Dieter Thalhammer

Dieter Thalhammer is a partner in our Vienna office and head of our competition law practice group. Dieter is one of the leading Austrian experts in national and European competition law and represents national and international clients in merger control proceedings, cartel, and abuse of dominance cases, as well as in cartel damages proceedings (private enforcement). He also has extensive experience conducting internal investigations and implementing antitrust compliance programs.

Under his guidance, our competition law practice group evolved into one of the leading teams in Austria. Dieter represents clients from diverse industries such as transport, automotive, media, energy, postal services, telecommunications, the chemical industry, real estate, finance, health care as well as the food industry and the electronic engineering industry. His most recent cases comprise advising a client in cartel proceedings concerning transport before the European Commission.

Dieter represented clients before the Austrian Supreme Court of Justice and the European Court of Justice in the proceedings against the Austrian freight forwarding cartel. Furthermore, he advises an energy supply company in antitrust proceedings before the Austrian Cartel Court and regularly counsels prestigious Austrian and international companies in several Austrian and European merger proceedings.

Prior to joining our firm, he worked for a leading international law firm in Vienna for six years. He started his career as an intern at the Legal Service of the European Commission. Dieter is the author of several articles on competition law and lectures at the University at Graz.

Dieter holds law degrees from the University of Vienna (Dr iur, Mag iur) and the Saarland University (LLM Eur). He speaks German and English.

Accolades

“Leading Individual”
Legal500 2020

“He is extremely skilled, solution-oriented and experienced. He is a great leader with an incomparable feel for how to approach authorities and how to get the best bargaining result. His hands-on approach is the key: if there is a problem he names it and tackles it.”
Chambers & Partners 2020

“Leading Individual”
JUVE 2019

“Leading Individual”
Legal500 2019

“excellent in managing his team and presenting complex questions in an understandable way to management and the board” (Client)
Chambers & Partners 2019

“Very experienced and highly qualified” & “all the assets I would seek for in competition law.”
Chambers & Partners 2018