
Certified Specialist in Criminal law Dr. Philip von der Meden represents individuals and companies in all areas of corporate criminal law as well as penal tax law.
Philip von der Meden graduated from Bucerius Law School in Hamburg and studied law at Gonville & Caius College in Cambridge. He holds a PhD from Bucerius Law School for which he had been awarded a scholarship by the German National Academic Foundation.
Philip started his career as a criminal defence lawyer in a medium-size law firm, before he founded FHM together with Michael Fuhlrott and Mayeul Hiéramente. He is a Certified Specialist for Criminal law (Fachanwalt für Strafrecht) and is the author of a variety of publications in that field.
Philip advises clients in a broad range of white-collar proceedings. He is particularly frequently active in large-scale criminal tax law cases (“Cum/ex”, VAT carousels, proceedings with international implications). In addition to companies and executives, his clients also include tax consultants and lawyers.
He has many years of experience as a lecturer in criminal law at various universities (Bucerius Law School, University of Hamburg, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences). Since 2019, he has held lectureships in criminal procedural law and in commercial criminal law at the Ruhr University in Bochum.
Philip is recommended by various publications. Wirtschaftswoche ranks him among the top lawyers in white-collar criminal law. Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers have awarded him several times in criminal tax law. In 2022, he was named Lawyer of the Year for criminal tax law.
Philip has been serving on an honorary basis as a judge at the Hanseatic Lawyers’ Court in Hamburg since 2022.
Dr. von der Meden started his career as a criminal defence lawyer in a medium-size law firm, before he founded FHM together with Michael Fuhlrott and Mayeul Hiéramente. He is a Certified Specialist for Criminal law (Fachanwalt für Strafrecht) and is the author of a variety of publications in that field.
Philip also publishes for a broader audience, for example in newspapers. He has many years of experience as a lecturer at different universities (Bucerius Law School, Universität Hamburg, Hochschule Fresenius).
We represent clients in a criminal investigation and, if necessary, in court as well as in appeal. Our main focus is to advance the relevant legal arguments during the investigation to avoid a trial and the publicity that comes with it.
In case of criminal wrongdoing by managers or employees, companies can face substantial sanctions under sections 30, 130 OWiG. They are entitled to an effective representation in the investigation as well as in court. We organise the defense, communicate with authorities and other advisors as well as the management to prevent sanctions as well as reputional risks.
Where a suspicion of (criminal) wrongdoing by employees arises, managers should investigate the allegations in order to prepare for potential investigations by authorities and to take the necessary measures against employees violating the law or contractual obligations.
We represent companies as well as individuals victim of criminal wrongdoing and assist them in gathering evidence, in filing criminal complaints or in representing their interests in court.
A witnness summoned for testimony is entitled to be represented by a lawyer of his or her own choosing. We provide legal advice and support to witnesses and make sure that the procedural rights, especially the right not to self-incriminate, are respected.
We support companies in the establishment of compliance management systems. Our forensic expertise allows us to identify the specific risks companies are facing and to establish and document the measures to adress such risks.
We represent companies and individuals in product liability and industrial accidents cases. Authorities often assume (criminal) liability and ignore the complexity of such cases.
Employers face a significant risk of criminal liability in case of violations of labour as well as social law. A prominent example is the case of false self-employment which might apply e.g. to freelancers and advisors. Our expertise in both areas – corporate criminal law and labour law – allows us to represent clients in all relevant proceedings.
We represent clients in cases of alleged tax evasion. We also provide advice to companies and individuals that might face accusations and consider a correction of voluntary disclosure of tax evasion. We work closely with tax lawyers and accounts to allow for a comprehensive assessment.
It is a common feature of anti-trust cases that companies and individuals also face accusations of criminal wrongdoing. We coordinate with competition law experts to guarantee an effective defence and assist them in ongoing-proceedings which require forensic expertise and in-depth knowledge of the rules of criminal procedure.
Insolvencies regularly lead to criminal investigations against managers. Whoever fails to request the opening of insolvency proceedings in good time commits a criminal act under German law. The subsequent investigations generally also cover accusations of fraud, breach of trust or bankruptcy.
We represent clients in extradition proceedings as well as against European Arrest Warrants. Our expertise in international criminal law and our network of partners allow us to coordinate a defense in multi-jurisdictional settings.
We represent clients in appeal proceedings before the Federal Court of Justice and the Higher Regional Courts.
We regularly represent clients in constitutional court proceedings that have a background in criminal law as well as extradition law. We also provide advice to clients in ongoing court proceedings that might lead to a future compliant as it is required by law that constitutional arguments have to be advanced in such proceedings as well.
- German Bar Association (DAV)
- Criminal Law Section of the DAV
- Economic Criminal Law Association (WisteV)
- Alumni of the Bucerius Law School
- Alumni of the German National Academic Foundation