Co-founder, Partner, Attorney, Certified Attorney for Employment Law
HENDRIK MUSCHAL
Hendrik Muschal is a founding partner at fellaws. He has been an attorney since 1996 and is a certified attorney for employment law since 2000.
As a recognized and experienced legal expert, he advises numerous German and international clients from a wide range of industries throughout Germany in the areas of individual employment law, works constitution law, public employee’s representation law, employment-related criminal law and data protection law.
One focus of his advisory work is the innovative optimization of personnel cost and current “New Work” challenges. Also, Hendrik Muschal assists clients in public administration, in particular with job adjustments (handling of overhang service posts), reorganization, models of tariff change (in particular affiliated companies) as well as, inter alia, with tariff wage classification.
As an expert in data protection law, Hendrik Muschal supports companies in national and international data protection issues and in his role as data protection officer.
As a certified attorney for employment law, Hendrik Muschal also devotes himself to providing employment law advice in the context of international investment activities and cross-border transactions as well as in the area of global HR management.
Professional Career
- Co-founder of fellaws
- Partner at PwC Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft – Employment Law Practice Area – Berlin
- Office Managing Partner at the Employment Law Firm Ogletree Deakins International LLP – Berlin
- Partner and Co-Chair of the Global Employment Law Practice Group at the law firm Salans LLP (now Dentons)
- Partner at the law firm Beiten Burkhardt Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH –Employment Law Practice Group – Berlin
- Muschal & Wiese – Employment Law Firm – Berlin
Awards
Handelsblatt (2026), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (17th Edition 2026), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2025), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (16th Edition 2025), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2024), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (15th Edition 2024), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2023), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (14th Edition 2023), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2022), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (13th Edition 2022), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (12th Edition 2021), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (11th Edition 2020), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (10th Edition 2019), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Co-founder, Partner, Attorney, Certified Attorney for Employment Law
CARSTEN BRACHMANN
Carsten Brachmann is a founding partner at fellaws. He has been an attorney since 2001 and is a certified attorney for employment law since 2005.
He advises employers nationwide on all issues of individual employment law and collective labor employment law. He is specialized in the preparation and support of reorganizations and restructuring measures such as transfers of business, organizational changes, personnel adjustments, shutdowns, mass redundancies as well as in advising on works constitution law.
Carsten Brachmann represents employers in negotiations of works agreements with works councils and staff councils, in particular concerning works agreements, reconciliation of interest’s agreements and social plans. He also focuses on structuring of working conditions, works agreements, contracts, and on employee leasing law.
He also advises public and church employers on individual employment and employee/staff representation law issues.
He is the author of numerous publications on employment law and is a regular speaker on employment law topics.
Professional Career
- Co-founder of fellaws
- Director at PwC Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft – Employment Law Practice Area – Berlin
- Partner at the employment law firm Ogletree Deakins International LLP – Berlin
- Partner at commercial law firm Salans LLP (now Dentons) – Employment Law Prac-tice Group – Berlin
- Salary Partner at the commercial law firm Beiten Burkhardt Rechtsanwaltsgesell-schaft mbH – Employment Law Practice Group – Berlin
- Attorney at TIGGES Rechtsanwälte – Employment Law Practice Group – Berlin
Awards
Handelsblatt (2026), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (17th Edition 2026), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2025), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (16th Edition 2025), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2024), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (15th Edition 2024), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2023), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (14th Edition 2023), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Handelsblatt (2022), Deutschlands beste Anwälte, Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (13th Edition 2022), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (12th Edition 2021), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (11th Edition 2020), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Best Lawyers (10th Edition 2019), Award in the category Employment Law Germany
Attorney, Certified Attorney for Employment Law, LL.M.
BÉRÉNICE GORIUS
Bérénice Gorius works as an attorney and is a certified attorney for employment law at fellaws.
She represents German and international companies and employers in all matters of individual and collective employment law, including litigation in front of the labor courts. Bérénice Gorius focuses on advising and assisting medium-sized companies, from the establishment of the employment relationship to ongoing employment law advice in day-to-day business to the termination of employment relationships.
Another focus of her practice are “business immigration” – cases. She advises executives as well as employers and their foreign employees during the application process before the German authorities to obtain a residence and work permit.
Since 2020, Bérénice Gorius has been a certified specialist in employment law and successfully completed her JurGrad Master’s degree on employment law at the University of Münster in November 2021.
She is a member of the employment law working group of the DAV.
Bérénice Gorius is fluent in German, English and French.
