Are you looking for an employment lawyer in Hanover? horak. Rechtsanwälte advise and represent employees, executives and companies in Hanover, the Hanover Region and throughout Lower Saxony – 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 Hanover, by telephone or by video – we usually respond within 24 hours.
- Representation before the Hanover Labour Court (Arbeitsgericht Hannover) and, on appeal, before the Lower Saxony Regional Labour Court (Landesarbeitsgericht Niedersachsen).
- 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 Hanover
Hanover is the state capital and home to numerous insurance companies, trade fair and industrial companies, automotive suppliers and public authorities. The employment law questions are correspondingly varied: from restructuring within corporate groups and sales contracts to public-sector issues.
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 Hanover
For employment relationships with a place of work in Hanover, the Hanover 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 Lower Saxony Regional Labour Court (based in Hanover), 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 Hanover
Our head office is on Georgstraße in the city centre, near the opera house and around five minutes’ walk from the main railway station. This is where the firm’s lawyers work; appointments are possible in person, by telephone or by video.
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.
Insurance sales: reclaiming commission
Situation: After leaving, an employed insurance agent is asked to repay commission advances for cancelled policies.
Legal assessment and approach: The employer must show that it made sufficient efforts to retain the policies (follow-up on the risk of cancellation). Without such proof, the repayment claim lapses in whole or in part; the proceedings were settled for a significantly reduced amount.
Automotive supplier: transfer to another site
Situation: An engineer is to move permanently from Hanover to a site in southern Germany. His contract names Hanover as the place of work but contains a transfer clause.
Legal assessment and approach: Even with a transfer clause, the instruction must be within the bounds of reasonable discretion and take family interests into account. In addition, the works council (Betriebsrat) had not been involved. The employee stayed in Hanover; the project work was handled through business trips.
Public sector: pay grade classification under TV-L
Situation: A clerk at a state authority has been carrying out higher-value tasks for years but is still paid according to the lower pay grade.
Legal assessment and approach: The decisive factor is the work processes that actually have to be performed. Following a detailed description of duties, a claim for reclassification to a higher grade was asserted; the six-month forfeiture period under the collective agreement had to be observed, so retroactive claims were limited.
Frequently asked questions
Does my employment lawyer have to be based in Hanover?
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 Hanover, the Hanover Region and throughout Lower Saxony 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 Hanover? 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