CMS' sizeable and thematically broad employment practice covers the whole array of individual and collective employment law. Domestic and foreign corporations, DAX companies and governing bodies can rely on teams from a total of eight German locations that frequently act in cross-border matters; as does Gerlind Wisskirchen, who specialises in advising international corporations. Key themes include restructuring and associated business transfers, staff reductions as well as reconciliation of interests and social plan negotiations, while collective bargaining law, corporate co-determination, outsourcing, transformations and advising executives also form part of its core offering. The group acts with a sectoral focus on the automotive, energy, technology, real estate and life sciences industries and is jointly led by restructuring expert Daniel Ludwig and Amelie Schäfer, who is experienced in compliance and the use of external personnel. The latter recently took over co-practice group management from Martina Hidalgo (restructuring and transaction support), who will remain with the team. Alexander Bissels is a key contact for external personnel deployment issues, which saw an uptick in instructions in the recent past; he is part of the core team alongside Björn Gaul (restructuring, outsourcing and more flexible personnel deployment), counsel Saskia Pitzer (restructuring, contracts, termination disputes) and senior associate Kai Roters (company agreements, reconciliation of interests and social plans). In January 2023, Benedikt Forschner (design and implementation of sustainable compensation systems) made partner, while Eckhard Schmid (board and managing director consulting; compensation systems) retired in the summer of 2023.

Gleiss Lutz is one of the top addresses for German employment law and demonstrates particular strengths in assisting with restructurings and reorganisations, company pensions schemes as well as in advising executives of large German and international corporations. Transaction-related employment advice represents another mainstay, while practice head Thomas Winzer, among other matters, covers the insolvency law interface and applies his relevant expertise in restructuring and reorganisations. Here, he is further supported by Steffen Krieger, who also represents employers in disputes with employees, works and staff councils as well as with unions. The team regularly demonstrates its expertise in out-of-court and in-court disputes in landmark proceedings. The key team also features litigation lawyer Rut Steinhauser in Berlin, who specialises in technology and digital issues, and Christian Arnold in Stuttgart, who is experienced in executive compensation (according to ARUG II). Jens Günther in Munich covers issues pertaining to works constitution and collective bargaining law and places a further focus on the digitalisation of working life. In October 2023, Matthias Böglmüller (company pension provision, compliance, transaction support) joined Seitz.

With its diverse team across five locations, employment boutique offering KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht is a renowned address in Germany and advises on all facets of individual and collective employment law. In addition to national and international players, the group is increasingly advising start-ups for whom Martin Eisenbeis, who made partner in January 2024, is a key contact. Central practice pillars include restructuring and transformations, which also mirrors the focus of practice heads Michael Kliemt in Düsseldorf, Barbara Reinhard in Frankfurt, Burkard Göpfert in Munich and Stefan Fischer in Berlin. Reinhard complements this with expertise in collective bargaining law and industrial dispute rights and Fischer with experience in works constitution law and litigation, while Kliemt is also experienced in advising bodies and boards of directors – another mainstay of the practice. Recent instructions further included transaction-related employment matters, ESG, compensation and compliance issues, including internal investigations, as well as matters pertaining to company pension schemes, corporate co-determination and employee data protection. The importance of whistleblowing and whistleblower protection advice was underlined with the promotion of Anja Dachner to the partnership in January 2023. In August 2023, Christoph Seidler (restructuring, collective employment law) joined Osborne Clarke.

With locations in Cologne, Munich, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt and a rapidly growing team, Seitz focuses its employment law advice on restructuring and large-scale projects. Most recently, it was particularly the team's growth that made headlines: at the beginning of 2023, a team of over twenty people joined from ADVANT Beiten, including Christopher Melms (works constitution law, collective bargaining law, industrial dispute rights), Wolfgang Lipinski (restructuring, transformation, remuneration and working time models), Daniel Hund (restructuring, transformation, deployment of external personnel), Stefan Lochner (restructuring, collective bargaining law, collective employment law), Kathrin Bürger (collective bargaining law, flexible working time models, compensation models) and Christina Kamppeter (restructuring, transformation, compliance, employment litigation), while Matthias Böglmüller (company pension provision, compliance, transaction support) also joined from Gleiss Lutz in October 2023 as salary partner. As a result, the practice is thus able to provide advice on the entire spectrum of employment law as well as on related corporate and insolvency matters, which it recently demonstrated in the restructuring of Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof;  counsel and litigator Maximilian Schmidt also has expertise in employment-related sports matters. The team is led by name partner Stefan Seitz, who is experienced in collective bargaining, company constitution law expert Thomas Kania, and Marc Werner, who is also experienced in collective bargaining. In January 2023, Hannah Krings (group restructuring, collective employment law), Andreas von Medem (restructuring, insolvency-related advice, collective bargaining and industrial dispute rights) and Piero Sansone (restructuring, transformation, insolvency-related issues) made partners.

