White-Collar Defence
Are you or your company being investigated? Are you worried that official investigations might be launched against you, or do you want to avoid the risk of criminal or administrative offence proceedings? Have you or your company fallen victim to crimes committed by employees or third parties? We are perfectly positioned to deal with such situations and can provide you with protection that is ideally suited to safeguarding your interests.
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The legal area of white-collar crime is more than just corporate law + criminal law. We combine extensive experience in defending companies and executives and great expertise in preventive advice, compliance and internal investigations with profound legal knowledge and a thorough understanding of corporate processes. Our practice covers both Germany and foreign jurisdictions.
Our work encompasses all aspects of white-collar and tax-related crime, with a focus on fraud, embezzlement, property offences, corruption and violations of tax, customs and foreign trade law. We also handle cases involving employment and social security violations, money laundering, accounting offences, capital market offences including insider trading, subsidy fraud, insolvency-related crimes, environmental offences, misappropriation of business secrets as well as in other related legal fields.
At a preventive level, our teams of specialists advise you across all legal areas to help you avoid the risk of criminal or regulatory penalties.
If a breach has already occurred, it does not necessarily mean that punishments, penalties or other adverse consequences are inevitable. We diligently explore every avenue to secure immunity from prosecution or mitigate the impact under criminal law, all while vigorously protecting your interests. Our approach includes proactive and targeted defence strategies that also consider potential non-criminal repercussions.
If crimes are committed against your company, we will assist you in securing and enforcing your rights.
Our services
Corporate defence
- Defending clients in criminal and administrative offence proceedings
- Defending companies in corporate fine or asset confiscation proceedings
- Representing companies and coordinating parallel civil, tax and administrative proceedings for them
- Collaborating with individual defence lawyers to ensure a cohesive and uniform defence strategy
Individual defence
- Providing preventive advice on criminal law matters to mitigate risks
- Defending clients during investigations, criminal trials and administrative penalty proceedings
Dawn raids and regulatory audits
- Preparing companies for regulatory searches or audits
- Representing clients during dawn raids
- Assisting clients in audits conducted by financial, customs or other supervisory authorities
Tax- and customs-related criminal law
- Defending clients in criminal investigations or proceedings related to tax or customs violations
- Representing individuals and companies in voluntary disclosures and negotiating agreements with tax authorities to resolve disputed factual matters during tax assessments
- Providing preventive assistance during tax or customs audits to ensure compliance
Legal advice for witnesses in court trials and before parliamentary investigation committees
- Assisting individuals providing information during preliminary and criminal proceedings
- Representing witnesses in internal investigations
- Assisting witnesses giving evidence before parliamentary investigation committees
Voluntary disclosure
- Advising individuals and entities on filing voluntary disclosures related to tax matters
- Guiding clients on voluntary disclosures concerning international trade, money laundering or other legal areas
Crime prevention
- Preparing legal opinions
- Criminal compliance
Internal investigations
- Conducting internal investigations to uncover potential misconduct
- Assisting during internal criminal investigations
- Supporting witnesses and other persons during internal investigations
Representing victims
- Representing victims in preliminary investigations and criminal proceedings
- Enforcing civil claims for compensation through criminal, adhesion, confiscation or civil litigation
Selected projects
- Stock exchange trader
Defending the trader in criminal proceedings for cum/ex trades - Chinese state-owned company
Representing and defending the Chinese company in criminal and asset confiscation proceedings related to evading anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar modules - Dax 40 credit institution
Defending the credit institution in investigation proceedings concerning breaches of money laundering provisions and violations of financial sanctions - Leading German mechanical engineering company
Representing the company and coordinating with its individual defence lawyers during preliminary investigations into violations of sanctions and other export control regulations - Managing director of a consulting firm
Defending a director accused of fraud and embezzlement related to consulting services for investment projects during preliminary proceedings - Managing director of a German company
Defending the director accused of fraudulent activities associated with the operation of COVID-19 test centres during preliminary proceedings - International retail company
Defending the retail company in preliminary and official investigation proceedings for alleged violations of labour and social law regulations as well as tax offences related to logistics services provided by subcontractors - Publicly owned utility company
Conducting an internal investigation for the utility company regarding cooperation with service providers and external personnel, including representing it in interactions with social insurance institutions, tax authorities and investigative authorities - S-Dax company
Conducting internal investigations into allegations of corruption, embezzlement and tax offences; representing the company in voluntary disclosures and whistleblower proceedings in Germany, Brazil and Austria - S-Dax company
Defending the company in voluntary disclosure proceedings for various tax violations - S-Dax company
Carrying out an internal investigation and representing the company in investigations into insider trading - Management board of a media company
Defending the board after it was accused of disadvantaging works council members during preliminary proceedings
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“Absolutely accurate and very strategic.”
Chambers Europe 2024“Proven experts with outstanding legal, tactical and strategic skills.”
Legal 500, 2024Related topics
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