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Dr. Anika Schürmann, LL.M.

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Dr. Anika Schürmann co-leads Baker McKenzie's German Investigations, Compliance & Ethics Practice and serves on the Legislative Committee for Compliance & CSR of the German Bar Association. A bar-certified professional in criminal law (Fachanwältin für Strafrecht), she has close to 20 years of experience in advising clients on all aspects of business crime, with a strong focus on complex investigations and proceedings. Anika frequently publishes on business crime topics and lectures at the University of Cologne and the Westphalian University for Applied Science. Her expertise has repeatedly been recognized by Chambers, The Legal 500, Juve, Lexology, Leaders League and leading German business magazines Handelsblatt and WirtschaftsWoche.
In Cross-Border VAT Fraud

Germany: Negotiations with EPPO in a VAT evasion case – key lessons learned

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Background The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) recently opened a criminal investigation against a non‑EU multinational company for alleged VAT evasion amounting to EUR 80 million. The company operates an online platform through which retailers sell directly to consumers across Europe. Assuming that VAT obligations rested with individual traders, the company did not file VAT returns in Germany. The German tax investigation office, however, classified the business model as proprietary trading and therefore considered the…

In Corruption

Germany: Illegal lobbying – New criminal offense to combat corruption

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In brief In Germany, a new criminal offense of improper lobbying came into force on 18 June 2024[1]. Its impact on the lobbying activities of companies may not be underestimated. Amongst others, the practice of paid lobbying at ministries or other public bodies by mandate holders is now subject to criminal prosecution. It will hence be vital for companies to critically review lecture and consultancy fees for mandate holders as well as remuneration for supervisory…