Next Generation Partners

Advice to companies in Germany

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance represents companies from various sectors in criminal and offence proceedings, although the client roster traditionally includes numerous German and international financial institutions. Expertise in criminal tax law, including cum-ex and cum-cum, is a mainstay of the cross-border workload and the team, led by renowned Heiner Hugger, recently accompanied various companies on allegations of embezzlement, corruption and money laundering and continues to assists with matters pertaining to the emissions scandal. The group is also experienced in stock exchange sanction proceedings. Counsel Julia Baedorff is particularly well versed in criminal tax and capital market law, which is also the focus of David Pasewaldt, who frequently assists with corruption cases.

Practice head(s):

Heiner Hugger


Other key lawyers:

David Pasewaldt; Julia Baedorff


Testimonials

Excellent partners who give details and our business a high profile and are always available.’

Julia Baedorff: She is excellent and provides quick answers to any questions on very complicated issues, which in turn enables me to make recommendations to our board of appropriate legal alternatives.

Heiner Hugger: He is a knowledge powerhouse with fantastic expertise and network.’

DLA Piper

DLA Piper ‘s broad white-collar crime expertise is primarily called upon by listed industrial groups and insurance companies, which the team represents both as defendants as well as claimants. The established team regularly acts across borders and assists with allegations of embezzlement, corruption, money laundering and tax evasion and, most recently, suspected social security fraud. The practice’s interdisciplinary capacities are also evident in criminal foreign trade matters and cybercrime cases, where the team cooperates with the firm’s renowned data protection practice. Christian Schoop is the key contact for the latter segment, he is also well versed in advising on environmental crimes. Emanuel Ballo is experienced in all company-related white-collar crime matters and frequently acts for clients in the context of criminal employment and tax law matters, while senior counsel Jürgen Taschke impresses with experience in cross-border investigations. Counsel Daniel Zapf (financial crime prevention and tax crimes) joined White & Case LLP in May 2022.

Practice head(s):

Christian Schoop; Emanuel Ballo


Other key lawyers:

Jürgen Taschke 


Testimonials

DLA Piper and in particular Dr. Emanuel Ballo differs from other typical large law firms through his down-to-earth and incredibly competent way of working.

Emanuel Ballo: In my opinion, he is one of the best lawyers specializing in commercial criminal law in Germany. He is very competent and committed.

Practical solutions, fast and uncomplicated. Sympathetic lawyers who know the industry well and quickly get to grips with individual problems.’

Emanuel Ballo: An outstanding lawyer with special expertise. Not only is he very familiar with the theoretical matter, he also works with his team to develop practical and interest-based solutions.’

Emanuel Ballo: He is smart and exudes calm.

Work highlights


  • Advising a German insurance company after a cyber attack on criminal law, data protection and supervisory law implications, in particular with regard to filing criminal charges and criminal law advice on the issue of ransom payment and in dealing with customers, sales partners and the public and with regard to answering inquiries from investigative authorities.

  • Internal investigation and strategic advice to the board of directors of a globally active company of complex logistics systems regarding payments to employees from customers to obtain orders in several European and Southeast Asian countries as well as fraud against a customer through excessive billing in a European country.

  • Comprehensive advice to a leading international mechanical engineering company in connection with possible misconduct by the management of a foreign subsidiary as well as strategic advice on possible fraudulent activities by a business partner in connection with the sale of a group company.

Feigen · Graf Rechtsanwälte

Feigen · Graf Rechtsanwälte impresses with its extensive white-collar crime expertise in representing companies both as defendants and claimants. Among the core topics are criminal tax matters as well as allegations of accounting and environmental crimes, money laundering and corruption. The practice acts on behalf of numerous national and international financial institutions and industrial companies and recently increasingly advised on greenwashing-related matters, in the context of which it also accompanied subsequent first proceedings. Matthias Sartorius is well versed in internal investigations and Bernd Groß is highly experienced in cum-ex proceedings, while Laura Borgel made salary partner at the end of 2022 and specialises in criminal environmental and employer law. Moritz Lange covers criminal banking, capital markets and tax law matters and founding partners Hanns Feigen and Walther Graf comprehensively assist with white-collar crime and criminal tax law issues. Criminal lawyer Tilman Reichling left the firm in September 2022 and founded Reichling Corsten.

Other key lawyers:

Laura Borgel


Key clients

Adler Group


Bank of America


Barclays


Carglass


Colt International Ltd.


