Moritz Riehl

Lawyer, Certified Specialist Lawyer for German Employment Law

About Moritz

German Employment Law

German Inheritance Law and Corporate Succession

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Moritz Riehl is a lawyer and Certified Specialist Lawyer for German Employment Law (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht). He is a partner and managing director of Solving Legal GmbH.

Moritz Riehl advises and represents companies with many years of experience in all areas of individual and collective German employment law as well as in the area of contract drafting. He accompanies employment law disputes for both employers and employees from out-of-court settlements to judicial clarification before the German labor courts.

With equal passion, Moritz Riehl also advises both private individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises on wealth succession in German inheritance law. In addition to advising on wills and inheritance contracts, this also includes tax-optimizing regulations for anticipated succession (vorweggenommene Erbfolge). In the event of inheritance disputes, Moritz Riehl represents his clients out of court and in court, both in German certificate of inheritance proceedings (Erbscheinverfahren) and inheritance disputes, as well as in the enforcement and defense of compulsory portion claims (Pflichtteilsansprüche).

Moritz Riehl studied law at the universities of Tübingen, Antwerp, and Mainz, specializing primarily in the disciplines of German tax and inheritance law.

Experience

Removal of Fixed Term in a Collective Agreement Employment Relationship Achieved

For an employee of a church employer who had been on fixed-term contracts for many years, we achieved the removal of the fixed term (Entfristung) of his employment relationship out of court with legal sensitivity, invoking special collective agreement regulations (Tarifvertrag) on the limitation of employment relationships.

Employment Security

Permanent Employment

Claim for Repayment of Training Costs Defeated

We successfully defended against an employer's claim for the repayment of training costs in the five-figure range against an employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement (Tarifvertrag). The training agreement was invalid under German labor law because it established non-transparent repayment conditions and was unreasonably disadvantageous.

Claim Defeated

> 10,000 €

Defense Against an Extraordinary Dismissal

As part of a wrongful dismissal lawsuit (Kündigungsschutzklage), we challenged an extraordinary dismissal for an employee due to alleged working time fraud and achieved a severance payment, favored under German social security law, equivalent to six gross monthly salaries.

Severance

> 25,000 €

Negotiation of Severance for a Shareholder-Employee

For a shareholder-employee of a nationally active start-up company, we negotiated a six-figure severance amount in a wrongful dismissal proceeding (Kündigungsschutzverfahren) against an extraordinary, alternatively ordinary, dismissal under German labor law.

Severance

> 100,000 €

Wrongful Dismissal Lawsuit Against Operational Redundancy

Against a dismissal for operational reasons due to job cuts, we secured protection against dismissal for a commercial employee of a construction company via a wrongful dismissal lawsuit (Kündigungsschutzklage) and enforced default of acceptance wages (Annahmeverzugslohn) under German labor law.

Default of Acceptance Wages

> 32,000 €

Protection Against Dismissal and Non-Compete Compensation for Sales Representative

We successfully represented a sales representative of an internationally active company in the renewable energy sector in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit (Kündigungsschutzklage) and asserted a claim for compensation (Karenzentschädigung) due to a post-contractual non-compete clause under German law. With our legal expertise, the employee positioned themselves optimally in the settlement negotiations.

Settlement Amount

> 50,000 €

Labor Law Advisory for a Start-Up Company

With our legal expertise, we set up the labor law contracts for an engineering firm operating nationwide. In addition to an up-to-date German employment contract, the employer can offer its employees an attractive mobile work agreement and flexible working time regulations.

Start-Up Support

Complete Contract Portfolio

Amicable Settlement of a Dismissal Dispute Concerning an Illness-Related Dismissal

We advised a company in the healthcare sector on company integration management (Betriebliches Eingliederungsmanagement - BEM) and a subsequent possibility for illness-related dismissal under German labor law. In the ensuing dismissal dispute, we successfully negotiated a termination settlement (Beendigungsvergleich) for the employer. Through the careful preparation of the integration management and the illness-related dismissal, the employer achieved a positive result in every respect.

Termination Settlement

Optimal Result

Works Agreement on Mobile Work

For the German Works Council (Betriebsrat) of an automotive supplier, we drafted a works agreement (Betriebsvereinbarung) for the introduction of mobile work. Thanks also to the new, flexible regulation regarding the place of work, the employer can offer contemporary and attractive working conditions.

Future-Proof Regulation

Modern Work Models

Introduction of a Variable Remuneration System

We accompanied the introduction of a variable remuneration system, supported the employer in negotiations with the German Works Council (Betriebsrat), and drafted a works agreement (Betriebsvereinbarung) on commission payments for the employees of the financial services company.

Works Agreement

Successful Implementation

Foundation Advisory for an International Company

We advised a US high-tech company on establishing a subsidiary in Germany with regard to German labor and social security law, and drafted legally secure employment contracts, company car agreements, home office agreements, as well as managing director service agreements (Geschäftsführerdienstverträge).

International Expansion

Comprehensive Advisory

Enforcement of Dismissal Due to Alcohol Abuse

For an employer operating a nationally active craft business, we defended against a wrongful dismissal lawsuit (Kündigungsschutzklage) challenging a personal-related and alternatively conduct-related ordinary dismissal due to alcohol abuse in the workplace under German labor law.

Lawsuit Defense

100% Success

Defense Against an Operational Redundancy

We successfully represented an employer against a wrongful dismissal lawsuit (Kündigungsschutzklage) concerning an ordinary dismissal for operational reasons due to the elimination of jobs following an operational change, involving a reconciliation of interests (Interessenausgleich) with a list of names and a social plan (Sozialplan) under German labor law.

Litigation Success

Complete Defense

Amicable Settlement of a Shareholder Dispute in a Marketing Agency

For a minority shareholder and managing director of a nationally active marketing agency, we achieved a six-figure severance payment in negotiations with the other shareholders. In the associated share purchase agreement, our client was able to minimize their tax burden by 80% compared to standard structuring under German tax law.

Severance and Tax Advantage

330,000 €

Share Redemption and Compulsory Dismissal as Managing Director in a Medium-Sized Company

In the context of an escalated shareholder dispute, we advised and represented the majority shareholder in the successful redemption of shares and compulsory dismissal of the other shareholder party. The validity of the redemption resolution and the dismissal resolution was confirmed by the German Higher Regional Court (OLG) of Munich.

Share Value

10.5 Mio. €

Qualifications

Education

Law studies at the universities of Tübingen, Antwerp, and Mainz with a focus on German tax law
Legal clerkship at the German Higher Regional Court (OLG) of Koblenz with a focus on inheritance law
Master's program in German Inheritance Law and Corporate Succession (LL.M.) at the University of Münster

Professional qualifications

Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)
Certified Specialist Lawyer for German Employment Law (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht)

Professional memberships

Junior Chamber International (Wirtschaftsjunioren) Südpfalz e.V. at the IHK Pfalz

Hobbies

Hiking, playing tennis, skiing, reading, and traveling

What others say about Moritz

Very competent and prudent, responds to the individual situation of the clients.

— Statement by a legal colleague