Employment contracts, dismissal, discrimination claims, executive compensation and workforce restructuring.
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Rights vary by country, but typically include notice periods, severance pay and the right to challenge unfair dismissal. An employment lawyer can assess your specific situation.
Yes — employment contracts must generally comply with local law regardless of the employer's home country. A local lawyer should review any contract before you sign.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Germany's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsGermany's Kündigungsschutzgesetz (KSchG) protects employees in companies with >10 employees after 6 months. You have 3 weeks to file a Kündigungsschutzklage. Abfindung (severance) is typically 0.5 months' salary per year of service as a negotiation baseline. RVG Streitwert = 3 months' gross salary for Arbeitsgericht cases.
| Scenario | Rule | Deadline | Typical outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unfair dismissal (KSchG firms) | KSchG § 1 — soziale Rechtfertigung required | 3 weeks! | Reinstatement or Abfindung |
| Small company dismissal (<10 FTE) | KSchG does not apply; AGG + BGB still do | 3 weeks (for form defects) | Limited recourse |
| Discriminatory dismissal (AGG) | AGG § 15 — damages up to 3 months' salary | 2 months from dismissal | Compensation + reinstatement |
| Redundancy (Betriebsbedingte Kündigung) | KSchG § 1(2) — Sozialauswahl required | 3 weeks | Abfindung negotiation |
| Wage theft / unpaid salary | BGB § 611a — 3-year limitation | Check Ausschlussfristen first | Recovery + 5% p.a. interest |
| Maternity / parental protection | MuSchG § 17; BEEG § 18 | Dismissal void without KSchAmt approval | Reinstatement mandatory |
| Matter | Streitwert | 1.3 Gebühr (net) | Court + lawyer total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dismissal (€3,500/mo salary) | €10,500 | €725 | €2,200–3,500 |
| Dismissal (€6,000/mo salary) | €18,000 | €1,051 | €3,500–5,500 |
| Contract review (flat fee typical) | N/A | — | €200–500 |
| Wage claim (€8,000 unpaid) | €8,000 | €588 | €1,800–3,000 |
Note: At Arbeitsgericht 1st instance, each party bears their own lawyer costs (§ 12a ArbGG) — no loser-pays rule. This changes at Landesarbeitsgericht (appeal).
Facts: Michael, an American VP at a Frankfurt FinTech (220 employees), receives a betriebsbedingte Kündigung (redundancy) in January 2025 after a restructuring. Salary: €9,500/month. Tenure: 7 years. He files Kündigungsschutzklage within 3 weeks.
Outcome: At Gütetermin (conciliation hearing, 6 weeks after filing), employer offers Abfindung of €33,250 (3.5 months × 7 years × €1.354 factor — common court formula). Michael's Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht negotiates to €42,500. Rechtsschutzversicherung covers €2,800 in legal fees.
Timeline: Kündigung received → 3 weeks to file KSK → Arbeitsgericht filing → Gütetermin (6–8 weeks) → Kammertermin if no settlement (4–6 months) → Most cases settle at Gütetermin.
Key lesson: German law does not mandate Abfindung — it is a negotiation tool based on litigation risk. Without KSchG protection (companies ≤10 FTE), there is generally no claim.
→ Use our RVG Fee Calculator to estimate your case costs.
