Overseeing legal matters for a complex healthcare organization demands both technical prowess and pragmatic decision-making – something Simone Quantschnigg has grown quite familiar with. Stepping in as General Counsel of Vamed Care group following a carve-out last year, Quantschnigg talks about her path from private practice to in-house leadership, the biggest adjustments in adopting an internal counsel role, and the forward-looking strategies she envisions for her evolving legal department.
CEELM: Tell us a bit about yourself and your career path leading up to your current role.
Quantschnigg: I studied law at the University of Vienna, did my master’s and doctoral degrees there, and later completed a master’s at the London School of Economics. Studying abroad gave me invaluable international community experience. Eventually, I returned to Vienna, finished my legal clerkship, and joined Freshfields for nearly five years in the dispute department. We handled complex litigation cases, often collaborating with different practice groups, which was very interesting and enriching.
After a while, I opted to go in-house at Vamed, then a global healthcare provider. That change required adjusting to clients and colleagues who aren’t always legally focused and balancing time constraints. Still, it’s been an extremely interesting journey. I initially worked on international projects as far away as the Kingdom of Tonga. Then, when Fresenius divested part of Vamed’s rehabilitation business and PAI Partners acquired a 70% stake, my team and I handled a wide range of legal aspects tied to that transaction. Those experiences gave me deeper insights into both healthcare facility operations and high-stakes M&A in healthcare.
Following the carve-out last year, I became the General Counsel of the Vamed Care group. Now, the organization is in transformation mode, focusing more on Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Switzerland. My priority is to establish a modern, efficient legal organization that adds tangible value for our healthcare group, patients, and shareholders.
CEELM: What was the biggest shock when transitioning to the in-house world? On the flip side, what was the most pleasant surprise?
Quantschnigg: The biggest challenge was realizing there isn’t the time or resources to examine every legal detail perfectly. You need enough confidence and pragmatism to accept decisions without having 100% legal certainty. Also, adapting to colleagues who don’t share a legal background – and may view the legal department as a hurdle – was a critical adjustment.
On the pleasant side, closely collaborating with business teams and providing solution-oriented advice has been very rewarding compared to a more traditional law firm environment.
CEELM: How large is your in-house team currently and how is it structured?
Quantschnigg: Our legal function includes around 20 professionals handling legal, compliance, insurance, and data protection. We have a central group responsible for overarching issues and then country-specific teams.
Since last year’s carve-out, when Fresenius divested part of the Vamed rehabilitation business and PAI Partners came on board, we’ve been restructuring to enhance efficiency and strengthen our legal operations. We want a cohesive setup that can support each local business arm while aligning with the group’s goals.
CEELM: How do you decide if you are outsourcing a project or using internal resources?
Quantschnigg: It depends on factors like complexity, the required expertise, and our internal capacity. If a specific matter demands highly specialized legal knowledge or goes beyond our in-house capabilities, we involve external counsel. Otherwise, we prefer to keep work in-house, where we can remain closely aligned with business needs.
CEELM: When picking external counsel, what criteria do you use?
Quantschnigg: Key selection criteria include expertise in the relevant legal field, a practical, business-friendly approach, cost efficiency, and an understanding of our industry and company-specific context.
Flexibility in fee arrangements is also helpful. Ideally, we want counsel who can collaborate closely, keep lines of communication open, and propose solutions that fit our risk tolerance.
CEELM: What has been keeping you and your in-house team busy over the last 12 months? What about the upcoming 12 months? What are you keeping on your radar that you think will impact your workload the most?
Quantschnigg: Over the past year, transaction-related work took center stage. We delved into the entire organization, addressing details that used to be handled elsewhere, like data protection or insurance matters. In parallel, we’re pursuing digitalization and efficiency.
For the next 12 months, we plan to finalize our new governance framework, streamline processes, and push for standardization. This includes exploring new methods, AI tools, and digital solutions to enhance our everyday work experience and operational excellence.
Meanwhile, we must also be mindful of growing regulatory impacts – data protection, ESG, and supply chain requirements, for instance – to ensure we’re prepared for ongoing and future developments.
CEELM: What do you foresee to be the main challenges for GCs across all sectors in Austria in the near and mid-term future?
Quantschnigg: GCs will need to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape and maintain compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Coupled with persistent cost pressures, there’s a need to balance high-quality legal support with tighter budgets.
Embracing digital transformation and integrating AI or automation into legal workflows is another challenge. Additionally, corporate governance is evolving, especially around ESG concerns and supply-chain legislation. Managing these dynamic legal risks requires agility, strategic thinking, and close collaboration with other business stakeholders. It’s certainly exciting, but GCs must be ready to adapt quickly.
This article was originally published in Issue 12.2 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the magazine, you can subscribe here.
