About Me
I worked for over 15 years as an employment lawyer in major law firms and specialised employment law firms, 7 years as a partner. In 2020, I started my own employment law firm.
Employment law is my passion. I enjoy fighting for my clients before the labour courts and I love to win. But I am also fan of a good settlement that saves my clients time.
Negotiating with works councils and unions is my strength. I find it a particular challenge to analyse the interests and goals of all parties involved and to find a result that not only my clients but also the other negotiating partners are satisfied with. After all, employers and employee representatives must still be able to look each other in the eye in the future.
It is my task to find comprehensible answers to often tricky questions concerning employment law and to work out solutions together with my clients. I do not sit in my office and write expensive expert opinions that still leave my clients wondering what they should do. Instead, I often work on site together with my clients and am considered part of the team.
I am a good communicator and can empathise well with people. Therefore, clients often seek my advice on HR and communication issues which do not have much to do with the law. In more complex projects I like working together with communication experts.
Click here for my resume
- I have been a lawyer for over 14 years and a certified employment law specialist (Fachanwältin) law for more than 11 years.
- I studied law at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, at the Universitá di Bologna in Italy and in my home town Cologne.
- I have been particularly interested in employment law since my studies and it was therefore my subject of choice in both the first and second state examination.
- I did my legal clerkship at the Kammergericht Berlin. During it, I worked in the employment law department at the major international law firms Linklaters and Freshfields and I also spent part of my legal training working with an employment lawyer in Sydney.
- I was admitted to the bar in 2006 and initially worked at Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law (then “Pusch & Partner”) in Berlin for almost 4 years, one of the three specialist employment law firms that are now market leaders.
- In 2010 I joined the most renowned German tax law firm, Flick Gocke Schaumburg in Bonn. As Senior Associate and since 2013 partner, I helped to build up the employment law department there and gained many insights into tax and corporate law, which are now extremely valuable in reorganisations and M&A projects.
- In 2016 I became a partner at the employment law firm vangard in Hamburg.
- In the summer of 2019 I fulfilled my dream of taking time out to travel. I spent 11 months travelling in Asia and Europe.
- In summer 2020 I founded Kempermann Arbeitsrecht, my own law firm in Cologne.
Click here for my resume
- I have been a lawyer for over 19 years and a certified employment law specialist (Fachanwältin) law for more than 16 years.
- I studied law at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, at the Universitá di Bologna in Italy and in my home town Cologne.
- I have been particularly interested in employment law since my studies and it was therefore my subject of choice in both the first and second state examination.
- I did my legal clerkship at the Kammergericht Berlin. During it, I worked in the employment law department at the major international law firms Linklaters and Freshfields and I also spent part of my legal training working with an employment lawyer in Sydney.
- I was admitted to the bar in 2006 and initially worked at Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law (then “Pusch & Partner”) in Berlin for almost 4 years, one of the specialist employment law firms that are now market leaders.
- In 2010 I joined the most renowned tax law firm in Germany, Flick Gocke Schaumburg in Bonn. As Senior Associate and since 2013 partner, I helped to build up the employment law department there and gained many insights into tax and corporate law, which are now extremely valuable when I work on restructuring or M&A projects.
- In 2016, I became a partner at the employment law firm vangard, the German office of the world’s largest employment law firm Littler, in Hamburg. During my 3 years with vangard | Littler, I worked on countless international projects and was able to build a global network.
- In the summer of 2019 I fulfilled my dream of taking time out to travel. I spent 11 months travelling in Asia and Europe.
- In summer 2020 I founded Kempermann Arbeitsrecht, my own law firm in Cologne
- I am a member of the Employment Law chapter of the German Lawyers’ Association (DAV), the European Employment Lawyers Association (EELA) and the International Bar Association (IBA).
