CMS' employment team is one of the absolute frontrunners and provides comprehensive advice on all aspects of individual and collective employment law. The firm operates from a total of eight German locations and routinely cooperates with other locations of its international firm network on cross-border issues. Amelie Schäfer (compliance, use of external personnel) and Daniel Ludwig, who is experienced in operational changes and restructuring, jointly lead the team, whose sector expertise includes energy, automotive, technology, real estate and life sciences. Core competencies span restructuring, associated negotiations on reconciliation of interests and social plans, as well as corporate co-determination, collective bargaining law and outsourcing, although advice to board members and managers represents another strength; in the latter context, the group recently assisted with council remuneration among other matters. Björn Gaul complements the advice repertoire with expertise in compensation structure adjustments as well as in matters pertaining to flexible working hours and compliance, while Gerlind Wisskirchen frequently advises globally active corporations on restructuring. Counsel Saskia Pitzer and senior associate Kai Roters, who is experienced in dismissal protection proceedings, are key contacts for litigation and arbitration.

Gleiss Lutz is one of the top addresses for German employment advice and impresses with its experience in management consulting, company pension schemes and company co-determination as well as in negotiations on reconciliation of interests and social plan negotiations with works councils as part of restructuring and reorganisation processes. Recently, the practice also increasingly assisted with temporary employment, whistleblower protection and compliance. Christian Arnold, who is experienced in concluding and terminating employment contracts with board members and managing directors, is one of the key contacts, as is Steffen Krieger, who frequently advises on insolvency-related and transaction-related issues. Thomas Winzer (variable remuneration systems, restructuring) heads the team, which saw Jens Günther, who is experienced in collective bargaining and works constitution law, leave for Seitz in June 2024. Kathrin Haußmann (employee data protection, compliance and co-determination) left the team at the turn of the year 23/24 and is now self-employed.

KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht is one of the top addresses and comprehensively covers individual and collective employment law. The team's strengths include restructuring and transformation support, supervisory board and management advice as well as company pensions. The previous management quintet consisting of Michael Kliemt (restructuring) in Düsseldorf, Barbara Reinhard (collective bargaining and employment disputes) in Frankfurt, Burkard Göpfert (transformation) in Munich, Henrik Lüthge (New Work) in Hamburg, and Stefan Fischer (works constitution law) in Berlin recently welcomed Martin Eisenbeis (outsourcing), who made partner in January 2024 at the firm's new Cologne office, and Kara Preedy (compliance), who heads the Berlin location together with Fischer, into its ranks. The latter joined the firm with a team from Greenberg Traurig Germany in March 2024, including Konradin Pleul (works constitution law and restructuring). Preedy and Pleul boosted the group's expertise with regards to New Work, employee data protection and works council remuneration. Nicole Enke (restructuring, collective employment law) joined SGP Schneider Geiwitz & Partner at the end of 2023.

Seitz occupies a leading position in the employment arena and comprehensively covers all individual and collective law issues. The team's strengths include assisting with major employment projects, such as restructurings, transformations and transactions, as well as advising boards and executives. Most recently, the firm advised on remuneration issues in companies and on employment compliance. The core team includes Stefan Seitz, Marc Werner, Wolfgang Lipinski, Stefan Lochner and Kathrin Bürger, who are all well versed in collective bargaining law, the restructuring experts Daniel Hund and Christina Kamppeter, as well as Christopher Melms and Thomas Kania, who are both experienced in works constitution law. Thomas Dorando (collective bargaining and works constitution law), Annika Hausmann (restructuring, negotiation of collective agreements) and Maximilian Schmidt (restructuring and transformations) made partner in January 2024. In June 2024, Jens Günther, who is well versed in collective bargaining and works constitution law, joined from Gleiss Lutz, while a three-strong team led by Bernd Weller (works constitution law, compliance) joined from Heuking in January 2025.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH impresses with sectoral expertise in healthcare, life sciences and automotive and is particularly active in collective employment law. The team's core competencies include collective bargaining law, company pension schemes and compliance issues, while restructuring and reorganisation represent another focus and includes negotiating reconciliations of interests and social plans as well as staff reductions and voluntary programs. Paul Schreiner, who is well versed in transaction-related employment law and company pension schemes, heads the team, which also counts Eva Maria Rütz among its key contacts; she increasingly advises at the interface with medical law. Daniel Zintl is experienced in assisting companies across the logistics and supplier industries and made partner in July 2023.

