Dr Oliver Simon new co-head of Labor, Employment & Pensions

Berlin – Dr Simon Oliver has been appointed new co-head of the Labor, Employment & Pensions practice, assuming joint responsibility with Dr Eckhard Schmid for a multi-location team of 84 employment law specialists at Germany's leading commercial law firm. Dr Simon takes over from Prof. Björn Gaul, who has been jointly responsible for the practice area with Dr Eckhard Schmid since 2010. Prof. Björn Gaul did not put himself forward for another term; Dr Eckhard Schmid was re-elected.

“In Oliver Simon, as with Björn Gaul, we have a recognised restructuring expert heading up the practice. Working with him, we will continue to apply the successful management strategy adopted two years ago,” says Dr Eckhard Schmid.

Dr Oliver Simon studied law in Tübingen and has been with CMS Hasche Sigle since 2000. Based in the Stuttgart office, the employment law specialist advises German and international companies on all aspects of employment law, including company pension schemes. A key area of his work is advising on restructuring, outsourcing of business activities, changing pay scales and staff cuts, as well as conducting the associated negotiations with trade unions and employee representatives.

“I am looking forward to this challenging task and would like to thank Björn Gaul for the outstanding work he has done in the practice area.”

The practice area's clients include German and international SMEs, local and foreign investors, major enterprises and groups, as well as supervisory board members and senior executives. Sector groups within the practice area (e.g. energy, financial services providers, technology, media & telecoms) and excellence clusters (e.g. restructuring, data protection, company pension schemes) ensure that expertise is focused on specific industries and topics.

The key areas covered include

• strategic restructuring, including cross-border transfer transactions;
• employment law aspects of restructuring (outsourcing, substantial reorganisation of operations and staff adjustments);
• assistance and support during M&A transactions;
• optimising collective labour conditions and developing new remuneration systems;
• structural issues relating to company pension schemes and support for state institutions during privatisations.

The practice area also advises and represents supervisory board members and senior executives, especially with regard to contract design, compliance, group structure and liability for corporate conduct.

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