In conversation with Christian Klausegger of Binder Grösswang
In this first part of a two-part series in conversation with Austrian firm Binder Grösswang, we speak with Christian Klausegger, a disputes lawyer and a long-standing partner at the firm.
Here, Klausegger shares his journey into law, his views on the evolution of the Austrian legal market, and what keeps him motivated after 30 years at the firm.
What motivated you to pursue a career in law, and what led you to join Binder Grösswang?
I started out thinking I’d work in IT. After high school, I studied computer science, but during my studies I took a class on civil law and found it fascinating.
Initially, my plan was to complete legal studies and then return to the computer industry. But then as I was graduating, Binder Grösswang approached me with an offer, and I decided to give it a try.
I joined the firm on two assumptions – both of which turned out to be wrong. First, I thought I’d spend fewer nights in the office than in IT, and second, I assumed I’d earn less in law than in tech. Neither was true! At the beginning, law was a way to broaden my horizons, but it quickly became my passion.
When I joined, the firm looked very different. There were four partners, one senior associate, and I was the only junior associate – yet Binder was already among the five largest firms in Austria. Today, we have more than 100 fee earners and yet still remain in the top five. The growth was natural and mirrored trends we saw in Germany.
What has kept you at Binder for the last 30 years?
I’ve had numerous offers over the years, but I’ve always valued the cooperation and culture at Binder. Here, we cooperate on all levels – the firm lets us focus on what we do best. That freedom and trust have made Binder the best choice for me throughout my career.
Have you always been a disputes lawyer?
Not at all. When the firm was small, I worked on everything – I could be doing an M&A-transaction in the morning, financing in the afternoon, and a court appearance the next day. In the early 2000s, I proposed creating a dedicated disputes unit and we started with just two lawyers. Today, the department has more than 20 fee earners and is the largest in Austria. Because of this I am now able to focus much more closely on disputes relating to digital and tech, insurance, and bank failure matters.
What has been your greatest success?
One case stands out above all others was from the 2010s where I was representing creditors of a failed Austrian bank. Initially, claims were expected to recover only 30–40% of their nominal value. Within three to four years, our clients received 98% and later received the remaining 2%.
In [what felt] a surreal moment, I even had the finance minister of Austria appearing on television commenting directly on our case. I spent every single day for a year working on that case – it was intense but incredibly rewarding.
How do you switch off from work?
Family is my anchor – I have a wife and two children, one of whom has followed me into the law, albeit at a different firm. Outside of work, I love cycling – especially mountain biking – and skiing in winter.
You’ve co-authored and edited the Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration for nearly 20 years. How has that shaped your approach to law?
It’s been invaluable. When we launched the Yearbook, the goal was to position Vienna as a centre of excellence in arbitration. Editing and reviewing contributions from leading experts worldwide has broadened my perspective and reinforced the importance of legal excellence as a core skill for any disputes lawyer.
What changes have you seen in the Austrian legal sector?
The market is far more professional now. Twenty years ago, being a smart lawyer was enough. Today, experience and specialisation are essential. When I started, I handled all kinds of disputes; now, we are able to specialize on industries like automotive and IT. We encourage secondments and international exposure, which has made the profession more global.
Austria has been a leader in court digitalisation. Judges now work entirely on screens, which changes how we draft submissions – online documents need clear structure and searchable language. GDPR, big data and AI are major issues.
AI is part of our daily work, and we know judges may use it too. That means our briefs must be AI-ready. Binder has its own ring-fenced AI tool to ensure confidentiality, which is part of our DNA.
What are your expectations for the future?
Personally, I want to help younger lawyers position themselves for their and our firm’s success. If in 10 years my sectors of focus – IT and insurance – are led by two outstanding lawyers in our form, I’ll consider that a win. For the firm, I hope we remain independent and continue to lead in disputes across Europe.
