Austria/CEE: Schoenherr establishes task force dedicated to corporate investigations & crisis management

The launch follows increased client demand for rapid legal assistance in response to crises. Over the years, lawyers from different practice groups at Schoenherr have assisted clients in emergency situations involving violations of antitrust rules, corporate crimes, leaks of confidential information, tax evasion, and breach of legal duties. As the variety of crises broadens and response times shorten, a dedicated task force has been established to improve client service in such emergency situations. The team is made up of legal experts with substantive experience in corporate, antitrust, data protection, cyber security, employment, and criminal law who cover all legal aspects of crisis management. 

"We have significant experience investigating all sorts of cases from corporate crimes to violations of anti-trust rules. In recent years, we have conducted internal investigations in industries such as financial services, healthcare & life sciences, manufacturing, construction, and oil & gas.", commented Schoenherr partner Christoph Haid. He is steering the service area together with corporate/m&a partner Sascha Hödl, who is focusing on providing board advice to make sure that board members act in such crisis situations in full compliance with their duties under corporate and capital market regulatory laws.

The team's leaders serve as the central point of contact and can respond quickly regardless of the affected industry or the allegation. They can guide companies on the immediate internal and external steps to be taken, and assist in developing and implementing risk management plans. Internal steps often include conducting investigations at the affected company to establish the facts and allow management to make informed and rational decisions on the possible consequences. 

The crisis response task force

Schoenherr partners Christoph Haid and Sascha Hödl lead an interdisciplinary task force of specialists including white collar crime counsel Klara Kiehl, who co-authored the 2017 Schoenherr internal investigations legal guide. Schoenherr Belgrade partner Srdjana Petronijevic is one of the specialists who oversees the corporate investigations & crisis management mandates in South Eastern Europe. Additional Schoenherr specialists who complement the task force are Stefan Kühteubl (partner, labour & employment), Günther Leissler (counsel, regulatory, data protection), Thomas Kulnigg (partner, corporate/m&a, cyber security), and Stefanie Stegbauer (counsel, eu & competition, forensics).