Katja Haeferer

Biography

Katja Haeferer is a partner with more than 15 years of experience in labor and employment law. She co-heads the German Employment & Compensation practice and is an active member of the Firm's European Labor Law and Global Labor Law practice groups. Recognized as a Stand-out Legal Talent by Acritas in 2021 and listed among Wirtschaftswoche’s most renowned employment law practitioners from 2021 to 2024, Katja’s experience is well-regarded in the legal community. Her international perspective is enriched by her tenure in the Firm’s San Francisco and Palo Alto offices.

Katja also co-leads Baker McKenzie's FeMale Leaders Initiative, promoting diversity and leadership opportunities for women in the legal sector and business community. A regular speaker and panel moderator at conferences, she conducts training on a variety of employment topics and frequently publishes in law journals, legal commentaries, and business newspapers.

Practice Focus

Katja provides strategic and comprehensive employment advice on domestic and multi-jurisdictional projects, including pre- and post-merger corporate restructurings, collective dismissals, negotiations with works councils and unions, cross-border secondments, global equity plans, and gender pay audits. She supports several multinational clients in the management of their global workforce regarding, addressing global working conditions, cross-border personnel deployment, and global HR compliance matters. Katja often leads multi-jurisdictional employment projects.

Katja has extensive experience advising companies on employee representation in Societas Europaea (SE) supervisory boards and works councils, as well as European Works Councils (EWCs). She also provides strategic guidance on navigating the complex process of transforming into a Societas Europaea (SE). Katja authored a legal commentary on German SE-legislation “SEBG,” published in “AR - Kommentar, Kommentar zum gesamten Arbeitsrecht” (2021). She is also an experienced litigator in complex employment and SE law matters, including cases before the Federal Labor Court (BAG) and the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Katja's client base ranges from Germany- and EMEA-headquartered clients with global operations to local subsidiaries of multinationals.

Professional Honors

Most renowned law firms and lawyers for labor law, Wirtschaftswoche 2021-2024
Stand-out Legal Talent, Acritas 2021

Admissions

Germany (2008)

Education

Fachanwältin für Arbeitsrecht (Attorney Specializing in Labor and Employment Law) (2012)
Higher Regional Court of Munich (Assessor Exam) (2008)
University of Passau (Referendar Exam) (2006)

Languages

English
German

Previous Offices

Palo Alto

Publications

Co-author (with Petra Hess, Franziska Klippstein, Katharina Geyer) "Germany: New case law on stock options", Baker McKenzie Client Alert, 17 April 2025
Co-author (with Agnes Herwig) "EU-Entgelttransparenzrichtlinie fordert Unternehmen heraus – Firmen müssen ungerechtfertigte Lohnunterschiede zwischen Männern und Frauen beseitigen", Börsen-Zeitung, Vol. 192, 5 October 2024
Co-author (with Nicolas Kredel) "Auch Personaler leben mit Kartellrisiken", FAZ, 18 September 2024
Co-author (with Dr. Gregor Dornbusch, Petra Hess, Laura Grassl, Jan Kammler) "Amendment to the law on works council remuneration – still a challenge", Baker McKenzie Client Alert, 23 July 2024
Co-author (with William (Bill) F. Dugan, Luis A. Gomez, Mark Hamer, Dr. Nicolas Kredel, Jeffrey Martino, Mireia Sabaté, Julia Wilson and Grant Murray) and Winner at the Concurrences Antitrust Writing Awards 2025 for the article on "International antitrust onslaught against HR practices: Act now to stay ahead of the game", June 2024
Co-author (with Benjamin Durst) “Nachholung des Verhandlungsverfahrens und Zurechnungsfragen in der SE & Co.KG“, Besprechung von BAG Beschl. v. 17.5.2022 – 1 ABR 37/20 (A), BZA 2023, 44, anhängig beim EuGH unter C-706/22, NZA (Neue Zeitschrift für Arbeitsrecht) 2024, 527

