Karl-Dietmar Cohnen, head of the German Labor and Employment Law practice group, advises companies on complex labor law restructuring projects and all labor and employment law issues arising in connection with transactions. He also focuses on the development and implementation of corporate reorganization schemes, including outsourcing transactions and transfers of undertakings. In addition, he provides nationwide advice to companies on issues relating to works constitution and collective bargaining law as well as to labor law compliance. His area of expertise also includes advising companies on the conclusion and termination of employment contracts with top executives.

Karl-Dietmar Cohnen has gained many years of experience as an assessor on numerous conciliation boards on the company side and as a counsel for the employer side before labor courts up to the federal level. His achievements such as company-level alliances for jobs as well as successfully implemented measures for averting illegal strikes have largely attracted interests in the past.

Prior to joining White & Case, Karl-Dietmar Cohnen was a partner and head of the Labor and Employment Law practice group of another leading international law firm.

Bars and Courts
Rechtsanwalt, 1983

Education
Second State Exam, Higher Regional Court of Cologne, 1982
First State Exam, Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University Bonn, 1979

Professional Associations and Memberships
German Lawyers Association
Cologne Lawyers Association (Board Member 1996-2008)
Labor Law Group of the German Lawyers Association
German Labor Court Association
European Employment Lawyers Association (EELA)

Awards and Recognition
Leading Individual:
Labor Law, Chambers Europe 2010
Highly recommended lawyer:
Labor Law, JUVE Yearbook 2010/2011, 2009/2010, 2008/2009
Recommended lawyer:
Labor Law, Legal 500 Europe Germany 2010
Labor Law, PLC Which Lawyer Yearbook 2010/2011, 2009/2010

Publications
"Severance benefits under a social plan in the event of resignation by the employee? – Equal treatment and the interests of the company (Sozialplanabfindung bei Eigenkündigung? – Gleichbehandlung und betriebliche Interessen)", Festschrift für Jobst-Hubertus Bauer. Munich, 2010
Co-author, "Transfer of Undertakings (Betriebsübertragungen)", Münchener Anwaltshandbuch Arbeitsrecht. Ed. Wilhelm Moll. 2nd ed., Munich, 2009
"Relocation of Business Abroad (Betriebsverlagerungen ins Ausland)", Festschrift 25 Jahre Arbeitsrechtsgemeinschaft Arbeitsrecht des DAV. Munich, 2006

Languages
German
English

Citizenship
Germany