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Employment & Pensions

For your business to be successful, the relationship with your employees as well as your employee representatives such as works councils and unions is crucial. Employment and pension law in Europe is complex and, at times, contradictory, whether you are dealing with salary packages, employment contracts, equal opportunities and restrictive covenants or restructurings and mergers and acquisitions.

European directives, European court decisions, national laws, local cases and precedent must all be taken into account by your management team.

Our 280-strong group of sector specialists in Employment & Pensions law in Europe and beyond can help you navigate the maze of HR regulations, their practical application and other legal complexities you must contend with on a daily basis.

If your business crosses borders, you will be faced with additional legal hurdles before achieving the outcome you need.

With a global network covering 33 countries, we can help solve your problems across all the jurisdictions in which you operate or plan to operate - whether your issue relates to employment contracts, pension schemes, redundancies, M&A, collective labour law, social security or litigation.

"The CMS team is very responsive and practical."

Employment client - Chambers Europe, 2023

"The team is knowledgeable and pragmatic. They understand our business needs and are building legal solutions around that. This is what we are expecting from outside counsel. They are open to discussions and extremely responsive."

Feedback from a client about the department - Legal 500, 2022

"The CMS team goes the extra mile to know and understand the client. One of their strengths is being able to anticipate our needs."

Feedback from a client about the department - Legal 500, 2022

"The team are deeply knowledgeable about employment and pensions practice in Belgium which is invaluable for an international business like us. They have recently supported and advised us through a complicated divestment and legal demerger and both their advice and their practical support was excellent."

Feedback from a client about the department - Legal 500, 2022

"Good, young team."

Feedback from a client about the department - Legal 500, 2022

"CMS‘ multi-office practice regularly works with key players in the disruptive economy, advising major tech players on various multi-jurisdictional employment matters. Collective dismissals, reorganisations, and (domestic and pan-European) pension issues are all core areas of expertise for the practice, which is jointly helmed by Elke Duden, Sophie Berg and Gaël Chuffart. Karen Dereepere is the driving force behind the team’s Covid-19 hub."

Legal 500, 2022

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Expat Desk
Our specialists of the CMS Expat Desk provide cross-border advice to (global) companies about international employees, also known as "expats". The pro

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31/01/2024
On your radar | Issue 23
Key employment law developments and expected trends for 2024
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