You have your own contact person your contact person has a whole team of specialists

We are advisors partners and confidants to our clients

Schweibert on Schweibert: Take responsibility: financially, commercially and personally.

From 1995 to 2012, Dr. Ulrike Schweibert worked as an attorney (since 1999 as partner) in the employment law practice at Bruckhaus Westrick Stegemann (now Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer) in Frankfurt am Main. Prior to that, she gained international experience at a commercial law firm in New York. She specializes in "stand alone" employment law business, i.e., advising clients in the context of restructurings, corporate downsizing, outsourcing, changes in terms and conditions of employment and pension commitments, etc. Ulrike’s clients include financial institutions, DAX companies, manufacturers and big as well as small and medium-sized service companies. Her experience also includes extensive forensic activity and representation of board members, directors and senior executives.

Schweibert on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: A small, flexible unit simply better suits the market's needs as well as those of my own

According to JUVE Handbuch, since several years Ulrike Schweibert is one of the Leading Senior Partners in Employment Law. Handelsblatt honored her repeatedly as one of the lawyers of the year. What's more, WirtschaftsWoche, Focus-Spezial Top-Business Lawyers in Germany, Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides - Women in Business Law, Who is Who Legal Germany and Chambers Europe rank Ulrike Schweibert again among Germany's foremost employment lawyers. As a member of the employment law committee of the German Bar Association (DAV) and European affairs officer, she promotes the development of employment law in Germany. She is co-editor and author of a highly respected reference work on restructurings (Umstrukturierungshandbuch Willemsen/Hohenstatt/Schweibert/Seibt), currently in its fifth edition. Since 2016 she is a member of the supervisory board of Amadeus Fire AG.

Here the client is not „The lawyers client“, but rather the firm's client

Leßmann on Leßmann: It's easier to understand businessmen when you yourself are one.

After completing his university studies and earning his doctorate (under Prof. Peter Hanau), Dr. Jochen Leßmann began his legal career in 1993 in the Berlin office of Bruckhaus Westrick Stegemann (now Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer); he became partner in 1997. In the mid 1990s, he spent six months working at a commercial law firm in London. In 2006, he relocated to the Frankfurt office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

During his more than 20-year career as an attorney in employment law practice, Jochen has advised and represented both German and international companies as well as public-law entities in all areas of employment law. He regularly advises and represents board members, directors and senior executives in negotiations as well as forensic proceedings. He is also an occasional contributor to professional journals on issues of employment law.

Jochen is married with three children and a wide variety of interests.

Leßmann on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: The employment law boutique firm allows a broader clientele without excluding transactional work in employment law.

Together with other lawyers of SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN, Jochen has advised on a variety of projects over the past years, including employment law issues in conjunction with the initial public offerings of GSW Immobilien AG and NORMA Group AG; the sale of ARRIVA Deutschland GmbH for German Railways (Deutsche Bahn AG); the sale of the retail client business of SEB AG to Santander Consumer Bank AG and on employment law issues surrounding the acquisition of the Kabel Baden-Württemberg Group for Liberty Global Inc. and the Unitymedia Group.

According to  JUVE Handbook, Handelsblatt and “Best Lawyers”,WirtschaftsWoche, Focus-Spezial Top-Business Lawyers in Germany, Who is Who Legal Germany and Chambers Europe Jochen has been one of the leading employment lawyers in Germany for several years.

The driving forces are advisory work and teamwork but it should never be all work and no play

Hopfe on Hopfe: I'll take real personalities over walking stereotypes anytime.

Dr. Rüdiger Hopfe is a founding partner of SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN. After completing his legal studies, which included legal English training in Munster, Germany, he began working part time at the law firm of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Frankfurt am Main in 2002 while pursuing his doctorate. During his legal clerkship, he spent three months at both the London and New York offices. In January 2007, he joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer . He is married with two children.

Rüdiger has many years of experience in national and international transactions. Recently, he has furthermore been heavily involved in advising corporates in the financial sector on issues surrounding compensation schemes for employees and board members and on matters involving corporate retirement pensions.

Hopfe on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: Employment lawyers must always keep one eye on the bigger picture.

According to JUVE Handbook 2021/2022 Rüdiger Hopfe is one of Germany's foremost employment lawyers (special mention “leading partners 41-50”). His expertise is again recognized in 2022 by Best Lawyers / Handelsblatt, WirtschaftsWoche and FOCUS. He is a contributor to professional journals on issues of employment law and acts a lecturer for trainings and seminars.

Daniel Benkert

Benkert on Benkert: I focus on finding pragmatic and resilient solutions that not only take legal aspects into account but also protect my clients' interests in the best possible way.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Benkert studied law at the Universities of Konstanz and Ferrara and at the University of Administrative Sciences in Speyer. After successfully completing his degrees, he served as a research assistant to Prof. Dr. Hans-Wolfgang Strätz at the Chair of Legal History, Canon Law, and Civil Law at the University of Konstanz and earned his doctorate with a thesis on the structure of parental rights in the German Civil Code.
From 2002 to 2010, Daniel Benkert worked as a lawyer and certified specialist for employment law for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. In 2010, he and some colleagues jointly founded a boutique law firm in Frankfurt am Main focusing on business law. In January 2026, he joined the law firm SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN as a partner.

