Practice area
White-collar crime and criminal compliance lawyer
Criminal exposure within a company rarely appears overnight. It builds up through decisions that, at the time, looked purely commercial or fiscal, and crystallises when an administrative file, an inspection or an internal complaint is referred to the criminal courts.
Defending these matters is, above all, documentary work: reconstructing who decided what, on what information, and in what communications with third parties. The principal lawyer's prior background in corporate management brings something rarely found in a criminal defence practice: a genuine, inside understanding of how the investigated company actually operates.
For a director or executive, what is really at stake is not just the company: it is your own assets, your personal freedom and the continuity of your career.
Scope of work
- Corporate offences and breach of fiduciary duty
- Tax fraud and offences against the public treasury
- Punishable insolvency and complex fraud schemes
- Criminal liability of legal entities
- Assistance during searches and seizures at company premises
When to call
- An administrative or inspection file could be referred to the criminal courts
- An irregularity has come to light and you must choose between an internal investigation or self-reporting
- A search of the company's premises has been announced or carried out
- The board needs to understand its members' personal exposure
Main offences we defend
Frequently asked questions
Is a director personally liable with their own assets?
Criminal liability is always personal, and is independent from any liability the company itself may face. The fact that the legal entity is also under investigation does not transfer or dilute that liability. It is therefore essential to analyse the position of the company and of each director or executive with delegated powers separately: their interests may not align, and sometimes call for separate defence strategies.
Does a compliance programme rule out corporate liability?
A suitable organisation and management model may exempt or reduce the liability of a legal entity, but not simply because it exists on paper. What is examined is whether it was genuinely implemented: whether the controls actually worked, whether the supervisory body had real resources and autonomy, and whether the whistleblowing channel was actually used. A programme that exists only in writing rarely sustains an exemption.
What should I do if a search is about to take place at the company?
Call before it starts, if there is time. During the search itself, it is essential to check the exact scope of the court authorisation, that what is seized matches it, and that material protected by legal privilege is identified and preserved. Anything not recorded in the record of proceedings at the time is very difficult to challenge afterwards.
Does what I say in the administrative file affect me in criminal proceedings?
Yes, and it is one of the most common mistakes. Submissions signed before the administration are later incorporated into the criminal proceedings and shape the defence's position. When both fronts are open, they should be coordinated from the first request for information, not once the matter has already reached court.