Austrian rivals clash as Schoenherr launches in Hungary

Austrian firm Schoenherr has launched an office in Hungary, snatching a rival Vienna firm’s associated office in Budapest.

Schoenherr opened its office in association with 21-lawyer firm Szécsényi Ügyvédi Iroda, which used to be allied with Austrian rival Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati. Earlier in the year Schoenherr hired Cerha Hempel’s real estate team.

The move comes as part of Schoenherr’s expansion into Central and Eastern Europe, which has seen the firm grow from 160 to 230 fee earners in 2007.

Schoenherr managing partner Christoph Lindinger said: “We have been unbelievably successful in our recruitment strategy last year. We managed to hire Austria’s leading real estate practice and acquired a well-established team that propels us into the Hungarian market.”

From this week, the new office will operate under the name Schoenherr Szécsényi Ügyvédi Iroda.