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Partner
Rechtsanwalt | Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht (Certified lawyer for labor and employment law)
Partner
Rechtsanwalt | Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht (Certified lawyer for labor and employment law)
Björn Gaul has extensive experience in advising German and international companies on corporate restructurings, business outsourcings, changes of collective bargaining agreements, flexible staff deployment and staff cuts. He also advises on the introduction of IT systems and more flexible working hours, salary structure adjustments as well as setting up and developing compliance and whistleblowing policies.
Björn is a trusted advisor for management and advisory boards, working with them on employee participation, European Works Councils and on the foundation and modification of European companies (SE, SCE). Alongside his advisory work, he also chairs the supervisory board of a logistics company.
German law firm guide JUVE German Commercial Law Firms (GCLF) regularly lists Björn among the “Leading Partners in Employment Law”, and Who’s Who Legal (2015) names him among the “most highly regarded” practitioners. Chambers, 2013 stresses that “interviewees consistently name Björn Gaul as one of the leading employment lawyers in the German market”. In 2011, Who’s Who Legal named him “Employment Lawyer of the Year Germany” and in 2014 he received the same accolade from employment-lawexperts.com. In 2015, Who’s Who Legal described him as the “go-to-lawyer” for restructurings and outstanding work and as a lawyer particularly recognised for his “practical and solutions-oriented advice”. The Legal 500 EMEA, 2014 quotes a client saying that his work is “in every respect outstanding”. Both clients and competitors describe him as “skilled, demanding standards” (JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2016 (GCLF)), “practical, accessible, flexible” (JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2013 (GCLF)), “thoroughly reliable, senses the mood” (JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2015 (GCLF)), “brilliant mind, top quality, very friendly” (JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2014 (GCLF)), “figurehead in labour law” (The Legal 500 EMEA, 2015). Who's Who Legal 2016 describes Björn as “highly sought after”, a “font of knowledge in all areas of practice, especially collective bargaining agreement negotiations and restructuring“. Chambers Europe, 2015 states that “he is especially visible advising on corporate restructurings and business outsourcings. He also assists clients with collective bargaining agreements, personnel adjustment measures and remuneration structures”. Plus: “Interviewees describe top-ranked Björn Gaul as a ‘genius in employment law’”. Chambers, 2014 stresses that he “has an excellent reputation for collective bargaining and restructuring matters”.
Energy suppliers, automotive, technology and telecoms companies, financial service providers as well as companies with public shareholders rely on Björn’s expertise when it comes to restructurings and other collective changes. He takes care of the strategic preparation of negotiations on collective bargaining agreements, reconciliation of interests, severance schemes and interim agreements and negotiates with unions and works councils.
Björn is a certified specialist lawyer for labor and employment law and has been a partner since 2000. He heads an employment law working group for human resource executives for more than 25 years and is also a member of the German Bar Association’s employment law committee. He is regularly invited to speak at German and international conferences that are attended by HR decision makers and also advises on such events. Furthermore, he is an officer of the Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) as well as a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the European Employment Lawyers Association (EELA). He also lectures at the University of Cologne as an adjunct professor with the authority to teach labour and employment law as well as civil and commercial law.
2018:
• News on fixed-term contracts and drafting employment contracts, 07. December 2018, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• News on fixed-term contracts and drafting employment contracts, 30. November 2018, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang (training session) - Labor Law
• Current labor law, 26. November 2018, Verlag (publishing company) Dr. Otto Schmidt, Cologne
• Current court rulings in labor law, 23. November 2018, AnwaltVerein (association of lawyers) Stuttgart
• Health and safety at work - Pandora's box, 09. November 2018, DAI, 29th Jahresarbeitstagung (labor law conference), Cologne
• Old and new challenges for health and safety at work, 20. June 2018, BVAU, Frankfurt a. M.
