Klaus Thönißen, LL.M. (San Francisco)

Lawyer Partner , Location Head
Certified Specialist in Employment Law
Klaus Thönißen, LL.M. (San Francisco)

Areas of practice

Klaus Thönißen primarily advises on the restructuring of companies or groups of companies and the transfer of businesses. In addition to advising clients, his area of responsibility also includes providing intensive assistance in negotiations on the reconciliation of interests and social compensation plans with the relevant employee representatives.

His clients include numerous family businesses. Not least because of a one-year interim position as Legal Counsel at Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA, he has extensive knowledge of business processes and, therefore, provides comprehensive, strategic advice. In addition, Klaus Thönißen is a lecturer for individual labour law at the Ruhr University Bochum.

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Vita

Klaus Thönißen first developed an interest for employment law during his studies in Bonn (Germany). It was because of this enthusiasm that he passed the university part of his first state exam in the area of employment and social security (under the supervision of Prof. Dr Gregor Thüsing, among others). In addition, from the sixth semester onwards, he worked continuously – over a total period of around five years – for a certified specialist in employment law. Following his first state exam, Klaus Thönißen carried out his legal training in Düsseldorf (Germany) and San Francisco (USA). This also included a training period in the employment law department of an international business law firm. After passing his second state law exam, he pursued a master’s degree at the University of San Francisco (USA), where he was awarded the title Master of Laws (LL.M.).

Honors and distinctions

  • The Legal 500 Germany 2024: Mention in the category "Labour Law" (first mention in 2019, "Klaus Thönißen and his team work extremely precisely for companies, have a high level of operational understanding, and have a good feel for political contexts.", "Klaus Thönißen: Has extensive, in-depth knowledge and always finds a pragmatic solution to legal issues without exception.")
  • Best Lawyers 2025: Recommendation in "Labor and Employment Law" (first recommended in 2025)
  • WirtschaftsWoche 2025: Recommendation "Top Lawyer" in "Labour Law" (first recommended in 2021)
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Prof. Dr  Christian Burholt, LL.M.

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Dr Christoph von Burgsdorff, LL.M. (Essex)

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Axel Braun

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Partner

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Achim Braner

Achim Braner

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Partner

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Maxim Oertel

Maxim Oertel

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Dr Andreas Blunk, MLE

Partner

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Dr Andreas Kloyer

Dr Andreas Kloyer

Partner

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Leif Born

Leif Born

Senior Associate

Essen

Dr Robert Burkert

Dr Robert Burkert

Senior Associate

Hamburg

Dr Oliver Kairies

Dr Oliver Kairies

Partner

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Caroline Ackermann

Caroline Ackermann

Counsel

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Birgitta von Dresky

Birgitta von Dresky

Partner

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Anja Schwarz, LL.M. (London)

Anja Schwarz, LL.M. (London)

Senior Associate

Cologne

Jens Kaiser

Jens Kaiser

Senior Associate

Leipzig

Jan-Christian Schmid

Jan-Christian Schmid

Senior Associate

Leipzig, Hamburg

Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)

Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)

Partner

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Sabrina Aurnhammer

Sabrina Aurnhammer

Associate

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Janina Ott

Janina Ott

Senior Associate

Stuttgart

Dr Thomas Schwieters

Dr Thomas Schwieters

Associate

Hanover

Paulina Noppeney

Paulina Noppeney

Associate

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Kristina Gutzke

Kristina Gutzke

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Charlotte Elsner

Charlotte Elsner

Associate

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Simon Alscher

Simon Alscher

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Roberto Pirschel

Roberto Pirschel

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Dr Christopher Borho

Dr Christopher Borho

Associate

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Jette Gustafsson, LL.M. (Boston)

Jette Gustafsson, LL.M. (Boston)

Partner

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Dr Sandra Bausch

Dr Sandra Bausch

Senior Associate

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Paul Schreiner

Paul Schreiner

Partner

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Elaine Tolksdorf

Elaine Tolksdorf

Associate

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Caroline Risse

Caroline Risse

Senior Associate

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Frederike Peters

Frederike Peters

Senior Consultant

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Gina Susann Kriwat

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Associate

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Timo Reckert

Timo Reckert

Associate

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Dr Astrid Seehafer, M.Sc.

Dr Astrid Seehafer, M.Sc.

Partner

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Counsel

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Dr Daniela Salm

Dr Daniela Salm

Counsel

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Sophia Meyer, Maître en Droit

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Artur Winkler

Artur Winkler

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Hamburg

Daniel Zintl

Daniel Zintl

Partner

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Denis Ullrich

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Partner

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Dr Hendrik Bernd Sehy

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Dr Astrid Schnabel, LL.M. (Emory)

Partner

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Partner

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Dr Thomas Halberkamp

Partner

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Dr Daniel Schubmann

Dr Daniel Schubmann

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Isabel Dorothee Ruhnke, LL.M.

Isabel Dorothee Ruhnke, LL.M.

Senior Associate

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Dr Jan-David Jäger

Dr Jan-David Jäger

Senior Associate

Leipzig

Jenny Tsynn

Jenny Tsynn

Senior Associate

Leipzig

Robert Schindler

Robert Schindler

Counsel

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Dr Benjamin Effler

Dr Benjamin Effler

Associate

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Shannon Charlotte Sopper, LL.M.

Shannon Charlotte Sopper, LL.M.

