GEISTWERT
Vienna-based IP and IT law boutique founded in 2014 by five partners, specializing in patent litigation, trademark prosecution, copyright enforcement, and data protection across Austria, the EU, and cross-border Italy matters for enterprise clients in technology, media, and consumer sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersHietzing, Austria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GEISTWERT does
GEISTWERT is a Vienna-based boutique law firm founded in 2014 by five attorneys — Constantin Kletzer, Juliane Messner, Max W. Mosing, Alexander Schnider, and Rainer Schultes — each previously trained at leading Austrian and international firms including Baker & McKenzie, Taylor Wessing, and Gassauer-Fleissner. The firm is organized as an Austrian partnership (Offene Handelsgesellschaft – OG) under the registered legal name "GEISTWERT Kletzer Messner Mosing Schnider Schultes Rechtsanwälte OG" and operates exclusively in intellectual property and information technology law, encompassing patent litigation, trademark prosecution, copyright enforcement, unfair competition, data protection (GDPR), and IT contract law. The firm maintains a dedicated Italian Desk led by dual-qualified partner Juliane Messner to handle cross-border matters between Austria and Italy, alongside broader EU-wide work including EUIPO, UPC, and WIPO proceedings.
The firm delivers professional legal services across the full corporate lifecycle, from funding, founding and contracting through prosecution, commercialization, litigation, and ongoing compliance support. Practice areas are organized to address the needs of enterprise clients in technology and life sciences, media and entertainment (including gaming, video game companies, streaming platforms, and social media), consumer brands, and digital media/IT companies. Notable mandates include representation in Austrian Supreme Court patent litigation, EUIPO trademark portfolio management for major Austrian brands such as Novomatic and A1 Telekom, and trade secrets disputes in the education and life sciences sectors.
Commercially, GEISTWERT operates a partner-led, sales-led GTM model built on professional networks, client referrals, industry rankings, and participation at international IP conferences such as INTA and AIGLI. Revenue is generated through professional services billed under the Austrian statutory fee regime (Rechtsanwaltstarifgesetz – RATG) and Allgemeine Honorar-Kriterien (AHK), supplemented by individual fee arrangements for complex matters. The firm is privately held by its five partners with no external investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries; operating geographies span the DACH region, Italy, and the broader EU through cross-border mandates. Headquartered at Linke Wienzeile 4/2/3, 1060 Wien, the firm employs between 1 and 10 people including the five partners and trainee lawyers (Rechtsanwaltsanwärter).
GEISTWERT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GEISTWERT
- Legal name
- GEISTWERT Kletzer Messner Mosing Schnider Schultes Rechtsanwälte OG
- Website
- https://geistwert.at
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Vienna-based IP and IT law boutique founded in 2014 by five partners, specializing in patent litigation, trademark prosecution, copyright enforcement, and data protection across Austria, the EU, and cross-border Italy matters for enterprise clients in technology, media, and consumer sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GEISTWERT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intellectual Property Law Services
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)
Keywords
Where GEISTWERT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hietzing
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GEISTWERT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Legal Advisory Services: Professional legal services in intellectual property and information technology law, including litigation, prosecution, contract drafting, and advisory engagements. Billed according to Austrian statutory fee regulations (Rechtsanwaltstarifgesetz) and individual fee arrangements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Legal services billed according to statutory regulations and individual arrangements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
GEISTWERT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GEISTWERT is a Vienna-based law firm (Rechtsanwälte OG) that delivers specialized legal advisory, prosecution, litigation and transactional services in intellectual property and information technology law. Its offerings span patent disputes, trademark prosecution and enforcement, copyright, unfair competition, IT contracts and outsourcing, and GDPR/data protection compliance, with a dedicated Italian Desk handling cross-border Austria–Italy matters.
Product overview
GEISTWERT is a Vienna-based law firm and competence center specialized in intellectual property and information technology law. The firm offers a comprehensive range of legal services organized across the typical corporate lifecycle: Funding, Founding and Contracting (primarily handled by Juliane Messner); Prosecution – registration and administration of trademarks, domains, and designs; Commercialization and Contracts; Litigation and avoidance thereof; and Legal Support and Compliance. The firm maintains a dedicated Italian Desk for cross-border matters between Austria and Italy. GEISTWERT is not a technology product company but rather a professional services firm providing specialized legal advisory services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Patent Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Trademark Prosecution and Dispute Practice
- Copyright Protection and Enforcement
- Unfair Competition and Advertising Law
- Data Protection and GDPR Compliance
- IT Law and Technology Transactions
- Italian Desk – Cross-border Austria-Italy Practice
Quantifiable outcome
- Four GEISTWERT partners ranked among Top 10 in TREND Anwaltsranking 2026
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GEISTWERT
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GEISTWERT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
GEISTWERT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, client and minor.
