CMS fields a sizeable employment team with a nationwide presence which is highly involved in individual employment law matters, from misconduct proceedings and restructuring advice to collective bargaining matters. Amelie Schäfer, a go-to for HR and external personnel compliance, and Sören Seidel, who is key for complex restructurings, head up the team. Such restructurings, also a strength of Gerlind Wisskirchen, form an integral part of the practice, which often acts in a cross-disciplinary manner on international reorganisations and restructurings, spanning from intra-group restructuring between companies to financial restructuring within companies. The group also advises boardrooms, board members and managers alike. Andreas Hofelich, Nina Hartmann and Björn Gaul, key team members, are supported by Saskia Pitzer, who was promoted to partner in January 2025, and is a key name to note for HR compliance. Kai Roters is another core member.

Gleiss Lutz offers a full service within both individual and collective employment law, while simultaneously providing clients with a particular nous in cross-border employment matters, and standing out for its ability to collaborate with local authorities in the context of regulatory advice to boards and executives. Christian Arnold‘s advice is accessed by boards of renowned companies, a feature of the wider group, especially for advice on the termination of employment contracts. Steffen Krieger excels in company restructurings, as well as regularly assisting with insolvency-related and transaction-related issues, including complex reorganisations and employment matters stemming from large M&A, for which practice head Thomas Winzer stands out. Doris-Maria Schuster stands out for appeals to counsel remuneration.

Regularly advising the boards of household name companies during negotiations with councils, including the European Works Council, the employment practice at KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht stands out for its restructuring expertise, particularly with a view to the restructuring of staff members. Elsewhere, supervisory board and management advice are also core strengths of the group, in addition to its advice on company pensions. The practice can be broken down into dedicated specialised sub practice groups, with focus groups extending to particular digitalisation and data protection, whistleblowing and compliance, restructuring and transformation matters, among others. The management group overseeing the practice includes Michael Kliemt, Barbara Reinhard, Burkard Göpfert, Kara Preedy, Henrik Lüthge and Martin Eisenbeis. This team has been bolstered by a trio of new additions from Osborne Clarke in 2025, including Thomas Leister. Elsewhere, Oliver Vollstädt is a strong constitutional law practitioner who clients turn to for restructuring, employee data protection and related issues.

The global nature of the collective actions in which Seitz Rechtsanwaelte Steuerberater appears is indicative of the firm’s international presence. The group itself operates out of a total of four German locations, principally in the energy, automotive, technology, real estate and life sciences sectors, providing a range of strategic advice in these sectors. The group is formed of Jens Günther, who is at the forefront of the group’s work assisting international companies with digitisation projects in their German locations, while founder and name partner Stefan Seitz is highly engaged in restructuring projects and collective bargaining issues; such projects are also areas of expertise for the wider group. In particular, Kathrin Bürger stands out for collective bargaining matters, while Wolfgang Lipinski is key for complex restructuring and transformation projects, assisting clients with reducing staff numbers. Maximilian Schmidt is an expert in sports labour law.

Demonstrating a strong focus on employment law as a firm, Littler divides itself into industry groups offering dedicated expertise in sectors such as healthcare, retail, transport, and pharmaceuticals. Healthcare is a core sector strength of Julia Viohl, and the industry group at the firm is at the forefront of the group’s presence in employment litigation in state labour courts. Viohl is also experienced in internal investigations and sexual harassment matters. The group’s expertise extends to whistleblowing, as part of a wider involvement in restructuring and transformation mandates, which form a significant part of the group’s practice. Elsewhere, advising on pension schemes is also a strength of Tobias Berdesinski, while Jan-Ove Becker is skilled in the technology and media sectors. Lioba Lamers was promoted to partner in January 2025.

