The skills that made Gerald Schachner stand out back in his early years on the football pitch are now brought into play to convincing effect in his role as a lawyer and tax consultant: a knack for strategy, tactical flair, outstanding expertise and exceptional leadership qualities. His clients can rely on him to deliver every ball into the goal.

The professional career of the Styria-born football-lover began in a thoroughly conventional manner: he studied Law at the University of Graz and the Business & Law School (ESADE) in Barcelona, then completed the mandatory year of court training in Graz and passed his professional tax consultancy and legal exams. After starting out as an accountant with Arthur Andersen and Deloitte, he subsequently moved to Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner to focus on corporate restructuring and M&A, followed by Hausmaninger Herbst and Herbst Vavrovsky Kinsky, where he additionally specialised in tax structuring and corporate law. In the interim there was a highly instructive intermezzo with Norton Rose LLP, London, because international tax law can also be absolutely fascinating and the weather in the British capital isn’t as bad as its reputation would suggest. Finally – from 2010 to 2024 – bpv Hügel, where he headed the tax practice from 2016 onwards.

So far, so good.