Deutsche Bahn AG


Deutsche Bank AG


DWS-Gruppe


Ev. Krankenhaus Lippstadt


Flughafen Köln Bonn


Gothaer


Hansainvest


innogy SE


Knorr Bremse


K+S AG     L


RWE AG


Saatgut-Treuhandverwaltungs GmbH


Saint Gobain


Santander UK Plc


Strabag SE


Wessing & Partner

Renowned Wessing & Partner in Düsseldorf comprehensively assists companies and financial institutions. The expertise encompasses preventive and criminal compliance, internal investigations, investigation support and criminal proceedings. Recently, the team accompanied allegations of fraud, money laundering and criminal tax matters, which also frequently have cross-border references. The team offers additional capacities outside of traditional white-collar crime and criminal tax law: Matthias Dann is well-versed in criminal medical law, while Eren Basar is an expert in criminal IT and data protection matters. Heiko Ahlbrecht, like Andreas Pfister, who made partner in June 2022, has expertise in international criminal law, while founding partner Jürgen Wessing focuses on prevention and crisis management for manufacturing companies, financial institutions and international corporations. Katharina Schomm (data protection fine proceedings) and Maximilian Janssen (criminal antitrust and competition law) left the firm in the summer of 2022 for in-house positions.

Practice head(s):

Heiko Ahlbrecht


Testimonials

Eren Basar: A very likeable and well-connected criminal defense lawyer.

Very client-oriented, collegial and team-oriented cooperation – very pleasant, appreciative and competent demeanor – absolutely reliable – very easy to reach.

Eren Basar: Very serious, competent and pleasant appearance, excellent communication with client and authorities, very good strategist, has a good network with other law firms.’

White & Case LLP

White & Case LLP offers extensive preventive and reactive white-collar crime expertise, which the team demonstrates at national and international level. In addition to financial institutions, the client base consists of players from the automotive, real estate, transport and TMT sectors, including social media platforms and messenger services, which the team supports in fine proceedings, investigations and criminal compliance issues. Most recently, the team assisted with allegations of money laundering, corruption, embezzlement and cybercrime as well as environmental crime and criminal tax matters, where the team also acts for the damaged party. In May 2022, the capacities in cross-border investigations and money laundering prevention were strengthened with the arrival of Daniel Zapf, previously at DLA Piper. Internal investigations are also a focus of Tine Schauenburg and Nicolas Rossbrey, who was appointed local partner in December 2021. Nils Clemm's expertise includes crisis-related committee advice. Former practice head Karl-Jörg Xylander (experienced in communication with the authorities) left the team in March 2023 and joined CCI-LEGAL.

Hengeler Mueller

Listed and medium-sized companies as well as financial market players call upon Hengeler Mueller's comprehensive expertise, which includes preventive compliance and internal investigations as well as clients' representation in investigations, fine and criminal proceedings. While tax crime matters, including cum-ex, continue to contribute to the workload, the team also regularly acts for claimants and defendants in fraud, embezzlement and corruption proceedings. Additional expertise in criminal product liability matters and the defence of individuals complements this offering. Constantin Lauterwein and Wolfgang Spoerr both comprehensively cover the entire spectrum of white-collar crime and criminal tax law; Dirk Uwer is the key contact for white-collar crime issues in the environmental, energy and healthcare sectors.

Practice head(s):

Wolfgang Spoerr


Other key lawyers:

Dirk Uwer; Constantin Lauterwein


Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's transnational capacities are reflected in an international client base and numerous cross-border instructions. These include criminal preventive advice, internal investigations as well as official investigations and criminal proceedings. The practice is led by compliance expert Dirk Seiler and mainly assists with traditional white-collar crime and criminal tax law matters, such as fraud, corruption, money laundering, embezzlement and cum-ex, where both claimants and defendants are represented. Counsel Enno Appel has particular expertise in financial crime and internal investigations.

Practice head(s):

Dirk Seiler


Other key lawyers:

Enno Appel


Key clients

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH, Microsoft Corporation


Ford-Werke GmbH


Pfizer Inc. (USA)


Pfizer Products Inc. (USA)


Pfizer GmbH (Deutschland)


Work highlights


  • Advising and defending an international bank or one of its senior employees in cum-ex proceedings.

  • Advising an international operator of amusement parks and ski resorts on a fraud and money laundering case against the company, including domestic and international criminal investigations.

  • Advising and defending an international automotive manufacturer against allegations of alleged illegal defeat devices.

