Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Advice to companies

Florian Ufer from Ufer Knauer and Norbert Scharf from Grub Brugger jointly formed the criminal defense boutique Ufer Scharf Rechtsanwälte Partnergesellschaft mbB in January 2023, which offers medium-sized and DAX companies support in complex and publicly funded white-collar criminal proceedings, including cum-ex and the emissions scandal. The team’s range of expertise includes tax, corporate, corruption, insolvency, medical, banking and capital markets law as well as asset recovery.

Advice to companies in Germany

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance‘s white collar, regulatory & compliance practice places the traditional focus on the financial industry and advises companies and banks in need of criminal defence and representation. The team comprehensively advises on all relevant topics, including cross-border matters, and is well versed in cum-ex, cum-cum, the emissions scandal and Russia sanctions; the practice is also instructed on administrative offence proceedings and stock exchange sanction proceedings. The highly renowned Heiner Hugger heads the team and has longstanding expertise in criminal tax law as well as allegations of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering matters; David Pasewaldt also focuses on alleged corruption, violations of capital markets criminal law and tax evasion, while Julia Baedorff, who was appointed to partner in May 2023, is particularly well versed in public prosecution and internal investigations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Heiner Hugger


Autres avocats clés:

David Pasewaldt; Julia Baedorff


Les références

‘Very good specialist knowledge, introduce themselves to their clients, are very responsive.’

‘Heiner Hugger, David Pasewaldt and Julia Baedorff are very calm in their demeanor and experienced in dealing with authorities.’

DLA Piper

DLA Piper‘s white-collar crime practice is a popular address for companies in the industrial, financial services, technology, IT, medical, pharmaceuticals, energy and logistics sectors. The comprehensive advice encompasses traditional topics in commercial and criminal tax law and is complemented by expertise in defending against allegations of corruption, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and trade secret violations. Other key topics include the assistance with criminal accounting, insolvency, customs and foreign trade matters. Christian Schoop specialises in environmental crimes and cyber attacks; Emanuel Ballo is particularly experienced in defending national and international companies in criminal proceedings, and counsel Jürgen Taschke has expertise in employment, tax and civil law as well as longstanding experience in cross-border investigations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christian Schoop; Emanuel Ballo


Autres avocats clés:

Jürgen Taschke


Les références

‘Very good specialist knowledge and excellent representation of client interests.’

‘Christian Schoop is an outstanding partner with a very high level of professional expertise and negotiating skills.’

‘The team is really great. The collaboration is very nice and the quality is extraordinary.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Comprehensive advice to a listed medical technology company in an investigation into a possible environmental crime in connection with a water discharge.

  • Providing criminal law advice to several medical care centers following a search by the public prosecutor’s office, including allegations of billing fraud against statutory health insurance companies and private medical services.

  • Conducting a comprehensive, cross-border internal investigation for a US company on allegations of violating EU and US sanctions under foreign trade law (Russia sanctions).

Feigen · Graf Rechtsanwälte

Feigen · Graf Rechtsanwälte recently strengthened its position in the financial sector by adding several large banks to its client roster; the team also advises companies in the automotive and construction sectors. A core strength is the support in cum-ex and Wirecard-related matters as well as in traditional topics such as alleged fraud, money laundering, criminal tax law and corruption. Thanks to the expertise in environmental crimes, matters pertaining to the emissions scandal are also covered. The founding partners Hanns Feigen and Walther Graf lead a diverse team with various specialisations: Bernd Groß assists with cum-ex, cum-cum and greenwashing issues, while Matthias Sartorius is well versed in embezzlement proceedings and money laundering and Moritz Lange regularly conducts investigations in connection with occupational safety. The capacities in large-scale investigations and proceedings were strengthened with the addition of Andreas Minkoff in September 2023; he joined the new Munich location and was previously at ROXIN Rechtsanwälte LLP.

