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Dr. Gerlind Wisskirchen
Lawyer
Partner
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CMS Hasche Sigle
Kranhaus 1
Im Zollhafen 18
50678 Cologne, Germany
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Gerlind Wisskirchen is a partner and specialist lawyer in labor and employment law. Her strength in advising corporates lies in her in-depth understanding of the economic environment in which clients operate and her precise, straight-forward advice. She and her team strive to forge workable and strategic business solutions to real-world problems so that clients can achieve their business objectives. Gerlind advises multinational corporations particularly on the issues of restructuring, on national and international labor issues and compliance aspects. She frequently acts as a business partner and consultant to the management of a company in order to structure business plans and strategies from an HR/employment perspective.
In a global arena where national jurisdictions play a lesser role and where companies have to meet global challenges, she has particular expertise in cross-border aspects and heads corresponding European projects such as cross-border transfer, reorganizations of businesses (outsourcing, off-shoring), issues of compliance, cross-border audits and compliance and internal investigations with regard to compliance issues, company co-determination, matrix structures of multinational companies, European works councils, the implementation of codes of conduct and whistleblowing systems, the assignment/relocation of employees, data privacy issues and holistic production systems (Toyota business system). She developed the "EU Labor & Employment Law Navigator" – a comparative analysis of labor and employment law systems in Europe.
Gerlind has been a frequent moderator and panelist at national and international conferences on international HR legal issues and cross-border labor and employment law issues, such as the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American Employment Law Council. She is a lecturer at the leading European business school, Cranfield University, UK, for its MBA program in International Human Resources Management. She has published numerous articles in German and English.
Functions:
- Vice-Chair of Cross-Border HR (XBHR), a global multidisciplinary forum for international HR and employment law experts focused on creative solutions to global HR issues.
- Co-Chair of the Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee of the International Bar Association.
- Co-Chair of the International Subcommittee of the ERR Committee, American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section.
- Member of the advisory board and lecturer at Cranfield University, UK, for the MBA program in International Human Resources Management.
- Member of the Labor Lawyers Advisory Committee of CUE, an organization for positive employee relations.
- Member of the labor and employment lawyers advisory board of the German Federal Bar
- Member of the American Employment Law Council, the International Association of Defense Counsel, the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association and the international association of labor and employment lawyers "Worklaw Network".
- Founding Member of Lions Club, Bonn
Awards:
- Mentioned in Who's Who Legal Management Labour & Employment 2011 as the first among the ten leading labor and employment law specialists in the world; quote: "Gerlind Wisskirchen is 'a superb lawyer who is well-known and respected by labor and employment practitioners around the world'."
- Named in Chambers 2011 as leading labor and employment lawyer in Germany as follows: "Gerlind Wisskirchen is a great example of what an employment lawyer should be like: compassionate, focused and extremely quick thinker."
- Winner of the International Law Office Client Choice Award for Labor & Employment, Germany, 2010
- Named in Who’s Who Legal 2011 among the world's 10 most renowned labor and employment law specialists. "...Gerlind Wisskirchen at CMS Hasche Sigle is fantastic. Praised as one of the very best in the world for employment law."
- Listed in Handelsblatt / Legal Success: "Top-lawyers in Germany"; "The Guide to the World's Leading Labor and Employment Lawyers"; Chamber Global "The World's Leading Lawyers for Business", Cross-Border Handbooks "Labour and Employee Benefits", The American Lawyer and Focus Europe.
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Studied law at the University of Bonn, the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and Georgetown University, USA. PhD in 1993 on "Indirect Discrimination in Employment (Disparate Impact Cases): USA – Europe". Student and graduate scholar of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Worked for two U.S. law firms (1991-1992, 1995) and for the international department of the Federal Ministry of Finance (1995-1998). Joined the law firm in 1998 to strengthen the international section of the labor and employment law team.