Junior Consultant

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Dr Denis Schütz

Dr Denis Schütz

Senior Associate

Essen

Dr Delia Jusciak

Dr Delia Jusciak

Associate

Leipzig

Dr Dorothea Fleckner

Dr Dorothea Fleckner

Associate

Hamburg

Dr Maximilian Bahnsen

Dr Maximilian Bahnsen

Associate

Hamburg

Daniel Greger

Daniel Greger

Senior Associate

Hamburg

Dr Maximilian Kressner, M.Jur. (Oxford)

Dr Maximilian Kressner, M.Jur. (Oxford)

Partner

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Ann-Marie Jüttner

Ann-Marie Jüttner

Senior Associate

Stuttgart

Dr Lisa Kraayvanger

Dr Lisa Kraayvanger

Senior Associate

Hanover

Julian Monden

Julian Monden

Senior Associate

Hanover

Melina Stamm, LL.M. (Paris)

Melina Stamm, LL.M. (Paris)

Associate

Frankfurt a.M.

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Sabrina Rosbroj

Associate

Singapore

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Martina Steude, LL.M. (Cape Town)

Senior Associate

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Dr Christoph Corzelius

Senior Associate

Cologne

Julian Wantzen, LL.M. (Wellington)

Julian Wantzen, LL.M. (Wellington)

Associate

Frankfurt a.M.

Frances Wolf

Frances Wolf

Senior Associate

Hamburg, Hanover

Charlotte Riese

Charlotte Riese

Senior Associate

Berlin

Lena Barry

Lena Barry

Legal Consultant

Leipzig

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Fabien Benjamin Wehner, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)

Associate

Stuttgart

Daniel Hilmer

Daniel Hilmer

Associate

Hamburg

Sebo-Franz Krubally

Sebo-Franz Krubally

Senior Associate

Berlin

Robert Pacholski

Robert Pacholski

Senior Associate

Leipzig

Clara von Wolffersdorff

Clara von Wolffersdorff

Associate

Leipzig

Pia Analena Wieberneit

Pia Analena Wieberneit

Senior Associate

Essen

Stefanie Kandzia, LL.M.

Stefanie Kandzia, LL.M.

Senior Associate

Hamburg

Dr Aline Mück

Dr Aline Mück

Senior Associate

Cologne

Felix Hielscher

Felix Hielscher

Senior Associate

Stuttgart

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Dr.iur. Andreas Knaul, LL.M. diap (ENA)

Berlin

Dr Martin Kolmhuber

Dr Martin Kolmhuber

Counsel

Cologne

Denis Miller

Denis Miller

Associate

Berlin

Lida Karra

Lida Karra

Associate

Frankfurt a.M.

Jens-Uwe Heuer-James

Jens-Uwe Heuer-James

Partner

Hanover

Sophie Haeberlein

Sophie Haeberlein

Associate

Leipzig

Jan Zimmer

Jan Zimmer

Senior Associate

Singapore

Leif Dustin Schneider

Leif Dustin Schneider

Counsel

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Fabian Lorenz, M.A.

Fabian Lorenz, M.A.

Partner

Bangkok

Cyrielle Therese Ax

Cyrielle Therese Ax

Senior Associate

Frankfurt a.M.

Lara Zölck

Lara Zölck

Associate

Berlin

Jan Spiering, LL.M. Taxation

Jan Spiering, LL.M. Taxation

Associate

Hanover

Prof. Dr Hans-Georg Hahn

Prof. Dr Hans-Georg Hahn

Of Counsel

Hanover

Susanne Burkert-Vavilova

Susanne Burkert-Vavilova

Counsel

Essen

Manuel Rueß

Manuel Rueß

Associate

Hamburg

Dr Eckart Petzold

Dr Eckart Petzold

Partner

Dusseldorf

Mike Hillers

Mike Hillers

Associate

Hanover

Lukas Paetzold

Lukas Paetzold

Senior Associate

Dusseldorf

Dr Elisabeth Sechtem

Dr Elisabeth Sechtem

Senior Associate

Munich

Julie Schwarz, LL.M. (Georgetown)

Julie Schwarz, LL.M. (Georgetown)

Associate

Kuala Lumpur

Hla Yadanar Win

Hla Yadanar Win

Associate

Yangon

Guido Wenzel

Guido Wenzel

Partner

Hamburg

Jana Anna Voigt

Jana Anna Voigt

Senior Associate

Dusseldorf

Thorsten Tilch

Thorsten Tilch

Senior Associate

Leipzig

Thiri May Thu

Thiri May Thu

Associate

Yangon

Andre Schüttauf

Andre Schüttauf

Senior Associate

Essen

Dr Klaus Schaffner

Dr Klaus Schaffner

Partner

Leipzig

Dr Isabel Schäfer

Dr Isabel Schäfer

Senior Associate

Hamburg

Anna-Sophia Riebeling

Anna-Sophia Riebeling

Senior Associate

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Amelie Räpple, LL.M. (Berkeley)

Amelie Räpple, LL.M. (Berkeley)

Associate

Hamburg

Theresa Oesch

Theresa Oesch

Senior Associate

Leipzig

Dr Anna Mayr

Dr Anna Mayr

Senior Associate

Hamburg

Wolfgang Liebau

Wolfgang Liebau

Counsel

Dusseldorf

Dominik Ledwon, LL.M. (Norwich)

Dominik Ledwon, LL.M. (Norwich)

Senior Associate

Cologne

Luisa Kramer

Luisa Kramer

Associate

Hamburg

Shi Yin Khoo, M.A. (Cantab)

Shi Yin Khoo, M.A. (Cantab)

Senior Associate

Kuala Lumpur

Lutz Keller

Lutz Keller

Senior Associate

Cologne

Kathy Just

Kathy Just

Associate

Frankfurt a.M.

Dr Thomas Hufnagel

Dr Thomas Hufnagel

Partner

Singapore

Swe Yee Htun

Swe Yee Htun

Associate

Yangon

Dr Michael Ebert

Dr Michael Ebert

Counsel

Stuttgart

Charlotte Buck

Charlotte Buck

Associate

Hanover