L&E Global, a worldwide leader for cross-border labour and employment law services, is proud to announce that our European members have been recognised for their expertise in employment law in the recently published edition of The Legal 500 EMEA 2020. In a world where law firms’ quality of service and fees are under constant pressure, L&E Global’s alliance members have successfully deepened and diversified their existing practices, in order to respond effectively to the needs of clients with regard to local, national and regional issues affecting businesses across the globe.
Jackson Lewis is a founding member of L&E Global, an international alliance of law firms which provide counsel to employers on labor relations, employment law, immigration law and employee benefits through 23 international members, which combined have more than 1,500 attorneys across five continents.
THE LEGAL 500 EMEA 2020 –
BELGIUM – VAN OLMEN & WYNANT (TIER 2)
Van Olmen & Wynant is very well known for its established expertise in the field of employment law. The ‘very responsive and user-friendly’ team recently assisted Adidas with restructuring following the closure of its administrative headquarters in Belgium and subsequent transferal to the Netherlands. Department head Chris Van Olmen has an excellent reputation for his longstanding expertise in employment law. Key names in the group include Nicolas Simon, the ‘very approachable’ Vincent Vuylsteke, and associates Thomas De Jongh (‘friendly, smart and calm under pressure’) and Gautier Busschaert.
Hall of Fame – Chris Van Olmen
FRANCE – FLICHY GRANGÉ AVOCATS (TIER 1)
Leading employment law firm Flichy Grangé Avocats houses a large 86-lawyer team able to tackle the full spectrum of employment and social security law issues. Its high-level expertise is solicited by many of France’s largest companies and banks as well as by many well-known international groups. The firm handles a high volume of work pertaining to sensitive restructuring and M&A projects and recently advised on several such key matters, including related high-stakes litigation. Additionally, the practice manages several high-end litigation cases dealing with work concealment and illegal work accusations. It recently won a landmark case for Société Générale before the Court of Appeal which approved the dismissal of former trader Jérôme Kerviel for misconduct. Finally, the firm’s range of expertise also spans pension, remuneration and work accident matters. The key names in the 26-partner practice are Joël Grangé, Philippe Montanier, Arnaud Chaulet, Marine Conche, Florence Aubonnet, Juliana Kovac, Olivier Kress, Stéphanie Guedes Da Costa, Stéphanie Dumas, Jeannie Crédoz-Rosier, Charlotte Michaud, Aurélie Cormier Le Goff and Florence Bacquet.
Hall of Fame – Joël Grangé
Leading Individuals – Olivier Kress
GERMANY – PUSCH WAHLIG WORKPLACE LAW (TIER 3)
At its four offices, the dynamic employment law boutique Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law offers comprehensive advice on the full spectrum of employment law. In the course of this, the firm increasingly relies on LegalTech solutions and is particularly well versed in handling trend topics such as platform economy, false self-employment and employee data protection. Other key areas of expertise include employment law compliance and internal investigations, M&A-related employment law as well as reorganisations and restructurings. Tobias Pusch has particular experience in corporate acquisitions and complex court proceedings, while Thomas Wahlig handles TUPE and collective bargaining law matters and represents employers in conciliation committee proceedings. Jochen Keilich is the main contact for public sector employers and for data protection issues, while Eva Wißler advises on remuneration and working time systems as well as on international employment law.
ITALY – LABLAW STUDIO LEGALE (TIER 1)
The ‘excellent’ labour law team at LABLAW – Studio Legale is one of the largest in Italy. The firm, which was founded in 2006 by Milan-based president Luca Failla and managing partner Francesco Rotondi, stretches throughout Italy, including branches in Rome, Pescara, Naples, Padua, Bari, Bologna and Genoa. The firm has a busy practice handling matters including contract negotiations, directors liability, reorganisations, HR management and collective redundancies, among many other fields.
