White-Collar Crime

Corruption is understood as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain or advantage. Corruption offences in the public sector involve a person who holds a public office (public official) or seeks to hold such an office (candidate for public official). By virtue of their (prospective) position, such individuals have a position of power. The self-serving and abusive exercise of this power is punishable under anti-corruption criminal law. The legislator seeks to ensure the integrity, impartiality and incorruptibility of public administration. The Austrian Criminal Code contains numerous provisions criminalizing corrupt conduct. The most important include bribery and accepting a bribe, acceptance and offering of advantages, acceptance and offering of advantages for the purpose of influencing a decision (so-called grooming), as well as unlawful intervention. These offences differ in their specific legal elements and are subject to complex interpretation, meaning that not every granting of an advantage necessarily constitutes a criminal offence or leads to a conviction.

If you are affected by abuse of official authority, suspect that a public official has misused their powers to carry out official acts or, conversely, if you are a public official accused of such misconduct, it is essential to know your rights.

Actions performed by public officials can fall within the scope of “official acts”. However, for abuse of authority to be punishable, the official must have acted knowingly in exceeding or misusing their powers.

We provide comprehensive advice on your legal options, support in enforcing your rights and guidance through every stage of the legal process.

Money laundering represents a serious challenge in Corporate Criminal law, focusing on the concealment of the origins of financial assets. Our law firm has extensive expertise in defending against allegations of money laundering and provides targeted support to clients in clarifying and refuting such charges.

We also represent individuals and companies harmed by money laundering. We analyse complex financial flows, identify potential risks and develop strategic concepts to comprehensively protect our clients’ interests.

Corporate criminal liability means that a company (corporate entity) can be held accountable for criminal offences committed by its decision-makers or employees. Both organisational fault and leniency status (crown witness provisions) can play a significant role in corporate criminal law. In addition to the imposition of substantial fines, the court may issue binding orders to the entity and, under certain conditions, may even refrain from prosecuting it (“Diversion“). The mere existence of ongoing criminal proceedings can be an obstacle to obtaining public contracts.

Our lawyers advise companies suspected of criminal wrongdoing. Implementing effective Compliance structures helps minimise criminal liability risks and avoid fines – both before and during criminal proceedings. We assist you in developing a defence strategy, conducting internal investigations and representing you in corporate criminal liability proceedings.

We advise a wide range of companies and private individuals who have been deceived as investors and suffered financial losses. Victims are misled about the nature of the investment and enticed with allegedly guaranteed high returns and secure repayment. In many cases, it is possible to identify the accused and obtain compensation for the victims.

With our in-depth understanding of complex financial market regulations, we provide comprehensive legal protection. Conversely, we apply this expertise when defending financial service providers accused of investment fraud.

The public prosecutor’s office or criminal police at your door? Our law firm, specialized in Corporate Criminal law, provides immediate legal assistance in emergencies through experienced criminal defence lawyers. We accompany you throughout the search, safeguard your rights, document all proceedings, and ensure that the search is conducted in Compliance with the law. Our goal is to protect your interests and review any secured evidence from a legal standpoint.

House searches have become increasingly significant. The element of surprise helps the authorities obtain evidence they would not otherwise be able to access. In practice, house searches do not only occur at the premises of suspects. Third parties, particularly holders of professional confidentiality such as tax advisers and accountants, may also be affected.

A search is a coercive measure that interferes with constitutionally protected fundamental rights and is therefore subject to strict substantive and procedural legal requirements. Especially in such exceptional situations, clear rules of conduct are essential, providing security for everyone involved. Companies should be well-prepared for such scenarios and establish internal guidelines to ensure proper conduct in the event of a search. We are happy to advise and prepare your employees through workshops.

Has your mobile phone or computer been seized and your data secured? We assist in protecting your personal rights and interests during criminal proceedings. Mobile phones and other IT devices contain a wealth of information about the user and other communication partners. They generate not only locally stored data but also digital traces and provide investigative authorities extensive insight.

