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Portrait ofAndreas Hofelich

Dr. Andreas Hofelich

Partner
Rechtsanwalt | Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht (Certified lawyer for labor and employment law)

CMS Hasche Sigle
Kranhaus 1
Im Zollhafen 18
50678 Cologne
Germany
Languages German, English

Andreas Hofelich focuses on advising German and international companies on all aspects of occupational pension schemes. He has long-standing experience in launching, modifying and closing such pension schemes, in harmonising the pension landscape in the context of M&A transactions, reorganisations and transfers of undertakings as well as well as in outsourcing and safeguarding of pension liabilities, e.g. through contractual trust arrangements or reinsurance policies.

Andreas also provides specialist advice to employers wanting to withdraw from church or public supplementary pension schemes and has special know-how in the context of adjusting ongoing pension benefits according to the German Company Pensions Act. He furthermore represents his clients in pension disputes with scheme members and beneficiaries as well as with external pension providers or the German Pensions Protection Association (Pensions-Sicherungs-Verein) before all German courts, including the Federal Labor Court.

Andreas, who is the co-head of the firm’s “occupational pensions” excellence cluster, joined CMS in 2009 and is partner since 2018. He was seconded to Amsterdam in 2014 where he also worked in the field of occupational pensions. Andreas has published widely and regularly lectures on all aspects of company pension schemes.

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Listed for Employment

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Relevant experience

Advising medium-sized and family-owned businesses, DAX-listed and listed companies as well as major global players from the USA