In April 2011, Daniel Benkert was appointed professor of civil law and German and international employment and commercial law at the GGS German Graduate School of Management and Law in Heilbronn.

Benkert on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: A brilliant team of strong experts who support and complement each other perfectly.

Daniel Benkert is an expert in all aspects of individual and collective employment law. A particular focus of his work is advising on sensitive issues such as co-determination rights, data protection, and compliance. He represents clients in court and in negotiations with works councils and trade unions.

Alexander Lorenz

Lorenz on Lorenz: Negotiations with works councils or unions aren’t loud — they’re calm in approach, clear in aim, and strong in substance.

Dr. Alexander Lorenz has been a partner at SCHWEIBEWRT LESSMANN since 2026. After studying law at Goethe University Frankfurt and Justus Liebig University Giessen, the Austrian-born lawyer completed his doctorate at the University of Innsbruck (Leopold Franzens University). He has been admitted to the German Bar since 2005. He is a certified specialist in employment law (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht) and previously served for many years as Head of the Employment Law Practice Group at Baker Tilly, and as a partner at Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law.

Alexander primarily advises companies on complex collective labour law disputes involving collective bargaining and works constitution law, in particular in restructuring and transformation scenarios, including employment law aspects in insolvency proceedings.

Lorenz on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN stands for exactly what matters to me: a clear focus on employment law, outstanding quality, and an excellent reputation in the market.

Alexander has been recommended by JUVE Handbook, Legal 500, Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers and WirtschaftsWoche as one of the leading employment lawyers in Germany for several years.

Having an organization with flat hierarchies is the best foundation for true teamwork

Herrmann on Herrmann: For me, employment law advice is largely about making decisions in a responsible manner and never letting the practical consequences out of sight.

Dr. Christoph Herrmann is an attorney at SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN since October 2012, partner since January 2019. After completing his legal studies at the Universities of Bayreuth, Lausanne (Switzerland) and Frankfurt am Main, he was awarded a doctoral degree from the University of Frankfurt am Main in 2010. He completed his legal clerkship in Frankfurt am Main and New York City (USA). After earning his doctorate and during his legal clerkship he worked for the employment law practice at the Frankfurt office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Herrmann on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: We serve clients with solution-oriented advice at the highest level.

Christoph is a certified specialist for employment law and advises national and international companies with respect to all issues of employment and labor law. His experience includes in particular advising clients in the context of restructurings, transactions, the deployment of external staff / leased employees and an extensive forensic activity (including collective dismissals and court proceedings before the Federal Labor Court). In addition, he represents individuals from top management. He is co-author of a reference book on employment law published by Nomos and a contributor to professional journals on issues of employment and labor law. Moreover, he occasionally holds lectures in the context of seminars or conferences. According to related professional publications (JUVE Handbuch, Legal 500, Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers) Christoph is one of the leading employment lawyers in Germany. He is married and has two children.

Dr. Elena Heimann

Heimann on Heimann: Implementing entrepreneurial ideas with empathy and an eye for the essential. That’s what motivates me every single day.

Dr. Elena Heimann was admitted to the bar in 2015 and is a certified specialist for employment law since 2021. She began her legal career in the employment law team of Beiten Burkhardt and spent the last few years in the employment law boutique Bluedex, where she was most recently an Associated Partner. In Juli 2022, she joined the team of SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN and became a partner in January 2025.

Elena Heimann studied law at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main and at the University of Leeds, England. She completed her doctorate with a thesis in the field of European collective labor law with Prof. Dr. Dres. h. c. Manfred Weiss. Elena Heimann completed her legal clerkship – also with a focus on employment law – at the District Court of Frankfurt am Main (including a phase at the Labor Court of Frankfurt am Main).

Elena Heimann advises clients on issues spanning the entire spectrum of employment and labor law. In particular, she advises and represents national and international clients in matters of works constitution law, the structuring of employment relationships and in the context of complex restructuring projects. She has many years of experience in the management of labor court proceedings and settlement negotiations as well as in the support of conciliation boards. She regularly gives expert lectures on employment law topics. Elena Heimann is married and has two children.

Heimann on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: Here, each individual stands for the highest technical standards, legal professionalism and human cohesion.

Fast, efficient, effective: We enjoy the benefits of our small team and pass these on to our clients each and every day

Ries on Ries: For me, providing optimal advice means working with my clients to actively assist them in shaping and implementing their entrepreneurial ideas efficiently.

Priscilla Ries joined SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN as Counsel in 2015. After completing her legal studies with additional qualifications in European, international and foreign law in Freiburg and spending six months working in Kenya, she joined the employment law team at Clifford Chance, where she worked as an attorney from 2007 to 2015. Prior to that, she had worked at the London office of Clifford Chance during her legal clerkship.

Ries on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: The best minds for the biggest challenges – and a reliable, efficient and cost-conscious structure to boot.