Responsables de la pratique:

Hanns Feigen; Walther Graf; Bernd Groß; Matthias Sartorius; Moritz Lange


Autres avocats clés:

Andreas Minkoff


Les références

‘Feigen Graf does an excellent job of combining outstanding professional expertise with a very pleasant working environment with their clients. Therefore always a super pleasant working atmosphere. Very efficient. Looking ahead.’

‘Technically at an exceptionally high level. It’s a pleasure to work with Feigen Graf’s lawyers.’

‘Moritz Lange is one of the country’s market leaders. There is no need to shy away from comparison with anyone else in white collar criminal law. Incredibly strong in Cum-Ex and able to understand not only the legal but also the economic facets of the content very quickly.’

Principaux clients

Deutsche Bank AG


DWS Group


RWE Power AG / Rheinische Baustoffwerke


STRABAG SE, STRABAG AG, Ed. Züblin AG


IBC SOLAR AG


Flughafen Köln/Bonn GmbH


Gothaer


Deutsche Bahn Konzern


Knorr-Bremse AG


Wessing & Partner

Wessing & Partner comprehensively covers white-collar criminal law with a particular focus on representing companies, including various large players, which the team accompanies in complex and cross-border matters such as allegations of money laundering and fraud, criminal tax issues and Covid-related billing fraud as well as GDPR fine proceedings. This is complemented by specialist expertise outside of traditional white-collar crime: Heiko Ahlbrecht is well versed in EPPO proceedings and Matthias Dann is an expert in medical criminal law, while Eren Basar specialises in cyber crime, IT and criminal data protection law. Founding partner Jürgen Wessing is well versed in preventive advice and crisis management.

Autres avocats clés:

Heiko Ahlbrecht; Matthias Dann; Eren Basar; Jürgen Wessing; Andreas Pfister


Les références

‘A well-rehearsed team at all levels of the firm takes the client by the hand and guides them purposefully and cost-efficiently through the existing challenges of the mandate.’

‘Eren Basar: Due to the excellent comprehensive knowledge of both criminal and data protection law, THE competent contact person for comprehensive projects.’

‘Heiko Ahlbrecht is very experienced and strategic. Easy to work with and good dealing with customers.’

Hengeler Mueller

Hengeler Mueller‘s white-collar criminal law expertise is regularly requested by a loyal client base consisting of large and medium-sized companies in cross-border matters and proceedings. The team follows an interdisciplinary approach and is experienced in alleged market manipulation and insider trading, criminal tax offenses including cum-ex, financial sanctions, environmental crimes and occupational safety matters. The team is jointly led by Constantin Lauterwein, whose areas of focus include fraud, negligence, tax evasion and corruption, Wolfgang Spoerr, who is experienced in criminal and administrative proceedings as well as US DoJ proceedings, and Dirk Uwer, who focuses on criminal environmental, foreign trade and data protection law.

Responsables de la pratique:

Constantin Lauterwein; Wolfgang Spoerr; Dirk Uwer


Principaux clients

Vonovia SE


Robert Bosch GmbH


GRENKE AG


Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP acts integrated into the international network and advises well known domestic and foreign clients on key areas of white-collar criminal law, including the representation in criminal and administrative proceedings. The team is experienced in allegations of corruption, embezzlement, fraud and cyber crime as well as insolvency crimes, trade secret violations and the market-dominating topics cum-ex and the emissions scandal. Dirk Seiler heads the team and has longstanding experience in both defending companies against criminal allegations and representing damaged parties. Counsel Enno Appel left the firm in November 2022 for an in-house position.

Responsables de la pratique:

Dirk Seiler


Les références

‘This is a powerful team in all areas of white-collar criminal law and specializes in representing injured parties, particularly at the interface with civil law. One focus is the enforcement of claims for damages and liability in cases of white-collar crime.’

‘Dirk Seiler: Very experienced, pragmatic and strategically strong.’

‘Dirk Seiler impresses with his very good management of the mandate, always keeps an overview and never loses sight of the goal. Working with him is excellent.’

