Clifford Chance's White Collar, Regulatory & Compliance practice is considered a leading address for companies and banks exposed to criminal matters, particularly in the financial services sector. In addition to criminal defense, the practice also assists with criminal tax law, while dealing with cum-ex, cum-cum and similar structures, among other matters. It further advises clients on violations of data protection regulations and economic and financial sanctions, such as Russia sanctions, as well as on anti-money laundering and criminal insolvency issues. Criminal tax law as well as corruption, breach of trust and money laundering are handled by practice head Heiner Hugger, among others, while David Pasewaldt also advises companies on corruption allegations, capital market violations and tax evasion matters. Julia Baedorff, who is another key contact, is distinguished by her expertise in defending clients in preliminary proceedings and in handling internal investigations and compliance issues.

Feigen · Graf Rechtsanwälte is an established advisor to the financial services sector and routinely advises major banks, although its client base also includes companies from the automotive and construction industries. The group supports these clients with expertise in cum-ex and accounting fraud (Wirecard) as well as in criminal tax matters, although it is also experienced in environmental crimes and compliance investigations. In addition to founding partners Hanns Feigen (banking, capital market, environmental and criminal tax law) and Walther Graf (in addition to commercial and criminal tax law also antitrust law), the core team includes Bernd Groß, who specialises in cum-ex and greenwashing cases, Andreas Minkoff, who is experienced in representing companies and supporting internal investigations, Matthias Sartorius (embezzlement and money laundering) and Moritz Lange, who specialises in investigations related to industrial accidents.

At Wessing & Partner, the representation of companies is at the heart of white-collar crime practice which frequently encompasses an international dimension and concerns allegations of money laundering, fraud, tax criminal offenses and Corona accounting fraud as well as GDPR fine proceedings. This is complemented by expertise in cybercrime and criminal environmental law as well as by individual focus areas: Heiko Ahlbrecht is well versed in EPPO proceedings, Jürgen Wessing is considered an experienced contact for prevention and crisis counseling, Matthias Dann is known for his expertise in criminal medical and doctor law and Eren Basar for his specialisation in criminal IT and data protection law as well as cybercrime. Andreas Pfister routinely handles corruption proceedings and is also experienced in criminal employment law.

Hengeler Mueller's expertise in white-collar crime is regularly called upon by large and medium-sized companies in the financial services, industrial and commercial sectors, often in connection with complex, cross-border matters. These include BaFin fine proceedings, international investigations, corruption proceedings and criminal tax matters, including cum-ex. Constantin Lauterwein, who routinely defends clients against allegations of fraud, corruption, breach of trust and tax evasion, Wolfgang Spoerr, who is experienced in international proceedings, including proceedings by the US Department of Justice, and Dirk Uwer, who focuses on criminal environmental and data protection law, are among the key contacts.

A renowned portfolio of national and international companies regularly rely on Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's expertise in white-collar crime to assist with administrative offense and criminal proceedings. The group covers a broad spectrum of white-collar crime issues, including corruption, breach of trust, fraud, as well as trade and business secrets, and also advises on insolvency offenses and cybercrime. The practice is equally adept at handling cum-ex and diesel scandal issues. Dirk Seiler, whose area of ​​expertise includes both the defense of companies against criminal charges and the representation of companies that have been harmed, heads the team.

Knauer Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB stands out for its expertise in advising and defending large and medium-sized companies in complex and often international white-collar crime proceedings. Its experience in cum-ex and diesel proceedings as well as in matters relating insider trading, fraud, money laundering, payment violations and tax evasion is particularly outstanding. The practice is jointly managed by Christoph Knauer (strategic advice to large companies), Sören Schomburg (cum-ex) and Björn Börger (compliance and internal investigations).

Gercke Wollschläger assists companies from the automotive, financial services and healthcare sectors with investigations and criminal proceedings and demonstrates particular expertise in managing large international cases. In addition to experience in defending clients against allegations of corruption and fraud, among others, they also benefit from the group's compliance expertise. Key contacts include founding partner Björn Gercke, who is dedicated to strategic advice to companies, particularly in the context of large and complex proceedings such as the diesel complex, as well as Kerstin Stirner and Andreas Grözinger, who specialise in preventive advice as well as company representation and focus on cybercrime and compliance.