Noerr's team offers employment advice on restructuring, transactions and company pension schemes. Andreas Butz, who is experienced in restructuring and reorganisation, heads the team, which also focuses on advising board members and executives, compliance and associated internal investigations. Current issues relating to global mobility, outsourcing and data protection represent additional corner stones, while the group also handles contentious scenarios before courts and arbitration boards. Michael Kalbfus (IT, data protection and temporary employment) left the team at the turn of the year 23/24 and joined Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB.

Employment boutique offering Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law offers comprehensive advice on all aspects of individual and collective employment law and advises German companies, global corporations and start-ups. With a sectoral focus on health, IT, financial services, logistics, services and the manufacturing industry, the team regularly handles matters pertaining to collective bargaining law, company pension schemes and corporate co-determination. Practice head Tobias Pusch frequently acts within a restructuring context and thus assists with negotiations of collective bargaining agreements, reconciliations of interests and social plans, while Georg Annuß impresses with his advice to board members and executives. Expertise in out-of-court dispute resolution, litigation and insolvency-related issues complement the offering. The team recently underwent some personnel changes: Katrin Scheicht (financial services and automotive sectors), Anna Martin (healthcare and energy sectors) and Marius Fritzsche (restructuring, transaction-related employment support) left the team in March 2024 to found ELP. However, Walter Born joined from Covington & Burling LLP in October 2024 and is well versed in works constitution law and operational changes.

ADVANT Beiten's employment team is particularly adept at restructuring and reorganisation, including negotiations with unions and works councils on associated social plans and reconciliation of interests, as well as in the context of termination scenarios and employment court proceedings. This is complemented by expertise in use of external personnel and in transaction-related employment matters, while the practice recently also handled a number of collective bargaining issues. Markus Künzel (compensation issues, time recording and outsourcing) heads the team, which saw the departure of Christian Freiherr von Buddenbrock and Jörn Manhart to DLA Piper in April 2024; both are experienced in company pension schemes.

A&O Shearman demonstrates expertise in restructuring and transformation processes, including downsizing measures, as well as advising on compensation and employee participation programs, although the team is also well versed in board advice, company pension schemes and HR compliance. Issues of collective bargaining and employment disputes are often handled by Thomas Ubber, making him one of the key contacts for collective bargaining and defense against impending strike action. The team is led by Markulf Behrendt (restructuring, litigation, compliance) and Sebastian Schulz, who is experienced in compensation issues and transaction-related employment matters, made partner in May 2024.

Baker McKenzie excels in advising on collective bargaining law, company pension schemes, restructuring and reorganisation, as well as transaction-related aspects, while regularly cooperating with other offices in cross-border scenarios. Co-practice head Christian Reichel has a similar focus and is experienced in negotiating with works councils and unions, and in particular in negotiating European works agreements. Compliance and related internal investigations as well as contentious issues are among the core competencies of co-practice head Steffen Scheuer. Felix Diehl (cross-border restructuring and transaction support) is another key contact and made salary partner in July 2024.

As a firm specialising in employment law, Littler advises on all individual and collective law issues. Its focus rests on restructuring and transformation, including staff reductions, as well as whistleblowing, global mobility and residence rights. The importance of the latter was underlined with the arrival of salary partner Martina Schlamp from ADVANT Beiten in November 2023. Other mainstays include advice on remuneration, working time recording and company pension schemes, in which the firm recently observed an increase in instructions. Thomas Griebe, who is experienced in negotiations with employee representatives, Dagmar Lessnau (co-determination and works constitution law), Jan-Ove Becker (technology and media sectors) and Frauke Biester-Junker, who is adept at employment litigation, are key contacts. Andre Gieseler (works constitution, collective bargaining and industrial action law) made salary partner in January 2024.

