Led by the ‘very experienced’ André Marc, Allen & Overy Luxembourg‘s 13-strong team has ‘deep and broad knowledge’ across the gamut of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, from both an individual as well as collective perspective, for an exclusively employer-focused client base that includes a raft of well-known names across the financial services, industrial and retail sectors. Part of the team’s strength lies in its ability to provide truly integrated solutions to clients on major global projects, where it can resource matters alongside colleagues from across the firm’s international network, as well as utilising the expertise of lawyers in other complementary practice areas. The ‘very pragmatic’ Gilles Dall’Agnol ‘knows labour law and regulatory matters very well’, and his recent promotion to partner reflects the esteem in which he is held by clients, including many within the asset management sector. Recently promoted to counsel, Maurice Macchi is ‘very knowledgeable‘ across a range of employment issues affecting global banks with operations in Luxembourg and is one of a number of more junior practitioners at the firm who are receiving superb market recognition, including ‘outstanding’ counsel Christophe Ernzen for his ‘practical advice‘, particularly from a collective labour law standpoint. Since research concluded, Sabrina Bodson left the firm.
Employment in Luxembourg
Allen & Overy Luxembourg
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Gilles Dall’Agnol;Christophe Ernzen; Maurice Macchi; Gabrielle Eynard; Nathaël Malanda
Testimonials
‘The legal advice is always to the point and usable in practice. They do not provide mere legal opinions but actual real usable advice.’
‘It is a forward leaning team that supports us proactively with solutions to issues that arise within various fields.’
‘Very deep as well as broad knowledge. Good values and integrity shown in all situations.’
‘They are THE place to go to for labour law in Luxembourg. The team therefore, next to the deep and proven knowledge of the law and court rulings, has a deep understanding of the market and market practices.’
‘I very much appreciate the team’s clear and tailor-made answers to our questions. They have a broad spectrum and are always up-to-date on new developments.’
‘Christophe Ernzen is always available, and extremely knowledgeable.’
‘Gilles Dall’Agnol is very reactive and reliable. He knows labour law and regulatory matters very well and can be very pragmatic and take real positions.’
‘André Marc and Gilles Dall’Agnol are both very experienced partners in employment law’.
‘Maurice Macchi is very knowledgeable on employment law, I never heard from him “let me search and get back to you”. Each time I call him I receive the best advice possible for our company, and I appreciate it a lot.’
Key clients
Brookfield
Ferrero
HPS Investment Partners
Quintet Private Bank
Schroders
Starwood Capital Group
Stepstone
Danske Bank
Work highlights
- Assisting Brookfield in the expansion and HR structuring of its Luxembourg office.
- Assisting Ferrero in the restructuring of its substantial pension assets and reserves.
- Assisting HPS in health and safety measures around Covid-19.
Arendt & Medernach
Arendt & Medernach is a popular choice across the gamut of contentious and non-contentious advice, including as it relates to strategically important matters and guidance on the employment law ramifications heralded by the Covid-19 pandemic. The ‘responsive and commercial‘ Philippe Schmit is ‘able to distil complex legal concepts into simple language’, while his ‘internationally-minded approach‘ makes him particularly well-suited to work on behalf of global employers, including within the financial services sector. Noted for his ‘sympathetic and pragmatic’ approach, team head Louis Berns
is justifiably regarded as ‘one of the best labour lawyers in Luxembourg’ as a result of his longstanding expertise, work which has recently included the provision of employment law advice in the context of large-scale company reorganisations.
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The responsive team provides well-thought through advice and in a very timely manner.’
‘The team as a whole are clear experts in their field but are also attuned to the needs of large commercial banks and organisations – their advice is consistently clear, practical and pragmatic.’
‘The team is efficient, competent, and customer-oriented.’
‘Louis Berns is one of the best labour lawyers in Luxembourg, with an outstanding experience. The advice is always very good and precise.’
‘Where Louis is concerned, I will say that he is an extremely brilliant, intelligent, careful, sympathetic and pragmatic lawyer.’
‘Philippe Schmit is internationally-minded, responsive, commercial and a great resource for the global employers we advise.’
‘Philippe Schmit is a pleasure to work with and is able to distil complex legal concepts to simple language which a non-Luxembourg lawyer can understand. He is incredibly responsive and understanding and I always feel as though my matters are in a safe pair of hands.’
Key clients
Stabilus Group
Airbnb
Summit Partners
BGL BNP Paribas
Guardian Industries
Bain Capital
Northern Trust Management Services Limited
Talkwalker
IEE
Bitstamp
Work highlights
- Advised a leading multinational financial services company, in the context of a moral harassment complaint.
- Advised a listed company in the context of the management of the overall challenging relationship between the company’s management and staff delegation.
- Representing a multinational banking group before the Labour Court in the context of a litigation with a former employee claiming the payment of disability pension arrears covering a six-year period in addition to related damages.