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"Social Media", Konzernpersonalleiter-Tagung, Arbeitgeberverband Zement und Baustoffe e.V., 21.09.2012, Duisburg
"Social Media, Data Protection and Employee Relations. How are Companies Dealing With the Challenges Presented by These Developments?", BEERG Meeting, 06.06.2012, Barcelona
"A New Dimension: Unions Moving to the International Battleground", CUE Spring 2012 Conference, 21.05.2012, Orlando
"New and Ongoing Issues in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)", ABA International Labor & Employment Law Committee, 14.05.2012, Paris
"Global Trade Union Campaigns – A New Playbook for Unions and What Multinationals Should Do About It", European HR Forum, World Trade Group, 11.05.2012, Brussels
"Cross-Border Investigations and Litigation: A Primer for the Multi-National Employer", Executive Employer Conference, Littler Mendelson, 10.05.2012, Scottsdale
"Employee Representation across Europe – Works Councils and Trade Unions", BEERG Training Program, 25.04.2012, Barcelona
"Internal Investigations", Workshop Bundesverband der Unternehmensjuristen (BUJ), 24.04.2012, Frankfurt
Drafting International Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets", ABA Section of Inter-national Law, 19.04.2012, New York
"Employers at Home and Abroad: Do’s and Don’ts for Requesting Employment Records for Domestic and Foreign Employees", IADC Midyear Meeting, 13.02.2012, Rancho Mirage
"Review of EU developments, including the recent court decision involving the EWC in Visteon", BEERG Training Program, 08.02.2012, Brussels
"Social Media", Caritasverband für das Bistum Essen, 07.02.2012, Essen
"The Lawsuit Seesaw: US Discrimination vs. European Unfair Dismissal", CBA/CLE LEI Labor & Employment, 07.01.2012, Vail
"Employee Representation in Europe", Webinar US Chamber of Commerce, Labor Relation Committee, 30.11.2011
"Social Media”, 5. Freiburger Personalrechtstage, 25.11.2011, Freiburg
"Legal Framework Conditions for Working Hours", DGFP Fachtagung, 24.11.2011, Hamburg
"The rise of multiculturalism and the resulting challenges of managing diversity in the workplace" IBA Annual Conference , 31.10.2011, Dubai
"Employee representation at workplace level across Europe", BEERG Meeting, 26.10.2011, Barcelona
"New Issues in the Working Time Debate – Blackberries, Apples and other exotic fruit!" BEERG Meeting, 13.10.2011, Brussels
"Update on European ER Issues", Inhouse seminar, 07.09.2011, Böblingen
"Fragen zur Arbeitszeit –Blackberry & Co", von Rundstedt & Partners, 14.07.2011, Wirtschaftsclub Düsseldorf
"What must U.S. Lawyers know about Employment Law abroad? – Small differences with big impact", Symposium on Global Markets, The Center for American and International Law (CAI), 15.06.2011, Dallas
"(Grenzüberschreitende) Matrixstruktur von Konzernen", American Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V., 31.05.2011, Frankfurt
"Global Union Campaigns", CUE Conference, 24.05.2011 Charleston
"Employee Representation in Germany: role of works councils and unions", ABA Midyear Meeting, 09.05.2011, Berlin
"Restrictive Covenants", ABA International Labor and Employment Law Committee, 27.04.2011, Teleconference
"European Works Councils", IBA Conference, 15.04.2011, Brussels
"EU-Navigator: Labor markets and employment and labor Laws ", BEERG, 06.04.2011, Barcelona
"A Comparison of How Litigation is Handled Outside the US", ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Midwinter Meeting, 25.03.2011, Puerto Rico
"Alternative Fee Arrangements in Europe", ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Midwinter Meeting, 25.03.2011, Puerto Rico
"Social Media am Arbeitsplatz", Client seminar, 10.03.2011, CMS von Erlach Henrici, Zurich
"Successful Clarification of Compliance Breaches - Possibilities and Limits of In-House Investigations", 15 EUROFORUM-Annual Conference for In-House Counsel, In-House Counsel Conference 2011, 24.02.2011, Berlin
"New German EWC legislation", BEERG Meeting, 10.02.2011, Brussels
"Dealing with Employees, Using Social Media", Entrepreneurs' Conference BiTS, 03.02.2011, Iserlohn
"Top Issues That US Practitioners need to Know About International Labor and Employment Law", ABA International Labor and Employment Committee, 28.01.2011, TeleConference
"US – Labor and Employment Law", Client seminar, 12.01.2010, Munich
"International Restrictive Covenants in a Global Workplace", Colorado Bar Association/CLE, 07.01.2011, Vail
"EU-Navigator: Labor Markets and Employment and Labor Laws ", HR Policy Foundation, 17.11.2010 San Francisco
"Codetermination Aspects of New Company Forms", CMS client seminar, 16.11.2010, Frankfurt
"Compliance –Internal Company Investigations", BWA Senatsveranstaltung, 10.11.2010, Cologne
"If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium - Global Labor and Management Strategies", ABA CLE Conference, 04.11.2010, Chicago
"Conduction Global Investigations", Global Employer Institute, Littler Mendelson, 22.10.2010, Washington D.C.
