All our lawyers regularly advise English-speaking clients and speak English perfectly.
Know what you’re signing. Whether you are about to join a German employer or want to understand the contract you signed years ago: German employment contracts follow rules that surprise internationals — often in your favour.
What we check
- Probation and notice periods — what „6 Monate Probezeit“ really allows, and the statutory notice ladder that overrides many contract clauses.
- Fixed-term contracts (Befristung) — invalid fixed terms convert into permanent employment; the formal requirements are strict and frequently violated.
- Post-contractual non-competes — only binding if the employer pays at least 50 % compensation for the entire restriction period. No compensation clause, no restriction.
- Bonus, commission and target clauses — discretionary vs. contractual, what happens on exit, and which clawback clauses are void under German AGB control.
- Working language traps — an English contract can be governed by German law; the label on the document matters less than the law behind it.
Flat, transparent: contract review is typically covered within the initial consultation (€297.50 incl. VAT) — you get a written summary of risks, rights and negotiation points in English.