Finance Monthly Global Awards 2019 Edition

Finance Monthly Global Awards 2019 www.finance-monthly.com 14 GERMANY CRIMINAL LAW - LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FRAUD EXPERTS Within the wide field of criminal law, Steinfeld Recht has specialised in the area of white collar crime with a particular focus on fraud cases. FIRM PROFILE Since its founding in 2012 Steinfeld Recht has specialised on criminal law with a particular focus on international white-collar crime. Based in Frankfurt, Germany it is strategically placed at the heart of the continental financial industry. Moreover, Frankfurt has become a hub of the innovative industry, particularly start- ups in the area of fintech, legal tech and ICOs in various fields, giving it a front seat for the increasing number of “new” fraud cases. Steinfeld Recht is a fraud expert. Our clients are both alleged perpetrators but also victims of fraud. Knowing and understanding the structures of fraud as well as frequently “changing sides” gives us the best knowledge and experience to ensure that our clients get the best legal advice. Since 2016 we have also dealt with several cases of social security fraud, a great number of which centred around the application of the A1-legislation, all of which included EU- workers being sent to Germany. In 2015 Steinfeld Recht was involved in the CO2-VAT-Caroussel scandal that had centred around the Deutsche Bank and had allegedly accumulated a multimillion damage in taxes. Since 2014 Steinfeld Recht is frequently helping clients who are facing a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that had been issued by a German court. We supply our colleagues in the respective countries with all the information needed to uphold the fight against the execution of the EAW while addressing the procedure at its root and negotiating a reasonable outcome in the meantime. In the majority of these EAW-proceedings our clients were situated in the UK and France. AREAS OF EXPERTISE Steinfeld Recht puts a particular focus on fraud. We specialise in “business fraud”, tax fraud as well as ICO and cryptocurrencies fraud. “Business fraud”: maintaining a business in Germany is more complex than most entrepreneurs and particularly VCs think. There is a reason why Germany is considered to be the motherland of bureaucracy. Unfortunately, a business person’s ignorance is no excuse. Moreover, the German courts find it easier to be stricter with non-residents than with locals when sanctioning non-compliance with business rules. It is therefore crucial to be well represented in those cases and to have a legal representation that is able to build a bridge between the client and the authorities. Tax fraud: Albeit clearly a subsection of the business fraud, tax fraud has earned its spot in the limelight since German prosecutors have made it their goal to pursue certain cases of tax fraud with increasing vigour in recent years. Another reason for this are the damages, connected with these cases, the German authorities will usually try to reclaim. VAT-fraud is the most common allegation with usually the highest claims connected to it. Understanding the implications of such criminal proceedings and having all the experts at hand to prevent any repercussions is how we help our clients. ICO and cryptocurrencies fraud: Being situated in the digital world does not exonerate anyone from complying with analogue