Hall of Fame – Luca Failla
Hall of Fame – Francesco Rotondi
LUXEMBOURG – KLEYR | GRASSO (TIER 1)
Jointly headed by Christian Jungers and Philippe Ney, KLEYR GRASSO’s two-partner team provides ‘reactive and practical advice’ to domestic and multinational corporates across the waterfront of contentious and non-contentious matters, including as it relates to terminations, social plans, immigration and restructuring. ‘Brilliant’ counsel Céline Defay ‘always tries to find the best solution for the employer’; she is particularly strong advising on matters relating to dismissals and settlement agreements, harassment and discrimination issues.
Leading Individuals – Christian Jungers
Rising Stars – Céline Defay
THE NETHERLANDS – PALTHE OBERMAN (TIER 4)
Boutique firm Palthe Oberman is one of the largest solely employment-focused firms in the Netherlands, and has built up a strong contingent of both domestic and multinational clients. The firm also stands out for its practice advising government bodies on their employment issues, as well as its significant sector expertise in sports, banking and finance, healthcare and life sciences. Founding partners Christiaan Oberman and Marcus Draaisma are the key names to note.
NORWAY – STORENG, BECK & DUE LUND (TIER 4)
Boutique firm Advokatfirmaet Storeng, Beck & Due Lund (SBDL) DA handles the full spectrum of employment mandates including recruitment issues, non-compete work, whistleblowing and harassment matters, data privacy mandates and employment litigation. Key individuals include name partners Nils H Storeng and Arve Due Lund, Kari Bergeius Andersen [and] Thomas Braut Svendsen. Clients include national and international businesses, recruitment agencies, labour unions, government organisations, municipalities and individuals.
POLAND – SOBCZYK & PARTNERS LAW FIRM (TIER 3)
Founding partner Arkadiusz Sobczyk leads the Krakow-based team at boutique firm Sobczyk & Partners Law Firm. Core areas for the group are employee-related personal data audits, employee transfers and restructuring issues. Alina Giżejowska is a specialist in trade union disputes and industrial relations mandates.
Hall of Fame – Arkadiusz Sobczyk
PORTUGAL – MORAIS LEITÃO (TIER 1)
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is noted for providing comprehensive advice on labour law, often handling corporate restructuring processes, collective dismissals, business transfers, as well as collective bargaining negotiations, among other matters. Companies operating in a range of sectors instruct the department on an ongoing basis; the firm is also well equipped to assist start-ups across the entire spectrum of non-contentious and litigious employment matters. Practice head Pedro Pardal Goulão has substantial experience in both individual and collective employment relationships. Corporate restructuring and collective dismissal matters are some of Luís Miguel Monteiro’s notable areas of practice. Helena Tapp Barroso advises on commercial, civil and labour law, while Joana Almeida demonstrates expertise in the establishment of fringe benefit plans.
Hall of Fame – Luís Miguel Monteiro
ROMANIA – MAGDA VOLONCIU & ASOCIATII (TIER 1)
Magda Volonciu and Associates is a highly regarded employment boutique that acts for major employers on the full range of contentious and non-contentious issues. Magda Volonciu, Maria Dobre, Corina Radu and Mariana Anastasopol are the key partners.
Leading Individuals – Magda Volonciu
SWEDEN – CEDERQUIST (TIER 1)
Led by Robert Stromberg, Advokatfirman Cederquist KB’s employment practice advises clients across the financial services, healthcare, real estate and telecoms sectors. Stromberg and noteworthy individuals Jens Tillqvist and senior associate Jonas Lindskog handle global restructuring and redundancy exercises, including trade union consultations and negotiations, internal investigations and senior-level terminations. The group also fields a solid team of associates including Malin Dunér and Jonas Lindskog, who often act in non-compete and damages disputes and also assist with the employment aspects of high-value M&A transactions.
Hall of Fame – Robert Stromberg
Hall of Fame – Jens Tillqvist
Rising Stars – Malin Dunér
Rising Stars – Jonas Lindskog
About L&E Global
With more than 1750 legal professionals working from 150+ offices internationally, spanning 6 continents, L&E Global’s member firms are ideally situated to deliver specialised, business-focused advice on labour relations, employment law, immigration law and employee benefits, to clients operating both nationally and across borders, by combining global excellence with profound local knowledge.
For more information please contact Joseph Granato, Communications Manager at L&E Global at Joseph.Granato@leglobal.org.