The invention relates to hand-held hedge shears with an in particular electric driving motor. The hedge shears comprises a gripping housing with a rear handle, wherein a gripping part of the rear handle is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof and is lockable in the rotational position thereof by means of a locking element. An operating switch lever for the driving motor is arranged on the rotatable gripping part, wherein the operating switch lever acts by means of a sliding element and a transmission element on a switch unit for the rotational speed position of the driving motor. The sliding element is guided on the locking element in a manner sliding in the direction of the longitudinal axis.