RuSt turned 30 this year. For three decades, it has brought lawyers, tax advisors, judges, in-house counsel and academics together under one roof, and it remains one of the fixed dates in the Austrian legal calendar. We were glad to be part of the anniversary edition.

Our partner Katrin Hanschitz took the stage with Univ. Prof. DDr. Peter Lewisch (CERHA HEMPEL) to talk about a moment many clients dread: testifying as a witness, a party or a respondent before authorities, courts or the parliamentary inquiry committee.

Good preparation starts with knowing what the person asking wants. A judge is looking for the facts, opposing counsel for weak spots, and a member of parliament often also for a headline. The risks shift with the forum as well. A witness who gives false testimony always commits a criminal offense, while in civil proceedings a party does so only under oath. Rights to refuse testimony help only if they are raised in time. Preparing witnesses is permitted, but even the appearance of influencing them is not.

Our thanks go to Katrin Hanschitz and Peter Lewisch for a great joint session, to the audience for sharing their own experiences, and to the RuSt by Business Circle team for 30 years of bringing our profession together.

Photos: Thomas Magyar x Business Circle