Castegnaro, member of Ius Laboris
Well-established employment law boutique Castegnaro, member of Ius Laboris has an ‘excellent reputation’ in the local market and is frequently sought out by employers from across a range of industry sectors to provide advice on day-to-day HR matters, litigation and projects. Founding partner Guy Castegnaro has excellent credentials in the market, both in terms of his fee-earning work, as well as his thought leadership and speaking engagements. Other recommended partners include Christophe Domingos, who specialises in collective employment matters and Ariane Claverie, whose broad offering includes advice on terminations, working hours, sickness and social security, data protection and secondment.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The firm has an excellent reputation.’
KLEYR GRASSO
Headed by Christian Jungers, KLEYR GRASSO‘s 17-strong team has the critical mass to be able to handle a tremendous volume and range of contentious and non-contentious matters for local and international employers, including advice on remuneration policies, as well as on large-scale redundancy procedures. Jungers has particular strength advising on collective bargaining/social plan negotiations and is also well-versed at advising on individual and collective terminations. Benefiting from ‘great knowledge of employment law, procedures and current litigation’, recently promoted partner Céline Defay is a popular choice among employers negotiating settlement agreements with outgoing employees, as well as defending claims of discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Other key lawyers:
Anissa Bali; Céline Defay; Philippe Ney; Sandra Rapp; Christophe Ney; Laure Woehrling; Daniel Nerl
Testimonials
‘A multilingual team, very reactive. We receive regular newsletters on what’s new in Luxembourg in terms of employment law.’
‘Very significant employment team which has a deep and practical knowledge of employment law.’
‘The team has a deep and practical knowledge of employment law. The lawyers provide practical legal advice and a commercial approach to employment law-related questions. Good market insights and always a good risk-based approach.’
‘Céline Defay knows and understands the business. Céline has a unique knowledge of the local laws and institutions. With her large experience, she’s an exceptional advisor.’
‘Céline Defay is very reactive, always available and has a great knowledge of employment law, procedures and current litigation. She always answers questions in a timely and precise manner.’
‘Daniel Nerl is responsive and provides high-quality advice.’
‘Sandra Rapp and Anissa Bali – very responsive and very proactive and always propose practical solutions.’
Key clients
G4S Luxembourg
Saint-Paul Luxembourg
SES
Vodafone Procurement Company S.à r.l.
BDO
Cargolux
Unalome Legal Sàrl
Unalome Legal Sàrl entered the market in 2022 following its launch by highly regarded duo Cindy Arces and Marielle Stevenot. The pair have vast experience advising large-scale multinational companies across the spectrum of employment law issues affecting their Luxembourg operations.
Practice head(s):
Cindy Arces; Marielle Stevenot
Adam & Bleser
Appreciated for its ‘very pragmatic and hands-on’ approach, employment boutique Adam & Bleser has a ‘strong reputation in advising employees in contentious labour law cases’. Founding partner Romain Adam is pivotal to the firm’s success and ‘has sharp expertise in defending employees in settlement negotiations or litigation cases’.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Julien Konsbruck; Melvin Roth; Melanie Hubsch; Anna Ratajewicz
Testimonials
‘The firm has deep knowledge on employment law issues and beyond and has a very strong reputation in advising employees in contentious labour law cases.’
‘A professional team and very good knowledge of Luxembourgish law and jurisprudences in employment matters.’
‘The team is very knowledgeable and handles disputes mainly on the employee side in a professional manner.’
‘The firm is a very pragmatic, hands-on and pleasant team. They are technically good, good negotiators knowing at all times what a reasonable outcome in court may be, with the consequence that they are not coming up with unrealistic demands (that make it impossible to reach an agreement).’
‘The lawyers have a very commercial approach and have shown accessibility and reactivity.’
‘Romain Adam has sharp expertise in defending employees in settlement negotiations or litigation cases. He has a strong reputation in handling complex matters in a smart and pragmatic way, providing a hands-on approach and accurate advice to solve issues.’
BSP
BSP provides ‘practical and pragmatic guidance’ to an employer-focused client base across a range of advisory, transactional-related and contentious matters, often with a multi-jurisdictional angle. ‘Very responsive and client-friendly’ team head Anne Morel ‘provides insight into best market practices’ and as part of her broad practice regularly handles litigation relating to discrimination, terminations and non-compete violations.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The impressive employment practice is very proactive in terms of updates and information which we can pass onto our client contacts.’
‘They provide practical and pragmatic guidance with a good understanding of the commercial imperatives.’
‘Anne Morel is very responsive and client friendly. She really knows her stuff.’
‘Anne Morel has a good understanding of our business and the challenges we have had over the last few years and has helped us to achieve pragmatic business outcomes.’
‘Anne Morel is really hands on and provides insight into best market practices (and not only legal views).’
