ELLINT’s members confirm their strong positions as leading Employment & Labor Law Firms & Lawyers with several rankings and great clients’ quotes in the Legal 500 EMEA guide for 2022.
Belgium
Highly regarded labour boutique Sotra represents a diverse array of employers from the IT, construction, retail, logistics, energy, and public sectors. Practice head Olivier Rijckaert is a longstanding figure within the space, who works with corporations and high-level executives on social elections, restructurings and transfers of undertakings. Dutch-speaking Marian Dewaersegger advises both SMEs and international companies in matters regarding industrial relations, cross-border TUPE transfers and employee representation, appearing regularly before the social courts. Noël Lambert and Jonathan De Wilde concentrate on healthcare issues and the public sector, respectively. The firm gets a Tier 3 ranking.
Marian Dewaersegger is ranked as Next Generation Partner.
Practice head(s): Olivier Rijckaert
Other key lawyers: Marian Dewaersegger; Noël Lambert; Jonathan de Wilde; Valentin Hanquet
Testimonials
‘The fact that they combine legal advice in view with practical corporate implementation is a given asset. The team also works in new ways, employing digitalisation and a nice Sotra application to keep clients up to date with new developments.’
‘Flexible legal ad hoc advice.’
‘I have experienced Sotra’s diverse team as very competent and helpful thanks to their broad expertise. On top of being competent, they are very client-focused and have a multicultural approach. They also spontaneously communicate with each other regarding the best solution in our client file, despite lockdowns and home-working.’
Denmark
Mette Klingsten of Mette Klingsten Law Firm is ranked as a Leading Individual practitioner in Denmark.
France
Moving up to Tier 2 this year, MGG Voltaire demonstrates particular strength in crisis management and special situations. The boutique is very well versed in trade union matters and collective negotiations and has created a task force dedicated to manage hot reputational issues and other highly sensitive criminal employment law issues. The firm has also been assisting clients with Covid-19-related matters. New social and environmental responsibility issues as well as ethics and equal treatment matters are a growing line of work, with the conduct of audits and the setting up of guidelines and policies accounting for the bulk of matters in this area. M&A- and LBO-related work, as well as advice on major transformation projects involving important collective redundancies, continue to be a mainstay. The French boutique also offers strong international capabilities, thanks to its large alliance network and its internal German desk. With offices in Paris, Lyon and Lille, the practice is well placed to acts for its client base that includes SMEs and large French and international companies. Marijke Granier-Guillemarre, Loïc Héron and David Guillouet are in charge.
Practice head(s):
Marijke Granier-Guillemarre; Loïc Héron; David Guillouet
Testimonials
‘This is a specialist employment law firm. Their technical knowledge and availability are second to none. The partner and associate who support us are always available. Their advice is technically sound, but also commercial and pragmatic. I am delighted to be able to work with them.’
‘Marijke Granier-Guillemarre is never too busy if you need her. She is highly experienced, very commercial and an excellent collaborator. Paul Romatet, her associate, is also incredibly responsive, attentive to detail and commercial.’
‘Sense of advice and listening, pragmatism, seriousness and expertise in the field of employment law.’
Germany
Ellint’s German member gets a Tier 6 ranking. With offices in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, Altenburg Fachanwälte für Arbeitsrecht provides wide-ranging employment law advice to national and international clients. Its service portfolio ranges from data protection and compliance to reorganisations and restructurings all the way to litigation. Munich-based Stephan Altenburg is the key contact.
Italy
Ranked in Tier 4, employment law boutique Lexellent focuses on advising corporate clients on the full spectrum of employment law, with particular emphasis on occupational safety, an area of great activity during the Covid-19 pandemic, and equal opportunities. In the latter area, the firm stands out for providing training courses for in-house lawyers and HR managers, among other initiatives. Giulietta Bergamaschi heads the team and concentrates on discrimination cases, among others. Hulla Bisonni and Alessia Gagliano were promoted to partners in April 2021, when the team also welcomed the arrival of Giulia Camilli from Littler Mendelson, P.C.
Practice head(s):
Giulietta Bergamaschi
Luxembourg
Appreciated for its ‘very pragmatic and hands-on’ approach, employment boutique Adam & Bleser which gets a Tier 2 ranking, has a ‘strong reputation in advising employees in contentious labour law cases’. Founding partner Romain Adam is pivotal to the firm’s success and ‘has sharp expertise in defending employees in settlement negotiations or litigation cases’.
Romain Adam is ranked as Leading Individual.
Practice head(s):
Romain Adam; Claude Bleser; Dominique Farys; Stéphanie Anen
Other key lawyers:
Julien Konsbruck; Melvin Roth; Melanie Hubsch; Anna Ratajewicz
Testimonials
‘The firm has deep knowledge on employment law issues and beyond and has a very strong reputation in advising employees in contentious labour law cases.’
‘A professional team and very good knowledge of Luxembourgish law and jurisprudences in employment matters.’
‘The team is very knowledgeable and handles disputes mainly on the employee side in a professional manner.’
Poland
Ellint’s Polish member maintains a very respectable Tier 2. Established in 2017, Zawirska Ruszczyk Gąsior. is a boutique firm dedicated to employment and labour law. The team handles reorganisation and restructuring processes, sensitive disputes regarding discrimination, mobbing, work accidents, immigration and breach of enterprise secrets. Founders Patrycja Zawirska and Krzysztof Gąsior lead the team alongside employment-related disputes specialist, Grzegorz Ruszczyk.
Both Patrycja Zawirska and Krzysztof Gąsior are ranked as Leading Individuals.
Practice head(s):
Patrycja Zawirska; Grzegorz Ruszczyk; Krzysztof Gąsior
Testimonials
‘The services provided remain at a high level. Extensive factual background and involvement in the analysis of the problem allows us to give the highest possible rating.’
‘Wide scope of HR/labor law related topics, for example: termination of employment, negotiations with ex-employee to avoid court case, amendments to work regulations, help with legal permission to stay in Poland for family member of employee, advise on employer options to support employee with personal problems.’
‘The firm provides comprehensive employment law advice. The team is strong, professional and very responsive. The outcome of their work is always of top quality and on time. They are my trusted partner.’
To view the full EMEA rankings for 2022, click here.