• Current labor law, 05. June 2018, Verlag (publishing company) Dr. Otto Schmidt, Cologne
• Practice issues regarding dismissal for reasons relating to personal capability and conduct, 09. May 2018, 183th Bielefelder Fachlehrgang (Bielefeld training session) Labor Law / 6th Sylter Arbeitsrechtslehrgang (Sylt labor law training session) 2018
• News on dismissal for reasons relating to personal capability and conduct, 12. March 2018, Blickpunkt Arbeitsrecht (Focus on Labor Law), Stuttgart
• Ten (and more) typical errors made in the drafting of employment contracts, 27. February 2018, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (labor law conference) 2018 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
• News on business changes and transfers – pitfalls for employers and potential targets for employees, 23. February 2018, 177th Bielefelder Fachlehrgang (Bielefeld training session) - Labor Law
• Need for information versus protection of personality (privacy), 18. January 2018, Third Deutscher Arbeitsrechtstag (German labor law conference), Berlin
2017:
• Current court rulings in labour law, annually, 8 December 2017, AnwaltVerein (association of lawyers) Stuttgart, Stuttgart
• Current court rulings on redundancy, 24 November 2017, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• Needs and scopes for action under the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), the German Remuneration Transparency Act (EntgTransG) and female quota, 5 July 2017, Bundesverband der Arbeitsrechtler in Unternehmen (BVAU) (federal association of labour lawyers in business), Frankfurt/Main
• ARGE (working group) labour law, biannually, 19/20 June 2017 and 27/28 November 2017, Datakontext, Hamburg
• Current labour law, biannually, 29 May 2017, Cologne, and 20 November 2017, Düsseldorf, Verlag (publishing company) Dr. Otto Schmidt
• Update on substantial alteration to the establishment and transfer of business, 24 May 2017, 5. Sylter Arbeitsrechtslehrgang (5th Sylt labour law seminar) 2017, Sylt
• The ethics of cross-border internal investigations, International Bar Association, 28 April 2017, Lisbon
• Employment of older employees, 22 February 2017, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (labour law conference) 2017 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
• Current rulings on termination and works constitution law, 17 February 2017 and 1 December 2017, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang (Bielefeld training session), Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• Current labour law at NPOs, annual, next time on 31 January 2017, EUROFORUM, Cologne
2016:
• Current rulings in labour law, annual, next time on 11 December 2016, AnwaltVerein (association of lawyers) Stuttgart, Stuttgart
• Flexibilization of labour utilization – from the German Temporary Employment Act to fixed-term employment, 2 December 2016, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang (Bielefeld training session), Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• Current labour law, biannual, next time on 21 November 2016, Verlag (publishing company) Dr. Otto Schmidt, Düsseldorf
• News regarding termination on the grounds of conduct or illness, 18 November 2016, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• ARGE (working group) labour law, biannual, next time on 14/15 November 2016, Datakontext, Hamburg
• Update on redundancy, 4 November 2016, Deutsches Anwaltsinstitut (DAI) (German lawyers institution), Cologne
• New technology and work–robotics and how it affects the (shrinking) remaining human being at the workplace, 20 September 2016, International Bar Association (IBA), Washington D.C.
• Update on transfer of business and reference clauses in employment contracts, 9 September 2016, Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE) (working group labour law), Leipzig
• The (planned) revisions in the area of temporary agency work and contracts for work and services, 6 July 2016, Bundesverband der Arbeitsrechtler in Unternehmen (BVAU) (federal association of labour lawyers in business), Frankfurt/Main
• 30th Passau Labour Law Symposium: Trying out, assessing and developing employees, 17 June 2016, Regensburg University, Passau
• Restructuring and labour law, Symposion Insolvenz- und Arbeitsrecht (symposium on insolvency and labour law), 16 June 2016, Eichstätt/Ingolstadt University, Ingolstadt
• Current labour law, 23 May 2016, Anwaltsseminare und Fortbildung GmbH (advoknowhaug), Münster
• Update on redundancy, 4 May 2016, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang (Bielefeld training session), Sylt
• Increasing youth employment around the globe - legal challenges and best practices for multinationals, 15 April 2016, International Bar Association (IBA), Mexico City
• Utilization of external personnel in IT projects, Kölner Tage IT-Recht (Cologne conference on IT law), 17 March 2016, Verlag (publishing company) Dr. Otto Schmidt, Cologne
• Working and leading in matrix organisations, 2 March 2016, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (conference on labour law) 2016 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
2015:
• Mass redundancy, substantial alteration to the establishment and transfer of business, 4 December 2015, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang – Arbeitsrecht (Bielefeld training session – labour law), Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• Temporary agency work, contract for work and services, minimum wage, 2 December 2015, Maximum Personalmanagement (HR management), Hanover
• Non-profit labour law, Kölner Tage der Gemeinnützigkeit (Cologne non-profit conference), 26 November 2015, Verlag (publishing house) Dr. Otto Schmidt, Cologne
• Redundancy, 20 November 2015, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• Current issues regarding employee data privacy: whistleblowing in company practice, 23 October 2015, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum
• Update on temporary agency work, 30 September 2015, Bundesarbeitgeberverband der Personaldienstleister e.V. (BAP) federal temporary agency employers' association), Berlin
• Substantial alterations to the establishment and modern social compensation plan arrangements, 18 September 2015, Konzernpersonalleitertagung (corporate HR manager conference) Zement, Kloster Eberbach
