Compliance and Internal Investigations
Acting in accordance with the law and in a responsible manner is today more than just a legal duty – it is a decisive competitive factor. At the same time, companies and the public sector, in particular public contracting authorities, are confronted year after year with growing and increasingly complex legal requirements.
Our experts for compliance and internal investigations support companies, public contracting authorities and executives in navigating this environment safely and pragmatically. We help to identify legal risks at an early stage, manage crises and establish sustainable governance structures. In doing so, we always keep a close eye on the personal liability risks of decision-makers.
With cross-disciplinary expertise, we develop tailored solutions that are legally sound, economically sensible and organisationally feasible. Our objective: to embed compliance as a genuine added value – not as a burdensome obligation, but as your competitive advantage and an expression of modern, responsible corporate management.
In the event of suspected misconduct, we take on the professional analysis and documentation of possible breaches of rules. Using innovative technologies and legal precision, we initiate targeted measures to create transparency and avoid future errors. In this context, we place particular emphasis on clear communication, rapid response times and absolute confidentiality – and, of course, on the extensive interdisciplinary experience and expertise of our advisory team.
Our Advisory Services in Detail
- Compliance management and organisational consulting
We develop, implement and optimise tailor-made compliance management systems (CMS) – practice-oriented, efficient and risk-based. In doing so, we take into account sector-specific requirements, international standards and statutory obligations, such as the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act or ESG requirements. - Risk assessment and compliance audits
We identify and evaluate compliance risks, analyse existing processes and structures and develop targeted measures to minimise liability risks – for management, supervisory bodies and compliance officers. - Drafting and review of individual compliance frameworks
We formulate clear requirements, effective rules of conduct and internal guidelines for your company – understandable, practically feasible and legally compliant. - Internal investigations and crisis management
In cases of suspected violations – for example in data protection, product safety or in connection with environmental, competition, corruption or fraud offences – we conduct internal investigations in a discreet and legally compliant manner. We clarify the facts, document them in a structured way and support communication with supervisory and law enforcement authorities – confidentially, promptly and solution-oriented. - Whistleblowing systems
We provide advice on the introduction and legally compliant implementation of whistleblowing systems in accordance with the German Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) – including the design of internal reporting channels, processes and data protection concepts. - IT and data compliance
Whether GDPR, German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG), Data Act or AI Regulation – we ensure a legally compliant data and digital strategy and integrate data protection and IT security seamlessly into your compliance system. We also keep the requirements for critical infrastructures (KRITIS framework act, German BSI Act, NIS 2, etc.) constantly in view for you. - Greenwashing prevention
We review your sustainability communication – from social media to print – for legal risks and protect you against misleading advertising in line with current requirements, such as the Empowering Consumers Directive. - Public procurement and public-law compliance
We support public contracting authorities and companies in designing procurement-compliant processes, in corruption prevention and in implementing transparency and integrity mechanisms (including self-cleaning processes and the enforcement of deletion claims in public registers such as the Competition Register). - Compliance in the healthcare sector
From product liability and advertising law to cooperation with healthcare professionals: we advise on all aspects of compliance in the healthcare sector – with in-depth industry knowledge. - Compliance and circular economy
We have been advising stakeholders in the waste management industry for decades. As a result, we are familiar not only with the key environmental law requirements, but also with your sector and your business – including all practical pitfalls and risks. On this basis, we help you to keep your company sustainably “on course”, to successfully pass the next audit in the context of certification as a specialised waste management company and to maintain the reliability of the responsible persons. Where necessary, we will of course also be at your side in relevant administrative fine and criminal proceedings with all our experience. - External compliance functions
Through avocado consulting GmbH, we fill external compliance roles, for example as reporting offices, data protection officers, AI officers, environmental officers or information security officers. - Training for executives and employees
Practice-oriented training courses raise awareness in your organisation and create sensitivity for critical topics such as occupational health and safety, data protection, IT security, proper delegation of duties or corruption prevention. - Compliance and insurance
We review to what extent existing insurance policies – such as D&O, professional indemnity, fidelity or cyber insurance – provide cover and represent you in your communication with insurers.
In all these areas, we provide advice that is tailored to your needs, solution-oriented and straight to the point.
Criminal Compliance and Criminal Defence
We advise and represent companies, corporate bodies and executives in all matters of administrative ancillary criminal law, in particular environmental criminal law and related economic offences – from preventive risk analysis and crisis management through to strategic defence in investigation and trial proceedings. In doing so, we keep a close eye both on the risks under criminal and administrative offence law and on the civil and public-law consequences.
Our work extends beyond classic criminal defence to include support in official investigations, for example in connection with environmental, competition, corruption or fraud offences, including the coordination of internal investigations for fact-finding and securing evidence. We assist with communication with law enforcement and supervisory authorities, develop coordinated defence and communication strategies and ensure structured documentation of all measures.
Depending on the complexity and specialisation of the individual case, we work closely with selected criminal defence law firms in order to ensure the best possible, interdisciplinary representation. In this way, we combine our expertise in criminal compliance and public law, in particular environmental law, with the procedural experience of specialised defence lawyers to develop tailored and at the same time pragmatic solutions for our clients.
