Wolfgang Maschek’s practice includes the representation of both private and public sector clients at EU and national level across various regulated industries and policy matters. His focus areas include environmental and chemicals policy, international trade and foreign direct investments, including investor-state disputes, financial services, anti-money laundering/counter terrorism financing, taxation and technology/ICT and data privacy-cybersecurity matters, including the evolving EU regime on data and artificial intelligence. Wolfgang chairs our strongly growing European Public Policy Practice, with members spread across our 16 European offices.

Wolfgang’s practice group has been recognized as one of the top public policy law firm offerings in Brussels in The Best EU Public Affairs Consultancies & Law Firms Guide every year since 2019.

Wolfgang was previously Senior Counsel and Head of the European Regulatory and Public Affairs department at a global financial services provider. Until 2006, Wolfgang worked for the Austrian Central Bank, where he was responsible for communication with the European institutions and for strategic advice related to European developments affecting monetary policy decisions. Previously, he worked for the European Commission and for the Oesterreichische Kontrollbank.

An active member of various Brussels-based EU trade associations, Wolfgang previously served as the vice-chair of the European Payment Institution Federation (EPIF) and chair of its Technical Committee. He was also a member of the EU Payment Services Market Expert Group, the European Retail Payments Board (ERPB) and the World Bank’s Global Remittances Working Group, amongst others. Wolfgang was a frequent speaker on retail payment services regulation and its evolution, including on the impact of the increasing digitalization of the financial services industry (e.g., FinTech/RegTech).

Wolfgang is a member of the Board of Directors of the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation, which promotes the role of public service and pro bono work in the practice of law and the development of public policy. Under Wolfgang’s leadership, a new collaboration was established between the foundation and the prestigious College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium as well as its campus in Natolin, Poland. He also spearheaded our firm's collaboration with the Salzburg Global Seminar on fostering diversity in the European public policy scene.

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  • Devising lobbying strategy and policy engagement for a leading European chemicals company regarding new EU plastics strategy and related trade association management at the EU and national level.
  • Supporting a US not-for-profit organization in the healthcare sector in its European market entry and creating a governmental affairs function.
  • Providing EU legal and policy advice to a US producer of food and beverages with global reach to support an acquisition in Europe and general business expansion.
  • Providing EU legal and policy advice to a US social media platform with global reach related to proposed new EU telecommunications law and related advocacy activities.
  • Advising a European investor group acquiring cross-border assets in a sensitive strategic industry on engagement and advocacy strategies with local political stakeholders and supervisory authorities.
  • Providing a Chinese car manufacturer with regulatory and strategy advice at the EU level and navigating opportunities and challenges arising from Brexit.
  • Supporting a Chinese handset manufacturer and internet services provider in its European market entry and expansion and building up of a governmental affairs function.
  • Supporting a US multinational conglomerate that manufactures industrial products, including aircraft engines and aerospace systems, in its large-scale acquisition in Europe and providing related policy advice.
  • For a US investment fund, identifying business opportunities arising due to Brexit and related strategic engagement opportunities with policymakers in the UK and at the EU level.
  • Providing Brexit-related legal and policy analysis, including in-depth impact analysis on business, to a global aviation services provider.
  • Monitoring and analyzing relevant EU developments and the related policy engagement strategy for a Japanese producer of agricultural machinery.
  • Providing a legal lobbying strategy in shaping proposed new renewable EU energy law to a European renewable energy trade association.
  • Providing legal lobbying and EU regulatory and policy advice to a US online retailer with global reach.
  • Providing communications and public advocacy advice to a newly established trade association representing the European plastic industry sector. 

Education

  • Columbia Law School, LL.M.
  • University of Vienna, Master in Law
  • University of Vienna, Master in Economics

Admissions

  • New York, 2010

Memberships & Affiliations

Certifications

  • Bank Compliance Officer
  • Data Protection Officer

Languages

  • English
  • German
  • French
  • Recognized in Chambers Europe 2020 for: Europe-wide - Regulatory: Government and Public Affairs

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  • Moderator, “Future of EU Payments,” Sixth Annual QED Conference, Brussels, 5 February 2019.
  • Panelist, “Brexit Question Time – What You Really Need to Know About Brexit,” 12 November 2018.
  • Moderator, “Future of EU Payments,” 5th Annual QED Conference, Brussels, 30 January 2018.
  • Co-editor, “Foreign Direct Investments from Emerging Markets: The Challenges Ahead,” Palgrave, 2010.
  • Co-author, “Foreign Direct Investments by Emerging Market Multinational Enterprises: The Impact of the Financial Crisis.” Palgrave, 2010.

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