Mainly assisting with collective employment issues, Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH applies a full-service approach and is regularly instructed to advise on restructuring and reorganisations, staff reductions, including volunteer programs, balance of interest negotiations and social plans, as well as company pension schemes and collective bargaining law issues. Practice head Paul Schreiner has a similar focus and is particularly active in restructuring under co-determination law. Robert von Steinau-Steinrück is one of the key contacts for outsourcing, compliance, employment disputes, works constitution and collective bargaining law, while cross-border projects are often handled by Axel Braun; he is also experienced in operational reorganisation. In July 2022, Kerstin Gröne (restructuring, litigation) and Paul Gooren (collective bargaining law, workforce reductions, compliance, works constitution law) made partners.

Noerr impresses with expertise in restructuring, transactions, collective agreement negotiations and operational changes, including reconciliation of interests and social plan negotiations, as well as in pension obligations and co-determination issues. In the contentious and preventive sphere, the practice advises on employment law compliance and associated internal investigations and assists with court and conciliation board proceedings that are based on management separations, among other matters. Competences in outsourcing, data protection, the use of external personnel and company pension schemes complement the group's offering; Stefan Schwab and Benjamin Jahn are among the key contacts for the latter, although both are also experienced in transactional support. Practice head Andreas Butz in Düsseldorf and Patrick Mückl focus on restructuring and reorganisation, while Mückl also handles insolvency-related issues. Boris Blunck (regulated remuneration, termination of employment and service relationships with managers and board members) made partner in January 2024.

Employment law boutique Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law, which operates from six German locations, offers comprehensive advice on all individual and collective employment issues and hereby focuses on the financial services, IT, healthcare, energy, logistics, manufacturing and service industries; in addition to established companies, the group also advises start-ups. Verena Braeckeler-Kogel is among the key contacts for players in the financial services and insurance sectors, while Jan Rudolph is experienced in supporting automotive and chemical companies. The practice's thematical range is similarly broad and includes company pension schemes and co-determination management as well as HR compliance, restructuring, collective agreements, data protection and company agreements. Name partner Thomas Wahlig is an experienced advisor for transaction-related employment issues and practice head Tobias Pusch is adept in advising executives, while Jochen Keilich as well as of counsel Georg Annuß have deep expertise in assisting governing bodies. Thorben Klopp, who is experienced in restructuring and company constitution issues, joined the team in March 2023 from Littler.

Under the leadership of Markus Künzel, ADVANT Beiten's employment team advises on the full spectrum of individual and collective employment issues with a focus on restructuring and reorganisation as well as transactions and collective bargaining issues. While Mark Zimmer (transaction support, employment compliance) joined from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in October 2023 and Andreas Imping from Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner in early 2024, the reporting period was marked by numerous departures: in October 2022, Andreas Reuther (restructuring, transaction support, business transfers) joined POELLATH, followed by the departure of a team of more than twenty lawyers at the beginning of 2023 to Seitz, including Christopher Melms (works constitution law, collective bargaining law, industrial dispute rights), Wolfgang Lipinski (restructuring, transformation, remuneration and working time models), Daniel Hund (restructuring, transformation, deployment of external personnel), Stefan Lochner (restructuring, collective bargaining law, collective employment law), Kathrin Bürger (collective bargaining law, working time and remuneration models) and Christina Kamppeter (restructuring, transformation, compliance, litigation).

A&O Shearman extensively assists with individual and collective employment matters and is also experienced in employment litigation. Advice focuses on temporary employment, collective bargaining and industrial disputes, regulated remuneration, employee data protection and company co-determination as well as transactional support. Recently, the group has also been frequently instructed to assist with working time laws and whistleblower issues. Restructuring expert Markulf Behrendt in Hamburg leads the team, which also includes Thomas Ubber, who is experienced in collective bargaining as well as in averting strike action. Peter Wehner complements the practice with longstanding experience in company pension schemes, particularly in the structuring of pension systems within a transactional context.