VBB Rechtsanwälte looks after a client base consisting of medium-sized and DAX companies, which the team advises not only on white-collar crime matters but also on criminal tax law, as was recently demonstrated by its assistance with high-profile proceedings related to cum-ex and the DFB summer fairytale. Founding partner and white-collar crime and criminal tax expert Marcus Böttger‘s advice, who in addition to cum-ex also handled proceedings relating to the Dieselgate complex, mirrors the practice cornerstones. Defense against criminal tax allegations is also part of Sebastian Beckschäfer‘s portfolio, while Hjalmar Mahn is one of the key contacts for criminal capital market and IT law and experienced in defending auditors and tax consultants, and Matthias Brockhaus is called upon to advise on property and corruption offenses. Sven Diener focuses on criminal competition and foreign trade law as well as on criminal sports law. Competencies in criminal compliance and internal investigations complement this offering.

Redeker Sellner Dahs combines consulting expertise in whtie-collar crime and criminal tax law with criminal compliance skills; an offer that companies from various sectors access. Based on interdisciplinary cooperation, the group also handles criminal environmental and media matters. This is complemented by the expertise of practice head Daniel Neuhöfer, who covers criminal data protection law and white-collar crime matters. He is supported by Bernd Müssig (white-collar crime and criminal capital market law as well as preventive consulting) and Heiko Lesch, who is one of the key contacts for sanction matters and appeal proceedings.

In addition to its white-collar crime and criminal tax skills, white-collar crime boutique offering Tsambikakis & Partner Rechtsanwälte particularly impresses with its expertise in criminal medical law and the healthcare sector, resulting in a client portfolio that includes companies from various sectors as well as several clinics and other industry-specific players. Recent instructions included preliminary proceedings concerning allegations of fraud, breach of trust, embezzlement and tax evasion as well as compliance projects. White-collar crime and criminal tax expert Michael Tsambikakis heads the team in Cologne, Ole Mückenberger (compliance in addition to white-collar crime and criminal tax law) heads the team in Frankfurt and Diana Nadeborn (cybercrime and criminal data protection law) is responsible for the Berlin office.

Ufer Scharf Rechtsanwälte Partnergesellschaft mbB not only advises individuals on various criminal and tax-related matters, but also represents companies in preliminary proceedings and internal investigations. For cases entailing cross-border components, founding partner Florian Ufer and Erik Buhlmann are the key contacts; the latter handles proceedings in European countries as well as proceedings with a US connection. Norbert Scharf routinely acts for executives and Andreas Weitzell complements this with expertise in criminal insolvency, capital market and tax law.

White & Case LLP‘s expertise in white-collar crime is routinely called upon by banks and companies across various sectors and frequently pertains to cum-ex, money laundering, corruption, cyber fraud and bribery, as well as regulatory risks, although the group’s interdisciplinary cooperation also covers various interface topics, such as data protection violations, criminal insolvency law and investigations related to environmental pollution. Daniel Zapf, who is extensively active in white-collar crime matters and criminal tax law, heads the practice. The internal investigations department was strengthened in April 2024 with the addition of Julia Sophia Habbe, previously at Noerr; she has headed the Investigations Germany practice since then.

Hamburg-based Langrock Voß & Soyka, which specialises in white-collar crime and criminal tax law, primarily focuses on criminal tax law, confiscation law, corruption and criminal foreign trade law and acts for various national and international companies. Founding partners Marc Langrock, Marko Voß and Till Soyka are the key contacts.

ROXIN Rechtsanwälte Part mbB's white-collar crime and criminal tax advice covers the full spectrum of corporate defense, including proceedings in an international context, and also includes internal investigations. Accordingly, practice group heads Oliver Sahan (also special internal investigations) and Johannes Altenburg (also strategic advice to companies) are extensively involved in white-collar crime and criminal tax representation.