Employment-Related Criminal Defence in Germany

In labour-related criminal law matters, we defend companies, self-employed individuals and senior executives facing allegations, in particular relating to withholding social security contributions (non-payment of employment-related contributions), breaches of occupational health and safety regulations, illegal employment and temporary agency work (employee leasing), as well as undeclared work (illegal employment/“black work”).

A key part of our practice involves administrative offence proceedings (fines proceedings)—in particular for illegal employment of foreign nationals and for violations of the German Posted Workers Act (AEntG) and the German Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG), for example in cases involving wage dumping. We also advise on fit-and-proper (reliability) issues for managing directors—especially in German GmbH structures—as well as proceedings under the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) and matters arising under public sector staff representation law.

In addition, we represent suspects and respondents in dealings with social security institutions, the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung - DRV), and in parallel tax proceedings.