Krause & Kollegen

Renowned for its expertise in individual criminal matters, Krause & Kollegen also impresses at company level and assists with criminal proceedings, internal investigations and compliance issues. The team is led by renowned Daniel Krause and recently accompanied fraud, corruption and money laundering cases in the healthcare sector and also represented players from the financial services sector in connection with criminal crypto trading matters; Expertise in criminal capital market law and product liability matters complement this offering. The client base also includes associations, federal ministries and industrial companies.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Krause


Noerr

Industrial companies, financial institutions in crisis as well as damaged companies benefit from Noerr's extensive expertise along the preventive and reactive spectrum of white-collar crime and criminal tax law issues. Most recently, the team assisted with trade secret violations by former employees and managers as well as with cybercrime. Other recent core topics include the defence of companies against allegations of violations under employment and social security law, criminal tax proceedings as well as fraud and money laundering issues. Volker Rosengarten, who is well versed in cybercrime matters, joined from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in August 2021 and has been jointly leading the team since then with Christian Pelz, who is experienced in compliance and the enforcement of damages in addition to white-collar crime. Martin Schorn (criminal investigations and fine proceedings) joined Pohlmann & Company in November 2021.

Testimonials

Noerr stands for a law firm that covers all important areas of law and is therefore able to advise clients comprehensively from a single source.’

Volker Rosengarten: An excellent commercial criminal lawyer who professionally assists companies in the crisis and helps them to get out of it.

Functioning communication channels and chains.’

Work highlights


  • Defending a credit institution in preliminary proceedings due to misconduct under money laundering law.

  • Advising a tourism company on ransom demands in connection with a cyber attack.

  • Advising a textile trading company in criminal investigations into allegations of corruption in connection with PPE sales with the federal and state governments, including conducting an internal investigation.

FS-PP Berlin Part mbB

Public sector clients and local companies from the transport, real estate and financial industries as well as numerous clinics benefit from FS-PP Berlin Part mbB's extensive expertise in compliance and white-collar crime. Players from the healthcare sector call upon Sebastian Vogel's expertise in medical criminal law, while the team recently assisted damaged companies in connection with trade secret violations, fraud proceedings and occupational safety and criminal employment law issues; the practice also has experience in criminal environmental law. Niklas Auffermann is well versed in money laundering prevention, and also, like internal investigations expert David Albrecht, assists with the entire spectrum of white-collar crime and criminal tax law issues. Rainer Frank is the key contact for compliance.

Practice head(s):

Niklas Auffermann; Rainer Frank


Other key lawyers:

David Albrecht; Sebastian Vogel


Testimonials

Technically brilliant team, very likeable to work with, highly professional, very efficient, enough resources even for larger corporate mandates and always to the point. Highly recommended.

Niklas Auffermann: One of the best in the industry – technically excellent, strategically excellent, perfect for demanding CEOs.

David Albrecht: Technically excellent, gaining more and more presence.

Key clients

Autobahn GmbH des Bundes


Argumed GmbH


Berliner Sparkasse


Berliner Wasserbetriebe AöR


BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH


BImA Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben AöR


BWI GmbH


Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin


Deutsche Bahn AG


Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin AöR


DEGES Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und – bau GmbH


Deutsche Wohnen SE


Evangelischer Kirchenkreisverband für Kindertageseinrichtungen Berlin Mitte-West


FBB Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH


First Sensor AG


GASAG AG


Gewobag Wohnungsbau-AG Berlin


Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany GmbH


Inros Lackner SE


Juwi AG


KBB Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes Berlin GmbH


Kieback & Peter GmbH & Co. KG


Kjellberg Gruppe


Labor Berlin – Charité Vivantes GmbH


Landeshauptstadt Potsdam


LEAG – Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG


Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe Gruppe


Lotto Berlin – Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin AöR


Märkische Kliniken Gesundheitsholding GmbH & Co. KG


Messe Berlin GmbH


MVV Energie AG


PWO AG


Scout 24 AG


Siltronic AG


Schindler Deutschland AG


Schwanhäuser StabiloKonzern (und Tochtergesellschaften)


Takeda Pharma Deutschland


Stadtwerke Erfurt Gruppe


Techniker Krankenkasse


Teufel Lautsprecher GmbH


TLG Immobilien AG


Toll Collect GmbH


Trockland Immobilien Gruppe


TrueVine Group Pte Ltd.


