Specialization
in Criminal Law

Criminal Law

In the meantime, criminal law covers all fields of life, economic activities and also the citizens’ everyday life. In this connection, criminal law by no means refers just to the classical field of criminality, but can, for example, already take effect in the case of a manager’s disputed business decision or through a works manager’s moment of inattentiveness with in part serious consequences which can also extend beyond the actual sanction (e.g. reputational damage for companies). Aspects such as the increasing growth of litigation as well as progressive internationalisation bring companies and their decision makers – but also citizens e.g. in the field of tax law – ever more in the danger of coming into contact with criminal law aspects.

Preventive counselling is thus gaining in importance alongside the classical defence. Competence in criminal law practice thus requires appropriate specialization. Close links to colleagues outside of criminal law and specialists in non-juridical disciplines guarantee optimal care.

At the present time, there is unmistakably an increased tendency by departments of public prosecution, finance and other investigating authorities to prosecute in many fields of criminal law and in particular in criminal law concerning business offences. In addition, there is a sharpening and extension of existing laws in times of straitened public finances and a strained economy.

The measures of compulsion at the prosecution authorities’ disposal, such as searches, seizures and, not least, confiscation of assets and imprisonment, often mean for the person concerned a struggle for his economic and civic existence. Here it is a question of ensuring the legality of proceedings against a background of the presumption of innocence while protecting all the client’s personal rights and rights of defence. This is only to be guaranteed by specialization in criminal law and in particular in criminal law concerning business offences.