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.

business men in modern office with pulse
Excellent legal skills, strategic thinking and the ability to get things done
Defending clients against investigating authorities, public prosecutors and courts
Recommended in leading legal directories

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

  • 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
  • Providing preventive advice on criminal law matters to mitigate risks
  • Defending clients during investigations, criminal trials and administrative penalty proceedings
  • Preparing companies for regulatory searches or audits
  • Representing clients during dawn raids
  • Assisting clients in audits conducted by financial, customs or other supervisory authorities
  • 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
  • Assisting individuals providing information during preliminary and criminal proceedings
  • Representing witnesses in internal investigations
  • Assisting witnesses giving evidence before parliamentary investigation committees
  • 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
  • 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

Absolutely accurate and very strategic.

Chambers Europe 2024

Proven experts with outstanding legal, tactical and strategic skills.

Legal 500, 2024

Well
informed

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