Clifford Chance
‘Able to find the right balance between technical knowledge and commercial application’, Clifford Chance excels in providing strategic and holistic advice to international banks and asset managers across myriad employment issues, including advice on remuneration policies and corporate governance, related to their operations in Luxembourg. Team head Albert Moro has ‘deep and broad experience and knowledge about all employment-related issues’, from both an individual and collective law perspective. He also regularly provides labour law input pursuant to transactional work handled by the firm.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is really accessible and has a deep knowledge of the issues we discuss.’
‘The team was able to find the right balance between technical knowledge and commercial application.’
‘The very pragmatic Albert Moro has deep and broad experience and knowledge about all employment-related issues.’
‘Albert Moro is very reliable, available and his advice is still accurate and delivered in time.’
Elvinger Hoss Prussen
Elvinger Hoss Prussen is adept at handling the full range of individual and collective employment issues, including advice on contract drafting/amendments and renumeration, for an employer-focused client base that includes many within the banking and asset management space. Pierre Elvinger co-heads the team alongside Florence Apostolou and is particularly noted for his employment litigation expertise, including as it relates to unfair dismissal and data theft.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
MOLITOR Avocats à la Cour SARL
Led by the ‘extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic‘ Régis Muller, MOLITOR Avocats à la Cour SARL
‘s versatile practice includes employer-focused advisory/projects matters, as well as the representation of executives (including those within the financial services space) in employment litigation. Managing partner Michel Molitor is, according to one client, ‘one of the best employment lawyers in Luxembourg‘ and is particularly well-suited to advising on high-stakes matters involving potentially damaging reputational management issues.
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is very responsive and works extremely professionally.’
‘They provide tailor-made and pragmatic advice.’
‘Michel Molitor: one of the best employment lawyers in Luxembourg. He is very dedicated to his client and has a very pragmatic approach when dealing with clients’ issues.’
‘Regis Muller is extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic. He always makes himself available to assist.’
Bonn & Schmitt
Co-headed by litigators Alain Grosjean and Pol Steinhäuser, Bonn & Schmitt remains best-known for its representation of employers in relation to risk management and formal litigation, including as it relates to the defence of unfair dismissal claims. Gabriel Bleser‘s arrival from Moyse Bleser Avocats a la Cour enhances the team, particularly in light of his overarching labour and social security expertise.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
CM Law
At CM Law, ‘outstanding’ team head Catherine Graff provides ‘well-thought-out, pragmatic and effective’ advice to an employer-focused client base, including on labour law issues brought about in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Graff’s expertise covers the waterfront of contentious and non-contentious matters, including in non-standard situations where her ‘out-of-the-box thinking’ is particularly appreciated.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Catherine Graff is an outstanding professional, who always provides high- quality advice in non-standard situations and puts in place tailor-made strategies in order to achieve the expectations of her clients.’
‘Catherine Graff provides out-of-the-box thinking and has a deep understanding of the context.’
‘Catherine Graff works closely with her clients to provide legal services that are catered specifically to their needs in a challenging and constantly changing market including during the Covid-19 pandemic period. She assists her clients to overcome their most complex legal issues. Her high quality services allow us to adopt a well-thought-out, pragmatic and effective approach to prevent conflicts arising and to implement the appropriate measures.’
Linklaters
Benefitting from ‘extensive knowledge of the applicable labour laws and regulations’, Linklaters provides a ‘highly professional‘ service to core clients of the firm, including numerous insurance and financial services entities, across a range of advisory and project-based matters. Counsel Audrey Bertolotti heads the team and ‘provides high-level advice’ to many large international businesses on their Luxembourg-based employment issues, as well as in the context of multi-jurisdictional mandates.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Extensive knowledge of the applicable labour laws and regulations, together with a very hands on and responsive style.‘
‘Highly professional, both content wise and timing wise.’
‘Audrey Bertolotti provides high level advice and understands the needs of a business requiring often advice on short notice.’
‘Audrey Bertolotti and the team provided very useful and detailed advice on the matters requested, with a friendly and collaborative approach.’
Luther S.A.
Led by Marie Sinniger, Luther S.A. provides ‘client-oriented and efficient‘ advice across a range of contentious and non-contentious labour law matters, for standalone and existing clients of the firm, including multinational corporate leviathan Altice.
Testimonials
‘The partners are always happy to discuss and share ideas.’
‘They listened to our needs and were able to provide appropriate advice.‘
‘This firm is very attentive to their clients. I was pleased with the outcome of our case and would highly recommend them.’
‘Very client-oriented and efficient.’
Key clients
Altice Group
PwC Legal Luxembourg
PwC Legal Luxembourg‘s team is now led by Sabrina Alvaro. Alvaro handles employment, social security and immigration law matters for a range of domestic and international clients. Cindy Arces and Marielle Stevenot left the firm.
Practice head(s):