Baker McKenzie demonstrates special expertise at the corporate interface and thus in employment matters pertaining to transactions and post-merger integrations as well as to restructuring and reorganisations. In this context, advice on personnel costs, staff reductions and pension law issues was increasingly called upon in the recent past. The practice has further expertise in data protection, digitalisation, the use of external personnel and compliance, including internal investigations, for which Bernhard Trappehl and Steffen Scheuer rank among the key contacts; Scheuer jointly heads the team with Christian Reichel, who is adept at works council and union negotiations, as is Alexander Wolff. The significance of outsourcing advice was underlined with the promotion of Katja Häferer  (also transactional support) to the partnership in the summer of 2022. Christian Koops (restructuring, mass layoffs, use of external workers) made partner at the same time.

Littler covers all individual and collective employment issues, including restructuring, the introduction of IT systems and associated data protection issues, remuneration, working time recording and occupational health and safety as well as compliance issues. Due to its international network, the practice is also well positioned to assist with cross-border matters such as global mobility. Skills in the contentious sphere range from separation and conflict management to mediation; Thomas Griebe specialises in the latter. The practice acts with a sectoral focus on pharmaceuticals, transport, insurance and telecommunications, while it recently also assisted companies from the consumer goods sector with forensic issues. Key contacts include Jan-Ove Becker and Dagmar Lessnau (both restructuring, co-determination and works constitution law) and Dennis Lüers (restructuring projects, especially in the automotive sector). Matthias Pallentin (occupational safety, compliance, mediation) and Christoph Kaul (restructuring, works constitution law, separation and conflict management) made salary partners in January 2023. In March 2023, Thorben Klopp (restructuring, works constitution law) joined Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law.

Taylor Wessing's employment advice focuses on restructuring, compliance, data protection, mobile work and corporate co-determination issues. Most recently, the team also acted before the ECJ and the BAG in precedent proceedings regarding temporary employment agreements; here, Oliver Bertram and Anne Förster are the key contacts as well as for matters regarding the compliant use of external personnel. Other recent key topics included works council remuneration, the Evidence Act as well as working time recording. The team is led by Kilian Friemel, who is experienced in developing concepts for personnel, pay and working time flexibility, and includes restructuring expert Marc André Gimmy. Jan-Patrick Vogel (HR compliance and corporate compliance) made partner in May 2023.

At ARQIS, transformation and restructuring projects, including outsourcing and staff reduction measures, represent a central area of ​​expertise, also for practice head Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, who places a further focus on works council remuneration. This central pillar is complemented by experience in employment matters relating to IT, data protection and compliance; here, Lisa-Marie Niklas and Tobias Neufeld, who is also adept at company pension schemes, are among the key contacts. The client base includes medium-sized companies and DAX companies, which also recently sought advice on compensation issues. Counsel Anja Mehrtens is also part of the core team and often applies her knowledge of pension schemes and employment law compliance within a transactional context.

With a focus on collective employment law, DLA Piper routinely assists with restructuring, transactions, outsourcing, social plan and reconciliation of interests negotiations, works council matters, bonus regulations design as well as with the introduction of IT tools. The practice is also experienced in operational integration management and personnel deployment planning. At the turn of the year 2022/23, Henriette Norda, who is experienced in restructuring and reorganisations, took over the practice lead from Kai Bodenstedt (restructuring and reorganisation, bAV), who remains with the team. Jens Kirchner is considered an expert for company pension schemes, compliance and internal investigations, while renowned financial sector expert Hans-Peter Löw advises on regulatory- and data protection-related employment issues as well as on regulated remuneration.

Eversheds Sutherland's employment law support focuses on project-based advice on one hand and on ongoing assistance on the other. Key collective employment issues include collective bargaining law (Marco Ferme), negotiations with works councils and unions, reconciliation of interests and social plan negotiations, works agreements, working time regulations and remuneration models; the latter represents a focus for practice head Frank Achilles who also assists with restructuring and transactional matters. Most recently, instructions in the transactional context particularly related to post-merger integrations, including personnel adjustment measures and the harmonisation of working conditions, while other matters concerned working time recording and the Evidence Act. In May 2023, Andreas Krause (employment disputes, restructuring, board advice) made partner, while Susanne Giesecke (individual and collective employment law) left in July 2023 and now practices under perpuls legal.

