Claudine Vartian

Partner

Claudine is a really tough worker with brilliant knowledge.

Client, Chambers Europe 2023

Emailclaudine.vartian@akd.partners

Call+43 1 531 78 1038

Vienna

About

Claudine Vartian has over 30 years of experience in advising large client groups in complex and large-scale litigation matters as well as in contentious competition law (this includes representing clients in front of competition and supervisory authorities, in the course of proceedings, dawn raids and on-site inspections).

Claudine specializes in mass litigation and other complex disputes involving high numbers of claimants or claims pending in various jurisdictions. This has included advising several high-profile international clients in large-scale and mass litigations, with a focus on the financial services industry, as well as the food and beverages and especially the gambling and telecommunications sectors. Claudine is also known for her role as a trusted advisor for private clients and family offices.

Claudine is well-known on the Austrian legal market and has been regularly recommended and ranked by respected legal publications such as Chambers Europe, The Legal 500 and Juve as one of Austria's leading lawyers for dispute resolution as well as EU and competition law. She is co-editor of the leading commentary of the Austrian Cartel Act and author of several chapters therein.

Claudine was AKD Partners's Country Managing Partner for Austria from 2010 to 2015 and from 2020 to 2022. She was a member of AKD Partners's International Board from 2012 to 2020 as well as of the firm's Global Board from 2015 to 2020. Claudine also coordinates all Pro Bono work provided by the Vienna office and is actively involved in many of the firm's Pro Bono and CSR projects in Austria, including for UNHCR, Unicef, Caritas, Volkshilfe, Diakonie and Vier Pfoten.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations Antitrust and Competition Financial Services Litigation White Collar and Corporate Crime Telecoms

Professional QualificationsRechtsanw ltin registered with Rechtsanwaltskammer Wien

EXPERIENCE

Advising and representing an online gaming platform in mass-claims all over Austria.
Advising and representing an international betting and gaming group with respect to antitrust and trademark claims before the Commercial Court of Vienna against 10 different litigation funders.We also advised on competition law claims in connection with the Austrian gambling monopoly (including constitutional and EU law aspects). All 10 disputes have been settled.
Advising a global automotive company in a series of international customer claims including battery and software related tort and warranty claims, misleading information claims and criminal offenses claims. The Vienna team handles all claims and complaints concerning the Austrian market.
Advising a private community of heirs on ownership rights with regard to a restitution of a Klimt painting from the Austrian Republic.
Advising a leading confectionery, food and beverage company in relation to possible damages claims based on alleged breach of competition law.
Competition law advice to a multinational energy corporation including merger control advice in relation to national merger filings as well as advice for filing to the European Commission.
Advising and representing UniCredit Bank Austria AG in a multi-million Euro litigation including handling numerous disputes that have arisen as a result of the bank's customers investments in Madoff-related funds.
Advising and representing a Russian high net-worth individual in two litigation proceedings against his sister, who is one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Advising one of the global market leaders in the fields of nutrition on competition law related issues and commercial law questions of their operations in Austria.
Advising and representing a leading international technology corporation with global operations in the context of potential breaches of compliance and antitrust rules, including in-depth advice on Austrian whistle-blower and principal witness rules and related court submissions.
Advising and representing a major Austrian LPG group in an antitrust case concerning the alleged abuse of a dominant market position and alleged other breaches of the Austrian cartel act.
Advising an Austrian headquartered, world market leader in the foam and synthetics industries on the creation, implementation and maintenance of a global compliance programme, including all aspects of antitrust and anti-bribery code of conduct across all of the client's entities worldwide.
Advising an Austrian pipeline and plant construction company in a criminal proceeding regarding alleged illegal agreements concerning publicly advertised pipelines.

Languages

Awards and recognition

"She's very good in a crisis and is calm and assured to work with." "Claudine is a really tough worker with brilliant knowledge." Chambers, 2023
"Dr. Claudine Vartian has unparalleled skill in litigation and a deep understanding of the most advantageous way to approach appeals in the Austrian courts. She is highly intelligent, runs an extremely efficient team and is always available when we need her, even on very short notice, which is much appreciated." Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
"Strong client commitment; tasks are accomplished not only to an extraordinary high level but also promptly. Always available and ready." Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
"Highly professional and competent, very trustworthy." Legal 500 EMEA, 2021
A client states that her "team is very responsive and able to provide business-oriented advice which the clients appreciate. Another important strength is strategic approach." Legal 500 EMEA, 2020
"Claudine Vartian is a long-standing figure on the Austrian competition scene, handling a range of mandates including merger control, abuse of dominance and price-fixing cases." Chambers, 2017

Pro Bono

Claudine coordinates all pro bono work provided by the Vienna office and is actively involved in many of the firm s pro bono and CSR projects in Austria, including for UNHCR, Unicef, Caritas, Volkshilfe, Diakonie and Vier Pfoten.

Education

University of Vienna, Dr. iur., 1994

University of Vienna, Mag. iur., 1991

Publications and media

Claudine Vartian has published numerous books and articles: