References

JUVE Handbook

“With its focus on reorganization and insolvency employment law, the recognized boutique is well positioned for times of economic crisis. However, before the M&A market took a break due to Corona, transaction-related advice also developed into an important field of advice. In particular, cooperation with law firms without their own labor law practice brought new clients, who now also rely on the experienced team for ongoing advice. For instance, the lawyers advised the French Lactalis Group on an acquisition in Germany and now on collective bargaining negotiations. The shopping cart inventor Wanzl, which relied on the boutique for the first time in collective bargaining issues in 2019, was advised by the firm. The team now also advises on co-determination and occupational pension issues. This mandate is also an example of the team’s increasing cross-location cooperation and specialization. The latter also manifested itself in a stronger focus on the pharma and healthcare sectors. In addition to developing its own focus areas, the firm also honed the career prospects for its associates in other respects: it introduced counsel status and appointed a Sal. partner. In this way, the firm also wants to get a grip on the high turnover among young lawyers. So far, the team has grown less organically than through lateral hires, including in Munich, where it most recently brought in a counsel from Latham as a salary partner.”

JUVE Handbook

“Munich continues to be the defining location of the employment law boutique, which is recognised above all for its restructuring advice. However, the Hamburg and Berlin offices are visibly developing into equal locations. In addition to the two partners with a focus on technology who joined in 2017, the company pension expert Beck of Berlin, in particular, is becoming more visible in the market. The team had a lot to do not only in the insolvency-related environment but also in transaction support. Regular cooperation with corporate law firms without their own employment law teams often results in a subsequent need for advice. For example, the firm was recently retained for the post-merger integration of Bosch-Druck and now advises the buyer on staff reductions.“

JUVE Handbook

“The employment law boutique, known especially for their consultations on restructuring and compliance, has now strong personnel capacities in all 3 locations.”

“To use the lawyers’ specialized knowledge optimally the law firm places a large focus on collaboration across locations. For instance, the lawyers from Munich regularly utilize the expertise in company pensions of a Berlin partner and through Schmädicke’s internal transfer from Munich to Hamburg the ties between the two offices have grown stronger. The transactions business in Munich continues to invoke increasing interest.”

JUVE Handbook

The law firm is active nationwide and remains recommended in the field of labor and employment law. It is well known in the market in particular for its advice in connection with compliance mandates. Altenburg here often acts alongside criminal lawyers. In Hamburg too, a competitor testified that the team around Schommer “continues to be very active in expanding its location”. Moreover, the office in Berlin experienced a further boost last year when a partner joined from Gleiss, mainly in the area of advise on company pension schemes. The team furthermore benefits from the newly gained expertise in the recently expanded advice in relation to transactions alongside law firms without own labor and employment law practice, such as for ProSiebenSat.1. Altenburg often is also involved in the secondary labor and employment law integration. Integration zum Zuge. Further personal growth at the associate level hence was logical.”