Dr. Markus Schifferl LL.M. (UCL)

Markus Schifferl is a specialist in international and domestic arbitration and contentious proceedings before the national courts.

Work Highlights

Markus regularly represents clients before ICC, VIAC, UNCITRAL, DIS and ad-hoc arbitral tribunals as well as before Austrian Courts, including the Austrian Supreme Court and the Austrian Constitutional Court. Markus also sits as arbitrator – including as chairperson – among others under the ICC, VIAC and DIS Rules. His focus is on disputes regarding technology, plant engineering, construction, energy related matters, joint-ventures, corporations and private foundations, post-M&A and European competition law. His recent work-highlights include:

• Representation of a Czech energy company in an ICC arbitration against state owned energy companies regarding a joint-venture for the building and operation of a coal power plant (amount in dispute EUR 60 million)
• Representation of an oil & gas multinational in an ICC arbitration against a pipeline operator concerning long-term capacity contracts (amount in dispute EUR 55 million)
• Representation of a large Austrian multinational in four interrelated ad-hoc arbitrations regarding the validity of various strategic corporate decisions (amount in dispute EUR 40 million)
• Representation of an Italian gas trader in ad-hoc arbitral proceedings against a German multinational regarding the revision of gas storage contracts (amount in dispute EUR 15 million)
• Representation of a South European plant-engineering manufacturer in proceedings on the annulment of an arbitral award (amount in dispute EUR 40 million)
• Representation of a market-leading furniture manufacturer and retailer in an ICC arbitration against an Austrian supplier regarding damages for breach of contract (amount in dispute EUR 5 million)
• Representation of a minority shareholder before Austrian Courts regarding the ownership of 40% of the shares in a large Austrian company (amount in dispute EUR 800 million)
• Representation of a German plant engineering company in an VIAC arbitration against a Belarussian dairy producer regarding the construction, installation and commissioning of a production line for dairy products
• Representation of an Austrian multinational before the Austrian Constitutional Court concerning the constitutionality of the Austrian Squeeze-Out Act
• Representation of an oil & gas multinational before the Austrian Constitutional Court concerning questions of the constitutionality of arbitration related issues
• Representation of an Austrian multinational before Austrian Courts including the Austrian Supreme Court in the squeeze-out of a minority shareholder (amount in dispute EUR 10 million)
• Representation of an Austrian plant engineering company in various proceedings before Austrian Courts (amounts in dispute up to EUR 3 million)
• Appointment as presiding arbitrator in a VIAC arbitration regarding plant engineering issues (amount in dispute EUR 4 million)
• Appointment as presiding arbitrator in a DIS arbitration regarding an M&A transaction (amount in dispute EUR 400,000)
• Appointment as co-arbitrator in a VIAC arbitration regarding the building of hydro-power plants (amount in dispute EUR 10 million)
• Appointment as co-arbitrator in a VIAC arbitration regarding a post M&A dispute (amount in dispute EUR 5 million)
• Appointment as co-arbitrator in a VIAC arbitration regarding a price revision clause (amount in dispute EUR 2 million)
• Appointment as sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration regarding the delivery of ammunition (amount in dispute USD 500,000)

Rankings | Awards

Markus is ranked in various legal directories, among others:

• Chambers Global 2021: „Markus Schifferl rises in the rankings as “one of the hardest-working lawyers in Vienna,” according to one source.“
• Who’s Who Legal 2021: „He is very well organised and very experienced in both state court litigation and arbitrations, and always pays lots of attention to detail” “A brilliant mind. He is active in the arbitration community, sharp and focused” “An amazing practitioner, very organised and methodological – a great arbitrator and counsel” “Markus has a very deep knowledge of arbitration, is very proactive and conducts proceedings as arbitrator in a very professional and efficient manner“
• Benchmark Litigation 2020
• LMG Expert Guides 2019
• Juve 2014: Markus Schifferl is a favourite among clients who admire the way he is able to “grasp the issues at hand in record time“.

Membership

Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration, ArbAut, ASA, DIS

Professional Experience and Education

ZFZ Zeiler (2015-2021); Torggler Attorneys at Law (2007-2015); Schönherr Attorneys at Law (2005-2007)

Dr. iur. (University of Vienna 2006); LLM (University College London 2004); Mag. iur. (University of Graz, 2002); Sciences-Po Paris (2001)

Languages

German, English, French (working knowledge)

Publications and Presentations

Markus regularily speaks on international arbitration conferences. He is also a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna.

He has published many contributions, mainly in the field of arbitration: