Includes advising companies on setting up and reviewing compliance structures and conducting internal investigations, which are considered here but given priority in a separate ranking.

Baker McKenzie‘s broad compliance expertise is reflected in numerous instructions by listed companies and corporations. The group also offers legal tech solutions when creating compliance management systems. Co-head Nicolai Behr focuses on M&A due diligence, while co-head Andreas Lohner frequently handles D&O liability issues. Recently, the team increasingly assisted with contentious civil law proceedings in the compliance context as well as data protection and sustainability matters. Regarding the latter, Anahita Thoms is a key contact, while she is also experienced in export control and white collar crime. Criminal lawyer Annika Schürmann made partner in summer 2021 and regularly advises on the interface with antitrust and commercial criminal law. Senior associate Robin Haas focuses on corporate compliance issues and Associate Sina Buhl covers the interface between internal investigations and data protection.

Pohlmann & Company specialises in compliance and corporate governance and covers all subject matters. Among its client base are companies from Germany and abroad, with a particularly strong connection to the US due to repeated monitorships. Management boards, supervisory boards and corporate bodies are frequenlty advised by practice head Andreas Pohlmann on matters such as D&O liability. Christian Beer is a central contact for compliance and governance issues, while Nicole Willms also handles matters at the corporate law interface. Julia Kahlenberg and Thomas Lüthi assist with compliance management systems, while Horst Schlemminger, counsel Tim Uschkereit and Uwe Erling regularly advise on environmental law issues.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s compliance advice is based on synergies with the litigation and antitrust practices. Clients include DAX30 companies, corporations and financial market players, who call upon the expertise in anti-money laundering and in the context of allegations of bribery. During the reporting period, issues pertaining to data protection, crypto and cyber problems as well as export control noteably increased. Among the key contacts are compliance specialist Benno Schwarz, criminal lawyer Finn Zeidler and corporate governance expert Markus Nauheim. Other key lawyers include corporate and capital markets expert Ferdinand Fromholzer, antitrust lawyer Michael Walther, Mark Zimmer, who is experienced in employment law, and Markus Rieder, who, in addition to compliance and criminal law, focuses on arbitration. Antitrust expert Georg Weidenbach joined the team in autumn 2020 from Latham & Watkins LLP.

Gleiss Lutz‘s client roster primarily includes companies from the consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, defence, media, automotive and finance sector. Management boards, supervisory boards and other governing bodies are regularly advised on issues pertaining to data protection, product compliance, due diligence and post-merger compliance. The team, headed by Eike Bicker, also offers support on the implementation and review of compliance management systems and handles interfacing matters under banking supervisory and antitrust law. Regarding the latter, Martin Raible, Christian Steinle and Matthias Karl are the key contacts, while Eric Wagner covers product compliance issues. Marcus Reischl made partner in January 2021 and represents clients in compliance and internal investigation-related disputes and court proceedings.

In addition to preventive advice, the CMS‘ compliance team also offers assistance with forensic compliance. The group has a strong industry focus on regulated areas such as banking & finance, insurance and energy, with particularly frequent coorporations at the corporate interface during the reporting period. The team is headed by Harald Potinecke, who specialises in product liability and product recalls. Florian Block has similar expertise, with additional know how in product safety, while Eckart Gottschalk and Joachim Kaetzler have longstanding experience in corporate governance issues. Daniel Kaiser covers the criminal tax law interface and employment lawyer Amelie Schäfer, who made partner in January 2021, often advises clients on external staff compliance.

In addition to risk-prone topics in the white-collar crime space, such as cartels and money laundering, Hengeler Mueller also covers compliance issues pertaining to data protection, environmental law, cyber security, sanctions and embargos. Due to the network of foreign best-friend firms, the group 'advises on complex international mandates at the highest level'. Vera Jungkind and Fabian Quast are experienced in public commercial law and Jungkind also in data protection. Wolfgang Spoerr and Constantin Lauterwein have expertise in criminal law and are among the key contacts alongside tax lawyer Markus Ernst and Daniel Weiß, who regularly handles banking and capital markets law issues.

Linklaters offers preventive and forensic compliance advice via supporting legal tech tools. In addition to the firm’s traditional focus on the financial industry, the sectors automotive, healthcare and technology are further key industries. On cross-border and interface matters, clients rely on multidisciplinary advice from across the firm’s network. Hans-Ulrich Wilsing has experience in corporate governance and group law and is active in advising corporate bodies. He jointly heads the practice with criminal law and dispute resolution expert Kerstin Wilhelm. Other key members are employment lawyer Timon Grau, data protection specialist Daniel Pauly and tax lawyer Christian Hundeshagen, who made partner in May 2020. Klaus Saffenreuther retired in April 2020.

The compliance team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP cooperates closely with the dispute resolution practice and advises its clients on various risk-prone issues such as corruption and money laundering. For international mandates, especially US-related matters, the team is well positioned thanks to its network. Practice head Bernd Mayer has expertise in criminal law and corporate governance, whereas counsel Jens König also focuses on the latter.

Boutique AGS Legal primarily advises medium-sized companies in the engineering, real estate, logistics, trade and project work sectors on compliance as well as criminal and civil law issues. Jan Kappel, well versed in D&O and related liability issues, heads the unit. Florian Junkers is active in preventive advice and specialises in asset tracing, among others. The interface with employment and data protection law is covered by Oliver Zöll, while Wendelin Acker focuses on litigation and compliance liability. Jan Ehling (compliance and internal investigations) left the team in January 2021 and now works for Fresenius Kabi.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s team advises on compliance systems and structures, working closely with its litigation and criminal law experts, with additional synergies in data protection, employment, antitrust, corporate and real estate law. Recent growth areas include ESG and whistleblower issues. Practice head Dirk Seiler focuses on white-collar crime and assists national and international corporations faced with allegations of corruption and embezzlement. Enno Appel, who made counsel in May 2021, routinely advises on regulatory issues in the context of Brexit. Counsel Friso Heukamp covers topics pertaining to data protection and cyber security.

In addition to compliance management systems and risk analyses, Simmons & Simmons ' offering also includes monitorships and acting as whistleblower hotline. The team focuses on financial, technology and energy service providers and regularly assists with civil and criminal law matters. Hans-Herrmann Aldenhoff is well versed in corporate compliance and jointly heads the team with Sascha Kuhn, who is experienced in dispute resolution as well as internal investigations.

DAX30 and medium-sized companies are among the client portfolio at SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH. The team offers advice ranging from compliance organisation in the company to forensic investigations of violations that have already occurred. This is complemented by training courses, risk analyses and legal tech solutions. In addition to expertise at the interface with employment, antitrust and tax law, the team's corporate law expertise stands out, especially due to co-practice heads Jochem Reichert and Nicolas Ott.

Kapellmann und Partner offers support in the preparation of risk analyses on money laundering and corruption issues, training courses, drafting of compliance guidelines and support in antitrust compliance procedures. Medium-sized companies form the majority of the client roster and can also draw on interdisciplinary competencies in antitrust, employment and corporate law. Axel Kallmayer and team leader Ivo du Mont are well versed in antitrust and competition law as well as EU law, while Vivien Veit handles criminal law matters, internal investigations and anti-corruption audits.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB 's team is regularly instructed on sanctions and liability issues, compliance management systems, due diligence processes, internal investigations and white collar crime matters. These are often located at the interface with corporate and employment law. The group primarily advises medium-sized companies and listed corporations with a focus on the energy, mechanical engineering, automotive, technology, IT, life sciences and financial services sectors. Compliance management system expert Eike Grunert heads the team. Other key contacts are Jochen Pörtge, who often represents companies in fine proceedings as well as Michael Reich, he covers the antitrust interface.