Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Andreas Bauer of Brauneis Klauser Praendl Rechtsanwaelte GmbH in Vienna, Austria.  Andreas and his firm are hosting the 2010 European Regional Meeting in Vienna at the end of September.

In one sentence how would you describe your practice?
We are a midsized Austrian law firm, serving our clients in all fields of Austrian and EU Commercial Law.

Who would be your typical client?
Our typical client is a midsized or larger Austrian company, either family-owned or a subsidiary of an international company. We are also working for large consumer protection organisations.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
We are not one of the big “law factories,” but have the same professional approach as these big firms. The personal connection to our clients is much closer than in these “factories” and we care about our clients.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
I helped one of my clients to sell his family-owned business to a big US Company. My client was 74 years old at the time and had trouble adopting the “style” with which the American company tried to purchase his lifetime achievement. We finally sold the company for about 15 Million Euros.

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
Working for my parents to sell their farm.

What do you do when you are not practicing law?
I try to dedicate most of my free time to my family, especially to my kids. I love to play soccer and to listen to classical music.

What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
I have to mention two things here.

First, my very first ILN experience more than fifteen years ago in Jerusalem where I met with other ILN lawyers in a more than impressive surrounding. Israel was, at that time, just signing the peace treaty with Jordan.

Second, the friendships that developed over the years within the Network. I don’t want to miss any of these experiences.

What career would you have chosen if you weren’t a lawyer?
I probably would have become some sort of manager, but luckily I decided to become a lawyer.

If a movie were made of your life, who would you want to play you?
Tom Hanks.

How would you like to be remembered?
As a person having a “back bone,” meaning a person that is straightforward, kind and honest.