Lectures and Workshops
2024
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH –
Dates: April 17, 2024 Cologne, April 18, 2024 Berlin, April 24, 2024 Munich, October 8, 2024 Cologne, November 7, 2024 Munich,
November 19, 2024 Berlin
2023
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH (events held in Cologne, Berlin, and Munich)
2022
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH (events held in Cologne, Berlin, and Munich)
2021
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH (events held in Munich, Berlin, and Cologne)
2019
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH, Cologne, Berlin, Munich - Speaker in the webinar “International Pay Equity”, organized by the UK law firm GQ | Littler
2018
- Panelist in the expert panel on “#MeToo”, General Session, 35th Annual Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, Arizona
- Co-moderator in the panel “Don’t Be the Last to Know! Get a Handle on These Global Workplace Trends”, General Session, 35th Annual Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, Arizona
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH, Cologne, Berlin, Munich
2017
- Workshop “Legal Pitfalls in Investigating Internal Corporate Misconduct” with ROXIN Rechtsanwälte LLP, Düsseldorf
- Speaker in the webinar “Unions, CBAs and Employee Representatives”, Brazil: New Labor & Employment Law Webinar Series
- “Megatrend New Work – Where Do We Stand Today?”, lecture as part of a breakfast seminar with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH, Hamburg
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH, Cologne, Berlin, Munich - Speaker in the webinar “Employment Law Update for Companies Doing Business in France & Germany” together with the French law firm Fromont Briens | Littler
2016
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH, Cologne, Berlin, Munich
2015
- “Compensate Managers and Board Members Correctly!”
Workshop on compensation and contract structuring with Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH, Cologne, Berlin, Munich
2013
- Lecture “Labor and Social Security Law Topics in Temporary Employment, Outsourcing, Use of Subcontractors and Freelance Physicians”, 26th HR Managers’ Circle of German Hospitals
- Lecture “Overview of Key Developments in Case Law on Compensation in 2013”, in-house seminar for Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH
Publications
2025
- Contribution on contract structuring (pp. 253–292) in: “Martin v. Hören, Executive Compensation in Public Enterprises”, published by Haufe Verlag, 2025
- “LAG Nürnberg: Repayment of training costs”, case note on judgment of 14.08.2024 – 2 SLa 101/24, ArbRAktuell 2025, 16
- “VG Karlsruhe: Compensation for discrimination based on (severe) disability and age”, case note on judgment of 06.12.2024 – 9 K 2120/23, ArbRAktuell 2025, 80
2024
- “BAG: Collective agreement on remuneration”, case note on judgment of 05.10.2023 – 6 AZR 333/22, ArbRAktuell 2024, 72
- “LAG Niedersachsen: Damages”, case note on judgment of 27.03.2024 – 2 Sa 265/23, ArbRAktuell 2024, 331
2023
- “LAG Köln: Application of the general principle of equal treatment in church institutions”, case note on judgment of 08.08.2023 – 4 Sa 371/23, ArbRAktuell 2023, 574
- “LAG Niedersachsen: Paid leave entitlement of EWC members”, case note on decision of 15.02.2023 – 8 TaBV 15/22, ArbRAktuell 2023, 299
2022
- Contributing author in: Wagner, Payroll Tax Handbook (Part D. Employment Relationship), published by C. H. Beck, 2022, 4th edition (2024)
- “LAG Hamm: Social selection using a qualification matrix”, case note on judgment of 14.07.2022 – 18 Sa 1548/21, ArbRAktuell 2022, 545
- “LAG Berlin-Brandenburg: No legal aid for a deceased party”, case note on decision of 03.01.2022 – 10 TaBV 1629/21, ArbRAktuell 2022, 298
- “LAG Hamm: Interpretation of the normative part of a collective agreement – Calculation of holiday bonus”, case note on judgment of 04.11.2021 – 5 Sa 643/21, ArbRAktuell 2022, 77
2021
- “LAG Nürnberg: Invitation to a job interview despite lack of qualification”, case note on judgment of 20.05.2021 – 5 Sa 418/20, ArbRAktuell 2021, 558
- “LAG Hessen: No entitlement to prorated 13th salary during release period”, case note on judgment of 19.06.2020 – 14 Sa 1366/19, ArbRAktuell 2021, 280
