We will support your internal investigations, advise you, deal with authorities on your behalf and represent you in court. We will lead internal investigations, will call on experts if necessary, conduct interviews, analyze money flows and summarize the legally relevant facts in a report.
We are extremely experienced and exceptionally competent in investigating white-collar crimes and in the field of international legal assistance. Our extensive network of financial specialists, former agents and additional lawyers provide not only the necessary capacity but also specific and tailor-made know-how.
We support affected state-owned companies or state authorities at obtaining legal assistance from Swiss authorities and defend their interests in Switzerland. As a so called "private plaintiff" government authorities will benefit of more effective processing and lower costs. We make sure that you will be able to exercise your rights in Switzerland and that you will be heard in court.
In corruption cases, you have a right to:
If you, as a representative of a foreign organization, participate in a Swiss criminal procedure as a civil plaintiff and want to insist on the above mentioned rights, you will need a Swiss attorney.
As an admitted civil claimant, the foreign institution has a right to be informed about the object of the investigation. This generally includes the right to inspect the examination files, which may also be copied as a rule. This right to access files by a foreign state or foreign state-owned companies has been modified and limited by Swiss courts of law in an extensive and not always consistent jurisdiction, if there are pending requests for legal assistance in the same matter.
As a civil claimant, the foreign institution has a right to take part in investigative proceedings (such as interrogations) and access to corresponding files.
As a civil claimant, the foreign institution has a right to a court hearing in all essential procedural steps (namely procedural dismissals, indictment, etc.) and to take a stand. Where applicable rulings can be contested at the Appeals Chamber of the Federal Criminal Court.
The damage to be assessed, caused by the corruption and money laundering operations, can be immediately claimed during the ongoing criminal investigation, - not only against the bribe givers or the bribe takers, but against all complicit third parties. This includes primarily financial intermediaries (incl. fiduciaries and banking institutions). As a civil claimant, the foreign institution can file civil and criminal claims against all parties involved within the procedure; and in a first step this can be just rudimentary.
In a criminal procedure, the burden of proof for a guilty verdict and the amount of the offense is on the investigative authorities. As a civil claimant, this will be less costly for you than if you have to try to get the claim enforced at the civil courts where the burden of proof is on you.