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Publications

  • Unwirksamer Kapitalabfindungsvorbehalt bei betrieblicher Altersversorgung, zugleich Anmerkung zum Urteil des BAG v. 17.01.2023 - 3 AZR 220/22, Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht (EWiR), 2023, 603, gemeinsam mit Dr. Mario Brungs
  • Ausschluss von betrieblicher Hinterbliebenenversorgung bei Unterschreiten von Mindestehedauer - Anmerkung zum Urteil des BAG v. 02.12.2021 - 3 AZR 254/21, EWiR 2022, 347, gemeinsam mit Hanna Kowalski
  • Gaul (Hrsg.), Arbeitsrecht der Umstrukturierung, § 34 Betriebliche Altersversorgung, Köln, 2021, Verlag Dr. Otto Schmidt KG, 2. Auflage 2022
  • Keine Störung der Geschäftsgrundlage durch gestiegene Pensionsrückstellungen, DER BETRIEB (DB), 2021, 1344, gemeinsam mit Dr. Richard Lauer
  • Teilkündigung einer Betriebsvereinbarung zur betrieblichen Altersversorgung - Anmerkung zum Beschluss des BAG v. 08.12.2020 - 3 ABR 44/19, EWiR 2021, 279
  • Spaltung, Insolvenz und Übergang von Nebenrechten auf den PSV - Anmerkung zum Urteil des BAG v. 22.09.2020 - 3 AZR 304/18, DER BETRIEB (DB), 2021, 851
  • Neuer Insolvenzschutz über den PSV für Pensionskassenzusagen - Anmerkung zum Urteil des BAG vom 21.07.2020 - 3 AZR 142/16, DER BETRIEB (DB), 2021, 347, gemeinsam mit Michael Rein
  • "Ansprüche eines Gesellschafters auf Zahlung eines Altersruhegeldes – Pensionsforderungen als nachrangige Forderungen", Neue Zeitschrift für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (NZI) 2021, 90, gemeinsam mit RA Dr. Richard Lauer
  • "Keine Pflicht des Arbeitgebers zur Erhöhung seiner Beiträge zur Pensionskasse vor Eintritt des Versorgungsfalls", EWiR 2020, 471-472, gemeinsam mit RA Dr. Richard Lauer
  • "Besteht in der betrieblichen Altersversorgung eine allgemeine Pflicht zur „Angleichung nach oben“?", DER BETRIEB (DB), 2020, 1239-1240, gemeinsam mit RA Dr. Richard Lauer
  • "Unwirksame Eheklausel auch bei konkreter Benennung des jetzigen Ehegatten", BAG, Beschluss vom 18.2.2020 – 3 AZN 954/19 (LAG Düsseldorf 7.6.2019 – 6 Sa 54/19), Arbeitsrecht Aktuell (ArbRAktuell) 2020, 197, gemeinsam mit RA Dr. Mario Brungs
  • Praxishandbuch Betriebliche Altersversorgung, 1. Auflage 2019, Verlag Versicherungswirtschaft (VVW GmbH), Karlsruhe 2019, Autoren: Erdmann/Heider/Hofelich
  • Gruppenunterstützungskasse – satzungsmäßiger Ausschluss von Rückgewähransprüchen der Trägerunternehmen, Neue Zeitschrift für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (NZI) 2019, 231, Anmerkung zum Urteil des BAG vom 16.10.2018 - 3 AZR 402/16, gemeinsam mit Tobias Vogt
  • Drei-Stufen-Theorie und Betriebsübergang - Anmerkung zum Urteil des LAG Niedersachsen vom 11.09.2018 - 3 Sa 1273/16 (B), Der Betrieb (DB) 2019, 376, gemeinsam mit Dr. Michael Rein
  • Anmerkung zum Beschluss des BAG vom 20.02.2018 - 3 AZR 142/16 (A), Neue Zeitschrift für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (NZI) 2018, 454, gemeinsam mit Jannik Fink
  • Praxishandbuch Arbeitsrecht – Kapitel 15: Betriebliche Altersversorgung, 1. Auflage 2017, Herausgeber: Sebastian Hopfner / Kay Uwe Erdmann, Verlag Versicherungswirtschaft
  • „Der neue Arbeitgeberzuschuss zur betrieblichen Altersversorgung – Betriebsrentenstärkung oder -schwächung?“, ArbRB 01/2018
  • „Einstandspflicht des Arbeitgebers – Risiken und Handlungsoptionen bei externer Durchführung (am Beispiel des BVV)“, VVBmagazin 2017, S. 122 ff.
  • „Aktuelle Entwicklungen im Betriebsrentenrecht – Die jüngsten BAG-Entscheidungen zum BetrAVG im Überblick“, ArbRB 2015, S. 188 ff.
  • „Die 63ziger Rente: Ein Kuckucksei der Koalition?“, Personalmagazin, Heft 05/2014, S. 74 ff.
  • „Alle Jahre wieder: Die Betriebsrentenanpassung“, ArbRB 2012, S. 253 ff.
  • „Berechnung insolvenzgeschützter Betriebsrentenanwartschaften und Verbot der Altersdiskriminierung – Anmerkung zum Urteil des Bundesarbeitsgerichts vom 19.07.2011, 3 AZR 434/09“, NZI 2012, 39 ff.
  • „Kündigung von Versorgungszusagen – Was heißt hier verhältnismäßig?“, Form und Werkzeug 2010, 23 ff.
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Lectures list