- RMC system-solution GmbHsupportingIT support and maintenance provider, also operator of the secure data exchange and storage platform safespace.geistwert.at for confidential client communications
- ADVOKAT Unternehmensberatung Greiter & Greiter GmbHsupportingProvider and remote maintenance of firm file management software (Aktenverwaltungsssoftware)
- CleverReach GmbH & Co. KGsupportingEmail newsletter distribution service provider used for client communications and marketing
- Mag. Konrad Keki Steuerberatungs GmbHsupportingTax advisory and accounting services for the law firm
- NovomaticclientLong-term client for whom the firm handles Austrian and EUIPO trademark matters
- IPAG / Universities AustriaminorCollaboration in which Austrian universities and companies created model agreements for knowledge and technology transfer, with GEISTWERT partners evaluating and commenting on standard contracts
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GEISTWERT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bardehle Pagenberg: Germany's leading dedicated IP boutique with UPC and EUIPO capability — the most directly comparable European IP specialist to GEISTWERT in terms of specialization, though materially larger and Germany-based.
- Vossius & Partner: Munich-based IP boutique covering patent prosecution, litigation, and trademarks for life sciences and technology clients — closely comparable in size, specialization, and European IP forum focus.
- Hoyng Rokayemonger: Dutch/European IP boutique specializing in patent litigation, UPC, and cross-border IP enforcement — directly comparable specialist peer operating in the same European IP forum ecosystem.
- Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte: Long-standing Munich IP boutique covering patents, trademarks, and unfair competition across European forums. Direct specialist peer to GEISTWERT, with similar boutique DNA and broader European footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Bird & Bird: International firm with a globally recognized IP, TMT, and data protection practice, including an active Vienna office. Directly competes for Austrian IP/IT mandates and is Recommended alongside GEISTWERT in Legal 500 EMEA TMT.
- Baker McKenzie (Vienna): Global firm whose Vienna IP/IT practice was previously led by GEISTWERT partner Alexander Schnider. Competes on cross-border IP mandates involving Austrian law, particularly for multinational clients headquartered outside Austria.
- Taylor Wessing: International firm focused on technology, life sciences, and IP — and previous employer of GEISTWERT partners Messner and Schultes. Operates a Vienna office and competes for Austrian IP mandates alongside its German and UK IP benches.
- DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach: Global full-service firm with Austrian roots (several GEISTWERT partners formerly worked at Weiss-Tessbach). Competes on Austrian IP and technology mandates as part of a global network — overlapping capability, much broader portfolio.
- Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte: Austrian/CEE full-service firm with a strong IP practice (and where GEISTWERT partner Alexander Schnider previously worked). Competes for Austrian IP litigation and trademark prosecution matters but covers far more practice areas and jurisdictions than GEISTWERT.
- Schönherr Rechtsanwälte: Largest Austrian-headquartered full-service law firm with a well-established IP/IT practice group. Competes with GEISTWERT for Austrian IP mandates but serves a far broader corporate and transactional client base, making it a broad incumbent rather than a direct specialist rival.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GEISTWERT social profiles
Digital presenceGEISTWERT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GEISTWERT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
GEISTWERT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GEISTWERT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GEISTWERT
What does GEISTWERT do?
GEISTWERT is a Vienna-based law firm (Rechtsanwälte OG) that delivers specialized legal advisory, prosecution, litigation and transactional services in intellectual property and information technology law. Its offerings span patent disputes, trademark prosecution and enforcement, copyright, unfair competition, IT contracts and outsourcing, and GDPR/data protection compliance, with a dedicated Italian Desk handling cross-border Austria–Italy matters.
Is GEISTWERT a public or private company?
GEISTWERT is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GEISTWERT founded?
GEISTWERT was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GEISTWERT based?
GEISTWERT is headquartered in Hietzing, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does GEISTWERT make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Advisory Services.
Who are GEISTWERT's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bardehle Pagenberg, Vossius & Partner, Hoyng Rokayemonger and Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte. Broad incumbents are Bird & Bird, Baker McKenzie (Vienna), Taylor Wessing, DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach, Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte and Schönherr Rechtsanwälte.
Does GEISTWERT have an API?
No public API is recorded for GEISTWERT.
What industry is GEISTWERT in?
GEISTWERT's product category is Intellectual Property Law Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAB, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, with a secondary code of BPAHAMAA, Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management. Its NAICS code is 5411 and its SIC code is 8111.