The 14 Best Employment Lawyers in Berlin

Dr. Henrik Göddeke is a sensible first call for employees who have just received a dismissal or a termination agreement. The practice on Leipziger Platz concentrates on dismissal protection, severance and termination and settlement agreements. He has more than 20 years of experience and can represent clients up to the Federal Labor Court. Advice is available in German, English and French, and short-notice appointments help when the three-week deadline for a lawsuit is already running.

Croset suits employees, employers and works councils who want a firm that does employment law and nothing else. Owner Pascal Croset leads a team in which every listed lawyer holds the Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht title, working from Bundesallee in Wilmersdorf with a branch in Nuremberg. Cases include dismissals, severance and termination agreements, discrimination and harassment, maternity protection and co-determination. The first phone call is free, so you can get an initial view of a notice before committing.

International staff and the companies that employ them can work with Jean-Baptiste Abel in English or French. His practice, JBA.legal, sits on Schönleinstraße in Kreuzberg and covers dismissals, severance, fixed-term contracts, works councils, holiday entitlements, references and occupational pensions. Appointments are booked online, and contact is also possible by phone, email or Threema. The first consultation is charged, but the fee is credited if the case goes to court.

Martin Sundermann suits clients who value an experienced solo lawyer over a large team. A Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht with more than 30 years of practice, he works almost exclusively in employment law from Kurfürstenstraße, close to Wittenbergplatz and Zoologischer Garten. His work covers dismissals, contracts and references, warnings and pay agreements. He does not offer free first consultations and charges a small fee instead, so expect to pay from the first meeting.

Kanzlei Erwes is convenient for employees and employers in Reinickendorf and the north-west of the city. Christian Erwes has been a lawyer since 2002 and a Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht since 2006, and he belongs to the DAV employment law working group. He handles contracts, ordinary and summary dismissals, termination agreements, warnings, notice periods and holiday claims. The first phone assessment of a dismissal is free, and a WhatsApp line is available for urgent cases.

allenstein legal is made for employees who would rather sort out a dismissal entirely online. Founded by Anne Lachmund as Lachmund Law, the firm has four lawyers working in employment law and offers a free, non-binding first consultation booked through an online calendar. Meetings happen by video, phone or email, with no office visit needed. It handles dismissals and severance, termination agreements, discrimination claims, transfers and warnings, and its website has an English version.

Employers and HR departments that want employment and tax advice from one firm are the core clients of mgp Merla Ganschow & Partner. Its employment team includes five Fachanwälte für Arbeitsrecht led by managing partner Livia Merla, working alongside tax advisors. Work covers ongoing advice, works council negotiations, dismissals and restructuring, contracts and labor court cases, and employees are represented too. Appointments are usually available the same or next working day, which matters when a separation has to move quickly.

Bechert Rechtsanwälte is a clear choice for employees and works councils, since the firm does not act for employers. From Winterfeldtstraße in Schöneberg, a team led by Fachanwälte Martin Bechert and Christian Lunow handles dismissal lawsuits, severance negotiations, termination agreements and warnings. Dismissal cases get a free initial phone consultation of about 15 minutes, bookable online at any hour. Advice is offered in German and English, and the firm can work with legal aid or a litigation funder.

Rechtsanwaltskanzlei Thum stands out for employees and works councils with a discrimination angle to their case. Leonie Thum, a Fachanwältin für Arbeitsrecht, organizes her Neukölln practice on Friedelstraße around three areas: dismissals and warnings, termination and settlement agreements, and anti-discrimination law. She also works for staff representative bodies and supports other lawyers. The website has an English version, and its relaxed tone reflects her aim of making a visit to a lawyer less daunting.

Kanzlei Schleyer suits employees who want a quick, free first opinion on a dismissal or a termination agreement. The firm on Eislebener Straße combines employment and traffic law, with a Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht on the team who concentrates on dismissal protection and termination agreements. Topics include dismissals during illness or parental leave, warnings, severance and unpaid wages. The firm usually replies within 24 hours, and first consultations in employment law are free and non-binding.

For employees in eastern Berlin, Andreas Martin offers a certified employment lawyer close to home. He holds the Fachanwalt titles for employment and family law and has been admitted since 2003. Employment work covers dismissal protection suits, wage and severance claims and reviews of termination agreements and contracts. The free initial assessment comes with a callback within 24 hours on working days, and the website has English and Polish versions.

Start-ups, NGOs and mid-sized employers form a large part of the client base at MAYR Kanzlei für Arbeitsrecht, which also acts for employees and works councils. Three of its five lawyers, Lorenz Mayr, Jon Heinrich and Emily Palmer, hold the Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht title. The firm covers individual and collective labor law, from dismissal protection and severance to co-determination and executive liability. Offices in Berlin and Cottbus serve clients across Berlin and Brandenburg, and the website has an English version.

Rotwang Law suits expats who want employment advice in English, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic. The digital firm in Neukölln puts employment law first, with Fachanwälte Mariam El-Ahmad and Dr. Nicolaj Torbohm on a team that also covers criminal and medical law. It handles severance, dismissal protection lawsuits, dismissals linked to mobbing or depression and employers' repayment claims. The first case review is free, and meetings can take place by video, phone or email.

Marten & Graner suits clients who may need both employment and family law advice from one Kurfürstendamm office. Three of its four Berlin lawyers hold the Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht title, among them Beate Marten, who is also a Fachanwältin für Familienrecht, and Martin Graner. The firm acts for employees and employers on dismissals, termination agreements and severance. A free initial assessment is offered, and appointments are often available within 24 hours.