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB's expertise covers both restructuring and reorganisation, including the conception and negotiation of reconciliation of interests and social plans, as well as classic areas of employment law. However, alongside its transactional support, the group's advice on temporary employment as well as collective bargaining and works constitution law form part of its core competencies. Thomas Bezani, Dirk Freihube and practice head Ulrich Fülbier are also experienced in litigation; Fülbier is increasingly applying his forensic skills in connection with compliance violations. This offering is complemented by expertise in advising governing bodies, company pension schemes as well as insolvency-related issues and social security law. In May 2023 Alexander Insam (mediation, remuneration) joined as equity partner and Martin Hörtz (compliance, deployment of external personnel) as local partner from GSK Stockmann.

Greenfort advises national and international companies as well as high-ranking managers on the whole array of employment issues This includes in-court and out-of-court representation as well as restructuring and reorganisations, including staff reductions, business transfers, social plan and reconciliation of interests negotiations, and transactional support. Expertise in works constitution law, company co-determination and the drafting and negotiation of collective agreements complement the offering, which also mirrors the focus of practice heads Mark Lembke and Jens-Wilhelm Oberwinter.

Cologne-based employment boutique Küttner Rechtsanwälte covers all facets of employment law. Central areas of expertise include restructuring and reorganisation, which are frequently handled by Thomas Niklas - who is also experienced in the outsourcing sector -,  company pension schemes as well as collective bargaining and works constitution law; matters related to New Work and AI as well as working time recording and the Whistleblower Protection Act represent additional areas of expertise, while data protection issues are handled by Thomas Faas, among others. Associate Maren Henseler is experienced in implementing compliance and whistleblower systems as well as conducting internal investigations. Thomas Köllmann (New Work, use of AI in working life) and Michel Hoffmann (advice to public sector employers) made partners in January 2023.

Schweibert Leßmann & Partner covers the entire spectrum of employment law: transactions are often accompanied by Christoph Herrmann and Rüdiger Hopfe, while Ulrike Schweibert and Simone Kühnast are among the key contacts for large reorganisation projects and restructurings; this usually involves the design and negotiation of collective agreements, advice on company transfers and staff reduction measures, the design and amendment of employment and service contracts as well as co-determination rights and remuneration issues. Contentious competencies span the representation before employment and civil courts as well as in arbitration and mediation proceedings. Expertise in employee data protection, company pension schemes and board consulting complement the advice portfolio. Elif Hoffmann-Remy (restructuring, works council compensation) joined Seitz in October 2023.

Hengeler Mueller's employment practice focuses on reorganisations and restructuring as well as transaction-related advice; this includes temporary pay cuts and remuneration matters as well as issues relating to staff reductions, short-time work, corporate co-determination and company pension schemes. The latter two subjects form part of Christian Hoefs' advice offering, who jointly leads the practice with Hendrik Bockenheimer, who is experienced in structuring, planning and implementing employment law projects as well as in advising governing bodies. The group also has forensic skills which it applies in internal investigations. Christian Häumer (restructuring, transaction support) joined KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht in September 2023.

Heuking covers a wide range of individual and collective employment law matters, which encompass transactional support, restructurings and reorganisations, including mergers and business transfers, as well as advising on personnel downsizing in the event of site closures. Practice heads Astrid Reich and Bernd Weller, who are further experienced in ​​compliance and works constitution law, also focus on these topics. Clients additionally benefit from the firm's external whistleblower protection system, which is used to analyse reported violations. In January 2023, Torsten Groß (data protection law, works constitution law) made salary partner, while Alexander Bork (restructuring and reorganisation, advice on executives contracts) and Volker Voth (restructuring, board advice) were promoted to the equity partnership.

As an integral part of its global network, Hogan Lovells International LLP's German employment practice has a particular focus on restructuring and reorganisation in the insurance, life sciences, automotive and financial services sectors. Matters are often of cross-border nature and usually led by practice head Tim Gero Joppich, who is also experienced in introducing new HR IT systems. Other team members include Kerstin Neighbor and Eckard Schwarz, both of whom are well versed in facilitating reconciliation of interests and social plan negotiations with works councils, while Schwarz also assists with employment litigation.

