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Dorda Brugger Jordis is renowned for its capital markets practice and respected amongst its peers: "Dorda is definitely tier one," says one.

Clients highlighted the three main partners in the practice: "Christoph [Brogyányi] is the most experienced and is really involved in the transactions and knows the papers, knows the issues. Andreas Mayr is more the relationship guy, so plays the senior role. Tibor Varga is also a hands-on guy," says one client, adding that: "All three are very knowledgeable." Peers also praised Varga, with one pointing out that "he does not make small things a big issue".

In March 2011 Mayr and Brogyányi advised Intercell on the issue of €82.5 million 6% convertible notes due in 2014. The deal was one of the first of its type in Austria and features include the right of holders to activate two increase options of €33 million and €16.5 million; the exclusion of statutory subscription rights with the placement of the notes; and a provision to allow the issuer to repay both the principal and the interest with shares.

Another highlight saw Varga – who clients praise for being, "a seasoned practitioner," and "very responsive and very practical," – act for long-standing client Egger Holzwerkstoffe on the €200 million issue of senior notes in March 2011. The firm has advised the European wood processing company on its two previous notes issuances.

In November 2010 the team finalised two more notable transactions. The first saw Brogyányi, Varga and Paul Doralt advise Brazilian based Odebrecht Drilling Norbe (a subsidiary of Odebrecht Oil & Gas) on a $1.5 billion project bond issuance, under US Rule 144A/Reg S. The capital raised was used to purchase two Austrian deep-sea offshore drill ships which were later chartered to Petrobas. The second saw Varga advise website Kapsch Traffic on a €75 million corporate bond used to finance the acquisition of US and Canadian based Mark IV IVHS.

One notable deal which did not reach close saw the firm act for Isovoltaic, a producer of solar panels, as the issuer on what would have been only the country's second IPO since 2007. The deal was pulled at a late stage due to pricing issues.

Competitors praise the team for its hands on approach: "You never see associates there. It's the role Christoph plays as he is always really involved in the deals," says one.

"It's Tibor Varga and Andreas Zahradnik, they do a considerable amount of financings and they do a good job," is one lawyer's assessment of the banking team at Dorda Brugger Jordis. Banking regulatory and investment funds partner, Andras Zahradnik, is described by a client as "creative and reliable" and commended for having, "a clear focus on client's needs." Of Varga, a competitor says: "I like to work with him, he's uncomplicated and he's always efficient to work with."

Varga acted on all the firms' notable recent banking work including, in May 2010, advising Goldman Sachs and Barclays as underwriters of a €1.7 billion leveraged buyout facility for the acquisition of Springer, a German academic publisher, by private equity sponsors. In January 2011, with Varga again taking the lead, the firm acted for long-standing client Odebrecht Drilling Norbe, on a €900 million project finance deal arranged by HSBC and BNP Paribas, for the construction of two oil drillships. This was in conjunction with the firm's capital markets team, including Varga, who advised the subsidiary on a bond issuance to fund existing vessels.

The firm also acted as local council for developers Maiga Investments on its $320 million facility arranged by Deutsche Bank and UniCredit for a real estate project in Moscow.

Clients pick up on Dorda Brugger Jordis' full service approach: "They have a comprehensive understanding of our needs for legal, tax and finance issues." Another was impressed with the M&A team's commitment: "We had special needs to do with the board of directors and other complex issues and they handled these well."

Though some competitors say founder and name partner Christian Dorda was less present on transactions recently, clients remain impressed with his work: "He is very responsive, very in to the topics, very up to speed and reliable," says one, "he's is probably the most corporate minded lawyer I've met. It's probably the result of 35 or 40 year career in advising companies on M&A."

It might be assumed that the firm's cross-border capabilities would be slightly hamstrung by the lack of a cohesive CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) network but clients suggested that the firm's network of alliances is equally as effective.

Partner Martin Brodey is seen as one of the leading figures in the corporate team but Andreas Mayr is highlighted for his expertise in public M&A. The latter along with Jürgen Kittel and Tibor Varga acted for Conwert Immobilien Invest, a residential property company, on its €181 million takeover of ECO Business-Immobilien, a business property provider. The team also advised Conwert on the €80 million acquisition facility provided by Barclays Bank and the issue of a €135 million convertible bond to Austrian and international institutional investors used finance the deal.

Brodey meanwhile advised Miba Friction and Miba Steeltec, clutches and brake component developers, in acquiring machinery and material in Germany and Poland from Hoerbiger Antriebstechnik and Hoerbiger Automotive, manufacturers of automobile parts.