Taylor Wessing's employment team has expertise in compliance, data protection, New Work and restructuring. It recently also handled matters relating to works council remuneration, and the use of external personnel, time recording and the Evidence Act represent further strengths. Kilian Friemel, who is experienced in personnel, wage and working time flexibility, leads the team, which also includes Robert Bauer (temporary employment) and Jonas Warnken (IT sector focus); the latter two made partners in May 2024. The group was additionally strengthened by the arrival of salary partner Sachka Stefanova-Behlert (global mobility) in September 2024, who previously worked in-house.

ARQIS' employment practice scores points with expertise in transactions as well as restructuring and reorganisation. The latter also covers assistance with staff reduction measures, including negotiations with unions and works councils on reconciliation of interests and social plans. Matters on compliance, outsourcing, New Work and flexible working hours represent other frequent instructions, although recently the practice has been particularly active in works council remuneration. For the latter area, practice head Andrea Panzer-Heemeier is the key contact; she also handles issues related to stock corporation and corporate law. Counsel Anja Mehrtens is another key team member and advises on company pension schemes as well as transactions and restructuring.

DLA Piper's employment team is dedicated to collective law advice and regularly handles transactions, restructurings and reorganisations as well as outsourcing and compliance matters, including related internal investigations. Henriette Norda (restructuring and reorganisations) heads the team, which includes senior counsel Hans-Peter Löw, who is experienced in advising companies in the financial services sector. The group boosted its company pension scheme expertise with the arrival of Christian Freiherr von Buddenbrock and counsel Jörn Manhart from ADVANT Beiten in spring 2024.

Eversheds Sutherland is as convincing in its advice on restructuring and reorganisation, including staff reductions and associated negotiations on reconciliation of interests and social plans, as it is in its ongoing employment assistance. Mainstays here include corporate co-determination, works constitution law, the introduction of new remuneration models and collective bargaining law. Frank Achilles, who routinely supports business transfers and transactions, heads the team, which also includes Merle Templin (mobile work, time recording and litigation representation), who made partner in May 2024.

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB's employment advice spectrum includes transactions, restructuring and reorganisation, temporary employment, collective bargaining law and insolvency-related issues. Assistance with works constitution law and temporary employment as well as representation in contentious scenarios are further areas of expertise of the team led by Ulrich Fülbier; he is experienced in negotiating reconciliations of interests and social plans as well as in advising on compliance and associated internal investigations.

Greenfort's employment team regularly advises managers and executive bodies and places a further focus on collective legal support for staff reduction measures and company transfers, including negotiations with employee representatives, as well as on collective bargaining law, works constitution law and company co-determination. Project work as well as employment disputes are additional competencies of the practice that is jointly headed by Mark Lembke and Jens-Wilhelm Oberwinter; both increasingly advise on collective bargaining contract design and subsequent negotiations.

Cologne-based employment boutique offering Küttner Rechtsanwälte advises on all individual and collective law matters. Practice cornerstones include company pension schemes, restructuring and reorganisation, collective bargaining and works constitution law, compliance and internal investigations as well as issues relating to New Work, data protection and AI. The team is also experienced in advising executives and has recently been increasingly instructed by public sector companies. Associate Maren Henseler impresses with expertise in preventive and forensic compliance and Björn Braun, who is well versed in collective bargaining law and dismissal protection proceedings, made partner in January 2024. Robert Lungerich (company pension schemes and works constitution law) became of counsel shortly before.

Schweibert Leßmann & Partner advises on all aspects of individual and collective employment law with particular expertise in supporting restructuring and transformation processes, including the negotiation of social plans, reconciliation of interests and voluntary programs in connection with staff reduction measures. Collective bargaining and works constitution law, corporate co-determination and company pension schemes represent other mainstays. Ulrike Schweibert is one of the key contacts for contentious issues; she stands out for her litigation experience before the Federal Employment Court and the European Court of Justice.

GvW Graf von Westphalen covers all aspects of individual and collective employment law. Key areas include restructuring, compliance and remuneration issues; related advice is frequently called upon by public sector clients and financial institutions, which also benefit from the team's interface expertise in criminal and social security law. Philipp Wiesenecker heads the team and is well versed in works constitution law and employment advice on large infrastructure projects.

