Kerstin is a highly accomplished litigation and investigations practitioner and co-head of the German Crisis Management & Compliance group. She has specialised experience in internal and government investigations, both domestic and cross-border, in the field of white-collar crime including corporate criminal liability as well as in compliance matters. Kerstin has advised a wide range of financial and corporate clients on EU sanctions risks focusing on Russia related sanctions, but her advice also extends to the EU Blocking Regulation and sanctions screening processes.
During a secondment to the investigations in-house team of a large international U.S.-based technology company, she gained additional experience in conducting internal investigations into sensitive matters in a number of jurisdictions.
Kerstin also has extensive experience in advising on dawn raids, as well as in complex civil litigation proceedings with a focus on banking and capital markets litigation, in particular mass litigation, often involving cases that are high-value, reputation-threatening and multijurisdictional.
She was recently awarded “Name of the next Generation” by Legal 500 (Legal 500 Germany, 2024, Internal Investigations).
Kerstin joined Linklaters in 2010 and was elected Partner in 2019.
She is a member of the Wirtschaftsstrafrechtliche Vereinigung e.V. (WisteV), the working group on criminal law of the German Institute for Compliance (DICO e.V.) and of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) Germany chapter.
She frequently speaks at seminars and conferences and publishes in the field of compliance, business crime and sanctions.
Kerstin studied law at the University of Trier and obtained a degree in French law as part of a two-year international legal studies programme. After her studies, she completed a doctorate in law at the University of Trier and spent her legal traineeship (Referendariat) in Darmstadt, Frankfurt and London. Kerstin is admitted to the German bar and was also admitted as Solicitor (England and Wales) in 2013.
She speaks German, English and French.
Kerstin frequently publishes in German and international legal journals and handbooks in the field of compliance, white-collar crime and sanctions. Her recent publications include:
Kerstin is a regular speaker at external compliance-focused conferences both in Germany and abroad.