A mobile phone enables virtually unlimited access to a person’s circumstances and life history, particularly since it also provides access to data stored in the cloud. As of 1 January 2025, the legal provisions governing such seizures have been revised.

For more information, please refer to our LinkedIn article of 28 February 2025.

Legal advisory services are under close scrutiny in light of the EU sanctions against Russia. Due to frequent amendments to sanctions law, it is not always clear which services with a connection to Russia are currently prohibited and which are permitted. In addition to statutory exemptions, legal services that are generally prohibited may, in individual cases, be permitted at the national level. It must therefore be assessed whether mandates may be continued or accepted.

Legal advice should in any case be permissible if the recipient is a Russian natural person. Russian legal entities may generally only be advised in connection with pending proceedings or if such advice is strictly necessary to safeguard the right to defence.

For more information, please refer to our LinkedIn article of 10 February 2025.

At a time when companies are increasingly in the public and regulatory spotlight, it is essential to conduct internal investigations in a professional and strategic manner. Such investigations must be carefully planned and executed to avoid (further) crises. A lack of defined objectives, insufficient independence of the investigation, breaches of data protection and errors in data preservation are just some of the many avoidable mistakes.
Every misstep can destroy the trust of affected employees and cause immense damage to the company – in particular by the unintended creation of evidence that may fall into the hands of law enforcement authorities. Allegations of breach of trust often arise as a result of tax audits. Proper planning and support from a specialised law firm not only protect your reputation but also ensure long-term success.
For more information, please refer to our LinkedIn article of 3 February 2025.

Breach of Trust is one of the most common offences in criminal proceedings (Sec 153 Austrian Criminal Code). It involves the intentional misuse of legally granted authority to the detriment of the principal. For example, if a person – such as a managing director, authorised signatory, or board member – acts in a grossly improper manner in violation of rules designed to protect the company’s (beneficial owner’s) assets, this may already constitute a criminal abuse of authority.

To initiate criminal proceedings before the public prosecutor’s office, a mere initial suspicion is sufficient. What may appear to be a straightforward business transaction can suddenly be interpreted as a criminal offence. In practice, the complex issues of unlawful return of contributions or substitution of equity in times of crisis often go hand in hand with allegations of breach of trust.

We approach your case with both economic and financial expertise and ensure that such allegations are robustly refuted.

As an entrepreneur, you bear responsibility every day – for decisions, contracts, client relationships and business operations. In day-to-day business, contractual disputes, incomplete information, or liquidity shortages can quickly escalate if one party is accused of deception. Suddenly, the allegation of fraud or another property offence arises.

Fraud is among the most common yet also most complex offences in criminal law (Sec 146 Austrian Criminal Code). At its core, it involves deception with the intent to obtain a financial advantage for oneself or a third party – to the detriment of another. What may appear straightforward at first glance is, in practice, often the subject of intense legal dispute. The consequences range from investigations by the police and public prosecutor’s office to searches of business and private premises, formal charges, severe criminal penalties, and civil claims for damages.

We speak the language of business. Especially in cases involving property offences, timely legal representation is critical to refute allegations and mitigate damage.

When a company encounters financial distress and its management faces criminal resposibilty relating to insolvency, the consequences can extend far beyond the financial loss. While insolvency is not necessarily the result of personal misconduct, suspicions that creditors have been harmed intentionally or assets have been concealed can turn a financial crisis into a criminal matter. This includes fraudulent insolvency (Sec 156 Austrian Criminal Code) and other offences designed to protect creditors (Sections 157, 159 Austrian Criminal Code).

Public prosecutors pursue such cases rigorously – often triggered by criminal complaints filed by creditors, insolvency administrators or tax authorities. Your economic future deserves a strong and strategic defence.

A particular focus is placed on early risk assessment and Criminal Compliance advisory – for example, in the context of internal investigations or whistleblowing systems.
Learn more about our specialised advice in the whistleblowing context here.