vangard | Littler appoints Julia Viohl and Dr. Matthias Sandmaier as Equity Partners.

Christoph Kaul and Matthias Pallentin join the circle of Salary Partners.

vangard | Littler admits Julia Viohl (vangard | Littler Berlin) and Dr. Matthias Sandmaier (vangard | Littler Munich) to the firm’s partnership from its own ranks and additionally appoints two more lawyers – Christoph Kaul (vangard | Littler Düsseldorf) and Matthias Pallentin (vangard | Littler Hamburg) – as Salaried Partners.

Our new Equity Partners

Julia Viohl joined vangard in 2014 together with Dr Matthias Kast and Dr Rajko Herrmann, making her part of the founding team of vangard | Littler Berlin. She was admitted as Salary Partner in 2019 and advises companies in all areas of employment law. As a specialist in internal investigations, she supports her clients, some of which are listed on the stock exchange, in the investigation and sanctioning of criminal offences and other breaches of duty in the employment relationship. She also heads the firm's immigration team (which assists employers in recruiting international specialists). Julia Viohl is also involved in the firm's international activities, with clients in many european countries. From day one, she has placed great emphasis on cross-local cooperation in the firm and is committed to promoting young lawyers.

Dr. Matthias Sandmaier joined vangard in November 2013. He advises national and international clients primarily in restructuring projects and in the area of works constitution law, in particular in negotiations with employee representatives. He also specialises in labour court litigation and ecclesiastical labour law, where his clients include the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD). 

Together with partners Dr Oliver Grimm and Dennis Lüers, Dr Matthias Sandmaier is linked to our Littler colleagues in the D-A-CH region – in cooperation with Littler's offices in Austria and Switzerland. Internally, Dr Matthias Sandmaier has editorial responsibility for the vangard blog.

Our new Salary Partners

Christoph Kaul advises on all issues of individual and collective employment law at the Düsseldorf office. He specialises in restructuring, works constitution law and separation and conflict management. He is also in demand as a certified business mediator, especially in the context of complex negotiations or the settlement of conflicts, for example between employers and works councils. Christoph Kaul also convinces with his lecturing activities.

Matthias Pallentin has worked for vangard | Littler Hamburg since his admission. In addition to general employment law advice, which also includes advising US companies, Matthias Pallentin also works as a business mediator, focusing on out-of-court dispute resolution and conflict management. Other focal points of his work include labour law compliance and restructuring.

„Our new partners are an excellent fit for the firm's progressive orientation“, states Dr. Frauke Biester-Junker, founding member of vangard. Dr. Alexander Bartz, partner and part of the HR team, adds: „The fact that three lawyers and one female lawyer are now joining the partnership from our own ranks is testament to the excellent internal development and career opportunities.“

Background: vangard | Littler relies on a New Work model that is unique in the industry and focuses on the promotion and appreciation of employees. With Julia Viohl and Dr. Matthias Sandmaier as well as Christoph Kaul and Matthias Pallentin, three attorneys and one female attorney from our own ranks have now been appointed partners once again. All four have qualified for their new roles with excellent professional and personal performance.