Complex issues involving fraud and anti-corruption laws

Criminal law is becoming increasingly important for companies. Indications of potential irregularities can lead to elaborate proceedings, liabilities and reputational damage. Sometimes it is not possible to prevent this. NautaDutilh is one of the few major law firms in the Netherlands to have a full-service Corporate Crime & Investigations team for precisely such cases.

Our lawyers deal on a daily basis with complex issues involving Dutch and foreign fraud and anti-corruption laws (e.g. UK Bribery Act and FCPA), sanctions legislation, anti-money laundering laws (e.g. Dutch Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act), and environmental criminal laws.

  • Practical experience and specialist expertise

    NautaDutilh has one of the largest criminal law practice groups in the Netherlands. Our lawyers handle all stages of criminal proceedings, from assisting during a dawn raid, questioning or hearing of witnesses in a preliminary investigation, to representing companies in court, including before the Dutch Supreme Court if necessary. We are also experienced in complex asset attachment cases and their negotiations. In order to prevent a case from going to court, companies also often explore the possibility of reaching a settlement with the Public Prosecution Service. NautaDutilh has extensive experience in complex settlement negotiations involving authorities from several jurisdictions.

    In addition to providing practical and strategic advice, our lawyers are also, of course, excellent legal experts, who regularly publish in professional journals on a wide range of topics, including environmental criminal law, criminal procedural law, and attorney-client privilege. They also regularly give compliance training to clients, speak at national and international conferences and are guest lecturers at universities.

  • Ability to assess overall impact on operations

    As part of a full-service law firm with an extensive international network, our lawyers understand the impact a criminal case can have on a company. Our lawyers also advise on specific criminal law issues, such as dealing with employees (employment law measures), the financial reporting process (enhanced audits), financing, and communications with shareholders (inside information), governance stakeholders, and regulators. Our lawyers understand the importance of confidentiality: they are experts in attorney-client privilege matters.

  • Internal audits

    As a result, our lawyers are well equipped to conduct internal audits themselves. This means that the strategy in a criminal case will always be determined from the broadest possible perspective so as to minimise the impact of the criminal investigation on the company. For further information, please contact our Corporate Investigations Team.

  • NautaDutilh's Corporate Crime team

    Our Corporate Crime team comprises 21 criminal lawyers, who are known for their pragmatic and hands-on approach. We have over 25 years of experience in financial and economic sanctions law and administrative law. Led by two of the firm’s female partners, including a managing partner, the team is also a strong proponent of female leadership.

  • Publications
    • E.J.M. Roosendaal, L.C.A. Wijsman on the meaning of the nemo-tenetur principle in cases of fiscal penalties and criminal law - Nemo tenetur in punitieve belastingzaken anno 2023, NLF-W 2023/28
    • N. van der Voort on cybercrime and cybersecurity - Kroniek Ondernemingsstrafrecht - Eerste helft 2023, Tijdschrift voor Bijzonder Strafrecht & Handhaving 2023
    • M. Bakker and C. van der Meulen on the new NVB Baselines for risk-based money laundering investigations
  • Work highlights
    • Assisting and representing a leading Dutch bank in a criminal investigation into alleged violations of Dutch anti-money laundering legislation;
    • Acting for various large accounting firms in connection with enforcement action taken by regulatory authorities in the Netherlands and abroad;
    • Representing an energy company in the criminal investigation and prosecution of the alleged unlicensed injection of waste streams from natural gas extraction into the deep subsurface;
    • Assisting a payment service provider, a subsidiary of a leading Dutch bank, suspected of violating Dutch anti-money laundering legislation;
    • Assisting the former CEO of a leading Dutch bank in the allegations of Dutch anti-money laundering legislation violations, following a previous out of court settlement with the bank;
    • Assisting a transport company suspected of environmental laws and labour laws violations;
    • Representing a market leading salt and chemical company, resulting in a fraction of what the Prosecutors Department urged to impose as a fine;
    • Conducting and advising on internal audits performed for clients in sectors such as banking, agrifood, life sciences, accountancy, housing corporations, real estate, and energy;
    • Assisting energy companies in the Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry on the extraction of natural gas in Groningen;
    • Negotiating a settlement in a criminal case for a client in the food industry, following an accounting scandal that attracted international attention;
    • Acting for a professional football association in various criminal tax cases involving players’ transfer fees.
  • What others say
    • "The service is fantastic and always timely, despite deadlines often being tight."
      Chambers Europe 2023
    • "The fraud and white-collar crime department of NautaDutilh is highly regarded within the legal market. The team is very professional and handles a lot of high profile cases."
      The Legal 500 2023
    • "Highly professional, fully dedicated, very thorough in their work, and great ability to work as part of multi-disciplinary teams in complex cross-border cases."
      The Legal 500 2022
    • "Solid knowledge of the case file and a thorough understanding of the applicable law."
      The Legal 500 2022

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