In addition to its growing presence in the firm’s Leipzig office courtesy of Daniel Zintl, Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is notable for its sector driven approach, offering advice across the healthcare, life sciences and automotive sectors most commonly. This approach is partly driven by Eva-Maria Rütz, who is key for healthcare sector and medical law matters. The logistics sector expertise is also a prominent feature of the practice, in which the team often advises its clients on extensive rationalisation and staff reduction measures. Paul Schreiner, who is well versed in transaction-related employment law and company pension schemes, heads up a team which is particularly active in collective employment law. Indeed, Robert von Steinau-Steinrück‘s collective employment law acumen extends to providing representation in the realm of industrial action. More widely, collective law issues and collective bargaining within disputes are areas in which the group is highly engaged.

Noerr is a leading destination for employment restructuring advice, which is a staple element of the employment and pensions group, made up of lawyers who often act within the context of a cross-border transaction. The regulatory arm of the practice extends to the implementation of company measures from an employment law and company law perspective, a stand-out choice for providing cross-border advice to companies regarding global mobility with the increase in remote working, and board matters reaching Federal Labour Court. Andreas Butz and Benjamin Jahn head up the team, the former of whom is adept in restructuring and reorganisations, while Jahn is key for insolvency employment law. Elsewhere in the team, Yannick Bähn is an important contact in the team for reorganisations.

Employment boutique Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law is notable for its nationwide presence, with lawyers spread across 6 offices. Managing partner Tobias Pusch has a strong reputation in the start-up scene, but also advises German companies of all sizes, in line with the wider group. Restructuring is also a core competence of Pusch and also a particular area of expertise for Thomas Wahlig; both regularly assist international clients in reorganising their corporate structures. Timon Grau, who advises comprehensively on all aspects of labour law, including transactions, works constitution law, and occupational pensions, joined the firm in August 2025 from Linklaters.

Taylor Wessing fields a diverse client base, from telecommunications and software multinationals to leading names in the aerospace sector, including the world’s largest airline American Airlines, a reflection of the group’s wider focus on inbound US clients looking to make staff reductions or to enter the market in Germany. Team members, such as labour law expert Kilian Friemel, are increasingly called upon for employment contract advice within public tenders to build upon an already diverse offering which covers the full gamut of employment law. Friemel was also appointed as co-head of the international practice group in 2025 and leads the group, bringing clients experience in matters surrounding flexible personnel, wage and working time. Marc André Gimmy chairs the Employment Committee of the German Federal Bar and is a seasoned expert in collective labor law, especially in transactions and restructurings. Oliver Bertram, who was elected firm managing partner in 2024, is another name to note, especially for advice on temporary employment and constitutional law.

ADVANT Beiten‘s spectrum of employment law advice notably reaches transactions in the healthcare sector, displaying an ability to assist some of Germany’s largest private companies in this sector. Practice head Markus Künzel regularly advises on topics such as the planning and implementation of corporate restructurings, reorganisations and transactions. Maike Pflästerer has a strong grasp of insolvency employment law in addition to handling the full gamut of individual and collective labour law issues.

Sitting within a large network leveraged for cross-border employment transactions, Baker McKenzie advises on corporate strategic and contract matters, including those relating to HR and company pension schemes. Where the group particularly distinguishes itself is in global workforce restructurings, and on the contentious side, representing clients before works councils. Steffen Scheuer leads the team alongside Katja Häferer, who is turned to by multinational clients in the management of their global workforce. Christian Koops is key for employee data protection and employment-related compliance. Felix Diehl handles all types of employment law issues, from works council issues to employment M&A.

A&O Shearman acts in large transformation projects and restructurings, which extends to advising on compensations. Experienced employment lawyer Markulf Behrendt is at the helm of the practice, offering clients a range of expertise in restructuring and compliance issues. Sebastian Schulz is a key pillar in the group’s involvement in negotiations with works councils, and fronts the group’s growing activity in international internal investigations. Former key partner Thomas Ubber left the firm at the end of April 2025 to set up a new firm, Ubber Labour & Law. 