Hengeler Mueller's employment practice offers expertise in transactions, restructuring and reorganisation, including negotiations with works councils and unions, as well as in external personnel deployment and remuneration. This offering is complemented by competencies in compliance, internal investigations and litigation. The team is jointly led by Christian Hoefs (employer co-determination, company pension schemes) and Hendrik Bockenheimer (advice to board members, project work).

Heuking's employment practice is an experienced advisor on individual and collective employment matters and frequently deals with restructuring, works agreements, employee participation, compliance and New Work as well as litigation. Recently, the group assisted with collective bargaining negotiations and employee data protection, among other matters. Since Bernd Weller (works constitution law, compliance) joined Seitz Rechtsanwaelte Steuerberater in January 2025, Astrid Reich, who is experienced in restructuring and business transfers, has headed the team alone. Timo Trefzger (employment and sports law) made salary partner in January 2024, as were Monique Sandidge (business transfers, works constitution and collective bargaining law) and Stephanie Wurm (restructuring and works constitution law) in July 2024.

As part of its international network, Hogan Lovells International LLP is predestined to assist with restructurings and transactions, while also being well versed in company pension schemes, litigation and contract drafting. The practice's sectoral focus spans insurance, automotive, financial services and life sciences. Tim Gero Joppich, who handles restructurings and transactions as well as issues relating to co-determination and termination law, heads the practice; Moritz Langemann (restructuring and staff reductions) made partner in January 2024.

Frankfurt-based employment boutique offering JUSTEM Rechtsanwälte advises on all aspects of individual and collective employment law, while focusing on assisting employers. Key areas of expertise include compliance and internal investigations - Thilo Mahnhold is one of the key contacts here - as well as working time models, works constitution law and employee participation programs. This is complemented by sectoral expertise in the financial services sector, where Caroline Bitsch regularly advises on remuneration models, while board member and executives support represents another mainstay; Henning Reitz and Daniel Klösel routinely support the latter in contentious separation scenarios.

Linklaters focuses its employment expertise on collective law issues, resulting in regular advice on negotiations with works councils and unions concerning restructuring and transformation processes. The team is also experienced in transaction support and corporate co-determination, company pension schemes and remuneration issues as well as compliance and internal investigations. Timon Grau (corporate co-determination, works constitution law) and practice head Matthew Devey (transaction support and restructuring) are among the key contacts.

Oppenhoff is extensively active in individual and collective employment law and focuses on restructuring, reorganisation and transactions, while advice on remuneration issues, company pension schemes and compliance represent other core competencies. Jörn Kuhn, who is experienced in negotiations with unions and works councils, heads the team, whose sectoral focus includes automotive, life sciences and aerospace.

Osborne Clarke's employment advice focuses on issues related to New Work, such as compliance, data protection and AI, as well as issues concerning discrimination, occupational health and safety. These topics are also addressed by practice head David Plitt, whose clients frequently seek advice on new working models and sustainability in employment relationships. The support of business transfers, transformations and restructurings as well as issues relating to works constitution law represent further areas of expertise.

Employment boutique offering SCHRAMM MEYER KUHNKE in Hamburg handles all aspects of day-to-day business and has experience in restructuring and transactions. It demonstrates particular expertise in operational changes, negotiations with works councils and unions on reconciliation of interests and social plans, and in transfer of business agreements. This is supplemented by competencies in collective bargaining law, company pension schemes, remuneration and compliance. This combination also mirrors the focus of Nils Schramm, Holger Meyer and Michael Kuhnke.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP's 'employment practice focuses on restructuring and reorganisation, in the course of which it assists with staff reduction measures and subsequent negotiations with unions and works councils pertaining to reconciliation of interests and social plans. Here, practice heads Nikolaus Krienke and Andreas Wiegreffe are among the key contacts. Other key areas include collective bargaining law, employee data protection and compliance.

The employment experts at act legal regularly demonstrate their expertise in the context of restructuring and reorganisation as well as in advising on day-to-day matters. Its law firm network further enables the group to assist with cross-border issues. Other regular instructions concern New Work and compliance as well as employment criminal law. The team is led by Stephan Schwilden, who has experience in company pension schemes, and restructuring expert Sven Tischendorf.