"Avoidance of Supervisory Board in Germany", BEERG Meeting, 06.10.2010, Brussels
"Labor Law Options for Dealing with Poor Performers – Country Comparisons D – A – CH", DGFP-Erfa-Group, 14.09.2010, Vienna
"Avoidance of Corporate Codetermination", ZAAR Symposium, 10.09.2010, Hamburg
"Labor and Employment Law: A Random Look", Client Seminar, 07.09.2010, Düren
"Dealing with the Works Council", Client Seminar, 06.09.2010
"Instrumente zur Personalkostensenkung", GDA Sommerakademie, 28.08.2010, Warnemünde
"Transfer of Business", Client Seminar, 17.08.2010, Frankfurt
"Compliance in Labor and Employment Law", Arbeitgeberverband HessenChemie, 09.07.2010, Mainz
"Internal Company Investigations: The AG as State Prosecutor", Arbeitgeberverband HessenChemie, 09.07.2010, Mainz
"Investments from the USA to Germany", ABA/DAV Lawyers' Conference, 21.06.2010, Frankfurt
"Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law in the EU”, Labor Relations Committee, US Chamber of Commerce, 26.05.2010, Washington D.C.
"The Case for a Global Labor Strategy: At Home or Abroad", CUE Conference, 25.05.2010, Louisville
"Strategische Überlegungen zur Unternehmensmitbestimmung", Kölner Tage Arbeitsrecht, 06.05.2010, Cologne
"The Delivery of Legal Services via Alternative Fee Arrangements", Littler Mendelson, 09.04.2010, Phoenix
"Neue Aspekte beim grenzüberschreitenden Datenschutz", AmCham Social Labor Affairs Committee, 30.03.2010, Eschborn
"Transfer of Business", Client Seminar, 29.03.2010, Mannheim
"International Perspectives on Executive Incentive Plans", ABA ERR Midwinter Meeting, 25.03.2010, Coronado
"Internal Investigations in Europe", Client Seminar, 23.03.2010, Seattle
"Update – EU Labor and Employment Law: Data privacy, terminations, employee representation", Client Seminar, 23.03.2010, Seattle
"Update – EU Labor and Employment Law: Data privacy, terminations, employee representation", Client Seminar, 22.03.2010, Seattle
"Works Council/ Trade Unions/ Employee Participation", BWA-Senatsveranstaltung, 18.03.2010, Düren
"Global Labor Strategies", XHBR Annual Conference, 05.03.2010, Zürich
"European and US Labor and Employment Law", National CLE Conference, 08.01.2010, Vail
"EU-Navigator: Labor Markets and Employment and Labor Laws", von Rundstedt & Partners, 03.11.2009, Frankfurt
"Unternehmenskauf: Arbeitsrechtliche Aspekte Deutschland - Niederlande", Deutsch-Niederländische Handelskammer, 08.10.2009, Utrecht
"The Anachronistic Employee", The Change in Employee Requirements, DMF, 25.09.2009, Hamburg
"Unternehmensfinanzierung", BWA Senatsveranstaltung, 16.09.2009, Frankfurt
"EU-Navigator: Labor Markets and Employment and Labor Laws", von Rundstedt & Partners, 20.08.2009, Düsseldorf
"Personalkosten senken - arbeits- und betriebsverfassungsrechtliche Möglichkeiten", Client Seminar, 01.07.2009, Frankfurt
"Whistleblowing Systems", Compliance Roadshow, 24.06.2009, Cologne
"Umgang mit dem Betriebsrat - Grenzen der Mitbestimmung", In-house Seminar, 19.05.2009, Netphen
"Comparison: US - EU labor class actions", ABA - ELA Conference, 18.05.2009, London
"Transfer of Untertaking - Transfer of Conditions of Employment", EELA Conference, 15.05.2009, Amsterdam
"EU-Navigator: Labor Markets and Employment and Labor Laws", Lecture at Cranfield University, UK, 13.05.2009, Cranfield
"Performance Management of Employees - Legal Aspects in Germany", In-house Seminar, 30.04.2009, Hürth
"Global Compliance with Employment and Labor Laws", IBA Mid-Year Conference, 23.04.2009, Berlin
"Maßnahmen der Personalkostensenkung" (Measures to Reduce Personnel Costs), BWA Senatsveranstaltung, 16.03.2009, Bonn
"Hot Topics in Cross-Border L&E/HR", XHBR Annual Confernce, 05.03.2009, Budapest
