January 2025 – Kinstellar is delighted to announce the launch of its office in Vienna. This is a significant milestone in strengthening our presence across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Southeast Europe (SEE).
The Vienna office is a greenfield development, spearheaded by Horst Ebhardt, a renowned Corporate M&A lawyer and one of the most respected names in the CEE market. Horst brings 25 years of experience in private practice, specialising in complex cross-border M&A, privatisations, and restructuring transactions across Austria and the CEE/SEE region. He provides strategic advice to companies across various sectors, with a strong focus on financial institutions, life sciences, and private equity. Over the past 12 years, Horst has played a key role in some of the most notable M&A and private equity deals involving Austrian and Central European targets.
Previously he served as the co-headed the firm-wide Corporate/M&A team at another international law firm.
Beyond his legal practice, Horst has also taught an M&A program at the law school of the University of Vienna. He is admitted to the Bar in both Austria and the Czech Republic.
As a renowned leading practitioner across the CEE / SEE region, he is highly respected by clients and peers. As one client quoted in one of the international legal directories says: "Horst is the gold standard for corporate lawyers in the Vienna market, if not the region. He is exceptionally smart without being arrogant, and always available. He also empowers the team around him."
Building the Vienna Team and Office
We are actively recruiting additional team members to grow our new office, with several exciting announcements expected soon. Our initial focus will be on Corporate, M&A, Private Equity, Competition/Antitrust, Employment and Real Estate, with plans to expand into other core practice areas that are critical to our clients, including Banking and Finance, as well as Dispute Resolution / Arbitration.
This project represents a key milestone in building out Kinstellar's regional footprint in CEE and SEE. Vienna has long been identified by our clients and our partners as a hub for the CEE/SEE markets and an important jurisdiction for the region as a whole and thus a strategic market for Kinstellar. With Horst’s expertise and reputation, and with the new team which we are bringing together and announcing in the near future we are confident in establishing a top-tier practice in Vienna and demonstrate our commitment both to CEE/SEE and to clients with an interest in the region, including from the DACH region.
Jason Mogg, Kinstellar Senior Partner, states: ‘‘This is the beginning of a remarkable development for Kinstellar. We are thrilled to have Horst on our team. His very strong market recognition and leadership will help us drive the opening and rollout of our Vienna office, and to further strengthen the leadership of our firmwide Corporate M&A team. We are confident that Kinstellar will swiftly establish itself as a top-tier player in Austria, further cementing our regional strength and appeal. Exciting times lie ahead, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Kristóf Ferenczi, Kinstellar Firm Managing Partner, adds: "We are thrilled to announce this important milestone in Kinstellar's growth journey. Our new Vienna office enables us to meet the growing demand from clients across the CEE/SEE region. It neatly complements our existing presence and reinforces our position as a leading international law firm in the region. We look forward to working closely with Horst and the team to build a practice that I am confident will make a significant impact both in the Vienna and the whole CEE / SEE markets.
'Horst Ebhardt, new Kinstellar Partner, comments: "I am delighted to join such a strong firm and brand as Kinstellar – with its leading and first class capability across the whole of CEE / SEE, Turkey and Central Asia. I look forward to working with clients and new colleagues across all its existing jurisdictions, and working together with its outstanding regional M&A team. I also look forward to working with new colleagues in Vienna to build a first class practice in Vienna. I am deeply grateful to my previous firm and teams for their support throughout my career, and I am excited for this next chapter.
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