Principaux clients

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH, Microsoft Corporation (USA)


Ford-Werke GmbH


Pfizer Inc. (USA), Pfizer Products Inc. (USA), Pfizer GmbH (Deutschland)


Principaux dossiers


  • Criminal law advice and defense of an international bank in criminal cum-ex proceedings.

  • Advising an international chemical company on criminal law in a cross-border breach of trust/embezzlement case.

  • Advising and defending an international automobile manufacturer in the diesel emissions scandal against allegations of alleged illegal defeat devices (including allegations of fraud).

Noerr

Noerr‘s white-collar crime and tax law capacities are underpinned by longstanding experience in internal investigations and extend to criminal, confiscation and (association) administrative proceedings, where the team assists with allegations of money laundering, trade secret violations and cybercrime. Christian Pelz (fraud, embezzlement, criminal accounting, capital markets and employment law; environmental crimes, criminal tax and customs law as well as criminal foreign trade law) and Volker Rosengarten (defence against and management of cyber attacks, trade secret violations and criminal tax law issues) lead the practice together. Alida Gölz (foreign trade law and money laundering) made partner in January 2023.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christian Pelz; Volker Rosengarten


Autres avocats clés:

Alida Gölz


Les références

‘Volker Rosengarten is an experienced white-collar criminal lawyer.’

‘Noerr’s white collar criminal lawyers are proven experts with excellent legal, tactical and strategic skills who act very well organized, efficiently and effectively.’

‘Volker Rosengarten: Always available, solution-oriented and gives calm and targeted advice. It supports companies in crises as a reliable anchor point and quickly leads them out of such critical situations.’

Principaux clients

Hertha, Berliner Sport-Club (Hertha B.S.C.) e.V. & Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA


Principaux dossiers


  • Defending a major German bank in investigations into violations of money laundering regulations.

  • Representation of a German listed real estate company in investigations into allegations of embezzlement against corporate bodies in the sale of a property.

FS-PP Berlin Part mbB

FS-PP Berlin Part mbB's expertise in white-collar criminal law encompasses advice on criminal law and compliance as well as representation on both the accused and the injured party side. The practice management acts in clearly defined areas of expertise: In addition to individual defense, Niklas Auffermann is well versed in defending against money laundering allegations and their prevention across all sectors; David Albrecht acts with a particular focus on white-collar criminal law and employment law crimes, while Sebastian Vogel is experienced in medical criminal law and Rainer Frank has experience in both main and appeal proceedings and also advises on compliance issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Rainer Frank; Niklas Auffermann; Sebastian Vogel; David Albrecht


Les références

‘Brilliant team, very strong, very experienced.’

‘Niklas Auffermann: One of the best defense lawyers in the Republic, always to the point, extremely well received by the client, technically excellent, strategically outstanding.’

‘FS-PP is one of the leading criminal justice addresses in Berlin. The law firm impresses with its combination of outstanding defense and considered, technically experienced compliance advice to companies.’

Principaux 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 und Tochterunternehmen


Deutsche Bahn AG und Tochterunternehmen


Deutsche Klassenlotterie


Berlin AöR


DEGES Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und – bau GmbH


Deutsche Wohnen SE


Evangelischer Kirchenkreisverband für Kindertageseinrichtungen Berlin Mitte-West (29 Kitas in Berlin)


FBB Flughafen Berlin


Brandenburg GmbH


First Sensor AG


GASAG AG


Gewobag Wohnungsbau-AG Berlin und Tochterunternehmen


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 (und Tochterunternehmen)


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 und Tochterunternehmen


VR Ventures Management GmbH c/o Berliner Volksbank eG


Wayfair Deutschland


50hertz Transmisson GmbH


Gesundheit Nord gGmbH


Gleiss Lutz

Gleiss Lutz's white-collar criminal law expertise complements the firm's established compliance practice and, in addition to advising and representing industrial companies, increasingly includes instructions by banks and financial institutions. The team covers traditional cum-ex and financial fraud matters as well as allegations of money laundering, environmental crime, criminal data protection, criminal foreign trade law and employment law crimes. Investigations expert Eike Bicker heads the practice, although the majority of the team's caseload is the responsibility of Christoph Skoupil, who was appointed to partner in January 2023 and has had considerable success in defending companies against criminal and administrative offence allegations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Eike Bicker


