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White-collar and corporate crime
Our commercial criminal law team defends and advises companies and private individuals against public prosecutors' offices, courts and authorities throughout Germany, in all areas of white collar crime, criminal tax law and administrative offences law. Another key area of our practice is preventive advice and corporate compliance.
Leading law firm for compliance and criminal law 2019
WirtschaftsWoche Top-Kanzleien 2019
Ranked as one of the best law firms for compliance and D&O liability
WirtschaftsWoche "Top-Kanzleien" ranking of 12 May 2017
Leading law firm for compliance advice; The group has a good understanding of clients’ needs and convinces with flexibility and speed, good communication and a decent price-performance ratio
Legal 500 Deutschland 2021
Recommended law firm for competition law and penal tax law
Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers® 'Germany's Best Law Firms and Lawyers 2024'
On the whole, it is highly unusual for a company to find itself in a crisis situation arising from criminal law issues. This means they usually have very little, if any, experience in how to approach such a situation. In light of the possibly far-reaching consequences, obtaining experienced and forward-looking legal advice is therefore essential.
Our team has the necessary expertise to steer companies through the crisis. If a company is investigated on the grounds that employees have allegedly behaved in a criminal manner, then – where appropriate – we will coordinate a collaborative defence of the employees and the company in order to protect their common interests.
We defend the company itself against sanctions such as fines and forfeitures. In doing so, we maintain close communication with the investigating authorities in order to minimise all possible risks and exposure.
Selected references
- Defending several international groups of companies against corporate fines and forfeiture
- Advising a telecommunications group in investigation proceedings against employees on grounds of embezzlement and tax evasion
- Defending several companies (i.a. active in plant engineering) against charges of negligent homicide due to occupational or industrial accidents
- Defending a German commercial airport against charges in the field of environmental criminal law
- Defending a construction company against corruption and competition law charges
We defend private individuals in investigation proceedings as well as in all other criminal law proceedings. In the event of coercive measures, for example, searches, we provide on-the-spot “first aid” and put things on the right track for further proceedings. Swift action is crucial in such situations. From our six German offices we are able to support our clients in person nationwide very quickly.
The objective of our experienced defence lawyers is to respond strategically to any investigative procedures as quickly as possible in order to avoid charges and a possible trial.
Selected references
- Defending board members of several banks and savings banks as well political officials, i.a. against charges of embezzlement
- Defending an internationally active hotel investor against an accusation of subsidy fraud
- Representation in numerous corruption proceedings including corruption abroad
- Defending a managing director in a complex procedure concerning fiscal offences
- Defending a construction company against corruption and competition law charges
- Defending a member of a supervisory board against charges in the field of employment-related criminal law
In recent years, the number of regulations that companies must observe in their daily work and the sanctions for breaching them have been rising steadily. It is therefore in the interest of companies, managers and employees to avoid serious legal infringements. We also provide preventive criminal law advice and support our clients in the area of criminal compliance.
Our team supports companies in identifying and minimising criminal law risks at an early stage. We assist in the development of compliance systems, draft specially tailored guidelines and provide training for employees. In this, we work closely with our multi-disciplinary corporate compliance competence team, for example, on issues of competition, employment or data protection law.
We also regularly carry out audits, both for the clarification of possible internal infringements as well as on the grounds of good practice. Where there are concrete grounds for suspicion, we may take over the internal investigation, in close cooperation with the company concerned. Our focus is usually on finding and evaluating evidence and interviewing employees, but where required we will also liaise with the relevant investigative or supervisory authorities.
In the area of computer forensics, we work with the leading service providers as well as with psychologists and other experts as necessary.
Selected references
- Development and implementation of corporate compliance programmes and training courses in numerous large and medium-sized companies as well as public sector companies
- Audits for numerous globally active industrial companies (including several DAX companies), sometimes including extensive internal investigations
