Gerold Zeiler is partner with our firm and an expert in national and international dispute resolution, with a strong focus on international commercial arbitration and complex litigation.

Gerold has extensive experience representing clients and serving as an arbitrator in both commercial and investment arbitration forums – more than 200 at the last count and is a seasoned litigator before Austrian courts.

In 2018, the ICC World Council appointed Gerold as the Austrian member of the ICC Court. He is also listed on the panel of arbitrators of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB), the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, the Indian Council of Arbitration, the Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC), the Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC), the Czech Arbitration Court and the BICAM’s Panel of Arbitrators.

A graduate of the University of Vienna (Mag.iur. 1988; Dr.iur. 1996) and the Washington University in St. Louis (LL.M. 2016), Gerold is a co-editor of the Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration, a member of the Publications Board of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and a former president of the Austrian Arbitration Association (ArbAUT). His published work includes a comprehensive commentary on Austrian arbitration law (Schiedsverfahren, 2nd edition, 2014). He regularly speaks at international conferences and guest lectures a university course at Graz University.

Gerold works in English (fluent) and German (native), has a basic Italian and a reading Spanish.

Highlights of Gerold’s work include the following:

  • Representation of a South-Eastern European companies in a dispute regarding the construction of a power plant against an insolvent claimant (EUR 73 million, ICC).
  • Representing a former board member of an Austrian international gambling company in the negotiations of his separation from the company.

  • Representation of a Korean luxury car dealer in a court proceedings against an Austrian supplier (Austrian courts).

  • Representation of a global leader in packaging and paper in a post M&A dispute regarding the purchase of an Asian company ( EUR 70 million, ICC/Singapore).

  • Representation of an Austrian construction company in arbitral proceedings against a large European engineering and construction group regarding damage claims arising from the construction of an industrial plant (EUR 15 million, ICC).

  • Representation of a Southern European state in an investment arbitration against a Slovenian investor regarding the privatisation of a power plant (EUR 720 million, ICSID).

  • Representation of a Central European construction company in court proceedings on disbursement of performance and advance payment guarantees (EUR 1.4 million, Austrian court).

  • Representation of a major European insurance group in arbitral proceedings against a major American insurance group regarding reinsurance claims arising from a global insurance programme (EUR 8 million, VIAC).

  • Representation of an European industry holding company in arbitral proceedings against an Asian industrial group regarding indemnity and warranty claims following an M&A transaction in the paint and coatings industry (EUR 7 million, ICC).

Interested in specific aspects of Gerold’s recent work? Contact [email protected] for further reference cases.

Professional Experience

  • Partner, Zeiler Floyd Zadkovich, Vienna/Austria and New York/USA (since 2020)
  • Partner, zeiler.partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Vienna/Austria (2014-2020)
  • Austrian member of the ICC Court (since 2018)
  • Member of the Publications Board of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution (since 2018)
  • Guest Lecturer at University of Graz (since 2017)
  • Co-Editor Austrian Arbitration Yearbook (since 2007)
  • Partner (Attorney, Associate) at Schönherr Rechtsanwälte GmbH (1988-2014)
  • President and Board Member of ArbAUT (2008-2013)
  • Clerkship, Vienna/Austria (1987-1988)

Education

  • California Bar Exam (2017)
  • LL.M., Washington University, St. Louis/US (2016)
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London/UK (2006)
  • Doctor of Law, University of Vienna, Vienna/Austria (1996)
  • Austrian Bar Exam, Vienna/Austria (1993)
  • Magister Iuris, University of Vienna, Vienna/Austria (1988)

TREND Anwaltsranking 2023

  • Austria's Top Arbitration and Litigation Practitioner

Handelsblatt 2023

  • Arbeitsrecht | Konfliktlösung | Schiedsverfahren, Streitbeilegung, Mediation

Handelsblatt 2022

Best Lawyers 2024

  • Arbitration & Mediation, Labour & Employment Law, and Litigation

Leaders League 2023

  • Commercial Litigation: Highly Recommended Individual 2023 (Austria)
  • International Arbitration: Leading Individual 2023 (Austria)