  • Update Betriebsrentenrecht 10/2022, Arbeitsgemeinschaft betriebliche Altersversorgung (ARGE bAV), Berlin, 11.10.2022
  • Update Betriebsrentenrecht 03/2022, Arbeitsgemeinschaft betriebliche Altersversorgung (ARGE bAV), Webinar, 22.03.2022
  • Ausschluss von betrieblicher Hinterbliebenenversorgung bei Unterschreiten von Mindestehedauer - Anmerkung zum Urteil des BAG vom 02.12.2021 - 3 AZR 254/21, EWiR 2022, 347
  • Titel: Keine Störung der Geschäftsgrundlage durch gestiegene Pensionsrückstellungen - Anmerkung zum Urteil des BAG vom 08.12.2020 - 3 AZR 65/19
  • "Update Betriebsrentenrecht 09/2020", Arbeitsgemeinschaft betriebliche Altersversorgung (ARGE Betriebsrentenrecht 09/2020", Arbeitsgemeinschaft betriebliche Altersversorgung (ARGE bAV), Datakontext GmbH, gemeinsam mit Christine Harder-Buschner (Regierungsdirektorin, BMF),Thomas Fromme (Steuerberater), Berlin (15.09.2020) sowie als Webinar (22.09.2020)
  • "Update Betriebsrentenrecht 03/2020", Arbeitsgemeinschaft betriebliche Altersversorgung (ARGE bAV), Datakontext GmbH, gemeinsam mit Christine Harder-Buschner (Regierungsdirektorin, BMF) und Thomas Fromme (Steuerberater), Bremen (20.03.2020), Berlin (27.03.2020)
  • "Update Betriebsrentenrecht", Arbeitsgemeinschaft betriebliche Altersversorgung (ARGE bAV), Datakontext GmbH, gemeinsam mit Christine Harder-Buschner (Regierungsdirektorin, BMF) und Thomas Fromme (Steuerberater), Berlin (13.09.2019), Köln (24.09.2019)
  • "Das Betriebsrentenstärkungsgesetz", Seminarveranstaltung, Datakontext GmbH, gemeinsam mit Thomas Fromme (Steuerberater), Dortmund (26.09.2018), Köln (09.04.2018), Hannover (18.04.2018), Wiesbaden (18.09.2018)
  • „Update Betriebsrentenrecht“ Vortragsreihe im Rahmen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft betriebliche Altersversorgung (ARGE bAV), Datakontext GmbH, in Bochum (25./26.09.2017), Berlin (14./15.09.2017), Bremen (23./24.03.2017), Berlin (16./17.03.2017), Berlin (26./27.09.2016), Hamburg (12./13.09.2016), Leipzig (14./15.03.2016), Berlin (07./08.03.2016), Berlin (28./29.09.2015), Lübeck (15./16.09.2015), Dresden (19./20.03.2015); Köln (15.03.2019), Berlin (22.03.2019) gemeinsam mit Christine Harder-Buschner (Regierungsdirektorin, BMF) und Thomas Fromme (Steuerberater)
  • „Ein kurzer Ritt durch die Betriebsrentenstärkung“, Heilbronn (23.11.2017)
  • „#legal(tech) – Neue Prozesse und künstliche Intelligenz im Arbeitsrecht. Wohin geht die Reise?“, 24. Deutscher Syndikusanwaltstag 2017, Berlin (09.11.2017)
  • „Betriebsrentenstärkungsgesetz und Flexi-Renten-Gesetz – Der bAV-Markt im Wandel“, -Köln (20.09.2017) und Berlin (19.10.2017)
  • „Anwaltskanzlei 4.0 – Neue Prozesse durch Legal Tech im Bereich Arbeitsrecht“, 68. Deutscher Anwaltstag 2017, Essen, (26.05.2017)
  • „Neue Spielregeln bei der betrieblichen Altersversorgung durch die EU-Mobilitäts-Richtlinie“, Berlin (15.03.2017) und Köln (05.04.2017)
  • „Ausfallhaftung des Arbeitgebers – Risiken und Handlungsoptionen bei externer Durchführung“, VVB Vereinigung der Versicherungs-Betriebswirte, Coburg (03.03.2017)
  • „Aktuelle Gestaltungsoptionen in der betrieblichen Altersversorgung“, Köln (26.05.2014)
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Education

  • Since 2014: Certified lawyer for labor and employment law
  • 2013: PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Bernd Waas, Fernuniversität Hagen
  • Law studies in Bonn
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Feed