Priscilla has long-standing experience in advising on national and international M&A transactions, including negotiations as well as the integration of acquired businesses and operations into the existing entity and its organizational structures. She advises and represents clients with respect to all issues of employment and labor law, including restructurings, business transfers and complex issues relating to co-determination. She also has many years of experience in employment law litigation and settlement negotiations.

The collective expertise of the team benefits each individual

Pfeiffer on Pfeiffer: Employment law is a dynamic field of the law that continually confronts practitioners with new challenges, which I enjoy meeting.

Alexander Pfeiffer started as an attorney at SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN in January 2015 and is Counsel since January 2023. He completed his legal studies at Johannes-Gutenberg University in Mainz and began his legal clerkship in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2012 and worked as research assistant in the employment law practice of an international commercial law firm. As part of his legal clerkship he also worked in the legal department of a major automobile manufacturer in Munich and spent the elective phase already at SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN.

Pfeiffer on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: Quick integration into all the mandates, close teamwork and an open-door policy allow young lawyers to learn their craft quickly, which benefits clients as well.

Alexander is a certified specialist for employment law and advises national as well as international companies in the areas of individual and collective employment law. One focus of his work is providing ongoing advice to clients on employment law, the structuring of employment relationships as well as employment law advice in the context of complex national and international M&A transactions. He has many years of experience in labor court proceedings and settlement negotiations. Alexander is also forensically active and co-author of a commentary on employment law published by Nomos Verlag. He is married and father of two daughters.

Svenja Fries

Fries on Fries: I am passionate about finding solutions that are not only legally sound, but also truly promote the interests our clients.

Dr. Svenja Fries, LL.M. (London) has been working as Counsel for SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN since January 2026. After studying law and subsequently obtaining her doctorate at Heidelberg University, she completed an LL.M. degree at King's College London (United Kingdom) from 2012 to 2013. She then worked in Mayer Brown’s Employment & Benefits Practice Group from 2014 as part of her legal training and from January 2016 as a lawyer. From January 2024 to December 2025, she was Counsel and Associated Partner at Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law.

Fries on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: We are convinced: The best results are achieved when specialisation meets openness, experience, and creativity.

Svenja Fries has been a certified specialist for employment law since 2022 and advises national and international companies on all aspects of individual and collective labor law. A particular focus of her work lies in collective employment law, predominantly in the context of restructurings, operational changes, and other rationalization measures, as well as their implementation, including employment litigation.

Andreas Reisner

Reisner on Reisner: Providing legal advice to my clients and promoting their interests with passion and personal commitment is my guiding principle.

Andreas Reisner has been an associate attorney at SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN since July 2022 and became a Counsel in January 2025. After completing his law studies at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, he began his legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main in 2016 and completed stations at a renowned commercial law firm and in the employment law department of an automotive group in Stuttgart, among others. Before joining SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN, he worked as an attorney in the employment law team of CMS Hasche Sigle in Frankfurt am Main.

Reisner on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: At SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN you meet outstanding personalities and real team spirit.

Reisner is a certified specialist for employment law and advises national and international companies in all issues of individual and collective employment law.

Sebastian Spuhl

Spuhl on Spuhl: I understand legal advice as a responsible commitment, characterized by professional excellence and a strong appreciation for practical, client-oriented solutions.

Sebastian Spuhl started as an attorney at SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN in January 2026. He completed his legal studies at Philipps University in Marburg, began his legal clerkship in Berlin in 2016 and, among other stages, completed a station at a renowned internationally operating auditing firm. Before joining SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN, he worked for seven years as an attorney at Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law in Frankfurt / Main.

Spuhl on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: We take employment law further – with a perspective that goes beyond statutory provisions and understands business realities.

Sebastian Spuhl is a certified specialist for employment law and advises national and international companies on all matters of individual and collective employment law. He specializes in representing clients in employment litigation, advising on temporary agency work, and supporting corporate restructurings.

Daniel Salvadore

Salvadore on Salvadore: I'll take real personalities over walking stereotypes anytime.

Daniel Salvadore started as an attorney at SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN in January 2026. After completing his law studies at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, he completed his legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main from 2020 to 2022. Before joining SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN, he worked as an attorney at Metis Rechtsanwälte from 2022 to 2025.

Salvadore on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: Employment lawyers must always keep one eye on the bigger picture.

Daniel Salvadore advises national and international clients on individual and collective labor law. A focus of his practice is employment litigation before German labor courts.

Katharina Makrushin

Makrushin on Makrushin: My advice is characterized by precision, a sense of responsibility, and a spirit of partnership.

Katharina Makrushin has been working as an attorney at SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN since 2026. After completing her law studies at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, she began her legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main in 2021, completing placements at several renowned commercial law firms. Before joining SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN, she worked as a lawyer at Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law in Frankfurt am Main from 2024 to 2025.

Makrushin on SCHWEIBERT LESSMANN: Our team combines professional excellence with collegial cooperation – thus ensuring that our advice is efficient and reliable.

Katharina Makrushin advises national and international clients on all aspects of individual and collective labor law. A focus of her work lies in the cooperation with Human Resources departments regarding the structuring and termination of employment and service contracts, as well as on all issues related to reorganizations, including insolvency labor law.