01 · Criminal defense
White-collar criminal defense and internal investigations.
Representation in Swiss criminal proceedings, structured internal investigations, and compliance audits. CHF 490 initial consultation, CHF 290/hour representation, internal investigations from CHF 4,900.
02 · Three engagement tracks
Defense, internal investigation, compliance audit.
Defense in criminal proceedings
Representation when you or your company face criminal investigation or charges (StGB / Swiss Criminal Code, white-collar offenses, AMLA breaches). Hourly engagement at CHF 290.
Internal investigation
Pre-emptive review when you suspect employee misconduct, fraud, sanctions breach, or AML failure. Documented investigation, witness interviews, evidence preservation, executive briefing. From CHF 4,900.
Compliance audit
Review of compliance programs, policies, AML / sanctions / anti-bribery controls. Independent gap analysis with prioritised remediation plan. From CHF 2,900.
03 · Pricing
Initial consultation, hourly defense, flat investigation.
| Service | Our fee | Market range |
|---|---|---|
| Initial criminal-law consultation | CHF 490 | CHF 350–1,000 |
| Representation in criminal proceedings (hourly) | CHF 290 / hour | CHF 300–550 |
| Internal investigation | from CHF 4,900 | CHF 5,000–50,000 |
| Compliance audit | from CHF 2,900 | CHF 3,000–15,000 |
All fees excl. MWST. Court fees and forensic-expert costs (where required) are passed through at cost. Initial consultation fee credited against subsequent engagement.
04 · Mandate scope
Strategy, representation, written reports.
- Strategic assessment and risk identification
- Representation before public prosecutors and federal investigators
- Drafting of statements, motions, appeals (StPO procedural framework)
- Coordination with witness counsel and expert witnesses
- Internal investigation plan, interviews, evidence preservation, written report
- Compliance gap analysis with remediation roadmap
05 · Process
Initial consultation → engagement → defense → resolution.
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01
Initial consultation
CHF 490 fixed. Confidential 60–90 minute meeting to assess the matter, identify risks and define defense strategy.
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02
Engagement
Written engagement letter setting scope, fee structure (hourly or flat for internal investigation), and confidentiality terms. Attorney-client privilege from this point forward.
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03
Active defense / investigation
Document review, witness preparation, drafting of submissions to the prosecutor, attendance at hearings. For internal investigations: interview programme, evidence preservation, executive briefings.
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04
Resolution
Settlement (if appropriate), trial defense, or report finalisation. For internal investigations: written report with findings, recommendations and remediation plan.
06 · FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
When does a Swiss criminal-law issue arise for my business?
Most commonly: AML failures and reporting obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, embezzlement or fraud (StGB art. 138 / 146), bribery and corruption (StGB art. 322 ff), tax-fraud allegations (DBG art. 186), and sanctions / export-control breaches. Many of these can lead to corporate criminal liability under StGB art. 102.
What is corporate criminal liability in Switzerland?
Under StGB art. 102 a company can be held criminally liable when an offense is committed in the conduct of business and cannot be attributed to a specific natural person, OR (for specific offenses including bribery, money laundering, terrorism financing) when the company has not taken all reasonable organisational measures to prevent the offense. Penalties: fines up to CHF 5 million.
Are internal investigations protected by privilege?
Limited. Swiss law does not have full common-law-style attorney-client privilege for internal investigations. Documents prepared by external counsel are generally protected, but interview minutes, working papers and final reports may be subject to disclosure to investigators in some circumstances. We design the investigation to maximise privilege protection where possible.
How long does Swiss criminal proceedings take?
Public-prosecutor investigation: 6–18 months typical. Trial: 3–9 months. Appeal: 6–12 months. White-collar matters with complex documentary evidence often run longer. Procedural milestones are set by the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO).
Should I cooperate with investigators or invoke silence?
Depends on the role: if you're a witness or person providing information, cooperation is usually advisable; if you're a suspect (Beschuldigter), the right to remain silent applies and is often advisable until counsel has reviewed the file. We assess and advise immediately at the initial consultation.
What does the initial CHF 490 consultation include?
60–90 minute confidential meeting. Review of the situation, identification of legal exposure, risk-ranking, and defense-strategy outline. You leave with a clear next-step plan, whether or not you decide to engage further. The fee is non-refundable but counts as credit toward subsequent billable work if you do engage.
07 · Get started
Confidential first call.
One-line message: nature of the matter (without sensitive detail), urgency level. We schedule a confidential CHF 490 initial consultation within 24 hours; same-day for urgent matters.