Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie today announced that Nina Lenhard and Sophie Schubert have each been promoted to partners in its Vienna office effective 1 July 2026. Their appointments will strengthen the Firm's Dispute Resolution and Transactional practice groups in Austria.
In addition, the Firm today announced the promotion of 47 lawyers to partner¹ globally, effective 1 July 2026 (with the exception of some locations in the Americas (including North America), where promotions took effect earlier this year).


Expansion of the Partnership in Vienna
These appointments underscore the Firm's strategic focus on strengthening its Antitrust & Competi-tion, energy and foreign trade law, as well as Corporate/M&A capabilities, and further enhance its lead-ing position in complex cross-border matters.

Nina Lenhard -Antitrust, Energy and Foreign Trade Law
Nina Lenhard (36) previously served as Counsel within the global Dispute Resolution Practice Group, leading the Vienna office's Antitrust & Competition and Energy & Infrastructure teams; she will contin-ue in this role. She advises international clients comprehensively on EU and Austrian antitrust and competition law, investment control, state aid law, export controls and sanctions, as well as energy and infrastructure law, and regularly represents clients before Austrian and European authorities and courts. She has established herself as a trusted adviser for strategically complex matters.

Nina's practice focuses on managing complex cross-border merger control and investment control pro-ceedings, abuse of dominance proceedings, dawn raids and cartel investigations, as well as defending against and enforcing antitrust damages claims, and structuring distribution systems and research and development agreements. She oversees the comprehensive implementation and enforcement of stra-tegic projects and complex business models in an international context, including in foreign trade law with a focus on export controls and sanctions, as well as in transactions and investment projects in the energy sector.

Sophie Schubert -Corporate/M&A Transactions
Sophie Schubert (36) previously served as Senior Associate in Baker McKenzie's global Transaction-al/Corporate Practice Group and plays an important role in the Firm's Vienna transactional practice. Since joining Baker McKenzie more than 11 years ago, she has advised national and international clients on corporate law matters, particularly M&A transactions, carve-outs, internal reorganizations, re-structurings and general corporate law issues. Her focus is on complex cross-border transactions, particularly in the sectors healthcare, infrastructure and energy. Sophie has also established herself as a recognized expert in reorganizations and carve-outs. Clients value her ability to translate complex matters into precise, practical solutions. Within her practice group, she actively drives the use of legal technology and AI.

Alexander Petsche, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie Austria, commented:
"We are delighted to welcome Nina and Sophie, two outstanding colleagues, to the Vienna partnership. Both have made a significant contribution to the successful development of their respective practice areas through their technical excellence, strong commitment and close client focus. With Nina's expertise in Dispute Resolution, Antitrust & Competition, Energy & Infrastructure, export controls and sanctions, and Sophie's expertise in Transactional/Corporate/M&A, they will sustainably strengthen our Vienna office and provide important momentum for our continued growth in Austria."

This year's global partner promotions reflect the Firm's continued investment in talent and its strategic focus on building the capabilities needed to advise multinational clients on their most complex, cross-border matters. Alongside 44 global lateral partner hires during financial year 2026, Baker McKenzie has welcomed a total of 91 new partners globally, further strengthening its ability to deliver a seamless client experience across markets.

The Firm's global Transactional practice saw the largest number of promotions this year, with Dispute Resolution, Commercial and Tax welcoming the second and joint third largest number of promoted partners. Women represent 43% of this year's partner promotions.

¹Promotions made across Baker McKenzie's Member Firms. References to "partner" means a person who is a partner or partner equivalent in a Member Firm, and references to an "office" means an office of any such Member Firm.