Are you looking for an employment lawyer in Hamburg? horak. Rechtsanwälte advise and represent employees, executives and companies in Hamburg and northern Germany – 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 Hamburg, by telephone or by video – we usually respond within 24 hours.
- Representation before the Hamburg Labour Court (Arbeitsgericht Hamburg) and, on appeal, before the Hamburg Regional Labour Court (Landesarbeitsgericht Hamburg).
- 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 Hamburg
Hamburg is a trading and port metropolis, a media hub and home to many logistics, aviation and trading companies. Issues frequently concern shift work and on-call duty, media employment contracts, collective bargaining coverage and transfers of undertakings.
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 Hamburg
For employment relationships with a place of work in Hamburg, the Hamburg 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 Hamburg 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 Hamburg
Our Hamburg office is located in the Colonnaden in the city centre.
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.
Media company: programme-shaping editor as a “freelance” worker
Situation: An editor has been working for ten years as a freelancer with fixed shifts in the newsroom of a media company.
Legal assessment and approach: In the case of programme-shaping staff, the courts take freedom of broadcasting and of the press into account, but actual integration into the organisation remains decisive. The status claim led to a settlement with permanent employment.
Transfer of undertaking in logistics
Situation: A warehouse operation is handed over to a new service provider. The transferee offers the employees new contracts with lower pay.
Legal assessment and approach: In a transfer of undertaking, employment relationships pass to the transferee with all rights and obligations (§ 613a BGB). New contracts on worse terms may be invalid if their only purpose is circumvention. The employees did not sign; their previous terms continued to apply.
Shipping company: dismissal during parental leave
Situation: A team leader in chartering is dismissed during her parental leave on grounds of “restructuring”.
Legal assessment and approach: During parental leave, a dismissal is only possible with a declaration of admissibility from the competent authority. There was no such declaration – the dismissal was invalid.
Frequently asked questions
Does my employment lawyer have to be based in Hamburg?
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 Hamburg and northern Germany 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 Hamburg? 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