About me
»Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity« — Lucius Seneca
With this in mind, for me every mandate begins with a well thought-out strategy. This includes the steps of target analysis, negotiating power, option evaluation, decision-making and tactics.
I always advise and represent my clients very personally and in close consultation with them. I do not understand my mandate to mean that I prescribe what I consider to be the correct standard “medicine” on the basis of my specialist knowledge; rather, I always take my clients with me when I develop a tailor-made strategy for them and evaluate all conceivable options for action. I do not understand my mandate to mean that I prescribe what I consider to be the correct standard “medicine” on the basis of my specialist knowledge; rather, I always take my clients with me when I develop a tailor-made strategy for them and evaluate all conceivable options for action.
The prerequisite for this is that I first explain the legal background to my clients in an understandable way. My many years of experience as a lecturer in employment law help me here.
No case is dealt with “routinely”, but each mandate is a very special individual case that deserves to be treated as such.
Moreover, no legal case is an isolated individual case, but is embedded in a larger context. That is why, as part of my advice, I offer not to look at the current case in isolation, but also to see the “big picture” and include other relevant aspects in the strategy planning.
After all, I see it as part of the trust placed in me that I always offer my clients different perspectives and point out alternative paths that are not always obvious at first glance.
If I have aroused your interest, I would like to introduce you to the areas and services in which I can support you with your concerns.
Individual Employment Law
In cases of individual employment law (i.e. conflicts between employers and employees), I first offer you a factual analysis of your objectives, followed by a realistic prognosis of success. On this basis, I will work with you to develop a strategy which, depending on the situation, may initially involve out-of-court solutions, a negotiated settlement designed for the long term and/or the judicial enforcement of your rights.
If an out-of-court settlement proves to be more promising for you, I will also accompany you on this path in close consultation and effective representation. Depending on which tactic proves to be better for your personal goal, I will represent you as a lawyer or remain in the background in close consultation (including formulation recommendations, etc.).
In addition, employment law disputes are often based on deeper conflicts. I offer to include these in the strategy finding process. In conflict situations, choosing separate paths is often the better solution in the long term; in such cases I will be happy to advise and/or represent you in negotiating a termination agreement that is safe for you.
I am also happy to support you with the review or drafting of employment contracts and work with you to develop a strategy to ensure that your working conditions are flexible and secure in the long term.
Works Constitution Law
In works constitution law mandates, I offer you a factual target analysis as a first step. On this basis, the negotiating power can then be realistically analyzed and a negotiating strategy developed. In doing so, I make sure that the issue-related strategy also fits in with your overall strategy.
In the subsequent negotiations, I will represent you in close joint coordination and by constantly adapting the strategy. I involve you closely in every phase of the development and implementation of the strategy and provide you with comprehensive information about the opportunities and risks of further possible paths.
In judicial proceedings before the labor court, on the other hand, I represent you by analyzing the prospects of the proceedings in detail and involve you closely at every stage of the proceedings. Here too, I offer to embed the individual proceedings in your overall strategy.
I will be happy to provide you with comprehensive legal and strategic advice and representation
- in negotiations on all issues relating to enforceable and voluntary co-determination (Mitbestimmung),
- in the drafting, negotiating and review of works agreements (Betriebsvereinbarungen),
- in conciliation committee proceedings (Einigungsstelle) of all kinds,
- in labor court resolution proceedings,
- in the event of mass redundancies, plant closures or other operational changes (e.g. organizational changes),
- in negotiations on a reconciliation of interests (Interessenausgleich) and/or a social compensation plan (Sozialplan),
- in connection with a transfer of business and restructuring under the German Reorganization Act (Umwandlungsgesetz),
- in negotiations on working hours and working time accounts, technical equipment and data protection,
- in the development, amendment and negotiation of remuneration systems,
- in the area of occupational health and safety,
- in the case of individual personnel measures and approval replacement procedures,
- in works council and supervisory board elections and election challenges,
- in connection with matrix organizations,
- in workshops and closed meetings with the aim of defining objectives and opinions and developing an overall strategy
and much more.
Seminars
I am happy to offer you an in-house seminar that is tailored to your content and organizational needs. In order to achieve not only a great, but also a long-term learning effect, I do not give PowerPoint lectures, but rather involve my participants using interactive methods and learning tasks as well as varied practical exercises. These methods are based on learning psychology, scientific studies and years of experience. Creative visualization and learning games add to the fun of learning together.
In-house seminars also offer the advantage that I can incorporate specific, current issues from your day-to-day business and work on them together with you.
You will see that employment law is by no means “dry” if it is taught methodically and with practical relevance and fun in learning.
In my seminars, you will receive didactically prepared learning materials and an edition of “Labor Laws” for each participant. The visual presentation and documentation produced during the seminar, including the solutions to the exercises, will be produced electronically and made permanently available to you after the end of the seminar.
Workshops
Workshops and closed meetings offer the rare opportunity to work together on current issues and concerns in a protected setting away from the daily work routine and to develop a long-term strategy beyond the day-to-day business. This can involve upcoming negotiations, personal conflicts, creative solutions to complex problems, the development of an overall strategy and much more.
I am happy to lead and accompany such workshops and closed meetings for you. Depending on your wishes, I can moderate the exchange of ideas and opinions in the group or contribute to a sustainable result with my own proposed solutions. From a legal point of view, I support the opinion-forming process by explaining the relevant legal framework and embedding the proposed solutions in it. In terms of methodology, I make sure that creative ideas are given space and that all group members are involved and the focus is maintained. Thanks to creative visualization, all participants always have an overview.
The jointly found results are then documented in a clear protocol.
Mediation & Moderation
There is no doubt that getting justice in court or obtaining a ruling in your favor in a conciliation committee (Einigungsstelle) gives you a good feeling. And even those who fail with their case can learn important lessons for future strategies and grow.
However, when it comes to resolving conflicts permanently and improving cooperation in the long term (be it in the employment relationship or between the parties in the company), “paragraphs” and courts are often not the right address. In my experience, mediation and moderated discussions between the parties have proven to be far more effective and satisfactory in the long term.
I would be happy to accompany you on this path – even if it is in a first attempt – as a non-partisan moderator or even in the context of mediation with patience, constructive guidance, freedom for creative solution proposals, knowledge of human nature and sensitivity.