Best Lawyers 2023

  • Arbitration & Mediation, Labor & Employment Law, and Litigation

Chambers Global 2023

Leaders League 2022

  • Hall of Fame - Arbitration and Mediation
    "Very strong international arbitration focus; some excellent partners primarily Lisa Beisteiner and Gerold Zeiler.", "Lisa Beisteiner and Gerold Zeiler are one of the best dispute lawyers you will find."
  • Thought Leader - Arbitration 2022
    "He is the undisputed number one arbitrator", "Gerold is an excellent arbitrator and counsel", "He has built an impressive practice in investor-state arbitrations", "He is highly experienced and highly regarded"
  • Austria: Arbitration 2022
    "He is the undisputed number one arbitrator" "Gerold is an excellent arbitrator and counsel" "He has built an impressive practice in investor-state arbitrations" "He is highly experienced and highly regarded"

Chambers Global 2022

  • Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Austria: Band 1)
    Gerold Zeiler is an outstanding lawyer in the Austrian arbitration scene. He is highly recognised for his work as arbitration counsel and as arbitrator. He represents clients in a range of areas including corporate, construction and investment disputes. "He has so much experience that he can get to the point of cases within minutes, be that from a legal or economic perspective," a source admires. "Zeiler is someone who is very practical," a client adds.

Best Lawyers 2022

  • Arbitration & Mediation, Labour & Employment Law, and Litigation 2022

Chambers Europe 2022

JUVE 2022

TREND Anwaltsranking 2022

  • Top Arbitration and Litigation Practitioner
  • Austria: Arbitrators and Counsel (2021)
    "One of the top counsel and arbitrators of his generation" "Praised as the number one in Austria" "He has a wise and balanced approach as an arbitrator" "Gerold is highly experienced, well respected and can manage complex cases effectively" "An excellent chairman - well prepared, efficient and a pleasure to work with in an arbitral tribunal"

TREND Anwaltsranking 2021

  • Top Arbitration and Litigation Practitioner (#1)

Chambers Global 2021

  • Dispute Resolution: Most in Demand Arbitrators (Austria)
  • Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Austria: Band 1)
    “Gerold Zeiler has extensive expertise in investment arbitration and proceedings in the energy and construction sectors. He is further recognised as a longstanding arbitrator, with sources endorsing him: ‘he is definitely on top of the field, both as arbitrator and arbitration counsel’.”

Chambers Europe 2021

  • Dispute Resolution: Most in Demand Arbitrators (Austria)
  • Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Austria: Band 1)

Expert Guides 2021

  • Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Mediation
  • Arbitration Powerlist 2021: Central and Eastern Europe

Best Lawyers 2021

  • Arbitration and Mediation, Labour and Employment Law, and Litigation 2021
  • Lawyer of the year for Litigation 2021
  • Recommended lawyer 2020, Leading individual 2020

Benchmark Litigation 2020

  • Dispute Resolution Star (Commercial Arbitration, International Arbitration )

Chambers Global & Chambers Europe 2020

  • Dispute Resolution: Arbitration 2020 - Band 1; Dispute resolution: Most in demand arbitrator - Band 1
    "Gerold Zeiler is'very impressive and very good with clients,' according to one source. He is active on energy-related disputes involving investments and competition issues, with additional strength in insurance mandates."
  • Austria: Arbitration 2020
  • Austria: Thought Leader in Arbitration 2020
    “Gerold Zeiler is a key name in the market who is lauded by sources as 'one of the top counsel and arbitrators of his generation'.”
  • Austria: Litigation 2020

TREND Anwaltsranking 2020

  • Top 1 der Prozess- und Schiedsrechtsexperten 2020

Handelsblatt 2019

  • Schiedsverfahren, Streitbeilegung, Mediation, Konfliktlösung 2019
  • Austria: Litigation 2019
  • "Gerold Zeiler is described by sources familiar with his work as "really, really impressive", with one source stating that they have "hardly ever seen a practitioner who identifies the critical issues of a case so quickly"."

Chambers Global 2019

  • Leading Individual 2019 (Band 1)
    "Gerold Zeiler remains a top-flight practitioner in the arbitration sphere handling investment and commercial cases, most notably in the energy sector." "He is especially intelligent, I would describe him as one of the grands-seigneurs of the arbitration scene in Austria."
  • Most in demand arbitrator 2019 (Band1)

LMG Expert Guides 2019

  • Recommended Expert: Commercial Arbitration 2019 – Best of the Best
  • "fantastic court room performer"
  • "Gerold Zeiler is ”a professional and efficient arbitrator” who receives acclaim for his ”extensive experience”."

