Are you looking for an employment lawyer in Bremen? horak. Rechtsanwälte advise and represent employees, executives and companies in Bremen, Bremerhaven and the surrounding area – 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 Bremen, by telephone or by video – we usually respond within 24 hours.
- Representation before the Bremen-Bremerhaven Labour Court (Arbeitsgericht Bremen-Bremerhaven) and, on appeal, before the Bremen Regional Labour Court (Landesarbeitsgericht Bremen).
- 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 Bremen
Bremen is characterised by its port and logistics, aerospace, automotive production, the food industry and trade. Shift work, working time accounts, temporary agency work and collectively agreed rules play a particularly important role here.
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 Bremen
For employment relationships with a place of work in Bremen, the Bremen-Bremerhaven Labour Court 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 Bremen 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 Bremen
Our Bremen office is on Hollerallee near the Bürgerpark.
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.
Logistics: working time account on leaving
Situation: A warehouse logistics worker leaves with 160 hours of credit on his working time account. The employer only wants to pay out 40 hours, claiming the rest has “lapsed”.
Legal assessment and approach: Credit on a working time account must, in principle, be paid out on termination unless there is a valid capping rule. The capping rule in the works agreement was too vague here; the credit was paid out in full.
Aviation supplier: temporary agency work and permanent employment
Situation: A technician has been working for 20 months as an agency worker at the same client company.
Legal assessment and approach: The maximum assignment period is generally 18 months (§ 1 Abs. 1b AÜG); collective agreements may provide otherwise. Without such a provision, an employment relationship with the client company would have come into existence by operation of law. Examination of the applicable sector-wide collective agreement was decisive.
Port operator: formal warning for a safety breach
Situation: A crane operator receives a formal warning because he allegedly worked without the prescribed protective equipment.
Legal assessment and approach: Formal warnings for breaches of occupational safety rules are generally justified. Here, however, there was no specific description of the incident, and it could be proven that the equipment had not been available. The warning was removed from the personnel file.
Frequently asked questions
Does my employment lawyer have to be based in Bremen?
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 Bremen, Bremerhaven and the surrounding area 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 Bremen? 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