Representative Actions
Schoenherr's team of litigation experts provides legal advice for representative actions on all aspects.
Representative actions are reshaping the consumer litigation landscape in Austria, giving rise to substantial exposure for businesses across all sectors. Following the transposition of the EU Representative Actions Directive 2020/1828 into Austrian law in July 2024, associations and organisations that have been publicly active in the protection of consumer interests for a minimum of 12 months prior to filing – and that do not pursue a commercial purpose – may apply for registration as Qualified Entities.
Recognised Qualified Entities – including the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (Bundesarbeiterkammer), the Austrian Consumer Information Association (Verein für Konsumenteninformation, VKI), the Consumer Protection Association (Verbraucherschutzverband, VSV) and NOYB – European Centre for Digital Rights – are authorised to institute the following categories of collective consumer proceedings:
- An action seeking an order to cease and desist from unlawful conduct by a trader/company
- Similar to the traditional association action under Section 28 of the Austrian Consumer Protection Act (KSchG)
- No minimum number of affected consumers required
- No consumer consent required
- Opt-in mechanism: consent of the affected consumers is required
- A minimum of 50 consumers must be affected by the same trader on the basis of "substantially similar factual circumstances"
Since summer 2024, more than 270 representative actions have been filed against traders across all industries and sectors, reflecting the pronounced willingness of consumer organisations to pursue collective claims in the Austrian market. Approximately half of these proceedings have been resolved by way of settlement. A considerable number of cases remain pending before the courts.
The proceedings mainly concern unlawful price increases, misleading commercial practices, unfair standard terms and conditions, and impermissible fees. With both the volume and complexity of these claims continuing to grow, businesses need to engage early and take clear strategic action to manage risk and protect their commercial position.
Schoenherr is at the forefront of representative action defence in Austria. Over the past 15 years, we have conducted more than 50 representative action proceedings, giving us an unrivalled depth of experience and a thorough understanding of the strategies pursued by consumer organisations and litigation funders.
Our team advises clients across all principal industries in complex, high-value representative action proceedings. We deliver a rigorous litigation defence complemented by forward-looking strategic counsel, guiding clients not only through the proceedings themselves but also through the implementation measures that follow.
Our core services comprise:
End-to-end dispute management – from preliminary case assessment and settlement strategy through to trial and enforcement – in Austria and across jurisdictions in CEE.
Comprehensive assessment and amendment of general terms and conditions to optimally ensure resilience under regulatory and judicial scrutiny.
Systematic remediation of affected contractual arrangements to limit exposure and restore legal certainty.
newsletter
Austria: A "class action" through the back door?
The Austrian Supreme Court has addressed the collective redress in several decisions – in particular in 4 Ob 184/24y, 4 Ob 180/24k, 4 Ob 51/25s and 9 Ob 43/25a – including a claim for elimination under Section 15 of the Federal Act Against Unfair Competition (Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb – UWG).
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to the point: Litigation-Update Österreich 2/2026
Willkommen zu unserem monatlichen Litigation-Update für Österreich.
Mit diesem Newsletter möchten wir Ihnen einen kompakten und aktuellen Überblick über relevante Rechtsprechung, Gesetzesänderungen und Entwicklungen im österreichischen Zivil- und Zivilprozessrecht bieten. Von höchstgerichtlichen Entscheidungen über Neuerungen bis hin zu praktischen Hinweisen für Ihr Unternehmen – wir halten Sie auf dem Laufenden.
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to the point: Litigation-Update Österreich 1/2026
Willkommen zu unserem monatlichen Litigation-Update für Österreich.
Mit diesem Newsletter möchten wir Ihnen einen kompakten und aktuellen Überblick über relevante Rechtsprechung, Gesetzesänderungen und Entwicklungen im österreichischen Zivil- und Zivilprozessrecht bieten. Von höchstgerichtlichen Entscheidungen über Neuerungen bis hin zu praktischen Hinweisen für Ihr Unternehmen – wir halten Sie auf dem Laufenden.
newsletter
Asymmetric jurisdiction clauses: lessons from ECJ Case C-537/23
Jurisdiction clauses serve as the primary tool for parties to exercise their autonomy in selecting the most appropriate forum for dispute resolution, while simultaneously ensuring compliance with the mandatory provisions of EU jurisdiction law, especially Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 ("Brussels Recast") and the Lugano II Convention). However, asymmetric jurisdiction clauses, often used in finance and transactional agreements, have introduced new complexities into this well-established framework.
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Mind the gap: United Kingdom ratifies Hague Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters for England and Wales
The Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters ("Hague 2019") is an international treaty aimed at facilitating the recognition and enforcement of court decisions in civil and commercial matters between contracting states.
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Austria: Yet another service fee? Austria’s Supreme Court confirms validity!
In the past, the Oberster Gerichtshof (OGH), Austria’s Supreme Court, has repeatedly dealt with the admissibility of contractual clauses on the charging of fees and their transparency according to current consumer law.
Its recent decision of 13 February 2025 (9 Ob 116/24k) addressed the permissibility of a service fee charged by a delivery service.
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Austria: Are we all about to become anonymous? Does addressing someone as “Mr” or “Ms” violate data protection rights?
Addressing a customer as “Mr” or “Ms” constitutes a violation of personal rights.
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European Climate Justice: what does the recent ECHR judgement mean for private companies and potential civil liability?
Climate change litigation has been making waves, with companies and states facing legal challenges related to their environmental impact. Climate activists try to enforce their right to climate protection and a sustainable future through legal proceedings and are treading a fine line between environmental regulations, corporate responsibility, and inaction of their own states. Most companies are aware of these developments and do their best to balance business goals while enhancing sustainable practices.
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Erste OGH-Entscheidung zu neuen Klagen zur Kreditbearbeitungsgebühr: Intransparenz bei auch nur möglicher Überschneidung mit anderen Gebühren; Zulässigkeit offen
Seit 2016 beurteilte der OGH in ständiger Rechtsprechung die Vereinbarung einer Kreditbearbeitungsgebühr als zulässig, weil sie nicht der Inhaltskontrolle unterworfen sei und selbst wenn sie wäre: Kunden würden durch sie nicht gröblich benachteiligt.[1]
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EuGH 25.01.2024, C-810/21 Caixabank ua | Schoenherr Financial Services Litigation News
EuGH 25.01.2024, C-810/21 Caixabank ua: Beginn einer zehnjährigen Verjährungsfrist für einen Anspruch auf Rückforderung geleisteter Zahlungen aufgrund missbräuchlicher Klauseln erst ab Kenntnis des Anspruchs.
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