Employment boutique offering Altenburg Fachanwälte für Arbeitsrecht which operates from three German locations, focuses on advising employers on restructuring and issues relating to company pension schemes, the use of external personnel and collective bargaining law as well as compliance issues. Recently, there has also been increasing demand for digital employment law issues such as AI and employee data protection. One of the key contacts is name partner Stephan Altenburg, who is experienced in litigation and restructuring. Elika Schneider covers employment advice extensively and made salary partner in January 2024.

Bird & Bird LLP focuses its employment advice on the consumer goods, healthcare, IT and telecommunications sectors, while its strengths lie in restructuring support and project-related matters. In this context, the practice regularly assists with the negotiation of distribution agreements, reconciliations of interests and social plans with works councils and unions. Transactional support and interface expertise in social security law complement its offering. Barbara Geck heads the practice and is experienced in reorganisations and co-determination law.

Clifford Chance excels at providing employment advice in the context of restructurings and transactions as well as in assisting with company pension schemes, while employment and termination scenarios of executive bodies and managers and litigation represent further areas of expertise. Practice head Ines Keitel focuses on compliance advice, including whistleblowing, internal investigations and employee data protection, which also shows in the group's case load. Christopher Fischer (transaction support, company pension schemes) made partner in May 2024.

Dentons' employment advice often relates to collective bargaining issues in a restructuring context, employee data protection, HR compliance, company pension schemes and the use of external personnel. The latter two segments are focus areas for Sascha Grosjean, who jointly leads the team with Markus Diepold (restructuring).

Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner's employment team advises on restructuring and subsequent negotiations with employee representatives on reconciliation of interests and social plans as well as on company pension schemes, collective bargaining law and working time models. This is complemented by litigation expertise, which the group applies for clients in proceedings before authorities as well as in court. The practice is headed from across three locations: Sabine Schröter advises on outsourcing and restructuring in the healthcare sector in Frankfurt, while Stefan Daub and Christoph Fingerle provide transaction support in Freiburg and Sven Köhnen acts in distribution- and antitrust-related matters in Cologne. Stephanie Mayer was promoted to the partnership in January 2024 and counts transaction-related employment advice as one of her main focuses.

Employment boutique offering Fringspartners excels in advising companies and board members as well as their representatives on the termination of employment relationships and regularly represents them before courts and arbitration boards. Michael Bogati, who is experienced in collective bargaining and works constitution law, and Ulrich Wahlers, who regularly accompanies negotiations with works councils and unions concerning restructuring measures, are the main contacts.

Hoffmann Liebs is particularly dedicated to providing employment advice on restructuring and reorganisation and in this context routinely assists with negotiations on reconciliation of interests as well as social plan negotiations, while compliance, works constitution law and collective bargaining with employee representatives represent other mainstays. On a contentious level, Heiko Langer is experienced in termination scenarios as well as in representing clients in court; he jointly heads the practice with Jörg Podehl, who is experienced in contract drafting.

With a focus on employer advice, Loschelder's employment practice advises German companies, church-affiliated institutions and public sector companies on the use of external personnel, false self-employment, employee data protection and New Work, as well as on company pension schemes and the introduction of variable remuneration systems. Detlef Grimm (New Work), Martin Brock (company pension schemes and use of external personnel), Stefan Freh (works constitution law) and Sebastian Pelzer (negotiations with employee representatives, management consulting) are key team members. Arne Gehrke, who is well versed in collective bargaining and construction employment law, made partner in January 2024.

LUTZ | ABEL RECHTSANWALTS PARTG MBB's employment practice regularly receives instructions to advise on restructuring and reorganisation as well as on issues relating to New Work, digital transformation, employee participation programs and the restructuring of working time models, while advice on compliance, whistleblowing, the use of external personnel and management consulting represent other mainstays. Henning Abraham leads the team and complements this offering with expertise in works constitution law and transaction support.