ARQIS places a strong focus on employment law, fielding an employment practice which displays expertise in employment restructuring and reorganisation. As head of the pensions group at the firm, Tobias Neufeld is at the forefront of the team’s strategic advice on pensions. Practice head Andrea Panzer-Heemeier advises numerous large companies on matters including works council remuneration and strategic projects. The pair is well supported by Martin Weingärtner, who is another key contact in the practice. Anja Mehrtens departed from the firm in January 2025.

The employment law practice at DLA Piper, which is expanding its presence in the firm’s Düsseldorf office, is focused on providing individual and collective law advice, but with a particular proficiency in collective bargaining law. Added to this is representation in outsourcing and compliance issues and a broadening of dedicated expertise in areas such as HR compliance. Henriette Norda oversees the group, and is a standout contact for restructurings. More generally, the team’s workload also revolves around pension schemes, for which Christian Freiherr von Buddenbrock and counsel Jörn Manhart are well known. Hans-Peter Löw stands out for remuneration issues connected to board members.

Eversheds Sutherland advises clients on a range of restructuring projects, including redundancies, while a growing priority for the group lies in assisting works councils with navigating new remuneration models and systems, as part of a wider focus on collective bargaining law. Frank Achilles heads up the team and fronts many of the group’s international transactions. Co-head Bernd Pirpamer is especially proficient in collective bargaining law, particularly those involving disputes, indicative of such disputes becoming an increasing area of activity for the practice as a whole.

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB offers comprehensive labour law advice on a regular basis, often stemming from transactional mandates spanning restructuring and reorganisations, and at times from matters with a contentious element attached, representing clients such as work councils before labour courts. Team members are well equipped to advise on remuneration law, collective bargaining law, and labour law compliance more generally, while pension schemes is another core area for the group. Ulrich Fülbier and works constitution law expert Alexander Insam are at the helm, the former of whom displays a skill for negotiating reconciliations of interests and social plans.

Hogan Lovells International LLP, a firm which is an experienced advisor on internal investigations and representing clients before conciliation boards, is equally well positioned to assist with restructurings and employment transactions. Tim Gero Joppich heads the practice, a key presence in the practice’s ability to act as a long-term strategic partner for firms, routinely assisting with HR compliance and sustainable efficiency improvements. Moritz Langemann has is particularly well versed in the life sciences sector, and is often instructed on mass redundancies.

Operating as an employment boutique, Küttner Rechtsanwälte concentrates on public sector employers, excelling in collective bargaining law issues and company pension schemes. Thomas Köllmann is a versatile employment law practitioner who is also well versed in disputes. In addition, Tim Wißmann is noted for complex restructuring and transformation processes. Nicola Dienst is a key name at counsel level, regularly working closely with HR departments and works councils to assist with issues such as pay transparency, restructuring and works council remuneration.

Continuing its reputation for matters centring on restructurings, Schweibert Leßmann & Partner is thoroughly experienced in acting as an adviser for clients looking to enter the German market, providing generalised employment law advice, along with advising on specific restructuring issues such as social plans and ways of reducing staff numbers, or advising on remuneration packages. Ulrike Schweibert is key in disputes before a range of courts, including the Federal Labor Court.

Bolstered by the arrival of several lawyers from Eversheds Sutherland in January 2025, GvW Graf von Westphalen stands out for its strength regarding collective bargaining. Practitioners engage in day-to-day employment law advice such as holiday pay and remuneration advice to works councils, as well as restructuring, compliance, and works constitution law more widely. Christof Kleinmann is a strong negotiator, particularly with works councils. Philipp Wiesenecker is a key contact for clients in the public sector.

Advising on regulatory compliance issues, collective bargaining negotiations and internal investigations, Hengeler Mueller considers works councils and unions among its client base, whom the team advises on pay issues and often employment contracts. Another point of distinction for the group is its appearance in board management issues. Leading the team is Christian Hoefs who is adept in employment and pension aspects of M&A, while Hendrik Bockenheimer is especially knowledgeable on board member issues and reorganisations.

Heuking fields a stable employment team, with expertise spanning transformation and collective bargaining, providing a holistic, cross-practice offering of commercial, labour and corporate law related matters. Christoph Hexel and Astrid Reich oversee the group. Uniquely, Utz Andelewski has a background in canon law, which is utilised to assist diaconal organisations with employment law matters.