"Personalkosten senken" (Reducing Personnel Costs), Client Seminar, 04.03.2009, Cologne
"Global Strategies re: Unions", Littler Mendelson, 02.03.2009, New York
"Nationale und internationale Compliance-Anforderungen im Arbeitsrecht und HR" (National and International Compliance Requirements in Employment law and HR), GDA Konferenz Arbeitsrecht, 18.02.2009, Berlin
"Global Issues of HR Compliance", In-house Seminar, 12.02.2009, Ludwigsburg
"Rechtsprechung zur Ethikrichtlinie (und Mitbestimmungsrecht) (Court Rulings on Codes of Ethics (and Codetermination Rights)), American Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V., Social and Labor Affairs Committee, 06.02.2009, Frankfurt
"Involvement of Employee Representations when Restructuring of Companies", BNA Books, Teleconference, 28.01.2009
"Introduction to International Employment Law", ABA Teleconference, 14.01.2009
"Employee Representation in the EU", BNA Books, Teleconference, 13.01.2009
"Dealing with the Multinational Employee", Colorado Bar Association, Vail, 05.01.2009
"Global Issues of HR Compliance", In-House Seminar, 17.11.2008, Rust
"Employment Abroad – Employment Law Aspects of Job Relocation Abroad (Offshoring)" Datakontext GmbH, 18.11.2008, Cologne
"Codes of Conduct in multinational companies", AELC Annual Conference, The Greenbrier, 25.10.2008, White Sulphur Springs
"Global Labor Relations Issues: Responding to New Union Strategies and Pressures", Littler Mendelson: Internationals Employment Conference, 23.10.2008, Washington D.C.
"EU Corporate and Employment Law and its Impact on M&A, Restructurings" Several Law Firms, 12.10.-17.10.2008, New York
"Cross-Border Employment Law", Workshop DAV Annual Conference of Lawyers Specializing in Employment Law, 19 September 2008, Kiel-Oslo
"Employment Law Issues Relating to (Cross-Border) Matrix Structures in Corporations", Bitkom Seminar, 18.09.2008, Frankfurt am Main
"EU-Navigator: Labor Markets and Employment and Labor Laws", Lecture at Cranfield University, UK, 09.09.2008, Cranfield
"EU-Navigator: Labor Markets and Employment and Labor Laws", DGFP Fachtagung, 25.08.2008, Düsseldorf
"The Anachronistic Employee": The Change in Employee Requirements as Grounds for Dismissal, Cologne Conference on Employment Law, 19.06.2008, Köln
"Options for Greater Flexibility and Remuneration Limits Under Employment Law"; Düsseldorfer Vergütungsforum der DGFP, 05.05.2008, Düsseldorf
"Overview of Employee Stock Option Models and Critical Discussion of Governing Parties’ Proposals"; BWA-Senatsveranstaltung, 14.04.2008, Berlin
"Compliance in Employment Law", American Chamber of Commerce, 08.04.2008, Frankfurt
"Codes of Conduct", American Chamber of Commerce, 08.04.2008, Frankfurt
"Terminations, Data Privacy, Code of Conduct", ABA ERR Midwinter Meeting, St. Regis Monarch Beach, 03.04.-05.04.2008, Dana Point
"Top Mistakes of U.S. Employers in the Global Workplace", ABA ERR Midwinter Meeting, St. Regis Monarch Beach, 03.04.-05.04.2008, Dana Point
"Information and Consultation of Employees in the EU", CLE ABA Teleconference, 19.03.2008
"Terminating Employment Relationships in the EU", NY State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section Conference, 07.03.-09.03.2008, New York
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- "Compliance Fahrplan" im Arbeitsrecht, AuA 09 2009, p. 509-511
- "Der unzeitgemäße Arbeitnehmer". Die Änderung von Anforderungen an Mitarbeiter als Kündigungsgrund, ("The Anachronistic Employee". Change in Employee Requirements as Grounds for Dismissal), NZA 24 2008, p. 1386-1393
- "Kontollierte Insolvenz" Arbeitsrechtliche Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten des Insolvenzverwalters, BB 2009, p. 2142-2147
