Former Schindler partner sets up his own business
juve.de
The well-known real estate financing expert Dr. Christoph Urbanek (47) has been operating under his own flag since July. He now offers clients advice on both legal and financing issues.
The foundation of this bundled advisory service is formed by the law firm Urbanek Law and the separate financing boutique Urbanek Finance. The core of Urbanek's commitment remains legal advice, particularly on complex real estate financing and transactions. The range of advice focused on the real estate sector also includes restructuring and insolvency law support for real estate projects. The team also advises on corporate, banking and contract law issues.
Bringing financiers and project companies together
Urbanek Finance offers advice on capital procurement and management. In the context of real estate projects, for example, the unit helps to bring project companies together with banks or other financiers - both for new projects and for the restructuring or renegotiation of existing financing. The unit will act on behalf of both borrowers and lenders.
Law firm and in-house experience
Urbanek began his professional career at Kommunalkredit Austria as an in-house lawyer in the treasury department. After a one-year stint at the predecessor law firm of Cerha Hempel, he continued his traineeship at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach in Vienna in 2004. In 2008, he was admitted to the bar and four years later was appointed equity partner. In June 2021, he joined the Viennese law firm Schindler Attorneys, from whose partnership he left in June. Urbanek is particularly well-known in the market for his extensive experience in mezzanine financing.
In addition to Urbanek, the team of the new law firm currently includes a salaried lawyer, a lawyer in cooperation and a trainee lawyer. A further lawyer is to join the team in September and two more associates are to join by the end of the year. The finance boutique currently has two finance advisors, neither of whom are lawyers, and Urbanek.
Schindler remains active in financing
The law firm Schindler will remain active in the financing sector even after the departure of Urbanek, but without a dedicated focus on real estate financing. In addition to name partner Dr. Dr. Clemens Schindler, partners Martin Abram and Florian Cvak will continue to advise on financing transactions. These include classic acquisition financing as well as early-stage financing. In the future, the firm plans to build up transaction-related real estate law expertise.