JUSTEM Rechtsanwälte, a boutique specialising in employment law, covers the full range of individual and collective employment law, sought after by employers for complex negotiations with works councils. Caroline Bitsch, Thilo Mahnhold, Henning Reitz and Daniel Klösel are key lawyers in the group, boasting an abundance of experience in the negotiation of reconciliation of interests and social plan and the drafting of both collective and individual agreements. Mahnhold excels in consulting on international corporate structures, while Klösel is known for contentious matters involvieng company executives.

Linklaters handles a high volume of private equity employment transactions and restructurings, often acting for real estate funds in relation to management buyouts and pension buyouts. A core practice area strength for the team is pension schemes advice, for which team leader René Döring is notable, leading the firm’s pensions practice. Matthew Devey is a standout contact for private equity employment transactions more generally, as well as regulated remuneration system issues. Timon Grau left the firm to join Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law in August 2025.

LUTZ | ABEL RECHTSANWALTS PARTG MBB represents prestigious clients, whom the firm advises on issues such as new work processes, compliance projects, and works council election committee disputes. Henning Abraham heads up the team, balancing a strong knowledge of works constitution law with being well reputed for reorganisation and restructuring law. As an ensemble, the group focuses primarily on works constitution issues such as restructuring, the negotiation of works council agreements, and conciliatory boards trials.

Showcasing transactional strength, Oppenhoff continues to see growth in restructuring mandates as part of a wider trend in Germany, alongside the firm's foundational capabilities in reorganisations. Company pension schemes and compliance are also key strengths, the former of which is a specialism of practice head Jorn Kuhn, a lawyer who is called upon by works councils and companies in a range of sectors, particularly the retail and consumer sector. Johannes Peter Kaesbach and Alexander Willemsen are also key team members.

Osborne Clarke advises on complex restructurings with collective labour law issues attached. The practice is led by David Plitt, who is often approached by clients wishing to create changes in employment relationships, with new compensation models or social plans. Christoph Seidler is at the forefront of many of the group’s matters, especially those revolving around negotiations with works councils. Additional areas of interest for the team include constitution law advice and dismissal protection proceedings, particularly in the retail sector. Thomas Leister departed from the firm in February 2025 to join KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB displays a growing focus in sectors such as technology, healthcare and life sciences, for companies of all sizes, utilised in a range of restructuring and employment transactions. Manfred Schmid heads up the team, with strong know-how when it comes to data protection and digitalisation in the workplace. Added to this is a heavy involvement in unfair dismissal proceedings and other litigation. Another of the group's areas of focus is temporary work, in which Michael Kalbfus demonstrates in-depth expertise.

SCHRAMM MEYER KUHNKE, a Hamburg-based employment boutique, is well reputed for acting in employment hearings. The group is strong in collective bargaining law, advising works councils and unions, which parallels with the strength of key figure in the team Nils Schramm. Further strengths of Schramm, and the wider group, include restructurings, advice to executives, and internal investigations for issues such as white-collar crime. Experienced and versatile employment lawyer Michael Kuhnke can be particularly highlighted for data protection compliance expertise.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP is known for a multidisciplinary approach, especially collaborating with its corporate and tax teams. In this regard, team members concentrate on restructuring and reorganisation, particularly Nikolaus Krienke, who is at the helm alongside Andreas Wiegreffe, and regularly fronts such restructuring projects and reorganisation projects. The latter offers extensive experience in employment court proceedings, and dismissal proceedings. The team often assists with the negotiation of various works agreements with unions in the context of collective bargaining.

act legal is called upon by some of Germany’s leading manufacturers and industrial companies for a range of employment issues stemming from M&A and restructuring, ranging from general management advice to compliance with German labour and insolvency law. Sven Tischendorf and Stephan Schwilden, an expert in company pension schemes, lead the group, the former of whom is highly active in restructuring, another strength of the group.

addworx legal Arbeitsrecht – Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB, an employment law boutique, addresses a range of topics within the sphere of company reorganisations. Charlotte Beck and Nicolas Roggel are significant figures in a practice which stands out for its collective bargaining law knowledge, and issues at the forefront of bargaining such as pay transparency and company pension schemes. Aside from providing traditional employment law advice, the group is adept in digital employment law issues such as AI and employee data protection.

