Lawyer for Foreign Trade Criminal Law
Have you received a hearing notice in a criminal investigation for alleged violations of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, embargoes, or sanctions?
Our Expertise – Criminal Defence
We represent you in criminal and administrative offence proceedings. Ideally, we aim to have proceedings discontinued or to minimise any potential penalties.
Early legal support is critical—contact us as soon as possible so that we can develop an effective defence strategy together. We handle all communication with customs authorities and public prosecutors on your behalf.
Our Expertise – Export Control
With our preventive legal support, criminal investigations can often be avoided altogether. We advise you on the specific requirements of foreign trade law and design a tailored compliance system for your company—such as an Internal Compliance Programme (ICP) or an internal export control system.
We also advise on precautionary measures, including classification rulings, “null rulings”, export licences, and compliance with the EU Dual-Use Regulation, as well as country- and product-specific restrictions.
Common consequences of violations under foreign trade law
Breaches of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG) can have severe repercussions for you personally and for your business, including:
- Heavy fines and financial penalties
- Criminal sanctions such as imprisonment
- Seizure and confiscation of goods
- Revocation of customs authorisations
- Increased scrutiny from customs and the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA)
- Civil claims and contractual penalties from business partners
- Reputational damage
Rely on expertise and professionalism
Thanks to our many years of experience and specialisation in foreign trade criminal law, we are your trusted partner. We know exactly what matters in criminal defence and in the implementation of compliant export control systems.
Your law firm for foreign trade law – reliable criminal defence for managing directors and private individuals.
Your contact person
Lawyer Inés Jakob
& Certified Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser
Get in touch for a no-obligation initial consultation:
Call us on:
Or send us an email at:
We welcome your enquiry and are happy to assist!
- I have received a hearing notice for a potential violation of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act – what should I do?
Do not respond unprepared. The hearing notice is part of a criminal investigation—any statement you make may later be used against you.
Contact us as early as possible before making any comment. We will analyse the allegations, take over communication with the investigating authorities (e.g. main customs office, public prosecutor), and work with you to develop an effective defence strategy.
Our goal is always to achieve a discontinuation of the proceedings or to significantly reduce the consequences.
- What penalties apply for violations of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG) or embargoes?
Violations of the AWG or embargo regulations may be punished with fines or imprisonment of up to 10 years—depending on the severity of the offence, intent, and the goods or countries involved.
Companies can also face consequences, including financial penalties, revocation of customs authorisations, regulatory restrictions, or reputational damage.
Early legal advice is crucial to minimise these risks effectively.
- How can companies protect themselves against investigations in foreign trade criminal law?
A well-functioning Internal Compliance Programme (ICP) provides proactive legal security. We support you in developing a customised compliance system for export control, embargo screening, and licensing procedures—tailored to your products, target countries, and business processes.
We also review your existing contracts, supply chains, and export transactions for potential risks, and assist with classification rulings, “null rulings”, or procedures involving BAFA. This enables you to effectively prevent criminal investigations.