Employment boutique offering MAINWERK Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB's dual focus lies on restructuring and reorganisations on one hand and on day-to-day matters on the other. The group is further experienced in management advice, employment disputes as well as negotiations with works councils; for the latter, Kerstin Panhorst and Oliver Driver-Polke are among the key contacts, while Ulla Rupp is an expert in advising financial institutions. Kai Golücke complements this with expertise in remuneration systems and working hours and Henning Wiehe with experience in transaction support.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP‘s employment practice focuses on collective law issues and impresses with expertise in restructuring and reorganisation, remuneration, company pension schemes, the use of external personnel and compliance. Practice head Volker Teigelkötter is experienced in negotiations with works councils related to restructuring and staff reduction measures, but also counts outsourcing advice among his strengths. Philipp Schäuble (remuneration systems, company pension schemes) joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in February 2024.

orka advises on all aspects of individual and collective employment law and is particularly successful in advising on restructuring, personnel adjustments and works constitution law, which also represents the focus for practice heads Guido Matthey and Simon Grosse-Brockhoff. Expertise in transactional support as well as use of external personnel and company pension schemes complements the practice's offering.

The employment law team at Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB operates with a sectoral focus on technology, life sciences and energy and assists with restructuring, transactions and internal investigations as well as compliance issues and employee data protection. Manfred Schmid leads the team at a German and global level and impresses with his expertise in know-how protection and violations under employment and criminal law. At the turn of the year 23/24, Michael Kalbfus (IT, data protection and temporary employment) joined from Noerr.

CBH Rechtsanwälte covers individual and collective employment law comprehensively and focuses on works councils and employee representatives negotiations, litigation and advice to executives and management boards. Recently, the practice also frequently assisted with compliance and whistleblower issues. Expertise in employment matters in the public sector and staff representation law complement its offering.

Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH's employment practice demonstrates expertise in restructuring and transaction-related employment matters. Its advice spectrum ranges from collective bargaining and works constitution law to employee data protection and various day-to-day matters and is regularly called upon by medium-sized companies and international corporations. Klaus Heeke, who is well versed in employee mobility and in particular the Posted Workers Directive, heads the team; Lars Hinrichs (regulated remuneration systems and company pension schemes) made partner in June 2024.

Flick Gocke Schaumburg's employment practice is particularly adept in matters relating to transactions and negotiations with employee representatives as well as in advising on collective bargaining law and company pension schemes. The group is further experienced in compliance, internal investigations and litigation. Ursula Neuhoff (restructuring, staff reductions, equal opportunities issues) made partner in January 2024 and is part of the team led by Tobias Nießen, who regularly takes the lead in negotiations on reconciliations of interests, social plans and works agreements.

Jones Day's range of employment advice includes transactions and false self-employment audits, as well as restructuring and company pension issues. The group is particularly active in matters pertaining to M&A and corporate law, where clients benefit from a cross-border expertise that is based on close cross-location cooperation. Friederike Steininger heads the practice and is experienced in negotiations with employee representatives, including those in a contentious context.

Ongoing employment advice and assisting with restructuring and reorganisation are the mainstays of michels.pmks Rechtsanwälte's employment practice. Its broad client base includes medium-sized companies, manufacturing industry and media sector players as well as clients from the public sector, which instruct the team led by Marcus Michels (organisational and management consulting), Sebastian Maiß (New Work models) and Gunther Mävers (employment migration law and litigation) to advise on all individual and collective law issues.

Under the leadership of Ulrike Conradi, who is experienced in the technology sector, Ogletree Deakins LLP handles restructuring and reorganisations, transactions and negotiations with works councils and unions, as well as matters relating to company pension schemes. The cross-location cooperation also enables the practice to support cross-border matters. At the end of 2023, Martin Römermann, who is experienced in the IT and technology sector, joined the team from SKW Schwarz, while the partner level was also strengthened organically with the appointment of Andre Appel (collective bargaining law) in January 2024.

Raue's employment law repertoire spans restructuring and reorganisation, including negotiations on collective agreements, reconciliations of interests and social plans, as well as compliance, employee data protection, New Work and company pension schemes. Issues in the latter segment are often handled by Judith Heyn. She jointly heads the team with Sascha Herms, who frequently covers issues pertaining to social security law. Litigation expertise complements the team's advisory offering.

Not least due to its cross-practice cooperation, White & Case LLP's employment practice focuses on transaction- and insolvency-related matters and thus routinely assists with restructuring and reorganisation, staff reduction measures, operational changes and conversions as well as negotiations with works councils and unions. The group is also experienced in managing outsourcing projects. Hendrik Röger leads the team and regularly advises on restructuring measures.