Bird & Bird LLP is skilled in both individual and collective labour law matters, including project and restructuring support in a range of sectors such as technology and retail. Barbara Geck is at the helm, a veteran of international employment law, especially reorganisations and co-determination law. The group’s dedicated international HR Services Group demonstrates its commitment to day-to-day HR advice. Catharina Klumpp is another key team member, particularly for dealing with works councils.

Clifford Chance engages heavily in internal investigations, and has seen a growth in matters involving assisting with cultural reviews on the back of investigations in 2025. The group is principally focused on advice to employees in relation to reorganisations, and employment advice in the context of restructurings and transactions. Ines Keitel is at the helm, who excels in compliance advice. Stefan Simon retired from the partnership in May 2025, remaining as counsel. Christopher Fischer is a standout practitioner in relation to employment transactions.

Dentons‘ multidisciplinary approach belies a strength in assisting public companies registered in accordance with the corporate law of the European Union, and a strength in restructurings within the realm of collective bargaining. This strength is encapsulated by Markus Diepold, a restructuring expert, who oversees the team. Elsewhere, Sascha Grosjean is regularly instructed in company pension schemes and day-to-day HR issues.

The team at Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner is equally skilled in complex management disputes, and a range of employment disputes before authorities, as it is in restructuring and negotiations with works councils. The team is widely recognised for its strategic advice on outsourcing and restructuring measures, a core strength of the practice. Clients frequently turn to practice head Stefan Daub for guidance on major restructuring projects, reflecting his reputation in this area. Stephanie Mayer is a key contact for negotiations with trade unions, particularly in matters involving reconciliation of interests, social plans, plant closures, and workforce reductions. Meanwhile, firm managing partner Sabine Schröter leads the employment practice from the Frankfurt office, ensuring seamless coordination across the firm’s employment law offerings.

Hoffmann Liebs provides German companies with advice on restructuring and reorganisation issues, such as social plan negotiations arising from these events. Heiko Langer, who has over two decades’ experience in employment law, and Jörg Podehl lead the team. The pair excel in negotiations with works councils, an area in which the group at large are well established. Contentious matters also make up a significant portion of the team’s workload. Indeed, alongside the compliance team at the firm, Podehl often advises on contentious matters at the intersection of criminal and employment law. Finally, Felix Pott is particularly recognised for his expertise in advising companies undergoing financial distress or insolvency.

Cologne-based Loschelder handles a range of employment law issues, spanning from the use of external personnel to self-employment, to cases which reach labour court, as well as advising clients on the deployment of AI applications in their companies. Team leader Detlef Grimm is well versed in employee data protection, digitisation, and new work matters. Martin Brock and Sebastian Pelzer are at the helm, the latter of whom is often present in negotiations with works councils alongside advising on works agreements, and the former of whom is busy advising on company pension schemes.

Offering a strength in the financial services sector, MAINWERK Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB, an employment boutique, complements a strength in management advice with litigious expertise culminating in the ability to represent clients in court proceedings. Henning Wiehe and Emelie Genius are standout figures in the team, especially with regard to employment advice stemming from internation restructuring and reorganisations, as well as negotiations with works councils and trade unions. Ulla Rupp is a particularly strong name to consider for financial services industry mandates.

