Heinrich Kühnert is a partner and heads DORDA’s antitrust and regulatory practice group. Heinrich advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of Austrian and European competition law (merger control, antitrust, abuse and state aid). He has broad experience in a large number of industries, including energy, transport, telecom, media, healthcare, mechanical engineering as well as retail. In addition to his advisory work. Prior to joining DORDA in March 2016, Heinrich practiced as partner in a leading Austrian competition practice, and as principal associate in the antitrust, competition and trade group of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Heinrich publishes regularly on competition law topics.
4643
In a decision of 25 March 2009, the Austrian Supreme Court decided to void a judgment of the Cartel Court on the assessment of a "radius clause" provided for in the lease agreements of a shopping centre in the Linz area. 1. Facts and decision at first instance The case at hand is the result (...)
3281
1. Facts and decision at first instance This case involves a change in the shareholder structure of RAG, Austria’s second largest oil and gas company. Before the concentration, the shares in RAG were held by two holding companies. One holding company, which held 75% in RAG’s shares, was jointly (...)
2263
This case is the latest instalment in a series of claims for refusal to deal brought by Austrian cinema operators against Constantin-Film, a company active in Austria both as a distributor of cinema films and as an operator of a large number of cinemas. Like the previous decisions against (...)
4420
In a decision of 4 April 2008, the Austrian Cartel Court declared certain commitments agreed between the Federal Competition Authority ("FCA") and Austrian oil incumbent (OMV) binding on OMV. Background The case’s beginnings lie in a conflict between two companies with strong State (...)
2578
On 21 January 2007, the Austrian Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the Federal Competition Authority against a decision by the Cartel Court dismissing the Authority’s application for review of a concentration. The case at issue involved Moser Holding, an undertaking active in the press (...)
6359
On 12 September 2007, the Austrian Supreme Cartel Court decided on the appeals lodged against the Cartel Court’s decision imposing a fine of EUR 5 million on Europay Austria. We reported on the Cartel Court’s decision in e-Competitions. By way of summary, Europay Austria was fined for (...)
4136
As reported previously, in a decision of 13 June 2006 the Austrian Cartel Court had found that the cooperation agreements concluded between the majority of players in the Austrian savings banks sector violated Article 81(1) EC, but was partly exempt under Article 81(3) EC (See Axel Reidlinger (...)
4986
On 12 April 2007, the Austrian Cartel Court cleared the acquisition of alternative telecoms operator eTel by Austrian incumbent Telekom Austria (TA), subject to remedies entered into by TA. TA is the Austrian telecoms incumbent and is the strongest player on the various Austrian markets for (...)
4661
On December 1st, 2006 the Austrian Cartel Court imposed its highest fine ever, of EUR 5 million, on Europay Austria Zahlungsverkehrssysteme GmbH (“Europay Austria”). Europay Austria was fined for violation of the Austrian law equivalents of Art 81 and Art 82 because of its participation in the (...)
8970
In a decision of 13 June 2006, the Austrian Cartel Court found that the cooperation agreements concluded between the majority of players in the Austrian savings banks sector violated Article 81(1) EC, but was for the most part exempt under Article 81(3) EC. In Austria, banking operations have (...)
3139
On 10 May 2005, the Austrian Cartel Court ordered Österreichische Post AG (“Post”) to cease to abuse its dominant position on the market for day delivery of newspapers and magazines. The abuse in question was constituted by certain clauses contained in the terms and conditions offered by Post to (...)
3095
The Bank Austria v. Erste Bank a. o. proceedings have a rather convoluted history. In 2002, the Austrian legislator enacted a provision exempting agreements between members of a group of credit institutions from the Austrian law prohibition of restrictive agreements. On 1st January 2002, Erste (...)
4280
This case relates to the treatment of refusals to supply under Sec. 35 of the Austrian Cartel Act, the Austrian-law equivalent of Article 82 of the EC-Treaty. The decision of the Austrian Supreme Court, acting as Appellate Cartel, reveals a rather generous application of the refusal to (...)
3397
This case relates to the effects of the modernization of EC competition law on Austrian law. Sec. 8a of the Austrian Cartel Act empowers the Cartel Court upon formal request by a party to decide whether or not a specific set of facts falls within the scope of the Act. In the case at issue, the (...)
4506
This is the first published judgment in which the Austrian courts deal with damage claims based on violations of EC competition law. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s decision is quite cryptic and does not reveal much of its approach to damages actions. The subject-matter of the case is well (...)
19 avenue Jean Aicard
75011 Paris, France
106 West 32nd Street, Suite 149
New York, NY, 10001, USA
563 Chiswick High Road
W4 3AY London, UK