26/03/2024
CMS advises SEFE on all aspects of acquiring WIGA Group
Hamburg – SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (SEFE) has acquired all the shares in WIGA Transport Beteili­gungs-GmbH & Co. KG (WIGA) from its co-shareholder Wintershall Dea AG. The transaction is currently awaiting approval from the competition authorities. SEFE is wholly owned by the Federal Republic of Germany. WIGA owns regulated gas pipeline operators GASCADE Gastransport GmbH and NEL Gastransport GmbH, who operate one of the largest high-pressure gas networks in Germany with a combined length of around 4,150 kilometres. These networks have a key role to play in European energy security and the green energy transformation. The transaction will strengthen SEFE in its role of ensuring secure and reliable energy supply in Germany and Europe, as well as boosting its hydrogen ex­pert­ise.“With the full acquisition of WIGA as sole shareholder, we are strategically strengthening SEFE as an independent and autonomous midstream company,” commented Reinhard Gorenflos, Chairman of the SEFE Supervisory Board.“SEFE being the sole shareholder of WIGA will ensure that GASCADE can convert the existing high-performance infrastructure to hydrogen in the future. In this way, we can help drive forward the green energy transformation. Transportation infrastructure is a pivotal part of the future hydrogen value chain,” said Dr Egbert Laege, CEO of SEFE. “The two WIGA subsidiaries, GASCADE and NEL, will continue to operate independently and market their capacity in a transparent and non-dis­crim­in­at­ory manner.”SEFE CFO Dr Christian Ohlms highlighted the importance of WIGA with regard to the privatisation of SEFE, which is due to take place by the end of 2028: “With this transaction, which is expected to complete by summer 2024, we are strengthening SEFE’s asset base. Our aim is to continue the long-term development of SEFE on a stable financial footing.”A multinational CMS team headed by Hamburg-based partner Dr Holger Kraft advised SEFE on all aspects of acquiring WIGA. In addition to extensive due diligence on the entire WIGA Group, including GASCADE and NEL, which are regulated under energy law, this work covered negotiation of the share purchase agreement and separate agreements with the shareholders of Wintershall Dea AG. Alongside negotiating the transaction agreements, the advice focused on safeguarding the transaction through several W&I insurance agreements, including negotiating the policies, and handling regulatory issues relating to gas network operation and other public-law matters. CMS Germany worked closely with the CMS law firms in the UK and Luxembourg, and with US law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. CMS previously advised the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in 2022 and 2023 around their trusteeship over SEFE and its subsequent nationalisation by way of corporate actions. The instructions for this transaction followed on from that successful cooperation. About SEFE:As an integrated midstream energy company headquartered in Berlin, SEFE Securing Energy for Europe ensures the security of energy supply in Germany and Europe and is driving the green energy transformation. SEFE is active in trading & portfolio management, sales, transportation and storage of energy and has its strongest presence in Germany and the UK. SEFE employs around 1,500 people and supplies over 50,000 customers, in particular industrial customers and municipal utilities in Germany and seven other European markets. With a sales volume of around 200 TWh of power and gas, SEFE plays a central role in stability of the energy supply in Germany and Europe. SEFE is owned by the Federal Government of Germany. CMS Germany Dr Holger Kraft, Lead Partner Dr Jan Schepke, Partner Matthias Sethmann, Principal Counsel Dr Dirk Baukholt, Principal Coun­sel Char­lotte von der Heydt-von Kalckreuth, Counsel Dr Stefan Kühl, Senior Associate Dr Paul Kintrup, Senior Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Rolf Hempel, Partner Dr Friedrich von Burchard, Partner Nicole Köppen, Senior Associate, all Regulatory Dr Hermann Müller, Partner Dr Arno Görlitz, Associate, both Public Commercial Law Dr Martin Mohr, Partner Dr Olaf Thießen, Principal Counsel, both Tax Dr Alexandra Schluck-Amend, Partner Manuel Nann, Senior As­so­ci­ate Pit-Jo­hannes