled brilliantly by GEISTWERT, not least because of the very strong international network of the law firm.” Another satisfied client further appreciates the team’s ability to “explain complicated facts in a simple and practical way.” Work highlights: Advised Mi’pu’mi Games on the negotiations regarding the contracts for the development of a new game franchise.
Chambers Global & Europe 2020 – Intellectual Property
What the team is known for Offers a well-regarded comprehensive IP service with a particular focus on patent and trade mark-related advice, including portfolio management and infringement litigation. Additional experience in domain name and co-existence matters as well as licence agreements and copyright disputes. Also assists with counterfeiting and customs measures. Attracts clients of various industries, including fintech, food and drink, life sciences and construction. Strengths: The team is praised for its exemplary client service, as one interviewee points out: “The lawyers are punctual and plain-talking, they are always available and also very transparent in terms of costs.” Another client highlights the firm’s structure, saying: “We appreciate that we are always cared for by partners.” Work highlights: Represented SIG Sauer in a patent dispute against Glock before the patent office and in court proceedings.