for sustainable decisions

Advising with Foresight

Good legal advice is about more than just applying laws. It requires an in-depth understanding of our clients' objectives, combining legal precision with entrepreneurial thinking. At OATHBERG, we translate complex issues into practical, legally sound recommendations.

Range of Services

We provide employment law advice from a single source, whether you require it for day-to-day business, complex restructuring or mergers and acquisitions.

01 Day-to-day HR

We advise employers on routine employment matters such as pay, working time, and leave, providing clear, compliant and practicable solutions.

Key Areas

We advise our clients on all employment-related matters and on their dealings with works councils and trade unions. Our areas of expertise include in particular:

  • Remuneration and working time arrangements
  • Post-contractual non-compete and non-solicitation clauses
  • Performance management
  • Dismissals due to operational, personal, or behavioural reasons
  • Cross-border deployment of workers, including residency issues
  • Employment law compliance, particularly with regard to the use of external personnel, health & safety and internal investigations
  • Company pension schemes
  • Employee data protection
  • Defence against works council co-determination demands

02 Restructuring Advice

Restructuring is more than just a legal project. By combining viable legal solutions with recommendations for processes and communication, we ensure that the desired outcome is achieved at all levels.

Key Areas

Restructuring poses significant legal and organisational challenges for companies. We support you throughout the process, from strategic preparation to implementation, and will resolutely represent your interests if legal disputes arise. Our main areas of activity include:

  • Develop robust restructuring strategies, including detailed step plans and timelines
  • Negotiate with works councils regarding reconciliation of interests and social plans
  • Plan transfer and communication measures
  • Prepare collective dismissal notice pursuant to Section 17 German Dismissal Protection Act (KSchG)
  • Prepare and conduct hearing of works council
  • Obtain any necessary official approvals
  • Represent clients in employment litigation and other labor court proceedings

03 Transaction Advice

Company acquisitions, mergers and spin-offs often give rise to questions relating to employment law. We identify risks at an early stage and implement solutions in a legally compliant manner.

Key Areas

We work with law firms that do not specialise in employment law, providing advice on all aspects of transactional employment and pensions law. We assist with national and international projects, representing either the buyer or the seller, in areas such as strategic investments, private equity and venture capital. Our main areas of activity include:

  • Conduct legal due diligence
  • Participate in the preparation of legal due diligence reports or legal fact books
  • Draft, revise and coordinate any necessary employment law documentation, e.g., information letters pursuant to Section 613a German Civil Code (BGB) and tripartite transfer agreements
  • Develop and negotiate employment-related clauses in SPAs and asset purchase agreements
  • Consult with works councils and trade unions (e.g., regarding carve-outs)
  • Assist with post-merger integration

Form and Style

Advice is most valuable when it is clear and to the point. That’s why we focus on concise, outcome-oriented communication. By avoiding unnecessary theoretical detail, we concentrate on what matters: translating our analysis into practical options and a clear recommendation for action. The result: legal guidance that supports and accelerates your decision-making where it matters most.