We provide specialised, practical advice on all matters relating to corporate criminal defence, including:

• Defence of companies, board members and employees in commercial and tax criminal proceedings with national and international implications
• Advising companies in administrative offence proceedings (e.g. Sections 130 and 30 of the German Administrative Offences Act (OWiG))
• Development and implementation of defence strategies in complex commercial and tax criminal law cases
• Strategic overall management and coordination of complex, parallel proceedings involving the public prosecutor’s office, BaFin, the Federal Cartel Office, tax investigation authorities and other supervisory authorities
• On-site support during raids by the public prosecutor’s office, tax investigation authorities, antitrust authorities and regulatory agencies
• Advice on international sanctions, export control violations and embargo law
• Advising companies as potential parties to forfeiture Proceedings:
• Development and implementation of settlement and negotiation strategies (e.g. plea agreements in criminal proceedings, dismissal with conditions and agreements with authorities).
• Coordination of legal case management with PR and communication measures (e.g. avoiding reputational damage and ensuring consistent internal and external communication).
• Follow-up on concluded proceedings (e.g. identifying lessons learned, adapting compliance systems, providing training and raising awareness, and reporting to corporate bodies and supervisory authorities).
• Representation in case of parliamentary investigative committees.
• Witness assistance for affected company employees.

We provide personalised advice and representation to responsible directors and other company employees in the context of individual criminal defence.

• advising board members, managing directors, supervisory board members, advisory board members, senior executives and compliance officers on risks related to criminal law, administrative offences and liability;
• advice and representation in preliminary investigations, criminal trials and appeals;
• strategic overall management of complex White Collar and tax criminal proceedings, including those with international implications.

We help companies to develop, implement and optimise effective compliance structures to mitigate criminal and liability risks.

• Developing and implementing compliance management systems (CMS) to prevent internal corporate misconduct and criminal offences, including corruption, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion.
• Developing and revising policies, codes of conduct and organisational and delegation structures in accordance with national and international compliance requirements.
• Providing training for management, supervisory boards and employees on compliance topics relevant to criminal law and liability.
• Conducting compliance reviews and 'health checks'.

We conduct internal investigations independently of government investigative authorities in cases of suspected misconduct and crisis situations: 

• Planning, managing and conducting internal investigations in cases of suspected criminal or administrative offences and other violations of internal company regulations
• Forensic data analysis, including email and document review, e-discovery and data analysis
• Conducting and documenting employee interviews
• Preparing investigation reports and reporting to the Executive Board, Supervisory Board, shareholders and authorities
• Developing and implementing post-investigation measures, including process optimisation, sanctions for misconduct and remediation
• Asserting and defending against claims for damages, including against D&O insurers

With many years of experience, we support companies in crisis:

• Developing and implementing strategies for crisis and reputation management (including media and public relations)
• Organising and supporting special meetings of the executive and supervisory boards in crisis and extraordinary situations.

When it comes to criminal tax law, our experts have extensive experience and excellent expertise.

• defending board members and employees in criminal tax proceedings;
• supporting clients during tax investigations, raids and seizures;
• advising and assisting with voluntary disclosures;
• developing and implementing tax compliance systems and internal control systems to mitigate criminal tax risks.

In cases of M&A transactions, compliance risks are identified by us with ease: 

• identification, assessment and quantification of criminal and administrative penalty risks in corporate transactions (including corruption, antitrust violations, money laundering and sanctions risks);
• support for internal investigations before and after M&As to clarify breaches of duty in the target company;
• support in defending against and enforcing transaction-related liability claims.

We prepare clients for potential regulatory actions and strengthen the sense of responsibility among executives through targeted, practical training and workshops.

• Workshops to prepare for raids conducted by the public prosecutor's office (mock dawn raid)
• Training on directors’ and officers’ liability

We provide ombudsman services to several companies:

• Implementing and supporting whistleblower systems
• Acting as ombudsmen (however, only on a client related basis)
• Handling case management tasks