Much of the work performed by our Labour and Employment Group consists in advising companies on the individual management of their human resources.

We handle a variety of matters, such as drafting employment contracts and services agreements, amendments to employment contracts or their terms of performance, organising disciplinary and layoff procedures (for personal or economic reasons), negotiating and drafting settlement agreements or other documents for terminations of employment by mutual agreement, and, more generally, advising and answering any questions relating to labour law (working time, salary, illness, maternity, leave, etc.).

Corporate restructurings raise specific issues from a labour and employment perspective (change of employer, effect on collective agreements, modification of the scope or structure of staff representation bodies, etc.). Due to the changes brought about by restructurings, they may also be a source of tension in companies, which needs to be tempered to ensure that the transaction is successful.

August & Debouzy advises companies on the recruitment and departure of their executives and corporate officers and during their employment.

The firm has extensive practice in negotiating executive statuses, in terms of the combination of a corporate office with an employment contract and implementing performance-incentive measures (bonus plans, stock-options, carried interest, etc.).

The globalisation of business and the need to develop the loyalty of key men and women in a highly competitive context makes the international mobility of employees a major issue for companies. Success implies perfectly controlling all aspects of international transfers: labour law, welfare protection and taxation, in France and abroad.

Employers are constantly confronted with greater obligations to ensure health, safety and, more generally, the well-being of their employees in the workplace and during working hours. It is particularly important to satisfy these obligations, some of which carry criminal penalties, particularly as regards the medical surveillance of staff, work-related accidents, occupational illnesses or even suffering at work (stress, psychological or sexual harassment).

The increasing amount of legislation and case law on matters of individual freedoms at work, and the rising number of related issues and litigation, has led us to develop this practice area.