Internal investigations
Professional support in internal investigations of suspected compliance violations
Discretion and confidentiality in sensitive company matters
Years of experience in criminal law and commercial investigations
Flexible digital advice by phone, video or in person on site
- Specialist lawyer for criminal law
- Specialist lawyer for IT law
- Top rated by clients
- Over 15 years of experience
- Specialist lawyer for criminal law
- Specialist lawyer for IT law
- Top rated by clients
- Over 15 years of experience
Enforce your claims
Is your company suspected of internal compliance violations or white-collar crime? Do you need to gain clarity about possible breaches of duty by your employees without taking legal risks?
Internal investigations serve to clarify internal processes and identify legal consequences at an early stage. At the same time, you must comply with labor law, data protection law and criminal law requirements. An error in the implementation can quickly lead to a ban on the use of evidence, claims for damages or reputational damage.
We support you in the legally compliant planning and implementation of internal company investigations. We combine our knowledge of criminal law, IT law and data protection law to put your investigations on a solid legal footing. In doing so, we ensure that you remain capable of acting and at the same time meet all legal requirements.
Our clients benefit from a clear strategy that secures evidence and at the same time protects the rights of those affected. In an emergency, you can prove to authorities, business partners or the public that you acted in a timely and appropriate manner.
Consulting process
Initial consultation and situation analysis
You contact us by telephone or e-mail. In a confidential initial meeting, we will analyze your situation, clarify the need for action and develop initial solutions. This meeting can also be held by video conference - quickly, easily and from anywhere.
Strategy development and mandate agreement
After the initial meeting, we develop a clear strategy for your internal investigation. We determine the next steps, define the collaboration and clarify all organizational issues. We will provide you with transparent information on costs and procedures so that you know exactly what to expect.
Implementation and ongoing support
We support you throughout the entire investigation - from the collection of evidence and interviews to the preparation of the final report. You can reach us via all digital channels or in person.
Services
Planning and conception of internal investigations
Legal support for employee surveys and interviews
Data protection-compliant securing of digital evidence
Preparation of legally compliant investigation reports
Communication with law enforcement authorities and supervisory authorities
Advice on compliance management systems
Crisis management and reputation protection
Assistance in your case
Detailed service description
Planning and conception of internal investigations
The success of an internal company investigation stands and falls with the preparation. We work with you to develop a customized investigation concept that takes your specific suspicions into account. In doing so, we precisely define the subject of the investigation, identify the relevant group of people involved and establish the legally permissible investigation methods. At the same time, we check which legal framework conditions must be complied with - from data protection requirements to criminal law risks. This allows you to avoid mistakes from the outset that could later jeopardize the usability of your results. We ensure that you have a clear roadmap and know which steps need to be taken and in what order.
Legal support for employee surveys and interviews
Interviews are often the centerpiece of an internal investigation. But there are legal pitfalls lurking here: employees have rights that you must respect, otherwise there is a risk of legal consequences or a ban on the use of evidence. We prepare your interviews legally and accompany you personally if you wish. We make sure that the interviewees are informed of their rights, that no unlawful means of pressure are used and that the documentation is legally compliant. At the same time, we ensure that suspects' rights are not violated by the questioning.
Data protection-compliant securing of digital evidence
In most cases, digital data plays a central role: emails, chat histories, files on company servers or private communications on company devices. This data must be backed up in compliance with data protection regulations, otherwise it may not be usable or you may be exposed to the risk of fines. We have extensive knowledge of IT law and data protection. We are checking which data you are allowed to view, how you can secure it technically correctly and how you must handle personal information. For that we work closely with your IT department. Our aim is to ensure that you receive all relevant evidence without violating the GDPR or other regulations. This gives you a solid foundation for all further steps.
Preparation of legally compliant investigation reports
At the end of an internal investigation is the report. On the one hand, this must clearly present the results, but on the other hand it must also be legally watertight. It serves as the basis for decisions - be it for measures under employment law, for reports to authorities or for disclosure to business partners. We support you in preparing a report that contains all the relevant facts without creating unnecessary risks. In doing so, we ensure that personal rights are protected, that the presentation is legally justifiable and that you can use the results for your own purposes. A well-formulated report protects your company and gives you the security you need for your next steps.
Communication with law enforcement authorities and supervisory authorities
If your internal investigation substantiates the suspicion of a criminal offense, the question arises: How do we deal with it? In some cases, it makes sense to report the matter yourself or to press charges against employees; in other cases, you should wait and see. This is where legal experience is required. We advise you on strategic communication with public prosecutors, the police or supervisory authorities. We check whether and when a disclosure is necessary or advisable and, if you wish, we can handle the communication for you. We consistently represent your interests and ensure that you do not disclose more information than necessary. At the same time, we help you to take advantage of compliance benefits, for example by cooperating with the authorities.