Universitätsklinik Greifswald


Vattenfall


VR Ventures Management GmbH c/o


Berliner Volksbank eG


Wayfair Deutschland


50hertz Transmisson GmbH


Knierim Lorenz Breit

White-collar crime boutique Knierim Lorenz Breit recently increasingly assisted auditing companies in criminal, supervisory and occupational law matters, whereas financial institutions and industrial companies continue to instruct the team on criminal environmental, data protection and foreign trade law matters. Founding partner Thomas Knierim is experienced in corruption, antitrust and criminal tax cases and also well versed in internal investigations, as is Christian Rathgeber, who focuses on defending against allegations of corruption, criminal banking, capital market, insolvency and antitrust issues. Simone Breit is particularly well versed in money laundering cases and money laundering prevention and made partner in January 2022. Anna Oehmichen (white-collar crime and criminal tax law) left the firm in autumn 2021 and founded Oehmichen International.

Work highlights


  • Occupational and criminal law advice and representation of Ernst & Young GmbH in the Wirecard complex.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH‘s white-collar crime expertise encompasses prevention, investigations, representation in preliminary and criminal proceedings as well as the management of collaborative defences. Led by André Große Vorholt, the team assists clients in internal investigations in cross-practice cooperation and utilises its white-collar crime and criminal tax law experience in connection with embezzlement, corruption and fraud proceedings, where the group assists companies and financial market players; cum-ex issues continue to be a part of the practice’s workload.

Practice head(s):

André Große Vorholt


Redeker Sellner Dahs

Redeker Sellner Dahs' white-collar crime team regularly accompanies fraud and criminal tax matters and recently increasingly acted in administrative offence proceedings in connection with criminal data protection law. The group is also well versed in defending against occupational injury and allegations of environmental crimes. Among the client roster are financial institutions as well as national and international industrial companies, which also call upon the press law expertise of the full-service firm. Practice head Heiko Lesch and Bernd Müssig defend both individuals and companies and regularly assist with parliamentary committee inquiries.

Practice head(s):

Heiko Lesch


Other key lawyers:

Bernd Müssig


Rosinus Partner

Rosinus Partner‘s white-collar crime and criminal tax law expertise encompasses investigations, criminal proceedings and compliance. The team, led by Christian Rosinus, recently acted for damaged companies in the context of fraud and trade and business secret violations, while the representation of companies in connection with money laundering, criminal tax and crypto trading allegations is another mainstay. Criminal IT law expert Mathias Grzesiek was appointed partner in May 2022, while Michelle Wiesner-Lameth (white-collar crime and criminal tax law) joined act AC Tischendorf Rechtsanwälte in May 2022.

Testimonials

‘Friendly, modern law firm, where we as a group of companies feel highly valued and well looked after right from the start.’

‘The collaboration with Dr. Grzesiek was and is extremely positive, as he always maintains an overview even in complex case constellations and explains his legal assessment in a way that laypeople can understand.’

‘Very well positioned law firm with outstanding expertise in the field of corporate representation. Enormous experience in cross-border investigations, especially US-Germany.’

‘The law firm has a harmonious team with different professional focuses.’

‘Dr. Christian Rosinus is really quick and a remarkable and extremely pleasant lawyer and colleague; his international experience, his down-to-earth attitude and empathy as well as his ability to provide high-quality and pragmatic, solution-oriented advice is admirable.’

‘Christian Rosinus exudes great calm and optimism.’

‘Dr. Mathias Grzesiek: Very collegial, competent and reliable to work with.’

‘Very dedicated boutique with many years of experience; client-oriented and responsive team with international experience.’

Key clients

FRoSTA AG


Tsambikakis & Partner Rechtsanwälte

Tsambikakis & Partner Rechtsanwälte assists players in the healthcare sector, large and medium-sized industrial companies and, most recently, federal authorities with allegations of tax evasion, criminal foreign trade law, trade secret violations and fraud. Michael Tsambikakis and Simone Lersch regularly accompany clients from the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries in medical billing fraud and suspected cases of corruption. Ole Mückenberger acts for damaged companies and assists with compliance issues and internal investigations, while Diana Nadeborn focuses on criminal IT law. In addition to its locations in Cologne, Frankfurt and Berlin, the firm now also acts from Hamburg since January 2023.

Practice head(s):

Michael Tsambikakis


Testimonials

Tsambikakis gave us excellent advice and support on a complex project. A technically very experienced and competent team with a goal-oriented and pragmatic approach.’

‘For a highly specialized unit, their manpower is also exceptional, with which the team can also handle larger projects and mandates with high quality advice.

Prof. Dr. Michael Tsambikakis: Clever strategist, pleasant to deal with and consult with.

Work highlights


  • Corporate defense of a medium-sized industrial company in a major cartel infringement proceeding.

  • Corporate defense of a Cypriot trading platform in various investigations into allegations of capital investment fraud.

  • Advising and filing a criminal complaint for a mechanical engineering company for trade secret violations.