Wagner, Associate, all Restructuring Dr Andreas Hofelich, Partner Dr Mario Brungs, Counsel Dr Lena Pingen, Associate, all Em­ploy­ment/Pen­sions Dr Fritz von Hammerstein, Partner Jan Gröschel, Senior Associate Heike Weyer, Senior Associate, all Public Law Dr Stefan Voß, Partner Tamara Bux, Associate, both Real Estate Dr Sebastian Cording, Partner Martin Krause, Partner Dr Shaya Stender, Associate Joel Coché, Associate, all Commercial Dr Julia Runge, Principal Counsel, Finance Dr Michael Bauer, Part­ner Chris­toff Henrik Soltau, Partner Dr Robert Bodewig, Senior Associate Luisa Thomasberger, Associate, all Antitrust, Competition & Trade CMS UK Russel Hoare, Partner Sam De Silva, Part­ner Jean-Fran­cois Willems, Of Counsel Jennifer Louch, Senior As­so­ci­ate Max­imili­an Weaver, Senior Associate Louisa Mottaz, Associate CMS Luxembourg Angelique Eguether, Senior As­so­ci­ate Guil­laume Flagollet, Managing Associate Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (USA) Mollie D. Sitkowski Inhouse at SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH Dr Jörg Kammerer Jörn RimkePress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
14/02/2024
CMS advises paint and coatings producer KANSAI HELIOS on the acquisition...
Cologne – KANSAI HELIOS has acquired the entire industrial coatings business of GREBE Holding, based in Weilburg in Hessen, Germany, which operates under the name WEILBURGER Coatings. WEILBURGER Coatings is a well-known manufacturer of industrial coatings and comprises of WEILBURGER Coatings GmbH in Weilburg and WEILBURGER Asia Limited in Hong Kong. The share purchase agreement was signed on February 9, 2024. With the acquisition, KANSAI HELIOS intends to significantly expand its strategic position as a system supplier and manufacturer of industrial coatings and extend its geographical presence internationally. The company will also gain additional expertise, distribution channels, production and storage capacities. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction. An international CMS team headed by Lead Partner Klaus Jäger and Christoph Schröer provided KANSAI HELIOS with comprehensive legal advice on the acquisition. The complexity of the transaction is characterized in particular by the size of the acquired Weilburger Coatings Group, which, in addition to the German companies, includes subsidiaries in Brazil, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Turkey and the USA. In addition to the actual purchase agreements in Germany and Hong Kong, CMS drafted and negotiated numerous other contracts. In addition to CMS teams in Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Italy, Turkey, France, Serbia, Austria and the United Kingdom, the law firms MILLER & MARTIN PLLC from the USA and Vaish Associates Advocates from India also provided support. KANSAI HELIOS regularly relies on the expertise of CMS, most recently in connection with the acquisition of all shares in CWS Lackfabrik GmbH (CWS), which specializes in powder coatings and synthetic resins, including the group companies in Germany, the USA, Denmark and Poland. KANSAI HELIOS, headquartered in Vienna, is part of the Japanese KANSAI PAINT Group. The company has a history of more than 170 years and is one of the major global players in the paints and coatings market. KANSAI HELIOS designs, produces and distributes industrial coating solutions, bleaching and cleaning chemicals, materials for sticking and sealing, high-quality resins, architectural paints and refinishing coatings throughout Europe and beyond. WEILBURGER Coatings was founded in 1900 at its current headquarters in Weilburg and has group companies in Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, the USA, Brazil, India and China. With around 600 employees at seven production sites and several sales offices, the company is active worldwide and generates a turnover of around 150 million euros. CMS Germany Klaus Jäger, Lead Partner Dr Kai Wallisch, Part­ner Chris­toph Schröer, Senior Associate Dr Katharina Kapp, Associate Dr Henrik Meurer, As­so­ci­ate Domin­ic Zimmer, As­so­ci­ate Kath­rin Dengel, Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Björn Herbers, Partner Moritz Pottek, Counsel Dr Denis Schlimpert, Counsel Kirsten Baubkus-Gerard, Senior Associate Dr Robert Bodewig, Senior Associate David Rappenglück, Associate, all Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dr