Co-author (with Nicolai Behr, Anika Schürmann, Christian Koops, Robin Haas, M. Ellinger, Pia König) “Germany: Germany's new whistleblower law is (finally) here – The impact pf the law upon companies”, Baker McKenzie Client Alert, 16 May 2023
Co-author (with Tatjana Serbina) “Das MgFSG und MgVG im Lichte unionsrechtlicher Mitbestimmungskonzeption“ zur Umsetzung der Richtlinie (EU) 2019/3232 (UmwRL) in nationales Recht, Der Betrieb Nr. 49 from 4 December 2023
Co-author (with F. Klippstein) “Berücksichtigung von Aktienoptionen und Restricted Stock Units bei der Berechnung von Karenzentschädigungen“, Besprechung von BAG Urt. V. 25.8.2022 – 8 AZR 453/21, NZA (Neue Zeitschrift für Arbeitsrecht) 2023, 154
Co-author (with Agnes Herwig) “ Neue Entgelttransparenz fordert Unternehmen heraus”, guest contribution in Börsen-Zeitung, Vol. 134 on 14 July 2023
Co-author (with Lena Kern and K. Schmiedel) “The implementation of the EU Working Conditions Directive - How should employers prepare now?”, Baker McKenzie Client Alert, 27 June 2022
Co-author (with M. Fernandez, M. Kurnatowska, E. Maza, J. Wilson, A. Mackay) “EU Whistleblowing Directive - deadline for implementation expires tomorrow”, Baker McKenzie Client Alert, 16 December 2021
Author, "Riskieren Impfmuffel ihr Gehalt?", F.A.Z. Vol. 220/2021, p.16, September 2021
Co-author (with Felix Diehl) "Betriebsratswahlen 2022 - das ändert sich," Baker McKenzie Kompass, September 2021
Author of legal commentary on German SE-legislation "SEBG" published in "AR - Kommentar, Kommentar zum gesamten Arbeitsrecht," Luchterhand, 10. Auflage, 24 August 2021
Co-author (with Matthias Köhler) of legal commentary on German Gender Transparency Pay Legislation "EntgTranspG", published in "AR - Kommentar, Kommentar zum gesamten Arbeitsrecht," Luchterhand, 10. Auflage, 24 August 2021
Co-author (with Christian Koops) "Crowdworker als Arbeitnehmer", Beck-online, NJW 2021, 1787, 23 June 2021
Co-author (with Carina Lenz and Felix Diehl) "Corona: Arbeitsgerichtsverfahren und virtueller Betriebsrat", Baker McKenzie Kompass, May 2020
Co-author (with Franziska Burger) "Restricted Stock Units und Aktienoptionen – Aktuelle Entwicklungen bei Mitarbeiterbeteiligungsprogrammen," NZA Vol. 3/2020, S. 143, 10 February 2020
Co-author (with Agnes Herwig) "Dienstreisen: Worauf Unternehmen achten müssen", Kompass, 1 July 2019
Co-author (with Matthias Köhler) "Neues EuGH-Urteil: Arbeitgeber müssen Arbeitszeiten komplett erfassen," Kompass, 20 May 2019
Co-author (with Laura Klare) "Das Schicksal britischer Arbeitnehmermandate in der SE im Falle eines 'harten Brexits'", NZA Vol. 6/2019, S. 352, 25 March 2019
Co-author (with Matthias Köhler) "Praxisleitfaden Entgelttransparenzgesetz. Ein Überblick über die zentralen Regelungen und deren Anwendung in der Praxis," Springer Gabler, 14 March 2019
Co-author (with Barbara Deilmann) "Kein Schutz des Status Quo bei der Gründung der dualistischen SE durch Umwandlung", NZA Vol. 10/2017, S. 607, 25 May 2017

