SPECTRE LEGAL Attorneys at Law Munich

Geschäftsführerhaftung: Risiken erkennen und Haftung wirksam minimieren

Haftung von Geschäftsführern: Häufige Haftungsrisiken und wie diese minimiert werden können Die Rolle des Geschäftsführers ist mit weitreichender Verantwortung verbunden. Neben unternehmerischen Entscheidungen stehen auch persönliche Haftungsrisiken im Raum – oft unterschätzt und mit erheblichen finanziellen Folgen. Gerade in wachsenden Unternehmen und Start-ups fehlt häufig eine klare Struktur, um diese Risiken systematisch zu steuern. Warum die Geschäftsführerhaftung …

Attracting skilled labour: Utilising forms of employment strategically

Fachkräfte gewinnen: Welche Beschäftigungsformen sich für Arbeitgeber anbieten Der Fachkräftemangel stellt viele Unternehmen vor Herausforderungen. Neben klassischem Recruiting gewinnen alternative Beschäftigungsformen zunehmend an Bedeutung. Eine strategische Auswahl kann helfen, Flexibilität zu erhöhen und Personalbedarf gezielt zu decken. Überblick über Beschäftigungsformen Unternehmen können auf verschiedene Modelle zurückgreifen: Jede Form bringt eigene rechtliche Anforderungen mit sich. Unbefristet vs. …

EU AI Act: Basics of the AI Regulation for companies

Mit dem EU-KI-Act (AI Act) schafft die Europäische Union erstmals einen umfassenden Rechtsrahmen für den Einsatz von Künstlicher Intelligenz. Für Unternehmen stellt sich damit eine zentrale Frage: Welche Anforderungen gelten konkret – und wie lässt sich der Einsatz von KI rechtssicher gestalten? Was ist der EU-KI-Act? Der EU-KI-Act ist eine europäische Verordnung, die den Einsatz von …

ESOP vs. VSOP: structuring employee participation in start-ups with legal certainty

ESOP vs. VSOP: Welche Mitarbeiterbeteiligung passt zu Ihrem Start-up? Mitarbeiterbeteiligungen sind ein zentrales Instrument, um Fachkräfte zu gewinnen und langfristig zu binden. Besonders in Start-ups spielen Modelle wie ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) und VSOP (Virtual Stock Option Plan) eine wichtige Rolle. Doch welches Modell passt zu welcher Unternehmensphase? Was sind ESOP und VSOP? ESOP ESOP: Mitarbeiter erhalten echte oder zukünftige Gesellschaftsanteile. VSOP …

Data protection & AI in the company: Utilising risks and opportunities with legal certainty

Datenschutz & KI im Unternehmen: Rechtliche Risiken und Chancen beim Einsatz von KI Der Einsatz von KI-Tools nimmt in Unternehmen stetig zu – von automatisierten Prozessen bis hin zu datengetriebenen Entscheidungen. Dabei stellt sich eine zentrale Frage: Wie lässt sich der Einsatz von KI mit datenschutzrechtlichen Anforderungen vereinbaren? Warum Datenschutz bei KI eine zentrale Rolle spielt …

Employment reference without dispute: legally compliant preparation for employers

Arbeitszeugnis ohne Streit: So vermeiden Arbeitgeber Anfechtungen Arbeitszeugnisse gehören zu den klassischen Streitpunkten im Arbeitsrecht. Unklare Formulierungen oder missverständliche Bewertungen führen häufig zu Berichtigungswünschen oder rechtlichen Auseinandersetzungen. Eine strukturierte und rechtssichere Erstellung kann solche Konflikte deutlich reduzieren. Warum Arbeitszeugnisse häufig zu Streit führen Konflikte entstehen oft durch: Gerade bei Kündigungen ist das Konfliktpotenzial erhöht. Rechtliche Leitplanken: Was ein Arbeitszeugnis …

Employment contract for start-ups: drafting important clauses with legal certainty

Employment contracts for start-ups: important clauses for young companies Employment contracts are often drawn up pragmatically and under time pressure, especially in the start-up phase. They are a key instrument for creating clear structures, expectations and legal certainty. For start-ups, it is particularly important to draft typical areas of regulation clearly at an early stage - also with a view to growth and scaling. Why employment contracts ...

EU Pay Transparency Directive: Recognising risks and opportunities for companies in good time

EU Pay Transparency Directive: risks and opportunities for companies The EU Pay Transparency Directive will impose new requirements on employers in the coming years. The aim is to increase pay transparency and ensure equal pay. The directive has been in force since June 2023 and member states have until 7 June 2026 to transpose it into national law. For companies, this not only means additional ...

Legal-as-a-Service: utilising an external legal department for companies

External legal department (Legal-as-a-Service): Why flexible legal outsourcing pays off Many companies face the challenge of managing legal issues efficiently without having to set up their own legal department. This is where the Legal-as-a-Service model comes in. It enables access to legal expertise - flexible, demand-oriented and scalable. What is Legal-as-a-Service? Legal-as-a-Service describes the outsourcing of legal services to external partners. Typical services are This involves ...

BAG on AU from abroad: evidential value and room for manoeuvre for employers

BAG on sick leave from abroad: same evidential value, just as shakable The question of the evidential value of a certificate of incapacity for work issued abroad is a recurring issue in labour law practice. The Federal Labour Court (BAG) clarified this in its ruling of 15.01.2025 - 5 AZR 284/24: In principle, a foreign sickness absence certificate also has the same evidential value as a sickness absence certificate issued in Germany. For employers, however, this means ...

Forms of financing for start-ups: an overview of equity, convertible loans & co.

