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Law of NGOs & NPOs

For founders of NGOs and NPOs

  • What advantages does the Austrian association have over the German association?
  • How should statutes be drafted to optimize the legal and tax situation?
  • Many associations are charitable. What does that mean?
  • When setting up an association, I repeatedly receive requests from the association authorities for improvements. Can a lawyer help me to speed up the process of setting up the association?

For members of NGOs and NPOs

  • How can I assert my rights in the general meeting?
  • Can I sell “my association”?
  • How can I defend myself against my expulsion as a member of an association?
  • The association's internal arbitration court is already taking what feels like an eternity. Is it possible to take the matter to the state courts?

For board members

  • How do I best deal with querulous members of the association?
  • Which expenses will the association reimburse to me and which ones do I have to bear myself?
  • What are the consequences of violating the tax requirements for non-profit or charitable status?
  • Who will support me in defending against any potential board liability?

For international organizations

Austria is considered to be one of the hubs of international diplomacy, apron diplomacy and conferences. Vienna is known as the headquarters of influential international organizations such as the UN, IAEA and OSCE. One of the relevant legal bases for the activities of such international institutions is the Host State Law (Amtssitzgesetz; in long form: Federal Act to Strengthen Austria as an International Official Residence and Conference Location), which aims to promote the establishment and activities of international institutions and international non-governmental organizations, as well as the holding of international conferences in Austria.

You have never heard of the Host State Law before? No wonder: most lawyers haven't either. It is a specialized field that is neither taught at university nor practiced in most law firms. We advise more than a third of all Austrian quasi-international organizations and have extensive experience in establishing Austrian structures and the best possible location for international researchers, scientists and diplomats.

Why Schmelz lawfirm?

  • We represent a large number of associations and board members: from allotment garden associations and educational institutions to internationally active NPOs with budgets in the millions. Benefit from our many years of experience in designing legally and fiscally optimized association structures.
  • As a partner of npoAustria, an organization affiliated with the Vienna University of Economics and Business that networks and shares knowledge between associations, we have connections to both: science and practice.
  • International non-governmental organizations and quasi-international organizations can benefit from our expertise in a small but significant niche of Austrian law, the Host State Law.

NGOs and NPOs: Strongly associated with us.

 

 

Here you can find us

Vienna

  •  Währinger Strasse 16 Top 14, 1090 Wien
  •  +43 1 946 11 60
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