Dirk Smielick, Principal Counsel Claudia Böhmer, Counsel, both IP Dr Angela Emmert, Partner Dr Andreas Hofelich, Partner Dr Mario Brungs, Counsel Lennard Martin Lürwer, Counsel Marcel Heinen, Senior Associate, all Labor, Employment & Pensions Michael Kamps, Partner Thorsten Hemme, Principal Counsel Dr Arne Schmieke, Senior Associate, all TMC Dr Martin Friedberg, Partner, Tax law Dr André Lippert, Partner Maike Füchtmann, Senior Associate, both Real Estate & Public Dorothée Janzen, Partner Dr Philipp Rohdenburg, Counsel, both Com­mer­cial Birgit Wagner, Legal Manager Conrad Gräwe, Legal Co­ordin­at­or Steven Washington, Legal Coordinator Anke Clippingdale, Senior Legal Specialist Edris Trabzadah, Senior Legal Specialist Faraz Ahmad, Legal Specialist Sofia Schreiner, Legal Spe­cial­ist Al­ex­an­der Stadahl, Legal Specialist, all Smart Operations CMS Beijing Falk Licht­en­stein Roxy Meng CMS Milan Daniela Murer Alessandra Cuni CMS Rome Fabrizio Spagnolo CMS Istanbul Döne Yalçın Merve Akkuş CMS Paris Thomas Hains Marion Berberian CMS Belgrade Maja Stepanović CMS Vienna Dr Dieter Zandler CMS London Russell Hoare Melanie Lane Focaccia Amaral L S Advogados, Brazil in association with CMS Renata Homem de Melo Fontes Carla Anastácio Lau, Horton & Wise LLP, Hong Kong in association with CMS Shirley Lau Albert Jok MILLER & MARTIN PLLC, USA Joe DeLisle Vaish Associates Advocates, India Shrinivas SankaranPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
19/12/2023
CMS advises Vattenfall on all aspects of selling its district heating business...
Hamburg – Vattenfall has completed a strategic review of its Berlin district heating business and decided to sell it in full to the Federal State of Berlin. An agreement to this effect was signed by...
18/12/2023
CMS advises British service provider Serco on acquisition of social services...
Leipzig – Serco Group, which specialises in government services, has agreed to acquire European Homecare, a company focusing on social services, from the Korte Foundation. The Essen-based provider is...
28/08/2023
CMS advises STEAG and KSBG on acquisition by Asterion Industrial Partners
Cologne/Munich – Spanish infrastructure investor Asterion Industrial Partners has acquired all the shares in Essen-based energy company STEAG GmbH from the current consortium of owners. The boards of...
21/08/2023
CMS advises LIMERA Gartenbauservice on acquisition of Gärtnereinkauf Münchingen
Dusseldorf – LIMERA Gartenbauservice GmbH & Co. KG, based in Geldern-Walbeck (North Rhine-West­phalia), has acquired all shares in Gärtnereinkauf Münchingen GmbH (GEM), based in Korntal-Münchinen...
01/08/2023
CMS advises SHG Pur-Profile shareholders on sale of majority stake to Waldegg...
Cologne – The shareholders of SHG Pur-Profile GmbH, a leading manufacturer of warning and protective profiles based in Eitorf, have sold a majority shareholding to Waldegg Equity, a private equity firm...
12/07/2023
International CMS team advises shareholders of cleaning systems manufacturer...
Munich – Freudenberg Home and Cleaning GmbH, an international supplier of branded cleaning products and systems as well as laundry care products, has acquired VERMOP Salmon GmbH, a German manufacturer...
12/01/2023
CMS advises STEAG on group-wide transformation
Cologne/Munich – Energy supplier STEAG, which has some 5,700 employees, completed the legal and operational separation of the group into a black coal division and a green growth division at the beginning...
23/12/2022
Securing energy supply in Germany: CMS advises German government on stabilising...
Hamburg/Brussels – The German government is set to support energy group Uniper, Germany’s biggest gas importer, with a stabilisation package worth EUR 33 billion and take a majority stake in Uniper...
08/12/2022
Further expansion with mega-deal: CMS advises Sunlight on acquisition of...
Berlin – Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems (Sunlight Group), a technology company headquartered in Athens, Greece, specializing in integrated and innovative industrial and off-road energy storage...
10/10/2022
International transaction: CMS advises NORD Holding on sale of Bock Group...
Cologne – NORD Holding Un­ternehmens­beteili­gungs­gesell­schaft mbH has sold the Bock Group, a global heating and cooling company which is based in Frickenhausen (Baden-Württem­berg). The buyer is the Danfoss...