Employment boutique JUSTEM Rechtsanwälte covers the entire range of individual and collective employment advice, with particular emphasis on restructuring and reorganisation, compliance, data protection and internal investigations. Among other matters, Thilo Mahnhold assists with HR compliance issues pertaining to the use of external personnel and, alongside sports employment lawyer Daniel Klösel, is also experienced in data protection law; Klösel further represents clients in contentious separation scenarios. Henning Reitz and Caroline Bitsch are among the key contacts for advising banks and securities institutions; Reitz often assists with employment and regulatory issues, while Bitsch is well versed in compensation systems.

At Linklaters, restructuring, transaction-related employment issues, crisis management, compliance and company pension schemes stand at the heart of its practice; in the latter area, ongoing advice plays as much a role as disputes and transaction-related issues pertaining to pension buyouts. Financial services industry expert and practice head Matthew Devey advises on carve-outs, outsourcing transactions, business transfers and company pension issues and is thereby increasingly active in cross-border matters. He is supported, among others, by Timon Grau, who is experienced in litigation and advising governing bodies. Peter Gumnior (advising financial services players on contract drafting and compensation issues) joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in February 2024.

Oppenhoff's employment expertise covers all individual and collective law issues, with a focus on restructuring, transactions and reorganisations. This is complemented by competencies in out-of-court and in-court settlement of disputes with employees, works councils and unions which also mirrors the skills ​​of Jörn Kuhn, who, alongside restructuring and reorganisations, further handles collective arbitration proceedings and proceedings before company conciliation boards as well as company pension schemes issues.

Osborne Clarke places New Work and digital transformation at the centre of  its employment advice. Thus, instructions pertaining to the use of AI often entail discrimination protection and employee protection issues, while the group applies its expertise in New Work and Global Mobility in the context of compliance, use of external personnel and home office matters. David Plitt, who is experienced in New Work, Green HR and works constitution law, recently took over the practice management from Thomas Leister, who is well versed in temporary employment and HR compliance. Christoph Seidler (restructuring, collective employment law) joined from KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht's Hamburg office in August 2023.

Employment boutique SCHRAMM MEYER KUHNKE applies its expertise in projects as well as in ongoing advice, while cross-border matters are handled with the help of a best friends network. In the project sphere, Michael Kuhnke oversees mergers, takeovers, outsourcing and corporate restructuring, while Holger Meyer is experienced in assisting with related negotiations on collective bargaining, reconciliation of interests and social plans with unions and works councils. Insolvency-related issues are handled by Matthias Lodemann, while Nils Schramm is experienced in litigation. The importance of its employment disputes practice was underlined with Nina Tholuck's promotion to the partnership in January 2023.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP's employment team focuses on restructuring and reorganisation advice and therefore routinely assists with staff reduction measures, negotiations on interest and social plan agreements, the introduction of new group structures and associated works council structure adjustments; Andreas Wiegreffe and practice head Nikolaus Krienke usually lead here. Expertise in the representation before conciliation bodies complements its service offering. Philipp Byers (compliance, employee data protection) joined Dentons in May 2023.

With a focus on medium-sized businesses, act legal assists with the whole array of individual and collective employment law issues and makes use of a European law firm network for cross-border matters. Central pillars consist of restructuring and transactions on one hand, and ongoing advice as well as New Work and compliance on the other. Furthermore, the group has an employment criminal law expert in Thomas Block. Name partner Sven Tischendorf often acts in restructuring and transaction matters, including distressed ones, and jointly leads the practice with Stephan Schwilden, who is experienced in the reorganisation of company pension systems.

Employment boutique Altenburg Fachanwälte für Arbeitsrecht, which exclusively specialises in employer advice, operates from three German locations and assists with individual and collective employment issues; cross-border matters are handled via an international network. Key contacts include Charlotte Beck, who is experienced in works constitution law, company pension schemes and co-determination issues, and Axel Schmädicke, who focuses on restructuring and reorganisation as well as on associated staff reductions and company transfers.

The employment law experts at Bird & Bird LLP advise national and international companies as well as supervisory boards and managing directors on all areas of individual and collective employment law, including associated issues related to social security law. The group exhibits particular expertise in negotiations with works councils and unions in the context of transactions, restructurings, company relocations and company closures. This also reflects practice head Barbara Geck's compentencies, who focuses her advice on the IT, technology, metal processing, automotive, banking and financial services sectors. Artur-Konrad Wypych (board advisory, transactions, restructuring) made partner in May 2023.