McDermott Will & Schulte is skilled in providing compliance advice and employee leasing work, such as advising on compliance with remuneration systems. Practice head Volker Teigelkötter who is often called upon for negotiations with works councils, is well supported by Thomas Gennert and Christian Rolf, who can be highlighted for employment aspects of restructurings and reorganisations. The wider group also demonstrates expertise advising board members on pension contracts, new management board contracts and remuneration packages.

orka benefits from strong cooperation with the firm’s data protection and IT teams to advise on digitisation projects, supplementing this with strong knowledge of day-to-day HR issues and employment litigation. Esther Herrnstadt, Guido Matthey, and Simon Grosse-Brockhoff are the trio overseeing the practice, among whose remit is restructuring, personnel adjustments and works constitution law and ongoing advice on collective bargaining law. Dominique Faßbender is another key name to note within the group.

Cologne-based CBH Rechtsanwälte regularly engages in individual and collective labour law advice related to day-to-day operations. An aspect of particular distinction for the team is sector-specific compliance advice, examples of which include compliance in the church sector, taking into account special ecclesiastical regulations. Works councils often access the group’s services, and increasingly those of international companies. Ernst Eisenbeis, Jörg Laber, Kamil Niewiadomski, Volker Werxhausen, André Ueckert and Thomas Ritter are all key team members.

Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH often advises on employment aspects of M&A transactions, such as restructuring advice. The group is especially skilled in co-determination law. Employee mobility expert Klaus Heeke oversees the practice, while Lars Hinrichs and the Hamburg branch of the firm, which Hinrichs leads, has forged a strong presence in the market for advice on regulated remuneration systems and company pension schemes.

Flick Gocke Schaumburg distinguishes itself by providing strategic advice on employment law issues stemming from minority stake M&A in addition to a variety of individual labour and social security law issues. Sandy Siegfanz-Strauß, who was promoted to partner in January 2025, is a key point of contact for such employment M&A, including post-merger advice. Tobias Nießen is at the helm, a mainstay for staff reduction and collective bargaining law. Ursula Neuhoff is a versatile employment law practitioner across restructuring, staff reductions, and equal opportunities issues.

Jones Day often represents employee representative bodies, advising on collective labour law issues, and restructuring transactions with an employment law angle, in addition to company pension issues. Practice head Friederike Steininger, who also oversees the Munich’s office, is at the forefront of the group’s contentious, such as labour court disputes with local works councils, and non-contentious mandates, such as negotiation of works council agreements. Paul Melot de Beauregard is key for management issues and board member issues.

Among the specialist employment lawyers at michels.pmks Rechtsanwälte who are proficient in restructuring and reorganisation, an area of proficiency for the practice, are Marcus Michels, employment migration law expert Gunther Mävers, and Sebastian Maiß, who jointly lead the team. The practice’s varied client roster encompasses subsidiaries of companies of all sizes, as well as clients straddling employment and health law, which are increasingly instructing Jannis Kamann. Consulting executive boards and managing directors on management issues is another core area of work for the wider group.

With locations in the major German hubs of Munich and Berlin, Ogletree Deakins LLP runs a practice which is well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional employment law matters, routinely engaging in restructuring and reorganisations as well as transactions. Managing partner Ulrike Conradi is an important point of contact in the group for technology companies. Experienced employment lawyer Martin Römermann also has a strong track record in the technology sector, as well as the IT sector alongside forging a niche in assisting NGOs. Jaqueline Piran departed from the firm in June 2025 to join Loschelder.

Showcasing a particular niche in complex negotiations with works councils and mass layoffs, Raue, based in Berlin, is active in both individual and collective employment law matters. Sascha Herms and Judith Heyn lead the team together, offering the full range of employment law expertise between them; Heyn is skilled in advising on occupational pension schemes, whereas Herms stands out for her knowledge in social security law. A strength in social plan advice, employee data protection law advice, and a strong presence in compliance investigations also forms a key part of the group’s expertise.

On top of excelling in negotiations with works councils and unions, the employment compensation and benefits team at White & Case LLP demonstrates a close collaboration with the firm’s restructuring team, advising on specific issues such as the structuring of portfolio employees in accordance with employment law, as well as concentrating on insolvency related advice and transactions. Hendrik Röger leads the team, giving management teams and HR directors access to advice in all areas of employment law.