Employment | Europe

A&O Shearman has notable experience assisting clients with claims of harassment and age discrimination, representing them in court proceedings, as well as advising on internal investigations. The law firm often acts for clients on the termination of senior employees and on contractual negotiations with them. The team advises on internal reorganisations and the transfer of employees, including the lending out of personnel. The law firm additionally offers expertise in negotiations over collective bargaining agreements and social plans, as well as issues raised by social elections, remuneration policies and pensions law. Team members also advise on working from home policies.

Stibbe is a high-quality, full-service law firm with an accomplished employment team. The team has a strong focus on contentious employment law matters, representing employers in disputes over working time schedules, litigation about employment status, social security disputes and concealed employment investigations. In addition, the law firm handles complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying. Stibbe advises on restructuring processes and collective dismissals. Team members have experience dealing with strikes and advising on the transfer of employees from different jurisdictions.

ALTIUS has a broad employment law practice, advising employers on both collective dismissals and contentious individual terminations. The law firm is active on a number of contentious matters, including harassment cases, as well as social security and payroll disputes. On the non-contentious side, the team advises clients on contract negotiations and bonus scheme agreements. ALTIUS has a number of clients from the sports sector, representing both individuals and clubs, as well as corporates operating in the technology, automotive and consumer goods industries.

The Belgium team at CMS collaborates with the law firm's offices across Europe to advise on global reorganisations and the cross-border transfer of employees. The law firm also advises on flexible working hours, social elections, collective bargaining agreements and social security mandates. It assists with collective dismissals and claims for unreasonable dismissal, as well as acting on contentious matters concerning the employment status of individuals in the gig economy. Team members offer further experience in pensions law matters and whistleblowing investigations.

Van Olmen & Wynant often assists public sector clients with employment law matters. The law firm advises on a number of employment matters in the Benelux region, such as the transfer of employees. The team also acts on termination mandates, acting for employers and employees, and handles collective dismissals. Van Olmen & Wynant additionally acts on internal investigations, discrimination cases and negotiations with trade unions. Team members often assist with negotiating employment contracts.

DLA Piper handles both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. The law firm represents clients in collective and individual dismissals, including for serious cause, as well as in social inspections and social security disputes. The team also has experience in whistleblowing and workplace accidents. It additionally acts on the transfer of employees and the negotiation of collective labour agreements.

The employment law team at Linklaters supports the law firm's well-regarded corporate department and the law firm's offices across Europe to advise on the employment aspects of multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions. Additionally, it advises clients on incentive plans and working time regulations, as well as on contractual issues and self-employment status matters. The team represents clients in social inspections and employee dismissals.

Littler frequently assists clients with the employment law aspects of corporate transactions, advising on TUPE and post-acquisition employee integrations. The law firm also acts on the closure of plants, assisting with subsequent mass dismissals. In addition, the team assists with negotiating outsourcing contracts and with remuneration issues. Team members have further experience in employment litigation, including contentious management terminations.

The Belgian employment team at Baker McKenzie works closely with the law firm's corporate team and its offices in other jurisdictions to advise on the employment aspects of M&A transactions and global restructuring processes. Team members also act for clients on collective dismissals and the termination of individual employees, as well as representing employers in disputes with works councils.

Based in Diegem, newly established law firm ELL offers cross-border capabilities for a broad range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. The team is instructed to assist with collective and individual dismissals as part of corporate restructurings, including the termination of protected employees and the negotiation of social plans. It is equally well versed in the harmonisation of employment conditions, employee transfers and regulatory compliance. The department also acts on social elections and benefits packages.

Fieldfisher assists clients with harassment and discrimination claims, as well as advising on senior management dismissals and restructuring matters that lead to terminations. The law firm advises clients on flexible working and whistleblowing policies. Additionally, its lawyers assist with issues concerning self employment status and employee pension schemes. The team acts on the employment aspects of M&A transactions.