Dentons' focus on collective employment law leads to regular instructions related to operational changes, co-determination and the establishment of employee representatives. The practice also advises on New Work, including on matters such as external staff compliance, HR compliance and employee data protection; the central importance of this subject was underlined with the arrival of employee data protection and HR compliance expert Philipp Byers from Watson Farley & Williams LLP in May 2023. Sascha Grosjean is also adept in the New Work sphere and jointly leads the team with restructuring expert Markus Diepold.

In close cooperation with its corporate and M&A practice groups, Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner's employment practice focuses on restructuring, reorganisations and transactions, while ongoing employment law advice represents another mainstay. From three locations, the group focuses on different areas: Sabine Schröter's team in Frankfurt is adept in assisting hospitals and medical care centres with outsourcing and restructuring measures; In Freiburg, under the leadership of Christoph Fingerle and Stefan Daub, the practice primarily advises medium-sized companies in the context of transactions and restructuring; and in Cologne, under the leadership of Sven Köhnen, the team is experienced in nationwide employment court proceedings; he previously co-led the office with Andreas Imping, who joined ADVANT Beiten as local partner in early 2024.

Düsseldorf-based boutique offering Fringspartners specialises in advising companies and bodies as well as their representatives. Board members of large German and international corporations frequently instruct the practice with the conclusion or termination of employment relationships. The team also handles collective employment law matters, including negotiations with employee representatives in the context of restructuring, which are often led by Michael Bogati. Ulrich Wahlers complements this with expertise in litigation and works constitution law.

Start-ups, medium-sized companies, financial institutions and DAX companies instruct Greenberg Traurig Germany‘s employment team with various individual and collective employment law issues and benefit from the group’s special expertise in works constitution law, co-determination law  and employment dispute law as well as in restructuring and compliance. Former practice head Kara Preedy, who also acts within the restructuring and transactional environment, moved to KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht in March 2024.

GvW Graf von Westphalen covers the whole array of individual and collective employment issues; on the collective level, the group recently experienced an increase in instructions related to restructuring, also pertaining to negotiations before conciliation bodies. Expertise further includes banking employment law and advice to public bodies. This mirrors the expertise of practice head Philipp Wiesenecker, whose team was strengthened by the arrival of equity partner Thomas G.-E. Müller (employee data protection, executive consulting) and salary partner Andreas Kössel (individual and collective employment law, litigation) in November 2023, who both came from LUTZ | ABEL RECHTSANWALTS PARTG MBB. Additionally, Hans Georg Helwig (collective employment law, employee data protection, compliance) joined from Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein in January 2024.

Hoffmann Liebs applies its individual and collective employment skills within restructuring and reorganisation contexts, including advice on social plan and reconciliation of interest negotiations, collective bargaining, compliance and insolvency-related topics. This also represents the focus of practice heads Heiko Langer and Jörg Podehl, while Langer has further expertise in works constitution law and termination scenarios, including mass layoffs, and Podehl is experienced in supporting companies and managers in contract negotiations. Michael Klipp (downsizing measures, false self-employment, international employment law) returned to PETERS Rechtsanwälte in March 2023.

Latham & Watkins LLP's employment practice has restructuring measures, including insolvency-related restructuring, at its heart, which is not least due to the close cooperation with its M&A and private equity teams. In addition to cross-practice cooperation, its employment advice is often characterised by cross-location and cross-border support. Practice head Tobias Leder usually leads on these matter, and also represents companies in litigation before employment and civil courts. The industry focus lies on healthcare and life sciences.

Loschelder advises medium-sized and listed companies, public employers, hospitals, church-related institutions and public corporations on restructuring-related issues and the entire spectrum of day-to-day matters; these include digitalisation, employee data protection, the use of external personnel and modern forms of work as well as variable remuneration systems, know-how protection and company pension schemes. Key contacts include Detlef Grimm (employee data protection, digitalisation, modern forms of work), Sebastian Pelzer (organisational advice, negotiations with employee representatives), Martin Brock (employment of external personnel, company pension plan) and Stefan Freh (contract drafting, termination disputes, works constitution and company law), who made partner in January 2023.

