Employment lawyer Thomas Ubber exits A&O Shearman to launch boutique firm
A significant shift is occurring in the German legal landscape as prominent employment law expert Thomas Ubber (pictured) plans to depart A&O Shearman after more than 14 years to establish his own specialized practice, Ubber Labour & Law (ULL).
Inside sources, according the trade press, reveal that Ubber’s new venture will launch with eight lawyers in total, spanning offices in Frankfurt and Munich. The team includes seven lawyers joining from his current firm, with three current counsel or senior associates set to be elevated to partner status at ULL.
The transition was announced internally via a memo from current managing partner Wolf Bussian, who expressed appreciation for Ubber’s contributions. “Thomas Ubber has significantly shaped our employment law practice, but also the firm as a whole in various leadership positions, and we wish him and his team at ULL all the best and much success for the future,” Bussian noted.
Sources indicate Ubber will continue as partner at A&O Shearman through April’s end. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation as a leading authority on collective bargaining and labor dispute resolution, representing major German corporations including Deutsche Bahn, Lufthansa, and Amazon’s German operations.
His tenure at legacy Allen & Overy Germany spans nearly 14 years, during which he held several leadership positions including employment practice head, Germany managing partner (2014-2016), and senior partner until 2020. Prior to this, Ubber spent over two decades at Hogan Lovells, where he also led the employment practice as partner.