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Bernhard Hainz is a labour law lawyer. He is a partner at CMS in Vienna and head of the specialist department for labour and pension law.
Bernhard Hainz is one of the leading specialists in Austria and has been advising companies for more than 30 years, primarily in all areas of judicial and extrajudicial labour law matters, including the negotiation of collective agreements, works agreements, social plans, service agreements and termination agreements, in disputes with works councils and employees, as well as in pension and pension fund matters.
Due to his former work as an assistant at the Institute for Labour and Social Law at the University of Vienna, Bernhard Hainz and his team combine high academic qualifications with many years of practical experience. In addition, Hainz is also active in the field of art law and represents artists and art institutions in Austria and abroad.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Übervater des Arbeitsrechts in Österreich.
    JUVE 2014
  • Quote
    Bernhard Hainz is very experienced with huge knowledge about the Austrian labour law.
    Legal 500 2025
  • Quote
    Platzhirsch.
    JUVE 2014
  • Quote
    Erfüllt die Seniorpartnerrolle mit Bravour.
    JUVE 2014
  • Quote
    Hat sich besonders im Betriebspensionsrecht einen Namen gemacht.
    JUVE 2014
  • Quote
    An ihm kommt man nicht vorbei.
    JUVE 2020
  • Quote
    Sehr angenehm, professionelle Zusammenarbeit, pragmatischer, zielführender Ansatz.
    JUVE 2021
  • Quote
    Bernhard Hainz is a strong and active lawyer.
    Chambers Europe 2023
  • Quote
    Bernhard Hainz is a very good employment lawyer.
    Chambers Europe 2023

Relevant experience

  • Advising an internationally active pharmaceutical company on labour law issues in Austria.
  • Comprehensive advice to a well-known Viennese theatre and its shareholders, including in connection with the financial affair involving the former theatre director and the former commercial manager.
  • Advising Austrian energy companies on labour law and pension issues.
  • Entire Austrian credit sector | Advising on a test case in relation to part-time employees concerning a provision regarding child benefits in the collective agreement (currently before the ECJ).
  • Advising an insurance company in a class action concerning overcompensation for underperforming pension funds.
  • Advising a globally active IT and consulting company regarding pension funds, especially with regard to the interpretation of pension schemes (part-time contracts).
  • Comprehensive legal and employment law advice to a global pharmaceutical and consumer goods manufacturer on the restructuring and integration of a medical technology company following its acquisition.
  • Advising a German technology group (and its pension fund) in a class action concerning overcompensation for underperforming pension funds.
  • Advising Europe’s leading healthcare planning and construction company on individual and collective labour law issues, especially with regard to collective agreements.
  • Advising one of Austria's leading energy companies and its management on labour law issues.

Publications

Memberships & Roles

  • International Bar Association (IBA)
  • International Association for Defence Counsels (IADC)
  • Austrian Bar Association

Awards & Rankings

  • Hall of Fame, Legal 500 (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
  • Handelsblatt ranks Bernhard Hainz among the best lawyers in employment law in Austria (Best Lawyers Ranking 2019, 2020).
  •  “Leading Individual” in Employment Law, Legal 500, 2019
  • Listed in Volume 1 among the best lawyers in employment law. Chambers, 2019

Lectures list

  • Rechtsprobleme von Pensionskassenregelungen beim Betriebsübergang, AR-Tagung der Hans-Schmitz-Gesellschaft, Traunkirchen 2014.

Education

  • 1985 – Assistant, Institute for Labour and Social Law, University of Vienna
  • 1981 – Dr. iur., Law, University of Vienna

Insights by Bernhard

Supreme Court on Business Closure: Protection of Works Council Members Even Without a Workforce?

09 Jun 2026 3 min read

CMS Employment Snack

05 May 2026 1 min read

CMS Expert Guide to labour law in Central and Eastern Europe

22 Apr 2026 2 min read

Unable to work due to flight cancellations

09 Mar 2026 2 min read
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