Employment boutique MAINWERK Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB's dual focus spans ongoing employment law advice on one hand and restructuring support on the other. This includes, among other matters, negotiations with works councils and unions as well as management separation. Henning Wiehe, who is experienced in international transactions and restructurings, financial sector expert Ulla Rupp, Kai Golücke (works constitution law, restructuring, IT codetermination, data protection), Oliver Driver-Polke (restructuring) and litigator Kerstin Panhorst are among the key contacts.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP's focus on collective employment law is evident in its routine support of reorganisations, restructuring and associated staff reduction and outsourcing issues as well as social plan and reconciliation of interests negotiations. Practice head Volker Teigelkötter frequently leads on these matters, which often entail cross-border aspects. Other recent matters included temporary employment, working time recording and remuneration.

orka's advice portfolio spans the entire spectrum of individual and collective employment law with a focus on restructuring, IT system implementation, company pension schemes and the use of external personnel. The practice is led by Guido Matthey (additional expertise in board advice and litigation) and Simon Grosse-Brockhoff (focus on restructuring and works constitution law), both of whom are extensively active in employment matters. Lukas Stähler (individual and collective employment law, litigation) joined STUDIO LEGAL Rechtsanwälte in May 2023.

With a sector focus on energy, technology and life sciences, the employment team at Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB recently handled numerous matters pertaining to mobile work and employee data protection, including the negotiation of company agreements for cloud-based software, as well as company agreements, internal investigations and cross-border restructuring. The global head of its employment practice Manfred Schmid also leads the German team and complements the group's competencies with expertise in know-how protection and the handling of employment and criminal law violations.

White & Case LLP's employment expertise particularly often shows in transactions, reorganisations and restructurings, which are frequently of cross-border nature due to the group's integration into the international network. The cross-practice cooperation with corporate, insolvency and private equity experts provides further skills in distressed transactions. The team is led by Hendrik Röger, who applies himself extensively in transaction- and restructuring-related matters. Sebastian Stütze, who is experienced in insolvency and PE-related issues, made partner in January 2023.

CBH Rechtsanwälte covers all individual and collective employment law matters, including negotiations with works councils and employee representatives, conciliation board procedures, restructuring and remuneration issues as well as advice to governing bodies and employment law litigation. Instructions predominantly come from medium-sized companies, church employers and public sector players. Kamil Niewiadomski (contracts, litigation) made partner in January 2023.

Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH applies its individual and collective employment expertise to ongoing advice on restructuring and reorganisations as well as on company pension schemes, employee data protection and the posting of employees. Klaus Heeke (restructuring, employee posting) leads the team, which welcomed Rafael Hertz (employee data protection) from kallan Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH in April 2023 and saw Nathalie Polkowski (employee data protection, employee posting) join WTS.

Competencies of Flick Gocke Schaumburg's employment practice span unions and works councils negotiations, transaction-related employment matters, individual personnel measures, litigation in connection with staff reduction measures and works constitution disputes. Tobias Nießen, who is extensively experienced in individual and collective employment law, heads the practice.

Due to its close cooperation with the firm's corporate and M&A team, Jones Day's employment practice is particularly experienced in supporting transactions as well as restructuring and reorganisations; here, clients also benefit from the group's international network. The practice is further experienced in employment disputes before court and arbitration boards. Friederike Steininger, who is also adept at company pension schemes and false self-employment audits, heads the practice.

LUTZ | ABEL RECHTSANWALTS PARTG MBB's employment practice is led by Henning Abraham, who frequently leads advice on matters relating to transactions, restructuring and reorganisations, while New Work, the use of external personnel and compliance as well as management consulting represent additional practice pillars. The significance of digital transformation and New Work was underlined with Claudia Knuth's promotion to the partnership in January 2023. Thomas G.-E. Müller (employee data protection, governing bodies advice) joined GvW Graf von Westphalen in autumn 2023.

michels.pmks Rechtsanwälte's employment practice focuses equally on day-to-day matters as well as on assistance with projects such as restructuring and reorganisations. Thus the group advises clients from the manufacturing and media industries, medium-sized companies, corporations and the public sector on various individual and collective employment law issues, including mobile work as well as working time and remuneration models. This expertise is complemented by litigation skills and knowledge of social insurance and health law. Gunther Mävers (project work, employment migration law) and Marcus Michels (governing bodies consulting and project business) in Cologne as well as Sebastian Maiß (New Work, day-to-day business) in Düsseldorf jointly head the practice.

Raue's individual and collective employment law advice ranges from reorganisations and restructuring, including collective bargaining agreements, social plan and reconciliation of interests negotiations to New Work, compliance and employee data protection as well as social security law-related matters, which are covered by Sascha Herms. He jointly leads the team with Judith Heyn, who is also experienced in company pension schemes; both practice heads are well versed in litigation.