Are you looking for an employment lawyer in Bielefeld? horak. Rechtsanwälte advise and represent employees, executives and companies in Bielefeld and Ostwestfalen-Lippe – on dismissal, severance pay, termination agreements, formal warnings, employment references and all other questions relating to the employment relationship. In person on site, by telephone or by video conference.
Key points at a glance
- Personal advice in Bielefeld, by telephone or by video – we usually respond within 24 hours.
- Representation before the Bielefeld Labour Court (Arbeitsgericht Bielefeld) and, on appeal, before the Hamm Regional Labour Court (Landesarbeitsgericht Hamm).
- An unfair dismissal claim (Kündigungsschutzklage) must be filed within three weeks of a dismissal (§ 4 KSchG).
- At first instance, each side bears its own legal fees (§ 12a ArbGG); legal expenses insurers usually cover the costs.
Employment law in Bielefeld
Ostwestfalen-Lippe is characterised by family-run SMEs (Mittelstand) – mechanical engineering, the food, furniture and electrical industries, logistics and retail. Typical issues include long-standing employment relationships, succession questions in family businesses and restructurings involving the works council (Betriebsrat).
We advise both sides of the employment relationship. Whether we can accept an instruction is clarified in advance by means of a conflict check.
Our services
- Review the dismissal and file an unfair dismissal claim
- Negotiate severance pay and termination agreements
- Challenge formal warnings or issue them in a legally sound manner
- Have your employment reference reviewed and corrected
- Employment contracts, fixed-term contracts, pay and holiday
- Works constitution, restructuring and advice for employers
Competent labour courts for Bielefeld
For employment relationships with a place of work in Bielefeld, the Bielefeld Labour Court (depending on the place of work, also Detmold, Herford, Minden or Paderborn) generally has jurisdiction at first instance. Alternatively, a claim may also be brought at the place of the employer’s registered office (§ 48 Abs. 1a ArbGG). Appeals go to the Hamm Regional Labour Court, appeals on points of law (Revision) to the Federal Labour Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht) in Erfurt.
Many labour courts allow parties to attend conciliation hearings (Güteverhandlungen) by video conference. We clarify with the court whether this is possible in the individual case.
Our office in Bielefeld
Our office in Bielefeld is on Herforder Straße. For companies in OWL, we are also happy to come to you on your premises.
Please make an appointment in advance. You can send us documents securely beforehand by email or via the contact form.
Practical examples from the region
Simplified, typified scenarios for illustration purposes; each individual case must be assessed separately.
Mechanical engineering: social selection in a workforce reduction
Situation: A mechanical engineering company cuts twelve jobs in assembly. A 54-year-old fitter with 28 years of service is dismissed, while younger colleagues stay.
Legal assessment and approach: The employer had formed age groups but did not apply them consistently. The social selection was flawed. At the conciliation hearing, a severance payment well above the social plan was agreed.
Family business: the head of sales’ non-compete clause
Situation: A head of sales wants to move to a competitor in the region. His contract contains a two-year non-compete clause with compensation for the restricted period (Karenzentschädigung).
Legal assessment and approach: The clause was valid. The company could either hold him to it or waive it in writing before the end of the employment relationship – in that case, however, the obligation to pay compensation only ends one year after the declaration of waiver (§ 75a HGB). We negotiated an economically sensible solution with a shorter term.
Food industry: shift schedule without co-determination
Situation: A plant introduces a new three-shift model at short notice without involving the works council.
Legal assessment and approach: The scheduling of working hours is subject to co-determination. The works council obtained an injunction. Acting for the employer, we then negotiated a works agreement with transitional periods, so that shift operations could start on a legally sound basis a few weeks later.
Frequently asked questions
Does my employment lawyer have to be based in Bielefeld?
No. Lawyers can appear before all labour courts in Germany. Being close by is convenient, but many appointments can be handled by telephone or video.
How much does the initial consultation cost?
For consumers, the fee for an initial consultation is capped at €190 plus VAT, unless otherwise agreed. If you have legal expenses insurance, we will handle the coverage request.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
If deadlines are running – for example after a dismissal – at short notice, often on the same or the next working day. When making your enquiry, please tell us the date on which you received the dismissal.
Do you also advise companies?
Yes. We advise companies in Bielefeld and Ostwestfalen-Lippe on an ongoing or project basis – from employment contracts and dismissals to operational changes and negotiations with the works council.
Would you like an appointment in Bielefeld? Call us or send us your documents – we usually respond within 24 hours.
Directions and contact
This page is a translation of the German original. It is for general information only and does not replace legal advice on your individual case. German version