Autres avocats clés:

Christoph Skoupil


Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH covers all traditional areas of corporate defence and also assists with the management of collaborative defences as well as the representation of banks and financial institutions in high-profile proceedings, including cum-ex. André Große Vorholt is particularly experienced in the areas of tax evasion, embezzlement, corruption and fraud and leads the team; which follows a cross-practice approach thus also covering relevant antitrust, energy and data protection law matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

André Große Vorholt


Rosinus Partner

Led by Christian Rosinus and Mathias Grzesiek, Rosinus Partner offers large companies and start-ups criminal law advice at the interface with compliance, including risk analyses in the areas of money laundering and corruption, while also frequently acting at the interface with criminal and corporate law. The appointment of Janina Brandau to salary partner in January 2023 strengthened the capacities in criminal tax and sanctions law. This is complemented by forensic experience in supporting internal investigations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christian Rosinus; Mathias Grzesiek


Autres avocats clés:

Janina Brandau


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising a start-up from the technology sector on criminal law issues in connection with an M&A deal. The subject of this was the sale of shares to a private equity investor. Given that investigations were being carried out against minority shareholders, a solution had to be found in close coordination with the law enforcement authorities that took into account money laundering risks and existing criminal arrests of company shares.

  • Advising a financial services provider on the seizure of customer assets in their accounts. Advice as a secondary party in criminal proceedings.

  • Advising a private equity investor in connection with misconduct by a managing director of a portfolio company. Carrying out factual analyzes and supporting an investigation in connection with diesel emissions.

Tsambikakis & Partner Rechtsanwälte

Boutique Tsambikakis & Partner Rechtsanwälte acts from Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Cologne, and combines expertise in commercial and criminal tax law, medical criminal law and industry expertise in the healthcare sector. Here, the practice is frequently instructed by hospitals and also advises international corporations, start-ups and medium-sized companies across various other sectors. Recent instructions included traditional white-collar criminal law matters such as alleged trade secret violations, accounting fraud, employment crimes and criminal accounting law, corruption and criminal antitrust law matters. The team is led by Michael Tsambikakis, who is renowned in the healthcare sector, and represents both injured parties as well as the accused side. Another core strength is the representation of players in the gaming industry in criminal proceedings. Karolina Kessler, who is experienced in medical and commercial criminal law, made equity partner in January 2023.

Responsables de la pratique:

Michael Tsambikakis


Autres avocats clés:

Karolina Kessler; Simone Lersch; Ole Mückenberger


Les références

‘Very knowledgeable and tactically clever. Not a show, but clear analysis and well-founded recommendations. High understanding of corporate contexts and coordination with other consulting strands.’

‘Ole Mückenberger: Strategic advisor, very experienced and confident.’

‘Karolina Kessler is very experienced and has a good feel for the right argument, as well as being an absolute team player.’

White & Case LLP

White & Case LLP is best known for representing financial sector clients in criminal and administrative offence proceedings and primarily accompanies cum-ex and AFC matters, but also has experience in criminal proceedings in connection with social media and messenger services. Practice head Daniel Zapf advises national and international companies on all aspects of commercial and criminal tax law and is supported by the Berlin-based duo TineSchauburg and retired partner of counsel Nils Clemm, who have longstanding expertise in cum-ex and cum-cum proceedings. Former practice head Karl-Jörg Xylander moved to CCI-LEGAL in February 2023 and Thomas Helck left the team in April 2023 to form his own law firm HELCK Legal.

Responsables de la pratique:

Daniel Zapf


Autres avocats clés:

Tine Schauenburg; Nils Clemm; Nicolas Rossbrey