Employment Law

We have one of the largest and highest-capacity employment law practices in the German market. While the focus of our advisory services is on collective employment law, we are also very competent advisors in the area of individual employment law. And something very unusual for a large law firm: we have a long tradition of providing top quality advice in all areas of employment law, not only in the context of transactions – even though it goes without saying that we also provide transaction advice with great expertise. Our many years of experience help us ensure that our clients in both the private and the public sector receive efficient and excellent advice.

The large size of our team means that we have significant capacities in the area of employment law and, therefore, can respond at any time, even at very short notice, to an increased demand for advice. It further means that our clients can benefit from a very broad range of advisory services and that we are also in a position to cover all special areas of employment law, such as collective bargaining law, company pension schemes or the protection of employee data, and to provide an appropriately qualified lawyer at any time.

Each company has a unique identity and culture, which is why our advisory services are tailored to suit your needs. Our team provides great legal and economic expertise and is able to develop a thorough understanding of the special operational needs of your company. We advise you at a national and international level because comprehensive employment law advice often requires taking into account EU law and European jurisprudence, and also because issues involving international aspects account for an increasingly larger share of the advisory services rendered. With our offices in Europe and Asia and our international network of partner law firms, we are very well positioned worldwide.

Our approach to solving problems includes carrying out a legal assessment taking into account the economic goals, the practical feasibility of possible solutions, and the question of whether these solutions can be communicated to the workforce, the owners and the public. Only then can we develop the ideal solution for all employment law issues together with you and successfully implement this solution on a long-term basis at your company.

Our range of advisory services

Advising on business restructurings, including the splitting, merging and closing of businesses
Assisting with corporate restructurings, in particular, advising on matters relating to co-determination in supervisory bodies
Providing advice in connection with transformations, for example, a company’s transformation into an SE or cross-border mergers, including conducting negotiations with employee representatives
Advising on business transfers
Providing insolvency employment law advice

Negotiating with works councils
Advising on co-determination issues, works agreements, reconciliation-of-interests agreements and social compensation plans
Advising on arbitration committee proceedings
Advising on the introduction of modern remuneration systems
Advising on how to make working time models more flexible
Drafting work rules, labour standards and working time models
Drafting guidelines for the posting of employees

Advising on matters pertaining to collective bargaining law, a change of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, company-specific bargaining agreements and supplementary collective bargaining agreements
Negotiating with trade unions
Litigating to avoid strikes

Drafting employment and service contracts, of whatever kind
Advising on the termination of employment contracts, the right to give notice, and cancellation agreements
Advising on the liability of management board members and managing directors/D&O liability
Advising on stock option plans and variable remuneration models
Advising on employee invention law
Litigation
Advising on the protection of employee data

Advising on the posting of employees, including drafting contracts for expats
Advising on foreign employment law

Structuring, closing, modifying or restricting pension funds
Enforcing pension claims
Carrying out due diligence reviews under company pension law and drafting contracts in connection with transactions
Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA)
Setting up and modifying company pension systems
Advising on the transfer of company pensions
Advising on company pension law in the context of a company’s liquidation or insolvency

Providing compliance advice with regard to social security law, in particular, assisting during audits by pension insurers
Advising on whether an activity is subject to or exempt from mandatory social security contributions, in particular, carrying out proceedings to determine a person’s status for social security purposes
Providing structuring advice (at national and international levels) and drafting contracts
Advising employers on contributions and benefits law, in particular, on unemployment benefits, wage subsidy allowances during short-time work and pensions
Advising on tax and social security issues in connection with personnel-related measures (outplacements, volunteering, social compensation schemes)
Representing clients before public authorities and social courts

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