Dr. Guido Zeppenfeld, LLM (University of Essex)

• The German Financial Market Stabilization Fund on all labor law matters during the setup of the first German "bad bank" for WestLB.
• Beijing Automotive (BAIC) on all labor law and company pension matters in the bidding process regarding the acquisition of Opel from General Motors.
• Westdeutsche ImmobilienBank AG on all labor law and company pension matters relating to the proposed outsourcing of their private banking unit.
• Hudson Advisors on plant shut-downs in Eastern Germany.
• Lone Star on labor law matters in connection with the acquisition of IKB Deutsche Industriebank.
• Dentsu Aegis Group regarding labor law and works constitution matters.
• A German subsidiary of an international automotive supplier on labor law matters, including works constitution and collective employment law matters.

Represented:

• Portfolio companies of a UK private equity investor in works council consultation, including litigation and arbitration, as well as in negotiations with unions.
• One of the world's leading chemical groups in works council consultation and arbitration.
• A company in the automotive supply industry in negotiations with a view to conclude a collective bargaining agreement on site protection ("Standortsicherungstarifvertrag") with the unions and works council consultation, including litigation and arbitration.
• Cathay Pacific in complex litigation matters and arbitration
• A company of the Caterpillar group in negotiations regarding a collective bargaining agreement on site protection ("Standortsicherungstarifvertrag") with the unions.

Data Privacy/Compliance

Advised:

• The Management Board of Deutsche Bahn AG on compliance investigation regarding employee privacy in the context of the so-called "data affair".
• Leading international automotive supplier on GDPR readiness project of organization.
• A US chemicals group on data protection law matters relating to the administration of personnel data of a spun-off business unit.

Conducted compliance audits concerning the administration of:

• Personnel data of a leading German food retailer group.
• Personnel data within a matrix organization of an international group of companies based in the United States.

Executive Compensation, Incentives, Benefits and Company Pension

Advised:

• Tenneco/Federal-Mogul on pension plan changes and pension litigation.
• International steel producing group on streamlining of company pension schemes.
• German subsidiary of US communication provider on company pension de-risking and pension litigation.
• US-based tools manufacturer on outsourcing of pension liabilities.
• Leading dairy products producer on outsourcing of pension liabilities.
• The investment banking branch of a German high street bank on setting up an Employee Stock Ownership Program.
• Walter Services on the restructuring of their executive share scheme.
• A financial institution on compliance with the executive compensation regulations („Vorstandsvergütungsgesetz" ) and the related regulations on risk management („MaRisk").
• A financial institution on compliance with the compensation regulations for the financial industry („Institutsvergütungsverordnung").
• Actuant-Corporation on the outsourcing of pension obligations of the German subsidiary company in connection with a contractual trust arrangement (CTA).
• A US pharmaceutical company on the funding of obligations under their German pension scheme.

Outsourcing and Transaction Advice

Advised:

• A financial investor on the planned acquisition of privatized clinical operations.
• An international news agency on an IT outsourcing of the German subsidiary company.
• Aegis Media Group on an IT outsourcing.
• CBRE on the Facility Management Outsourcing with Nokia Siemens Networks.
• DeTe Immobilien in the RFP process for a Facility Management Outsourcing.
• LoneStar in connection with the servicing of big non-performing loan portfolios.
• Gillette on the outsourcing of logistics and warehouse facility management.
• Çelebi on the acquisition of the airport services company from Fraport AG in Vienna.
• Çelebi in connection with the acquisition of airport service companies in Germany.

• "Notable practitioner" in Employment – Chambers Europe
• "Guido Zeppenfeld is highlighted as a strong choice for 'complex labor law issues.'" – Chambers Europe
• "Recommended Lawyer" Employment – Legal 500 Germany
• "Sources praise his 'broad knowledge' of employment law." – Chambers Europe
• "Team leader Guido Zeppenfeld 'remains calm in negotiations, even when attacked personally from the opposing party.'" – Legal 500 Germany
• "Guido Zeppenfeld is at his most visible advising on data protection and pensions, while additionally covering the integration phase of restructurings." – Chambers Europe
• "'His approach in works council negotiations is perfect, similarly in handling individual employment cases. He also has an excellent understanding of the client's needs and is a valuable source of support for the internal legal and HR departments.'" – Chambers Europe
• "'Offers business-oriented solutions, analyses matters with an operative focus'" – JUVE Handbook
• "Very experienced and capable lawyer" – Chambers Europe
• "He is very quick in his responses and gives a really thorough review of the situation." – Chambers Europe
• "Recommended Lawyer" in Employment and Outsourcing – Legal 500 Germany
• "'Fast support and immediate feedback'" – Legal 500 Germany
• "He is tracked as one of five leading lawyers in the field of company pensions." – JUVE Handbook