CMS fields a ‘long-established and notable’ employment practice, composed of a dedicated team of labour law specialists. The practice spans the full gamut of employment matters, from day-to-day support, to representation in international investigations, to HR aspects of outsourcing, restructuring and M&A transactions. Recent growth has seen the team take on new clients from the TMT, manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries. Employment-related data protection matters and GDPR compliance have become increasingly active areas for the group. Practice head Andreas Köhler has over 20 years’ experience working across the CEE region, with a particular focus on employment matters for German, Austrian and Swiss clients. Boglárka Peszeki ‘stands out’, strengthening the team’s international reach with her strong track record in cross-border employment matters, including contracts, policies and litigation. György Bálint boasts almost 20 years’ experience in employment litigation. Gabriella Ormai retired in May 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They provide truly individualised service, they know their clients very well, and also they are great at creating personal connections while still remaining professionals. Their response time is only a few hours, which is very satisfying, and they are very flexible in timing when providing representation as well.’

  • ‘Boglárka Peszeki is responsive, very professional, flexible and she looks at the client's view and gives us alternatives to choose from to make a good decision. It is easy to build a relationship with her and she is always there to help us.’

  • ‘CMS has a long-established and notable employment practice in Hungary, and we have been working together and I have known the team for several years now. They have robust experience and cover all fields of employment law. What distinguishes them on the market compared to other firms is the size of the team, their sector experience and value-added services. I completely trust their opinion based on their strong background and practical, easy to understand approach and communication.’

  • ‘Boglárka Peszeki is the lawyer who stands out from the team for me. She is probably one of the best employment law experts in Hungary with the right seniority, experience and all characteristics that make a leading lawyer. It is not only her outstanding knowledge of law, but also her good judgement and decision-making skills that I am impressed with.'

  • ‘CMS has expertise in a wide range of legal fields, they have experts we can rely on even in complex issues.’

  • ‘I have been working with Boglárka Peszeki for years now. She is not only an expert in the field of labour law but also a true partner in the challenges me and my company are facing. She is thorough in her work, and careful in her approach while offering potential alternatives in case there are some. I know I can fully trust her and rely on her advice.’

  • ‘Boglárka Peszeki is an outstanding advisor. Here are some key points that highlight her exceptional qualities: responsiveness, clear priorities, transparent communication, flexibility. Boglárka adeptly acclimated to the dynamic pace of our organisation and swiftly adjusted to the associated demands. Her alignment with our company's values has significantly enhanced our collaborative experience.'

  • 'Boglárka Peszeki's exceptional qualities as a legal advisor have greatly contributed to our organisation's success and peace of mind in legal matters. We are fortunate to have her on our team, and I cannot emphasise enough how highly I regard her expertise and dedication.’

Key clients

  • Marriott Hotels
  • AMC Networks Central Europe S.r.o.
  • Infineon Technologies
  • Johnson & Johnson Kft.
  • Unisys Magyarország Kft., global technology solutions company
  • Partner in Pet Food, an international pet food producer
  • Wise (formerly TransferWise)
  • AEGON
  • Becton Dickinson
  • RTL Group (Bertelsmann Group subsidiary)

Work highlights

  • Advising Microsoft on various employment and disciplinary matters, including assisting with establishment and termination of employment relationships (including at the management level), as well as providing representation in various employment lawsuits.
  • Advising Wise on a range of labour law issues, including terminating employment relationships, engaging freelancers, paying statutory allowances, conducting internal investigations, and drafting policies, as well as providing represention in claims submitted by former employees and relating to the new whistleblowing regulation.
  • Advising AEGON on drafting amendments to a collective bargaining agreement and providing legal support with respect to employment contracts, compensation packages, redundancies (including collective redundancies), terminations and disciplinary matters.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
György Bálint
CMS
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Andreas Köhler
CMS

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Andreas Köhler

Other key lawyers

Boglárka Peszeki, György Bálint