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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'An extremely skilled and dedicated team.'
'Very large team with individual and very distinct strengths. The practice shows its great interest and effort in knowing the client inside and out in order to be able to provide targeted advice when it matters.'
'A very quick response time. Practical solutions. Honest risk assessment.'
'Gerlind Wisskirchen: Sparring partner, good coordinator of the entire employment law cooperation with CMS.'
'The employment law team is very strong in terms of expertise, but also provides great support in negotiations and strategic planning of organisational measures. I also really appreciate the international nature of the firm. What is particularly important to me is the advisory approach and the willingness to find pragmatic solutions.'
' Amelie Schäfer: Very experienced and solution-oriented. I really enjoyed working with her and her team. She is also very good at stakeholder management.'
'High level of professionalism, very easy to reach and always up to date with all the latest technical innovations.'
'Quick availability. Exceptional technical knowledge. Very good communication of legal analysis to clients. Good ability to correctly classify time requirements and meet them correctly. Good support through LegalTech tools.'
Key clients
- Airbus SE
- Carl Zeiss AG
- Dirk Rossmann GmbH
- Eneco eMobility e.V.
- Fraport
- GG Luxury Goods (Gucci)
- GGEW AG
- IKEA Deutschland GmbH
- LBBW Immobiliengruppe
- Leoni AG
Work highlights
Advice to Rhenus LMS GmbH on FORD's planned closure of automobile production in Saarlouis. Support included the preparation of negotiations on the reconciliation of interests and social plan due to the expected closure of Rhenus's operations; support of the negotiations with IG Metall with regard to the union's demands for the conclusion of a social collective agreement, a collective agreement on site security and a collective agreement on the investor search process; and the successful defense of a 'never-ending works meeting' planned by the works council as a means of industrial action by means of interim injunction proceedings before the Saarbrücken Labor Court.
Advising IKEA Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG on digitalisation projects and associated participation rights of the works council and their limits.
Advising Rheinbahn AG on the remuneration of works council members (correction of the past, realignment for the future), reviewing and redesigning processes for dealing with the works council and court proceedings. This review is part of Rheinbahn's transformation process following the change in management in 2023.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Björn Gaul
Gerlind Wisskirchen
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Saskia Pitzer
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Kai Roters
Practice head
Daniel Ludwig; Amelie Schäfer
Other key lawyers
Björn Gaul; Gerlind Wisskirchen; Martina Hidalgo; Nina Hartmann; Jacob Hinze; Alexander Bissels; Kira Falter; Oliver Simon; Benedikt Forschner; Kai Roters; Saskia Pitzer