- Abfindungen in Europa (Severance Payment in Europe), Personal Manager / HR International 01 2008, p. 40-44
- Anbahnung und Begründung eines Arbeitsverhältnisses, Mitautorin in Tschöpe "Anwalts-Handbuch Arbeitsrecht", 7. Auflage 2011, p. 95-213
- Arbeitnehmervertretung und Mitbestimmung in der Europäischen Union, Personal Manager / HR International 04 2009, p. 46-49
- Arbeitsvertrag und AGB-Kontrolle, Mitautorin in Tschöpe "Anwalts-Handbuch Arbeitsrecht" 7. Aufl. 2011, p. 217-289
- Aufgabe des Prinzips der Tarifeinheit - Folgen für die Praxis, BB 37 2010, p. 1
- Background checks in Europe, HR Performance 2/ 2011, p. 40-47
- BlackBerry & Co.: Was ist heute Arbeitszeit?, DB 37 2010, p. 2052-2055
- Doing Business 2010: Labor Laws and Regulations in Germany, The World Bank Group, 2009
- Doing Business 2011: Labor Laws and Regulations in Germany, The World Bank Group 2010
- Doing Business 2012: Labor Laws and Regulations in Germany, The World Bank Group 2011
- Duration of Government Subsidy for Reduces Working Hours Arrangements Cut Back for 2010, ABA International Labor and Employment Law Committee Newsletter December 2009
- EU Primer, BNA Books Website, 2009
- Germany Primer, BNA Books Website, 2009
- Haftung von Geschäftsführern in Matrixstrukturen (Liability of Managing Directors in Matrix Structures), Euroforum Newsletter Unternehmensjuristentage 2/2008 2008, p. 5
- Hiring the Best qualified and Most Talented Employees, Handbook on Global Recruiting, Screening, Testing and Interviewing Criteria, Kluwer International 2008
- Human Resources and Compliance, ZFRC Risk, Fraud & Compliance 2009, p. 264-269
- Internal Investigation, DB 24 2011, p. 1392-1395
- Internet-/ E-Mail-Überwachung von Arbeitnehmern in der EU (Monitoring Internet/ E-Mail of Employees in the EU), Personal Manager / HR International 2008, p. 38 ff
- Japanische Produktionsmethoden: Kaizen, Kanban & Co im Lichte der betrieblichen Mitbestimmung (Japanese Production Methods: Kaizen, Kanban & Co in Light of Employee Codetermination), Betriebs-Berater 17 2008, p. 890-896
- Kündigungen in der EU, Personal Manager / HR International 02 2010, p. 55-58
- Labor Law USA, International (monograph series), 1st ed. 2011, bayme vbm 2010
- Low Performance, co-author in Grobys/Panzer "Stichwortkommentar Arbeitsrecht" 1st edition 2011
- Massenentlassungen in den Mitgliedsstaaten der EU, ZESAR 04 2010, p. 164-171
- Personalkostenreduktion in der Wirtschaftskrise - Instrumente für Arbeitgeber, AuA 4 2009, p. 208-212
- PLC Cross Border Handbook - Labor and Employee Benefits 2009/ 2010, Employee Representation and co-determination rights in the EU 2009, p. 27-35
- PLC Cross Border Handbook - Labor and Employee Benefits 2010/ 2011, Employee Representation and co-determination rights in the EU 2010
- Poor Performance is not the Sword of Damocles, www.personalwirtschaft.de, 03 2011, p. 61-63
- Right to Ongoing Employment (Weiterbeschäftigungsanspruch), co-author in Grobys/Panzer "Stichwortkommentar Arbeitsrecht", 1st edition 2011
- Right to Re-Employment (Wiedereinstellungsanspruch), co-author in Grobys/Panzer "Stichwortkommentar Arbeitsrecht" 1st edition 2011
- Sozialverträglicher Personalabbau durch den Einsatz von Transfergesellschaften, NZI 18 2009, p. 865-870
- The Introduction of Whistleblower Systems in the European Union, IADC Defense Counsel Journal 03 2010, p. 366-383
- Twitter & Co.: Das Web 2.0 als arbeitsrechtliches Problem, BB 40 2010, p. 2433-2439
- Vermeidung von unternehmerischer Mitbestimmung (Avoidance of Company-Co-Determination), Euroforum, Newsletter Unternehmensjuristentag 2008, p. 7
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