Mr. Votava is a graduate of University of Vienna Law School and Danube University in Krems (Degree in European Law). In May 2006, he also graduated cum laude from Fordham Law School with an LL.M. degree in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law.

During his studies in Austria Mr. Votava has worked with the Austrian Patent Office, with a Viennese law firm, and with an Austrian IT-Service company. In 2000/2001 he participated in the European Law Moot Court for the University of Vienna, where his team ranked third overall. Thereafter, Mr.Votava was engaged in the creation of a comprehensive revision of a commentary on Austrian Commercial law.

Mr. Votava is a member of the American Foreign Law Association ("AFLA") and he is also co-author of EU State Aid Law Yearbook 2008, 2010 and 2013 published by NVW in Austria.