Cornelia Kreuth (35), who has been promoted to partner, specialises in Corporate/M&A and regularly advises on core corporate matters and group law. She has broad experience in carve-outs and restructurings of local and multinational corporate groups, including (cross-border) mergers, demergers, contributions, spin-offs and conversions into European companies (SEs). She also regularly advises clients in the telecommunications sector, including some of Europe’s leading network operators, and has broad expertise in guiding tower carve-outs and other complex projects and business-critical commercial arrangements in Digital Infrastructure across Europe.
Wolfgang Hellsberg (36), who has been promoted to partner is an Attorney-at-law in the Banking & Finance team, advises Austrian and international financial institutions and corporates on complex financing transactions, particularly in project finance, real estate finance and acquisition finance. His work often involves cross-border structures and diverse stakeholder groups. He is specialised in structuring and implementing sophisticated financing arrangements and advising on restructurings. Wolfgang is known for his deep understanding of lender–borrower dynamics and for developing pragmatic, sector-specific solutions.
Günther Hanslik, Managing Partner and Head of the Banking & Finance Team: “These promotions in Vienna and the CEE region reflect the exceptional calibre of our lawyers and the strength of our collaborative approach. Our newly promoted colleagues bring outstanding expertise, strategic understanding and a strong commitment to client service. Their contributions have had a lasting impact on our practice groups both locally and internationally. I am proud that they are taking this next step in their careers and am confident that they will continue to drive the growth of our firm and provide our clients with high-quality and reliable advice.”
In Croatia, Karmen Sinožić (34) has been promoted to partner at Bardek, Lisac, Mušec, Skoko & Partners, in cooperation with CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz. This promotion reinforces our regional presence and the close cooperation between the offices in Vienna and Croatia. With over a decade of experience, Karmen continues to strengthen the data protection and commercial law practice. She advises clients on regulatory compliance, risk management, and complex, business-critical projects. She is widely recognized for translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical advice that supports confident decision-making.
Jia Schulz‑Cao (34), who has been promoted to Counsel, is an Attorney-at-law in the Intellectual Property, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) team. He advises clients on a broad range of IP‑related matters, with a particular focus on the enforcement of cross‑border IP infringements as well as the licensing and transfer of IP rights. As a registered UPC representative, he also advises clients on matters before the Unified Patent Court. In addition, he provides strategic guidance on all areas of IP as well as unfair competition laws and regularly supports clients on commercial law issues. Furthermore, he is fluent in Chinese and is therefore regularly entrusted with China-related matters.
Marie‑Christine Lidl (35) who has been promoted to counsel, specialises in Corporate/M&A and advises national and international clients on domestic and cross‑border corporate matters. Her work includes steering clients through complex group restructurings, reorganisations and joint venture arrangements, and she brings extensive experience in managing sophisticated multi‑jurisdictional M&A transactions. She regularly advises a broad range of clients in the financial services sector and is specialised in structuring and implementing sophisticated multinational deal frameworks with a particular focus in the non-performing loan segment.
These promotions reflect CMS’s ongoing commitment to fostering outstanding legal talent and strengthening its advisory capabilities in strategically important areas. Both new partners and new counsels embody the firm’s values: expertise, innovation, and a strong dedication to client service.
A high-resolution image of the new Viennese partners and counsels can be found here.