- “LAG Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Calculation of the deadline for filing an appeal following the five-month rule under § 66 I 2 ArbGG”, case note on judgment of 01.12.2020 – 2 Sa 209/20, ArbRAktuell 2021, 117
2020
- “LSG Hessen: Recognition of work-related accidents abroad”, case note on judgment of 30.06.2020 – L 3 U 105/16, ArbRAktuell 2020, 605
2019
- “LAG Köln: Substitution of consent in a workplace without a works council”, case note on decision of 25.01.2018 – 9 TaBV 117/18, ArbRAktuell 2019, 317
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“LAG Berlin-Brandenburg: Permissibility of Fixed-Term Contracts for Substitution”, comment on the judgment of 19.10.2018 – 2 Sa 683/18, ArbRAktuell 2019, 102
2018
- “LAG Niedersachsen: Warning due to hazard notification”, case note on judgment of 12.09.2018 – 14 Sa 140/18, ArbRAktuell 2018, 582
- “LAG Berlin-Brandenburg: Enforcement against the works council”, case note on decision of 17.01.2018 – 17 TaBV 1299/17, ArbRAktuell 2018, 190
- “BAG: Night shift allowance in temporary employment”, case note on judgment of 18.10.2017 – 10 AZR 578/16, ArbRAktuell 2018, 11
2017
- “LAG Düsseldorf: Invalidity of works council elections”, case note on decision of 21.07.2017 – 10 TaBV 3/17, ArbRAktuell 2017, 502
- “BAG: Calculation basis and rate for special payments under the TV-L agreement”, case note on judgment of 22.03.2017 – 10 AZR 623/15, ArbRAktuell 2017, 330
- Littler Blog: Works Councils and Social Media in Germany
- “LAG Köln: Compensation for forfeited vacation”, case note on judgment of 10.11.2016 – 8 Sa 323/16, ArbRAktuell 2017, 178
2016
- “When are managing directors subject to payroll tax? Differentiation criteria and practical guidance”, article in ArbRAktuell 2016, 594
- “LAG Brandenburg: Hearing an employee before dismissal during off-site rehabilitation”, case note on judgment of 04.08.2016 – 10 Sa 378/16, ArbRAktuell 2016, 580
- “LAG Schleswig-Holstein: Training costs of a substitute member”, case note on decision of 26.04.2016 – 1 TaBV 63/15, ArbRAktuell 2016, 334
- “When are managing directors subject to social security contributions? Differentiation criteria and practical guidance”, article in ArbRAktuell 2016, 446
- “When are managing directors considered employees? Differentiation criteria and practical guidance”, article in ArbRAktuell 2016, 201
- “BAG: Chain fixed-term contracts in the education sector”, case note on judgment of 07.10.2015 – 7 AZR 944/13, ArbRAktuell 2016, 145
- “When cartelists retaliate – are executives and employees liable for fines and damages?”, article in ZWH 1-2/2016, 7 (co-authored with Haus and Herb)
2015
- “Corporate co-determination: Should employees abroad be taken into account?”, article in GmbHR 2015, R 161 (co-authored with Giedinghagen)
2014
- “Characteristics of a Cross-Border Transfer of Undertaking”, FGS Newsletter German Tax and Corporate Insights
- “Social security obligations for managing directors of a GmbH”, NJW-Spezial 2014, 463 (co-authored with Wirtz)
2013
- “The Managing Director of a GmbH as an Employee”, article in NJW-Spezial 2013, 655
- “Federal Labour Court tightens standards for AGG-compliant job advertisements”, article on Handelsblatt online, Rechtsboard
2012
- “The AGB control of managing director service contracts”, article in NJW-Spezial 2012, 15
Style of work
I learned my trade in major full-service law firms and the best specialised employment law firms in Germany. I work just as thoroughly and use the same research tools as the large law firms, but I have more flexibility – Not only in terms of hourly rates.
Clients
I usually work on the employer side, from German start-ups to international corporations. Among my clients are a number of family businesses and public-sector companies whose corporate culture is characterised by mutual respect and who particularly appreciate my consulting style. I also advise board members, managing directors and executives, especially in separation scenarios.
I also advise board members, managing directors and executives.
Networking
Through my many years of working for international law firms I have been able to build up a worldwide network of employment law experts. I am therefore able to provide my clients with contact persons almost anywhere in the world.
Social