Jakob Kisser

Experience

Jakob Kisser is the Founding Partner of Kisser Legal, the UAE-based full‑service law firm that positions itself as a bridge between Austrian precision and local UAE expertise. The firm describes itself as an international and local advisory practice led by Jakob Kisser, with a team combining Austrian and Arabic legal know‑how to serve cross‑border clients. The practice emphasizes guiding businesses and individuals through the full lifecycle of a venture in the UAE, from launch and corporate structuring to expansion, governance, and exit. The Firm presents itself as the exclusive ECOVIS partner in the UAE, underscoring its integration with a global professional services network and its emphasis on high‑quality, cross‑border advisory. Under Kisser’s leadership, the firm highlights its capacity to assist clients relocating to the UAE and expanding their operations, leveraging technology and a multinational team to deliver pragmatic, treaty‑aware solutions.

Prior to founding Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser held leadership roles in the UAE’s cross‑border and corporate space. He led the UAE office of Strohal Legal as Managing Partner, where the practice focused on corporate and M&A matters for commercial and private clients, including complex cross‑border transactions. This role positioned him at the nexus of Austrian and UAE business law, enabling him to advise on corporate governance, corporate structuring, and investments across borders. The move from Strohal Legal to Kisser Legal is framed as a continuation of that cross‑border advisory work, with the new firm continuing to emphasize international standards and local UAE insight.

Globally, Kisser began his career in Austria, where he held senior roles in prominent international firms. He served as Director Knowledge & Compliance and Counsel at a major Austrian firm, where responsibilities included M&A practice, knowledge management, and compliance. Earlier in his career, he practiced as a Senior Associate in the Corporate/M&A group at a leading international firm, followed by roles at other Austrian firms. This trajectory contributed to a deep background in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and cross‑border transactions, ultimately informing his approach to UAE practice.

In the UAE, Jakob Kisser is supported by a multidisciplinary team, including Theodor Strohal (Legacy Partner), Martina Landauer (Managing Associate), MennaTullah Nasser (Senior Associate), and Kateryna Kisser (Of Counsel). The collective experience covers corporate structuring, cross‑border deals, regulatory and compliance matters, and related advisory work. The firm notes that it uses technology to deliver more efficient and client‑focused service, reflecting a modern, process‑driven approach to cross‑border legal work. This integrated team and approach position Kisser Legal as a cross‑border advisor for international investors seeking a UAE footprint.

Specialty

Practice areas at Kisser Legal are organized to address the lifecycle of doing business in the UAE and beyond, with a pronounced emphasis on Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and cross‑border corporate work. The firm presents Mergers & Acquisitions as a core service, alongside corporate structuring, governance, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. The M&A offering is positioned to support both acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, and the strategic considerations that accompany cross‑border investments, including integration planning and post‑deal governance. In addition to M&A, the firm highlights services for corporate governance, company law compliance, and joint ventures, reflecting a holistic approach to corporate transactions and ownership changes in the UAE.

The firm’s service menu demonstrates a focus on cross‑border business needs, combining Austrian and Arabic legal perspectives with UAE‑specific regulatory knowledge. Exclusive ECOVIS partnership in the UAE signals a global network advantage for clients seeking international standards with local execution. The breadth of services also encompasses regulatory & compliance work, corporate structuring & restructuring, and transition planning for exits, reflecting a practice that can manage both day‑to‑day corporate matters and strategic transactions. The team’s emphasis on “Launch & Structure,” “Joint Ventures,” and “Regulatory & Compliance” indicates a capability to assist on both the formation side and the transactional side of cross‑border growth.

In terms of focus industries, the firm’s cross‑border orientation and Austrian ties suggest a strength in serving Austrian‑connected businesses and multinational clients with UAE‑market entry or expansion plans. The client base is described as international, with a practice that aims to align European legal discipline with UAE business realities. This combination supports representation in high‑stakes cross‑border deals, multi‑jurisdiction corporate restructurings, and complex regulatory matters arising from cross‑border corporate activity.

Types of cases handled include cross‑border M&A transactions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, governance and compliance matters, and transitional arrangements related to business sales or ownership transitions. The firm’s emphasis on “Transition & Exit” services signals readiness to assist in strategic dispositions and succession planning for owners and shareholders, aligning with client objectives in dynamic UAE markets. The firm’s public materials, including the M&A services and corporate governance offerings, indicate a practitioner profile geared toward sophisticated corporate deals and cross‑border transactions.

Education, training, and professional credentials underpin Jakob Kisser’s practice. His background includes studies in international and European law at Maastricht and a law degree from the University of Vienna, complemented by decades of practice in Austrian and international firms before relocating to the UAE. This education and experience ecosystem informs a practice that is both legally rigorous and pragmatically oriented toward commercial outcomes in cross‑jurisdictional contexts. The team’s composition and the firm’s stated competencies reflect a focus on M&A, corporate law, and cross‑border advisory for clients navigating the UAE market.

Overall, Jakob Kisser’s profile at Kisser Legal positions him as a cross‑border corporate practitioner with a deep foundation in European M&A and the UAE’s regulatory landscape. The firm’s branding around Austrian‑UAE integration, ECOVIS affiliation, and a multi‑disciplinary team further reinforces a practice designed to support investors and companies seeking to structure, acquire, merge, or restructure within the UAE while leveraging European‑style governance and compliance standards.

Education

Educational background for Jakob Kisser includes studies at Maastricht University in Internationales und Europäisches Recht (2000–2001) and at the University of Vienna in Rechtswissenschaften (1998–2003). This combination reflects a foundation in international and European law pursued in the Netherlands and Austria, contributing to a cross‑border perspective on corporate and M&A work conducted in the UAE. Additional professional context notes that he has long‑standing involvement with Austrian and European legal circles, further supporting his cross‑border practice orientation.

Experience

• Founding Partner, Kisser Legal (UAE) — leading cross‑border advisory and corporate transactions from the UAE.
• Former Managing Partner, Strohal Legal Group UAE — led the UAE office and advised on corporate law, cross‑border M&A, and investments.
• Director Knowledge & Compliance / Counsel / Attorney at Law, Schoenherr Rechtsanwälte GmbH — corporate/M&A focus with governance and compliance responsibilities.
• Senior Associate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer — Corporate/M&A practice in a top international firm.
• Attorney at Law, Northcote.Recht. — broader legal practice in the early phase of the career.
• Education: Université Maastricht (Internationales und Europäisches Recht); Universität Wien (Rechtswissenschaften).

Achievements and Recognition

• Exclusive ECOVIS Partner in UAE — recognition of Kisser Legal as ECOVIS’s exclusive UAE partner, underscoring a global network integration and a high standard of cross‑border advisory. Source: https://www.kisser.legal/
• Vice Chairman, Austrian Business Council UAE — leadership role in a key regional chamber, reflecting active engagement with the Austrian‑UAE business community. Source: https://www.kisser.legal/
• Joined the Board of the Austrian Business Council UAE — formal board involvement in supporting Austrian professionals and businesses in the UAE. Source: https://www.linkedin.com (post by Jakob Kisser)
• Experience in high‑profile M&A transactions and cross‑border restructurings — involvement in major deals in the UAE and Austria during senior roles in previous firms (e.g., divestments within the Austrian Volksbanken group; Nortel Networks restructuring; private equity investments into Themis Bioscience). Source: https://slg-strohallegalgroup.com/jakobkisser/
• Past leadership roles in top international firms (Senior Associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Director Knowledge & Compliance at Schoenherr) — underpinning a robust corporate/M&A practice and cross‑border regulatory expertise. Source: https://slg-strohallegalgroup.com/jakobkisser/