White-collar crime - when an accusation threatens your livelihood

White-collar crime is one of the most incisive areas of criminal law. An accusation - whether justified or not - can shake your entire professional and private life within hours: a search of your home and business premises, the seizure of documents and data carriers, frozen accounts, asset seizure and immediate reputational damage.

It is precisely in this exceptional situation that a prudent, discreet and determined defence is decisive. As an attorney focusing on white-collar crime, I defend you throughout Germany - with full commitment and absolute confidentiality.

"In white-collar crime, the first hours after a search often decide everything. Those who stay calm, remain silent and engage a defence lawyer immediately protect not only themselves, but often their company too."

— Tom Beisel, Attorney

What is white-collar crime?

White-collar crime covers offences connected with economic and entrepreneurial activity. These offences are often prosecuted by specialised public prosecutor's offices, economic crime departments and the tax investigation authorities - with considerable investigative resources.

Typically, the investigations run unseen for a long time and become visible to the accused only with the search. This makes it all the more important to react correctly from the very first moment.

Common accusations in white-collar crime

• →Fraud (§ 263 StGB) and computer fraud (§ 263a StGB)
• →Breach of trust (§ 266 StGB)
• →Tax evasion (§ 370 AO)
• →Insolvency offences such as bankruptcy and delaying insolvency proceedings (§§ 283 ff. StGB, § 15a InsO)
• →Withholding social security contributions (§ 266a StGB)
• →Money laundering (§ 261 StGB)
• →Corruption offences such as bribery and corruptibility
• →Subsidy fraud and capital investment fraud

⚠ Important: Stay calm and remain silent during a search. Do not resist the search, but make no statements on the matter and sign nothing without legal advice. You have the right to remain silent and the right to call in a defence lawyer. Anything you say spontaneously in this phase can later be used against you.

The course of the proceedings

White-collar proceedings often run in several phases. First, the authorities investigate covertly, for example by evaluating documents, account data or witness statements. Once the suspicion becomes concrete, a search with the seizure of evidence often follows. The public prosecutor's office then evaluates the material - and this often decides whether the case leads to charges, a penalty order, a discontinuation or a settlement.

An early defence can intervene at several of these points and decisively influence the outcome - in the best case before charges are even brought.

Particular risks for managing directors and board members

Those who bear responsibility as a managing director, board member or senior executive are particularly in focus in white-collar crime. Criminal-law duties can arise from this position - for example proper bookkeeping, timely filing for insolvency or the payment of taxes and social security contributions.

Here the defence is often closely linked to questions of directors' liability. A strategy that thinks criminal-law and liability aspects together is decisive.

Discretion and protection of the company

In white-collar crime, it is not only the accused person who is affected, but often the company, its employees and business partners. I attach the greatest importance to discretion and to keeping the damage for all involved as low as possible.

How I support you

• →Immediate advice, including in the acute case of a search
• →Access to the files and analysis of the evidence
• →Development of an individual defence strategy
• →Negotiation with the public prosecutor's office, tax investigators and the court
• →Defence in the main hearing as well as in appeal and revision proceedings
• →Defence against asset seizure and confiscation

I defend clients throughout Germany, discreetly and in German, English and Russian.

Immediate help

When time is critical - for example during an ongoing search or after a summons - you can reach me directly:

• →Mobile: +49 172 8974716
• →Office: 0201 4517 380
• →Email: kanzlei@rechtsanwalt-beisel.de

Frequently asked questions

Tax investigators or police were at my door - what should I do?

Stay calm, do not resist the search, but make no statements on the matter and sign nothing without legal advice. Call a defence lawyer as early as possible. Everything else is decided after access to the files.

What does asset seizure mean?

With an asset seizure, the authorities can access assets at an early stage to secure a later confiscation. This can block accounts and assets. It is possible to take action against an asset seizure - and here, quick action is important.

Can a white-collar case end without a main hearing?

Yes. Depending on the situation, a discontinuation of the proceedings, a penalty order or a settlement may be possible. Particularly in white-collar crime, an early defence can often avoid a public main hearing.

Am I personally liable as a managing director?

Personal criminal-law and liability risks can arise from your position as a director, for example regarding bookkeeping, insolvency filing or taxes. Whether and to what extent you are affected depends on the individual case and should be examined closely.

Will my case become public?

Investigation proceedings are generally not public. I attach the greatest importance to discretion and to keeping the reputational damage for you and your company as low as possible.