Advice on compliance management systems
Internal investigations are often an opportunity to rethink your own compliance structures. Where were the weak points? How can you prevent similar incidents from happening again? We can advise you on setting up or improving your compliance management system. This is not just about formal rules and regulations, but about practical solutions that can be implemented in your company. We help you to identify risk areas, design training courses and establish control mechanisms. This will strengthen your organization in the long term and minimize the risk of future compliance violations. A functioning system not only protects your company, but also your managers from personal liability.
Crisis management and reputation protection
An internal investigation can quickly become a public affair - be it through media reports, inquiries from authorities or reactions from business partners. In such situations, quick and considered action is required. We support you in crisis management and help you to protect your reputation. We develop communication strategies that demonstrate transparency without taking unnecessary risks. We advise you on how to deal with media inquiries, how to present yourself to stakeholders and how to ensure clarity internally. Our aim is to ensure that your company emerges from the crisis stronger and that you retain the trust of your partners and customers.
Our law firm
Our core expertise lies at the interface of criminal law, IT law and data protection - precisely where internal investigations become legally challenging. We understand the technical contexts as well as the legal intricacies and can combine the two. This dual qualification is crucial when it comes to securing digital evidence in a legally secure manner or communicating with investigating authorities.
We consider not only the legal aspects, but also the economic and personal consequences for your company and your managers. We take a pragmatic and goal-oriented approach and look for solutions that are both legally sound and practicable. We attach great importance to discretion and confidentiality - because we know how sensitive internal investigations are.
Our law firm is well positioned digitally: We offer video conferences, communicate in encrypted form and use modern technologies to work together efficiently even when working remotely. This enables us to support companies operating nationwide without unnecessary travel time or organizational effort. At the same time, our offices are available for face-to-face meetings if this is desired or necessary.
We are available - even in an emergency. Especially in internal investigations, there are often urgent issues that cannot wait until the next working day. Our clients appreciate the fact that we really take care of their concerns. This personal commitment is part of our firm's philosophy: we deliver when it matters.
Your advantages
If you are conducting internal investigations, you need a law firm that is familiar with the interplay between criminal law, employment law, data protection and IT law. This is the only way to ensure that your investigation is conducted in a legally sound manner and that the results can be used later.
We offer you this interdisciplinary expertise from a single source. You do not have to coordinate several law firms, but have one contact person who has an overview of all aspects. This saves time, costs and avoids coordination problems.
Another advantage is our experience in dealing with law enforcement authorities. We know how public prosecutors work, what information they expect and how you as a company can best communicate with them. In an emergency, this experience can be decisive in avoiding or minimizing negative consequences.
Discretion is essential for us. We work confidentially and ensure that information only reaches those who need to know it. At the same time, we document our work in such a way that you can always see what happened and when - an important basis if you need to defend the investigation against third parties at a later date.
Frequently asked questions
Internal company investigations are carried out in the event of suspected compliance violations, white-collar crime or other breaches of duty by employees. They serve to clarify facts, secure evidence and create a basis for further decisions. Typical reasons include indications of corruption, fraud, embezzlement, data protection violations or breaches of internal guidelines.
Internal implementation is possible in principle, but involves considerable risks. Without legal support, mistakes can be made that later jeopardize the usability of the results or lead to liability risks. External lawyers not only provide the necessary expertise, but also the necessary distance and objectivity.
You must comply with labor law, data protection law and criminal law requirements. These include co-determination rights of the works council, personal rights of employees, data protection regulations of the GDPR and the prohibition of inadmissible evidence. Interviews must not be conducted under pressure and digital data may only be saved to a permissible extent. Violations can lead to a ban on the use of evidence or claims for damages.
This depends on various factors, such as whether private use is permitted and whether company agreements exist. In principle, you may view business communications if this is necessary and you have informed the employees beforehand. We will check in each individual case which data you are legally permitted to secure and how you should proceed.
Yes, as a rule you must inform employees that they are not obliged to testify and that their statements may be used against them. This applies in particular if there is already a concrete suspicion against them. Failure to do so may mean that the statements cannot be used later. We will help you to comply with the legally correct procedure.
In this case, you must decide whether to report the incident to the law enforcement authorities. In most cases, there is no obligation to report the matter, but it may make sense for compliance reasons. We advise you on the advantages and disadvantages of self-reporting or filing a criminal complaint against the employee and support you in communicating with the authorities. The aim is to protect your company legally and take advantage of possible benefits.
This depends on the complexity of the case. Simple cases can be completed within a few weeks, while extensive investigations with many parties involved and large amounts of data can take several months. We draw up a realistic timetable at the beginning and keep you regularly informed about the status of the investigation. Our aim is to carry out the investigation as quickly as possible, but without unnecessary risks.
Yes, we advise clients throughout Germany. Our offices in Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main and Kassel give us a presence in key economic regions, but we also offer comprehensive digital advisory services by telephone, email and video conference. This allows us to support you quickly and efficiently, regardless of your location, without you having to travel far.
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