Chambers Global 2018

  • Most in demand arbitrator 2018 (Band1)
  • Leading Individual 2018 (Band 1)
    "Gerold Zeiler is recognised as one of the most prominent names in the field of arbitration, where he excels as both counsel and arbitrator. In addition to his outstanding expertise, a client also notes his ""great business acumen,"" adding that he is ""sharp and comes straight to the point in a few minutes.""

Client Choice Award 2018

  • Client Choice Award 2018 für Arbitration und ADR in Österreich

Chambers Global 2017

  • Most in demand arbitrator (Band1)
  • Leading Individual 2017 (Band 1)

Chambers Europe 2017

  • Leading Individual 2017 (Band 1, Dispute resolution)
  • "Founding partner Gerold Zeiler is an unrivalled arbitration expert, acting as both arbitrator and counsel on high-stakes international cases. Clients extol him as “one of the grands seigneurs of the Austrian arbitration community. He is very experienced, very smart but very friendly, with very good business acumen.” He is instructed by a strong banking and energy names as well as government entities.""

Chambers Global 2015

  • "Gerold Zeiler of zeiler.partners Rechtsanwälte GmbH is widely regarded as a leading arbitrator in the market."

Chambers Europe 2014

  • "He is excellent at what he does. His know-how is not only local, but international, which sets him apart. He doesn't get emotional, which makes him excellent for meetings that take unexpected turns. He is also flexible and extremely efficient." "Highly rated Austrian arbitration lawyer Gerold Zeiler recently acted on several significant BIT and other investment-related cases on behalf of major European clients. He is noted for his focus on energy-related disputes."
  • Gerold Zeiler featured in Business Today’s Top 10 Leaders in the Austrian Arbitration Scene

    Gerold Zeiler featured in Business Today’s Top 10 Leaders in the Austrian Arbitration Scene

    Our very own Gerold Zeiler has been showcased in Business Today’s legal news for his exceptional expertise in Austrian arbitration.

  • Disputes for Tea | Energy

    Disputes for Tea | Energy

    Hosted by Gerold Zeiler and Lisa Beisteiner.

    Thursday, 12 May 2022
    16:00 CET / 10:00 EST

  • Disputes for Tea | Arbitration

    Disputes for Tea | Arbitration

    “False Friends in Arbitration: A Transatlantic Comparison of Arbitrability”

    Arbitrability and competence-competence are fundamental cornerstones of international arbitration. Yet, the meaning and application of these principles differs quite significantly across the Atlantic. Our team has experienced this first hand in cases worldwide across many sectors – from shipping to energy to construction.

    Join us on May 20 for a comparative deconstruction of some of the basic rules applying at the intersection of state courts and arbitral tribunals with University of Innsbruck Professor Hubertus Schumacher and our New York partner Edward Floyd, moderated by Gerold Zeiler

    Thursday, 20 May 2021
    15:00 Central European Time / 09:00 Eastern Standard Time

  • New trend Magazine Rankings!

    New trend Magazine Rankings!

    Congratulations to our Gerold Zeiler for being ranked #1 arbitration lawyer in Austria, and to our Hans Georg Laimer for being ranked a leading employment lawyer by trend magazine!

  • New Legal 500 EMEA 2021 Rankings!

    New Legal 500 EMEA 2021 Rankings!

    We are proud to be ranked by the Legal 500 once again for our work in Arbitration and in Employment!

  • New Chambers Europe 2021 Recognitions!

    New Chambers Europe 2021 Recognitions!

    We are delighted to have all of our Vienna partners ranked in the 2021 edition of Chambers Europe!

  • New Chambers Global 2021 Rankings!

    New Chambers Global 2021 Rankings!

    We’d like to thank all of our wonderful colleagues and clients who recommended us both as a firm and as individuals to be included in the Chambers and Partners Global 2021 Guide.

  • Gerold Zeiler Recognized as a Thought Leader in Litigation

    Gerold Zeiler Recognized as a Thought Leader in Litigation

    We are thankful to our clients and peers who chose Gerold Zeiler as a Thought Leader in Litigation (2021) for Who’s Who Legal. Your support is much appreciated!

  • 2021: Who’s Who Legal

    2021: Who’s Who Legal

    We are exicted to have been recognized by Who’s Who Legal 2021!

  • 2021: Best Lawyers

    2021: Best Lawyers

    We are delighted to have multiple partners of ours ranked by Best Lawyers 2021 across a variety of categories.