• Differentiation or discrimination: female quota, gender quota & co in company practice, 2 July 2015, Forum Institut, BVAU, Heidelberg
• New need for action with regard to temporary employment, contracts for work and services and minimum wage, 18 June 2015, Bundesverband der Personalmanager (federal association of HR managers), Berlin
• Employees older employees, Kölner Tage des Arbeitsrechts (Cologne labour law conference), 16/17 April 2015, Verlag (publishing house) Dr. Otto Schmidt, Cologne
• Current developments regarding temporary agency work, 26 March 2015, Edgar Schröder-Unternehmensforum (business forum), Fulda
• Update on transfer of business, substantial alteration to the establishment, 25 February 2015, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (labour law conference) 2016 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
• Non-profit organisations 2015: new labour law issues regarding NPOs, 15 January 2015, EUROFORUM Deutschland SE, Cologne
2014:
• Current rulings on the law governing termination, 28 November 2015, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang (Bielefeld training session), Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• Flexible utilization of personnel – temporary agency work and fixed-term contracts, 21 November 2014, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• Current developments in insolvency labour law, 16th NZI Jahrestagung (annual conference), 21 November 2014, BeckAkademie Seminare, Frankfurt
• Flexibilization of working conditions as restructuring measure, Symposion Insolvenz- und Arbeitsrecht (symposium on insolvency and labour law), 26 June 2014, Eichstätt/Ingolstadt University, Ingolstadt
• The right to mass redundancy, 7 May 2014, Tagung der Richterinnen und Richter des LAG Düsseldorf (conference of judges at the Düsseldorf Regional Labour Court, Recklinghausen
• Flexible utilization of personnel – temporary agency work and fixed-term contracts, 28 March 2014, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• International legal implications arising from the Bangladesh factory tragedy, 16 March 2014, International Bar Association (IBA), Cape Town, South Africa
• Update on right to terminate, 26 February 2014, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (labour law conference) 2014 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
• Practical preparation for redundancy on the basis of current rulings, 21 February 2014, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang – Arbeitsrecht (Bielefeld training session – labour law), Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• Outplacement of business units from the German perspective, 7 February 2014, Deutscher Anwaltsverein (DAV) (German Bar Association) Colloque Paris
2013:
• Update on redundancy and substantial alteration to the establishment, 8 Novermber 2013, Deutsches Anwaltsinstitut (DAI) (German lawyers institution), Cologne
• The new protection of employees' data privacy – current need for action for advisory and contract practice, 8 March 2013, Bielefelder Fachlehrgang – Arbeitsrecht (Bielefeld training session – labour law), Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• Reorganisation/restructuring – avoiding mistakes, 27 February 2013, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (labour law conference) 2013 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
• Legal options for restructuring employment to achieve more flexibility, 5 February 2013, HR Executive Circle, Frankfurt/M.
• Transactions during restructuring – between the conflicing priorities of labour law, corporate law and tax law, 31 January 2013, Unternehmensjuristen Kongress (company lawyers' conference), Berlin
2012:
• News on fixed-term contracts and the flexibilization of working conditions, reservation of voluntary status and the right of revocation, 7 December 2012, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• Health protection and collective labour law, 6 December 2012, Arbeitgeberverband der ostdt. Papierindustrie (association of employers in the eastern German paper industry), Berlin
• Current developments in insolvency labour law, NZI-Jahrestagung (annual conference), 16 November 2012, BeckAkademie Seminare, Frankfurt
• Transfer of business and outsourcing under § 613 a of the German Civil Code (BGB), 12 September 2012, Technische Akademie Wuppertal (TAW) (Wuppertal technical academy), Wuppertal
• Cross-border outsourcing of shared-service functions, 20 June 2012, CMS-Arbeitsrechtskongress (CMS labour law conference), Frankfurt/M.
• Restructuring under labour law: opportunities, risks, pitfalls, Symposion Insolvenz- und Arbeitsrecht (symposium on insolvency and labour law), 21 May 2012, Eichstätt/Ingolstadt University, Ingolstadt
• Structuring options under labour law with respect to the purchase of companies in need of restructuring, 21 March 2012, 7th German Distressed Assets Conference, Frankfurt
• Labour law issues when dealing with low performers, 2 March 2012, Juristische Fachseminare (legal specialist seminars), Bonn
• Health protection and collective labour law, 29 February 2012, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (labour law conference) 2012 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
2011:
• Transfer of business and outsourcing, 22 November 2011, Management Circle, Cologne
• News on social criteria for redundancy – current case law, 4 November 2011, 23rd Jahresarbeitstagung (annual labour conference), Deutscher Anwaltsverein (DAV) (German Bar Association), Cologne
• Modern world of work: temporary employment, fixed-term contracts, termination., Symposion Insolvenz- und Arbeitsrecht (symposium on insolvency and labour law), 9 June 2011, Eichstätt/Ingolstadt University, Ingolstadt
• Diversity management - nice to have or indispensable element of sustainable HR Strategy, 19 May 2011, 10th Kienbaum Jahrestagung (annual conference)
• Contract data processing and protection of employee data privacy in company groups, Kölner Tage des IT-Rechts (Cologne conference on IT law), 5 May 2011, Verlag (publishing company) Dr. Otto Schmidt, Cologne
• Protection of employee data privacy, 2 March 2011, Gesa mbH, Cologne
• Labour law issues regarding dealing with low performers, 23 February 2011, Kongress Arbeitsrecht (labour law conference) 2011 (GDA, AuA), Berlin
• Dismissal on grounds of conduct/low performance, 23 February 2011, DGFP erfa Group
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