Comprehensive defence in the complex interplay of tax and white-collar criminal proceedings

Representation in tax litigation and tax investigation proceedings has many links to general white-collar criminal law. We also defend clients when allegations of fraud, embezzlement, money laundering or corruption are made in connection with investigations by the tax authorities. Cross-references to insolvency offences or allegations of social security fraud are also typical.

Individual or coordinating criminal defence at all stages of proceedings

The aim of criminal defence is usually to discontinue the preliminary proceedings without a trial. If this is not possible, we also represent our clients in the main hearing before the criminal court and in any further instances that may follow. At all stages of the proceedings, we cooperate closely and regularly with other renowned criminal defence lawyers, whether we are working as a team for a client or the representation of various parties to the proceedings needs to be organised.

Specialisation in appeal proceedings in criminal tax law

Finally, our area of expertise in commercial criminal law includes cases in which we are entrusted with the conduct of appeal proceedings in criminal tax law due to our specialisation, as in this area, in addition to the substantive tax and criminal regulations, the procedural peculiarities of appeal law must also be reliably mastered.

Professional expertise and recognised publications

Dr Wulf, Dr Talaska and Dr Peters are co-authors of leading commentaries on criminal tax law such as the Münchener Kommentar zum StGB (Wulf), the Kohlmann (Talaska and Peters) and the Hübschmann/Hepp/Spitaler (Peters). Dr Talaska and Dr Peters publish authoritative handbooks on criminal tax law (‘Die Steuerfahndung’ and ‘Internationales Steuerstrafrecht’), while Dr Peters is also co-author of the Munich Commentary on the Code of Criminal Procedure (§§ 151 - 153c StPO). Dr Wulf is co-editor of the Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Steuerstrafrecht (wistra) and the Praxis Steuerstrafrecht (PStR).

Involvement in specialist conferences and academic teaching

The partners in this area of expertise also regularly give presentations on commercial criminal law topics at specialist conferences and in the further training of tax advisors and lawyers. Dr Wulf is a lecturer at the Bucerius Law School and Dr Peters is a lecturer in tax and commercial criminal law at the University of Cologne.

Reputation and industry recognition

According to JUVE, Wirtschaftswoche and all other published rankings, Streck Mack Schwedhelm has long been one of the most renowned German law firms in the field of criminal tax law - Dr Wulf and other partners of the firm are ranked by Handelsblatt 2024 not only among the ‘best lawyers in Germany’ in the field of tax law, but also in the field of white-collar criminal law.