Professional Career
- fellaws
- Senior Associate at PwC Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft – Employment Law Practice Area – Berlin
- Associate at the Employment Law Firm Ogletree Deakins International LLP – Berlin
- Since 2020 certified attorney for Employment Law
- Attorney at law admitted since July 2016
Attorney, Certified Lawyer for Employment Law
JOHANNES STADEL
Johannes Stadel is an attorney-at-law and a Certified Lawyer for Employment Law at fellaws.
He advises both national and international companies as well as executives on all aspects of individual and collective employment law. His work includes ongoing employment law advice as well as representation before labor and civil courts.
A particular focus of his practice is the comprehensive support of employment relationships — from their establishment and day-to-day operational matters through to their termination. In addition, he assists with the drafting and negotiation of employment and service agreements as well as corporate restructurings, ensuring that legal requirements and business interests are aligned.
Johannes Stadel also advises on matters relating to works constitution law, social security law, and data protection issues connected to employment law.
In his advisory work, Johannes places great emphasis on a practical and solution-oriented approach. He develops tailored strategies designed to meet the specific needs of his clients and supports them with a clear understanding of commercial and economic considerations in order to achieve sustainable and effective results.
He advises clients in both German and English.
Professional Career
- fellaws
- Certified Specialist Lawyer for Employment Law since 2025
- Chevalier Rechtsanwälte, Berlin
- Admitted to the German Bar since 2022
Attorney, Certified Attorney for Employment Law
SOPHIE COOPER
Sophie Cooper works as an attorney for fellaws.
She advises national and international companies and employers, as well as managers and employees on all aspects of individual and collective employment law, including litigation before the labor and civil courts.
Her practice focuses on advising medium-sized companies from establishing employment relationship to counselling in day-to-day business as well as the termination of employment relationships. Sophie Cooper’s main focus is on unemployment lawsuits and protection claim before the labor courts.
Another focus of her employment law work is drafting and structuring employment and service contracts and advising on restructuring. In this context, she ensures that the legal requirements are complied with and the interests of our clients are taken into account. She also advises on general issues of works constitution law and social security law.
Sophie Cooper also advises companies on data protection law.
Sophie Cooper’s legal advice focuses on the client’s individual situation. With realistic expectation management and individually adapted action strategies, she is committed to achieving sustainable solutions and the best possible results for our clients’ concerns.
She advises in German and English.
Professional Career
- Since 2026 certified attorney for
- fellaws
- Employment Law
- 2023 – 2024: legal advisor at the Berlin Senate Department for Labor, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination
- 2021 – 2022: Attorney at law in employment law at the law firm Chevalier, Berlin
- 2018 – 2020: Legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Dresden with a focus on employment law
- 2017-2018: Research assistant at the law firm Steve Winkler & Partner, Leipzig
- 2011-2017: Studies of law at the University of Leipzig
Attorney, Certified Attorney for Employment Law, LL.M.
Sophia-Katharina Horner
Sophia-Katharina Horner is working at fellaws as an attorney and certified specialist in employment law.
She advises and represents companies in all matters relating to individual and collective employment law. Her work includes both preventive advice—for example, on the drafting of employment contracts, works agreements, or restructuring—and representation in law suits at German labor courts.
A particular focus is on supporting termination situations, including the negotiation and drafting of termination and settlement agreements, as well as representation in dismissal protection proceedings. In doing so, she combines legal expertise with a clear eye for the economic interests of her clients.
She also has particular experience in the field of the modern working world. This includes advising companies on issues relating to the digitalization of employment law processes, the design of flexible working models, and the development of sustainable structures.
Sophia-Katharina Horner also advises companies on data protection law.
As a specialist lawyer for employment law, she attaches great importance to providing practical and understandable advice that creates legal certainty and enables workable solutions.
She advises in German and English.
Professional Career
- fellaws
- Certified attorney for employment law since 2025
- Chevalier Rechtsanwälte
- Attorney at law since 2020
- Master of Laws (LL.M.)
Attorney
SVENJA STAIGER
Svenja Staiger works as an attorney for fellaws.
She advises companies on all matters relating to individual and collective labour law, including litigation in civil and labour courts. She provides medium-sized companies with advice at every stage of the employment relationship, from its inception and ongoing labour law advice for day-to-day business operations to termination of employment. She also assists clients with operational changes and restructuring processes.
She also advises companies with data protection law, particularly with regard to information requests, data protection audits and defence against claims, both in and out of court.
She provides practical and strategic legal advice, focusing on economically sound and sustainable solutions. She develops customised action plans tailored to the specific needs and goals of her clients. She is committed to building trusting relationships, clear communication and providing long-term support to businesses.
Svenja Staiger is fluent in German and English.
Stationen
- fellaws
- HÄRTING Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB
- Attorney at law since 2024