Overview
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).
Work Highlights
Kerstin has counselled clients in a wide range of disputes. These include representing or advising:
- Volkswagen AG: providing sanctions advice to Volkswagen Group in connection with the sale of its shares in Volkswagen Group Rus LLC including its local subsidiaries to a local investor.
- Numerous financial institutions and corporates: advising on all aspects of EU sanctions law including applying for authorizations and navigating the ever-changing sanctions landscape working with colleagues in the US and the UK on cross border sanctions cases.
- An international IT company: advising on an internal investigation regarding allegations of corruption, embezzlement and tax evasion covering Germany, the United States, Russia and various other European jurisdictions as well as representation of the company in the criminal investigation proceedings in Germany and coordination with proceedings before the U.S. Department of Justice.
- A leading global manufacturer of electronic equipment: advising on an internal investigation in the context of allegations of tax evasion, representing the company vis-à-vis the prosecution office and tax authorities and coordination of multiple individual defence attorneys.
- An automotive supplier: advising and representing the company in criminal investigation proceedings in the context of allegations of criminal law violations in relation to so-called “defeat devices” for diesel engines.
- A German stock corporation: advising on an extensive internal investigation in the context of allegations of insider trading against the former chairman of the board as well as representation of the company in the criminal investigation proceedings.
- An internationally operating manufacturing company: advising in connection with allegations of bribery abroad including conducting an internal investigation, advising on matters of tax law, and advising and representing the company in a proceeding before the U.S. Department of Justice.
- The insolvency administrator of an international investment bank: advising on investigation proceedings by the German public prosecutor in connection with alleged cum/ex transactions including representation and corporate defence vis-à-vis the authorities.
- Thyssenkrupp AG: Advice in relation to the IPO of the hydrogen subsidiary thyssenkrupp nucera.
- Numerous national and international companies: advising on compliance risk assessments and compliance policies including training of staff.
- Steinhoff International Holdings N.V.: advising on numerous shareholder claims following the announcement of accounting irregularities including representation of the company in a KapMuG procedure.
- Barclays Bank PLC: advising and representing in a series of several hundred of claims in Germany in connection with hedge fund-linked notes, including a German class action (KapMuG procedure) and proceedings before the German Supreme Court, as well as the coordination of parallel proceedings in Austria.
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