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.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Key clients
- Airbus Group
- Freenet Group
- Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack GmbH & Co. KG (Madsack Media Group)
- Onyx Power Group
- wefox group
- Grover Group GmbH
- Ralph Lauren UK Limited
- DIAGEO Germany GmbH
- Revolut Limited
Work highlights
Advised Airbus Group on employment-related aspects of a spin-off with roughly 4,000 employees affected, including legal transfer of employment and related negotiation with works councils.
Advised Madsack Media Group on employment-related aspects of AI implementation, notably co-determination process with different works councils.
Advised Freenet Group on the closure of its subsidiary Gravis Computervertriebsgesellschaft mbH, including negotiations on reconciliation of interests and social plan, as well as overseeing the closure of approximately 35 branches with roughly 500 employees affected.
Practice head
David Plitt
Other key lawyers
Christoph Seidler