Labor and Employment Law

Our labor and employment attorneys advise German and non-German entities, as well as executives, on complex labor and employment matters.  We also represent our clients during tough negotiations and regularly litigate before German labor courts.

Labor and employment law issues often play a central role for corporations. Our labor and employment attorneys advise on all aspects of labor and employment law, including drafting compliant job advertisements, preparing employment agreements (German employees often have individual written employment agreements), negotiating with works councils, terminating employees (there is no such thing as employment at will in Germany), and on complex restructurings.

On a day-to-day basis, employers are required to comply with any number of German labor and employment provisions, whether in the form of statutes, administrative regulations, or contracts. Because German labor and employment law is vastly different than in many other countries (e.g., the relatively generous rights granted to employees, works councils, and one tier management for most GmbH’s), German employers, as well as employers outside of Germany, often find that they quickly reach their limit unless they get good professional advice.

Our labor and employment attorneys advise and represent companies, management boards, supervisory boards, and managing directors in all types of labor and employment law matters. This includes, in particular, restructurings, preparing and negotiating reconciliation of interests agreements and social plans in connection with mass layoffs, and negotiating any aspect of Germany’s Labor-Management Relations Act (this typically means negotiating with a works council).

As for individual employment matters, we draft and negotiate employment agreements (with employees) and service agreements (with managing directors). A particular focus of our work is to advise employers before, during, and after the termination of employees (both individual dismissals and mass layoffs). We also litigate before all German labor courts wrongful dismissal claims that employees often file after having been terminated (which, of late, are more prone to include also a claim of discrimination). Our labor and employment attorneys also routinely advise on issues concerning temporary employment, international transfers, and company pension plans.

Our clients benefit from the many years of experience of our highly-qualified attorneys who provide individually-tailored solutions.