At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our lawyers will assist you in expanding your business to Germany. If you have a current company and wish to benefit from the German market, it is critical to determine whether it should be a subsidiary, a representative office or a branch office. These options present different opportunities and responsibilities.

Suppose your company in Germany should operate with a degree of independence and thus not require the permission of head office to respond to developments in Germany. In that case, the subsidiary company is likely the best option for expansion. Under German law, the subsidiary company is legally independent with a legal personality. Therefore, the subsidiary should be pursued where the parent company is considering a substantial future presence in Germany.

The permanent establishment (or “representative office”) is a model of expansion that does not operate under its own name and is dependent on the company headquarters abroad. Such a representative office does not take part in independent business transactions.

The branch office has its own legal personality, but it is also, to a certain extent, dependent on the head office. It is seen as a separate establishment from the company’s head office. It can complete its own legal transactions for a temporary purpose – within the scope of the business activities of the head office.

At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our team provides comprehensive relocation services to Germany from Ukraine. If your company is planning on relocating its employees, our team can be your reliable partner regarding work permits, residence permits (including EU Blue Card applications), finding accommodation, registering your employees in their new cities in Germany, helping them get registered for tax, translating official documents and providing personalised support relating to settling into their new location. Such tailored support includes providing information regarding insurance, child benefits and other social benefits, schooling options in Germany, making contacts in their area, registering for language courses and much more.

When facing extremely challenging circumstances the assistance of experienced professionals in the area is invaluable. Our firm will provide the support needed regarding organisational and bureaucratic hurdles that people may face.

At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our certified experts in German employment law are ready to advise your business regarding German labour law. German employment and labour law can be challenging to entrepreneurs coming from outside of Germany. Therefore, our team is ready to provide reliable insights regarding best-practice policies in Germany and ensure that your company is aware of and compliant with its legal requirements. Remaining compliant with employment law provisions ensures that costly legal disputes are avoided.

We provide all legal services under one roof. These services include drafting employment contracts, creating anti-discrimination policies, advising regarding notice periods, unfair dismissal claims and severance packages, and representing employers in legal disputes.

Keeping the family together where possible is vital for peace of mind and security in conflict situations. Moving to another country while terrified for the safety of loved ones is a crisis time that none of us want to face. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our lawyers are here to help you. We provide full-service support for those looking to join with their spouse, children (including adult children), children who may be studying at university and other relatives in Germany. Our team will outline the German family reunification law, guidelines, examine your situation closely, and then focus their attention on providing specialised service for your current situation.

Every case and family is different, and we are aware of the current stresses facing individuals at this time. During such crises the support of experienced professionals can make the ultimate difference. Contact our firm for comprehensive assistance with family reunification in Germany.

The challenges of moving a business to Germany can be overcome with the right support. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our full-service model means that we provide tailored advice to suit the requirements of your industry. Our lawyers provide their insights for companies in the automotive, banking, e-commerce, insurance, retail and sports industries, among others. Industry-specific advice will ensure that your company is ready for the difficulties within the German market, and will allow them to stay ahead of the competition.

Once a foothold has been gained, companies can really accelerate the growth of their market share and fully achieve their potential.

Location can be a deciding aspect of a company’s growth. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our full-service model includes detailed advice regarding where to establish your business. By utilising our industry-specific insights, our team is ready to advise you on the benefits of particular areas within Germany for your company. Once a suitable location has been found, our lawyers can utilise their knowledge and experience in the fields of construction law, real estate and commercial tenancy law to ensure that you find the best area for your company.

These particular legal fields present a challenge as laws can greatly vary depending on the German state. There are often interactions between state, federal, and European law, especially in construction law. If your company is looking for a location to lease a commercial business, our team regularly advises on commercial leases, commercial rental contracts, terminations, eviction proceedings and allegations of contractual breaches.

With the Visa for Self-Employment, it is possible for entrepreneurs based outside the European Union to move to Germany to pursue self-employment and start their own business in Germany. This visa can be applied for under § 21 German Residence Act, and once granted, the entrepreneur is granted an initial three year period to reside in Germany. This stay can be extended should the business operate successfully. To gain this visa, the entrepreneur must prepare a detailed business plan that demonstrates that the business plans to carry out the following requirements:

• It must meet an economic interest or regional need,
• the activity is expected to have positive effects on the economy,
• the financing must be secured by equity capital or a loan commitment.

Should the applicant successfully gain the visa for self-employment, our corporate lawyers will be available to advise you regarding establishing your company successfully under German law.

One of the challenges of successfully running a business in Germany is ensuring that no issues arise relating to German tax law. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our German tax lawyers advise on matters concerning German turnover tax, trade tax, corporation tax, income tax and capital gains tax. Our lawyers are ready to represent you in legal disputes, find legally-applicable tax exemptions for your business and advise you regarding tax obligations for the type of company operated. Our lawyers will also advise regarding rights relating to the double-taxation agreement between Germany and Ukraine, should they be applicable.