Specialized Law Firm for White-Collar Crime in Cologne – Defense for Business Owners

An accusation against you—and your company is on the line too

Perhaps a letter from the district attorney’s office or a subpoena arrived. Perhaps the police or tax investigators were already at the door. For business owners, this moment is about more than just their own legal proceedings. At stake are their reputation with customers and banks, the trust of their employees, ongoing contracts, and often the company’s assets as well.

That is why you need a defense team that is well-versed in criminal law and understands how a business operates. ROSTALSKI is an independent law firm in Cologne that specializes in white-collar crime, criminal tax law, and compliance. We defend entrepreneurs, managing directors, and board members in Cologne, throughout Germany, and internationally.

Typical allegations against business owners

• Breach of Trust (Section 266 of the German Criminal Code) and Fraud (Section 263 of the German Criminal Code)
• Tax evasion, e.g., with respect to sales tax, payroll tax, or hidden profit distributions
• Failure to Pay Social Security Contributions (Section 266a of the German Criminal Code) and Illegal Employment
• Corruption: Bribery and Acceptance of Bribes in Business Transactions
• Customs and Foreign Trade Offenses
• Subsidy Fraud
• Breach of the Duty of Supervision (Section 130 of the Administrative Offenses Act) and Corporate Fines (Section 30 of the Administrative Offenses Act)

Why Early Action Is Crucial

In white-collar crime law, the course of events is usually set during the preliminary investigation, long before any charges are filed. Anyone who speaks out prematurely, hands over documents without reviewing them, or negotiates with authorities on their own initiative risks losing valuable options.

Our advice is therefore: Do not make any statements about the matter at this stage. Let your defense attorney review the case file. Only once the allegations and the evidence are known will we work together to determine the right strategy.

Legal Defense Tailored to Your Business

Stop the process before it becomes public

Our goal is to avoid an indictment and a public trial whenever possible. To that end, we rely on a well-reasoned defense brief and expert communication with the prosecution. This can lead to the case being dismissed—ideally, without any conditions.

Protecting Assets and Liquidity

Investigative authorities often freeze accounts and assets based on mere suspicion. We work to prevent or limit asset seizures and forfeitures so that salaries, suppliers, and loans can continue to be paid.

Managing Personal and Business Risks Together

Legal proceedings against you could have consequences for the company, such as fines, an entry in the competition registry, or exclusion from public procurement procedures. We keep an eye on both aspects. If multiple individuals are involved, we coordinate the defense and work closely with your tax advisor.

Discretion and Crisis Communication

We'll help you find the right words to use when speaking with employees, business partners, banks, and, if necessary, the press—all while ensuring that your defense is not compromised.

Here's how the collaboration works

1. Confidential Initial Consultation: You describe the situation to us, we assess it, and tell you what to do next.
2. Review of Case Files: We gain a complete understanding of the allegations and evidence.
3. Strategy: Together, we'll determine the line of defense—one that is realistic and economically sound.
4. Legal Defense: We represent you before government agencies and in court at every stage of the proceedings.

Why ROSTALSKI?

Specialized: Our focus is on commercial and tax criminal law—not criminal law “on the side.”
Business-minded: We seek pragmatic solutions tailored to your company.
Personal and efficient: You’ll receive the quality of a specialized law firm with a dedicated point of contact and streamlined communication.

ROSTALSKI's White-Collar Crime and Compliance practice is among the top firms in Germany and is regularly recognized by WirtschaftsWoche, FOCUS Business, the FAZ Institute, STATISTA, and HANDELSBLATT.

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