Forms of financing for start-ups: What models are available and what is legally important Building on the classic venture capital rounds, many founders are faced with the question: Which form of financing is the right one for the respective phase? In addition to classic equity investments, various models have become established in practice, each of which has its own special legal features. Equity financing The classic form ...

Evidential value of the AU: When employers can doubt and act correctly

Evidential value of the certificate of incapacity for work: when employers may have doubts and how to act correctly The certificate of incapacity for work is a key instrument in everyday working life. It serves as proof that an employee is unable to work due to illness. For employers, however, the question arises time and again: Is a certificate of incapacity for work unassailable - or can it be doubted? The answer is differentiated. In principle, the AU ...

Venture Capital Basics: Understanding the legal aspects of financing rounds from pre-seed to Series A

Venture capital basics: What founders should know about financing rounds from a legal perspective For many start-ups, venture capital is a key building block on the path to growth. However, the first financing round at the latest raises not only economic but also legal questions. From the pre-seed phase to Series A, the requirements and structures can differ considerably. For founders ...

EU Directive 2025/2450: New rules for the European Works Council

EU-Richtlinie 2025/2450: Neue Regeln für den Europäischen Betriebsrat – Handlungsbedarf für Unternehmen Mit der EU-Richtlinie 2025/2450 werden die Vorgaben zum Europäischen Betriebsrat (EBR) modernisiert und die Beteiligungsrechte auf europäischer Ebene gestärkt. Für international tätige Unternehmen lohnt sich eine frühzeitige Auseinandersetzung mit den neuen Anforderungen, um bestehende Prozesse rechtssicher und zukunftsfähig aufzustellen. Was ist der Europäische Betriebsrat …

Getting the NDA right: Contract tips for the protection of know-how and trade secrets

Contract tips: Drafting NDAs correctly - effectively protecting expertise and business secrets Sensitive information often needs to be exchanged, especially during collaborations, investor meetings or initial project negotiations. This includes business strategies, technical developments or key economic figures. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) creates the legal framework to protect confidential information and establish a clear basis for discussions. At the same time ...

The works council in the company: Practical overview for employers

The works council in the company - a practical overview The works council is a central organ of co-determination in the company and influences many personnel and organisational decisions in the company. It is important for employers to understand the role, rights and cooperation with the works council in order to act in a legally compliant and efficient manner. This overview shows the most important basics in practice. What is ...

Corporate housekeeping for start-ups: checklist for legally compliant governance

Corporate housekeeping: checklist for clean corporate governance in start-ups Corporate housekeeping sounds formal - but it is a key building block for investor readiness, liability avoidance and exit readiness. Especially in the growth phase, founders understandably focus on the product, market and financing. Company law formalities quickly fade into the background. However, this is precisely where typical risks arise. Clean corporate governance ...

Working despite a pension: Designing an active pension with legal certainty

Working despite retirement: How to continue working after retirement Demographic change and the ongoing shortage of skilled labour mean that more and more employees want to continue working after retirement. For companies, the so-called active pension opens up the possibility of keeping experience and expertise in the company for longer. In legal terms, this is not a separate statutory model, but rather ...

GbR for start-ups: advantages, risks & liability explained clearly

The civil law partnership (GbR) is the simplest form of partnership in accordance with Sections 705 et seq. BGB (GERMAN CIVIL CODE). It is formed when at least two people join together to pursue a common purpose. For start-ups, it can be a quick way to get started - but legally and economically ...

Minimum wage increases in 2026: New mini-job limit & obligations for employers at a glance

Minimum wage increases - mini-job limit has been adjusted: What employers need to consider The mini-job limit was adjusted on 1 January 2026: the previous monthly limit of 556 euros was raised to 603 euros. The increase in the statutory minimum wage therefore also has a direct impact on marginal employment relationships. For employers, this not only results in a need for arithmetical adjustments, but also ...

Founding a UG as a start-up: Liability, capital & practical tips for founders

The UG (haftungsbeschränkt) as a start-up legal form: opportunity or interim solution? The UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is often referred to as the „little sister“ of the GmbH. For many founders, it is the entry into the limited liability company structure - especially with limited start-up capital. But is the UG a strategic model or merely a preliminary stage to the GmbH? Basic structure of the UG: Limited liability with limited capital ...

Labour Market Reinforcement Act: What „More work pays off“ means for employers

Labour Market Reinforcement Act - What is really behind „More work pays“ With the Labour Market Reinforcement Act, the legislator is pursuing a clear goal: to create more incentives to work, increase employment and make work more financially attractive. Tax, social security and labour market policy instruments are to be readjusted under the political motto „More work pays“. But what does this mean in concrete terms for employers - and where ...

Founding a GmbH as a start-up: choice of legal form, liability & capital explained clearly

Foundation vs. choice of legal form: Guide for start-ups - when is a GmbH the right choice? The choice of legal form is a strategic decision for every start-up. After providing an overview of the common legal forms in the last article, we will now take a closer look at the decision factors - with a special focus on the GmbH as the central legal form for growth-oriented start-ups. ...

Legally compliant through the 2026 works council election: What employers need to know

Die Betriebsratswahl 2026 rückt näher. Für Arbeitgeber gilt: Eine strukturierte und rechtssichere Vorbereitung hilft, Fehler zu vermeiden und Anfechtungsrisiken zu reduzieren. Schon kleine Versäumnisse im Ablauf können die Betriebsratswahl anfechtbar machen und unnötige Konflikte verursachen. Arbeitgeberpflichten vs. Neutralitätsgebot Bei der Betriebsratswahl hat der Arbeitgeber eine klare Rolle: Er muss die Wahl organisatorisch ermöglichen, darf sie jedoch nicht beeinflussen. Dazu gehört, Räume, Sachmittel und …

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