50 Years of WOLF THEISS

• From Viennese business lawyers to the leading CEE/SEE law firm with close to 500 employees in nine countries

On October 16th, 2007, Austria"s largest law firm WOLF THEISS celebrated its 50-year-anniversary with a gala night in Vienna"s imperial castle, "Hofburg". A top level panel composed of Central European Heads of State made salient WOLF THEISS"s calibre as a legal heavyweight in Central and Southeastern Europe.

More than 600 guests from politics, business and the legal world paid tribute to WOLF THEISS in the Hofburg"s main ballroom. A high level panel discussion, with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Austrian Federal Chancellor Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer, among others, dealt with the questions, "What did not happen over the last 50 years?". The ensuing gala dinner with an exclusive concert by Doretta Carter gave the guests plenty of opportunity for celebrating and networking in a festive atmosphere.

"Compared to the profile the firm had in the first three decades of its existence, WOLF THEISS is barely recognisable today," Managing Partner Dieter Spranz explained. "Then, a handful of lawyers were working almost exclusively on Austrian cases in an office in central Vienna. Today, nearly 500 WOLF THEISS-employees are active in nine locations, providing service to our clients in all areas of business law."

"The countries of Central and Southeastern Europe are displaying the most dynamic economic growth rates of all of Europe", said Markus Heidinger, Senior Partner at WOLF THEISS. "Without a functioning legal system and adequate legal counsel, this growth would be impossible. Like many large enterprises with Austrian headquarters, we aim to contribute significantly to this positive development and to the further integration of the CEE and SEE regions."

After the gala, the guests took home with them an exclusive WOLF THEISS publication on ideas which have changed the world in the past 50 years.

Founded in 1957, WOLF THEISS is one of the top law firms in Central Europe. The firm specializes in Austrian, European and international business law. Clients include Austrian and foreign industrial, commercial and service corporations, as well as banks and insurance companies. Working at the interface between law and business, the lawyers at WOLF THEISS develop comprehensive and innovative solutions that draw on the firm"s wealth of legal, fiscal and business expertise. With about 500 total staff, including approximately 250 lawyers, in its nine offices in Vienna, Belgrade, Bratislava, Bucharest, Ljubljana, Prague, Sarajevo, Tirana and Zagreb (local cooperation), WOLF THEISS is one of the leading law firms in the region. Our operations in the various locations comply with the requirements of local law and local bar rules, including cooperation with independent local attorneys.

WOLF THEISS - A HEAVYWEIGHT IN CEE/SEE:

Awards received in 2007:

"Austrian Law Firm of the Year" (IFLR Award 2007, International Financial Law Review)

"Czech Law Firm of the Year" (IFL Award 2007, International Financial Law Review)

"Austrian Tax Law Firm of the Year" (Tax Award 2007, International Tax Review)