Monthly Dose of Germany: November 2025

Authors: Nadine Forstmann and Dr. Hannes Bracht

The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has simplified the Ownership Control Ordinance and the Notification Ordinance. The stated goal of the changes is to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. The changes potentially reduce the scope of documents that must be submitted by parties required to notify during the regulatory clearance of qualifying holdings.

Authors: Dr Söntje Hilberg and Dr Till Contzen

On November 18, 2025, the first EU summit on European Digital Sovereignty took place at the EUREF campus in Berlin. The summit was hosted by the German and French governments, which joined forces with other EU member states to bring together political decision-makers and representatives from business, science, and civil society. The focus was on key challenges and opportunities in securing European digital independence, expanding secure infrastructures, and promoting innovative technologies and companies. Discussions focused on the topics of smart regulation, targeted funding and provision of digital infrastructure, and strengthening cooperation.

Author: Johannes T. Passas

With the 19th sanctions package, the EU member states have decided on further and, in some cases, comprehensive financial and economic sanctions (embargoes) against Russia and Belarus. The changes have already come into force.

Authors: Dr. Marcell Baumann and Sabine Kachel.

In the US, donor-advised funds (DAFs) are a popular and widespread tool to make tax-effective donations to charitable causes. This is particularly relevant for art collectors, as they can donate an artwork to a DAF and benefit from tax advantages during their lifetime.

Authors: Dr. Volker Schulenburg and Frank Tschentscher

On 13 November 2025, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) announced its decision in a landmark case of critical significance for German insolvency and finance law.

The eight edition of our Monthly Dose Employment Law 2025 on current case law explains the judgments of (1) the German Federal Labor Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht, BAG) dated 20.03.2025 (7 AZR 46/24) on the entitlement of an exempt works council member to an adjustment/increase in remuneration in accordance with Section 37 (4) of the German Works Constitution Act (Betriebsverfassungsgesetz, BetrVG) and Section 78 s. 2 BetrVG,(2) the BAG dated 27 March 2025 (8 AZR 63/24) on the consideration of benefits from virtual stock options for compensation payments for compliance with a post-contractual non-competition clause,(3) of the BAG dated 6 March 2025 (2 AZR 115/24) on the power of representation of the administrator of a residential property owners’ association (Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft) to terminate an employment,(4) of the Regional Labour Court (Landesarbeitsgericht, LAG) Cologne dated 17 April 2025 (6 SLa 642/24) on the termination of the employment with a pregnant employee and the assessment of the pregnancy and the employer's knowledge of it at the time of termination,(5) of the LAG Thüringen dated 4 June 2025 (4 Sa 281/22) on the attribution of a previous contractual relationship in the termination of an employment within the waiting period of Section 1 (1) of the German Dismissal Protection Act (Kündigungsschutzgesetz, KSchG).