Money laundering criminal law
Money laundering Regulatory offenses
Money laundering compliance
Lawyer for money laundering criminal law in Munich
Preventive advice and defense – schirach.law
schirach.law in Munich has particular expertise in the field of criminal law relating to money laundering and the prevention of money laundering under the Money Laundering Act (GwG). Its activities include both preventive advice on money laundering risks and defense infine proceedings under the GwG and in criminal proceedings for money laundering under Section 261 of the German Criminal Code (StGB). The firm provides advice and representation nationwide to private individuals, companies, and obligated parties within the meaning of the Money Laundering Act.
Money laundering – criminal and regulatory risks
Money laundering allegations regularly affect sensitive financial and reputational interests. Investigations are often triggered by reports of suspected money laundering, which banks or other obligated parties must submit to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Even mere suspicion can have significant consequences, such as account freezes or delayed transactions.
schirach.law advises and defends clients in particular in the following areas:
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Criminal proceedings for money laundering (Section 261 of the German Criminal Code),
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Penalty proceedings under the Money Laundering Act (GwG),
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regulatory measures in connection with AML obligations,
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Suspicious activity reports and their consequences.
At the same time, clients are supported in identifying risks at an early stage and managing them in a legally compliant manner.
Defense of obligated parties in AML audits and administrative fine proceedings
The law firm schirach.law advises and defends obligated parties under the Money Laundering Act in money laundering audits by supervisory authorities and in administrative offense and fine proceedings for violations of the Money Laundering Act. This applies in particular to allegations of inadequate risk analyses, deficiencies in internal security measures, and violations of due diligence, reporting, and documentation obligations.
In addition, the law firm supports clients during ongoing audit proceedings. It handles communication with supervisory authorities and prepares robust statements. The aim is to limit fines, regulatory measures, and reputational consequences at an early stage.
Extensive experience in money laundering prevention and prosecution
Attorney Marco Benedikt von Schirach was a member of the Munich Bar Association's Executive Committee from 2018 to 2025 and Chairman of Department XV – Money Laundering Prevention. In this role, he was responsible for monitoring compliance with money laundering regulations by more than 24,000 attorneys and was also responsible for administrative fine proceedings.
This provides an in-depth understanding of money laundering issues from the perspective of supervisory and prosecuting authorities. This experience flows directly into the work of schirach.law. In addition, attorney Marco Benedikt von Schirach regularly acts as a speaker and, starting with the 4th edition, comments on the chapter "Money Laundering" in the standard commentary Gaier/Wolf/Göcken, Anwaltliches Berufsrecht (Gaier/Wolf/Göcken, Professional Law for Attorneys).
This extensive expertise directly influences the work of schirach.law, be it in the prevention of money laundering or in the defense in misdemeanor and criminal proceedings.
Quick help with account suspensions following suspected money laundering
A common practical starting point is the freezing of bank accounts. Banks are required to report suspicious transactions that may involve money laundering. This often leads to delays or the complete blocking of accounts.
Typical triggers are:
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large or regular cash deposits,
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Transactions that deviate from previous payment behavior
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Foreign transactions,
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Newly opened bank accounts.
At the same time, banks are not permitted to inform their customers about a suspended suspicious transaction report. As a result, it often remains unclear to those affected why a transaction is not being executed or why an account has suddenly been blocked.
Obligation to stop, FIU, and seizure of assets
After submitting a suspicious activity report, banks are subject to a legal obligation to suspend transactions. A transaction may only be executed once the FIU or the public prosecutor's office has given its approval or no prohibition has been issued. If no prohibition is issued, the bank may execute the transaction at the earliest after the end of the third business day (excluding Saturdays).
In practice, banks often freeze accounts as a precautionary measure until the investigating authorities have completed their investigation. The public prosecutor's office decides at short notice whether to release a transaction or apply for a court order to freeze assets. If a freezing order is issued, the account is seized. Appeals are possible, but do not always lead to a quick release. In addition, the bank may terminate the business relationship, which can have significant consequences.
Early action in the event of irregularities on the part of the bank
That is why swift and structured action is crucial. The first signs may already be delayed or unexecuted transactions. Vague or evasive explanations from the bank should also be taken seriously.
The employees at schirach.law are very familiar with the procedures at banks, FIUs, and public prosecutors' offices. If clients can promptly prove that assets originate from legal sources, suspicions can often be quickly cleared up. In many cases, account freezes can thus be lifted or at least shortened.
Expertise in the field of crypto assets and digital transactions
The law firm schirach.law has particular experience in connection with crypto assets and digital business models, including:
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Cryptocurrencies,
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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs),
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Decentralized Finance (DeFi),
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Play-to-earn structures.
Transactions in these areas are increasingly the focus of money laundering audits. schirach.law combines criminal law, regulatory, and technical expertise to provide integrated advice.
What is money laundering?
Money laundering refers to the attempt to make assets from illegal activities appear as legal income. This always requires a so-called predicate offense from which the assets originate.
The legislature has recently significantly expanded the definition of money laundering (Section 261 of the German Criminal Code). Under the all-crimes approach, any criminal offense can serve as a predicate offense, such as fraud, embezzlement, or tax evasion. In addition, the Money Laundering Act imposes comprehensive prevention and reporting obligations on certain professional groups.
EU money laundering package and increasing regulatory pressure
In addition, the legal framework is constantly changing. At the European level in particular, the requirements for obligated parties are becoming increasingly stringent. The EU Money Laundering Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 will come into force on July 1, 2027. Even before that, the new European supervisory authority AMLA will commence operations from its headquarters in Frankfurt.
As a result, regulatory pressure continues to increase. schirach.law provides support in navigating this dynamic environment in a legally compliant manner—both preventively and in the event of a conflict.