Presentations

Co-presenter "Navigating Employment Law Challenges in Global Share Plans", at 2025 GEO Annual Conference in Prague, 29 April 2025
Co-presenter "HR and antitrust compliance: are you competing or colluding?", at Baker McKenzie ACCE seminars in Düsseldorf and Hamburg, 11 and 18 June 2024
Co-presenter "Tax challenges around mobile and agile workforces for multinational enterprises from an employer's perspective", at Baker McKenzie's EMEA Tax Conference 29 February 2024 in Frankfurt
Co-presenter "Working abroad from an employment, tax and social security law perspective", Panel discussion during SUMMIT: Arbeitsrecht of the Bundesverband der Unternehmensjuristinnen und Unternehmensjuristen e.V. (BUJ), 26 October 2023
Co-presenter "Arbeitsbedingungsrichtlinie (EU) 2019/1152", Baker McKenzie Breakfast Briefing, 14 July 2022
Co-presenter, "Umsetzung der EU-Beschäftigungsrichtlinie über transparente und vorhersehbare Arbeitsbedingungen: Geplante Umsetzung des deutschen Gesetzgebers im Nachweisgesetz und dessen Auswirkungen auf die zukünftige Gestaltung und Anpassung der Arbeitsverträge", Panel discussion during SUMMIT: Neue Arbeits- und Führungswelten of the Bundesverband der Unternehmensjuristinnen und Unternehmensjuristen e.V. (BUJ), 14 June 2022
Co-presenter, "Was bringt die Ampel für Labor Relations? Erster Ausblick", Baker McKenzie Breakfast Briefing, 3 February 2022
Co-presenter, "Ethisphere's Europe Forum – Investigations / Whistleblower session: Panel discussion", Ethisphere webinar, 27 October 2021
Co-presenter, "Virtuelle Breakfast Briefings – Arbeitsrecht", Baker McKenzie Breakfast Briefing, 5 October 2021
Co-presenter, "Trends & Tipps im Arbeitsrecht – Neues aus Gesetzgebung und Rechtsprechung für die Praxis", Breakfast Briefing, July 2019
Co-presenter, "Antitrust and HR – No-Poach and Wage-Fixing Agreements client roundtable", Baker McKenzie offices in Chicago and New York, June 2019
Co-presenter, "Human Resources Departments – Antitrust Authorities' New Target", ACC – Antitrust Authorities' New Target, July 2018
Co-presenter, "Kartellrecht im HR-Bereich – Kartellrechtscompliance im Arbeitsrecht", ACC – Antitrust Authorities' New Target, June 2018
Co-presenter, "Wahrnehmung von Wirtschaftsjuristen in der Praxis", University of Augsburg, November 2017
Co-presenter, "Entgelttransparenzgesetz", Breakfast Briefing, June 2017
Co-presenter, "Diversity Ensuring Women make the leadership transition", Baker McKenzie Munich, July 2016
Presenter, "Praxis der Betriebsänderung", Beck Academy Seminars, November 2015
Presenter, "Arbeits- und Sozialrecht: Personalwirtschaftliche Entscheidungen", Euroforum/Handelsblatt, November 2014
Presenter, "Praxis der Betriebsänderung", Beck Academy Seminars, July 2014
Presenter, "Die 10 teuersten Fehler im Arbeitsrecht", Breakfast Briefing, November 2013
Co-presenter, "Professionalisierungsprogramm: Personalsachbearbeiter", German Association for People Management, June 2013
Co-presenter, "Professionalisierungsprogramm: Personalsachbearbeiter – Arbeitsrecht und Sozialpartnerschaft", German Association for People Management, June 2012
Presenter, "Europe: Year End Review for International Employers Webinar", December 2011
Co-presenter, " Professionalisierungsprogramm: Personalsachbearbeiter – Arbeitsrecht und Sozialpartnerschaft", German Association for People Management, November 2011
Presenter, "Betriebsverfassungsrecht im Überblick", German Association for People Management, December 2009
Co-presenter, "Cost Cutting im Personalbereich – Arbeitsrechtliche Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten in schwierigem Umfeld", Baker McKenzie Munich, March 2009
Presenter, "Aktuelle Entwicklungen im Arbeitsrecht", v. Rundstedt, September 2005

Katja regularly gives presentations on various employment law issues, provides in-house trainings for management personnel and HR staff and holds seminars at the German Association for People Management (DGFP), speaks at and (co-)hosts client conferences in the framework of Baker McKenzie Partners' and Practice Group Meetings.