Prof. Dr Robert von Steinau-Steinrück

Lawyer Partner
Certified Specialist in Employment Law
Prof. Dr Robert von Steinau-Steinrück

Areas of practice

Prof. Dr Robert von Steinau-Steinrück is an employment lawyer. He advises companies on all matters pertaining to individual and collective employment law.

His main focuses are

  • works constitution law, staff representation law and collective bargaining law;
  • restructuring, staff cuts, layoffs;
  • business transfers and employment law in transactions;
  • co-determination and compliance as well as industrial action issues;
  • representation and consulting of executives.

Vita

Prof. Dr Robert von Steinau-Steinrück studied law in Passau and Bonn (Germany). While carrying out his legal training in Berlin, which included secondments in Palermo (Italy) and Dublin (Ireland), he received his doctorate in employment law. After completing his second state exam, he initially worked as a foreign associate in New York (USA). He started working as a lawyer for Luther in 1997. In 1998 he joined Gleiss Lutz, returning to Luther in 2003, where he has worked since. Prof. Dr Robert von Steinau-Steinrück is a visiting professor at the University of Potsdam (Germany).

Honors and distinctions

  • Chambers Germany 2025: Ranking in "Employment", Band 5 (first ranking in 2017, "Robert von Steinau-Steinrück is excellent, very responsive and incredibly practical in his advice. I find him really easy to work with.")
  • JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Award "Leading Name in Labour Law" (first awarded in 2017/2018) and listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Labour Law"  (first listed in 2010/2011, "very experienced and level-headed", competitor)
  • The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Recommendation in the category "Labour Law" (first mention in 2009, "knowledgeable"; "reliable"; "The 'accomplished' Robert von Steinau-Steinrück is valued for his 'social competence'") and mention in "City Focus Berlin" (first recommendation in 2023)
  • Lexology Index 2025 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Recommendation "National Leader" in "Germany – Labour & Employment" (first recommendation in 2018, "Luther’s Robert von Steinau-Steinrück is 'an extremely good employment lawyer' whose practice is geared towards collective bargaining, restructuring issues and labour law transactions.")
  • Lexology Index 2024 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Award "Thought Leader" in "Thought Leaders - Labour & Employment" (first award in 2023) and recommendation "Global Leader" in "Labour & Employment" (first recommendation in 2020, "Robert von Steinau-Steinrück excels at advising domestic and international clients on collective bargaining issues, reorganisations, business transfers and corporate transactions.")
  • kanzleimonitor.de 2024/2025: Recommendation in „Labour Law“ (first recommended in 2019/2020)
  • kanzleimonitor.de 2023/2024: Award "Top 100 Lawyer" (first recommended in 2019/2020)
  • Thomson Reuters 2024: Award as Stand-out Lawyer
  • Best Lawyers 2024: Recommended in "Labor and Employment Law" (first recommendation in 2009) and "Employee Benefits Law" (first recommendation in 2023)
  • Best Lawyers 2025, 2018 & 2012: Award "Lawyer of the Year" in "Labour and Employment Law" 
  • WirtschaftsWoche 2024: Recommendation "Top Lawyer" in "Labour Law" (first recommendation in 2012)
  • WirtschaftsWoche 2015: Recommendation "Top Lawyer" in "Compliance" (first recommendation in 2012, "one of the best compliance consultants in Germany")
  • Expert Guides 2021: Recommended in "Labour & Employment" (first recommended in 2018)

Clients

  • Advising on numerous projects relating to industrial action (e.g. Charité, Deutsche Bahn AG)
  • Advising on collective law issues and providing representation (German Works Constitution Act (e.g. ArcelorMittal SSC Deutschland GmbH, Beiersdorf AG))
  • Advising on various restructuring projects (e.g. Deutsche Bahn AG, Bertelsmann, Leonardo Hotels)
  • Providing representation at court both for and against executives
  • Advising on a complex transfer of business (Immofinanz AG)
  • Landmark proceedings at the German Federal Labour Court regarding collective employment law, in particular industrial action and the law (“flash mobs”)

Publications

Memberships

  • Arbeitsgemeinschaft Arbeitsrecht im Deutschen Anwaltsverein
  • EELA
  • Deutscher Arbeitsgerichtsverband
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