stetter Rechtsanwälte
Munich, active nationwide and internationally
Controlling criminal-law risks strategically
When criminal-law risks affect responsibility, stability or economic substance, it takes more than classic defense.
As a specialized firm for white-collar and tax criminal law, we advise and represent exclusively organizations, officers and executives in situations of strategic significance – preventively and in acute proceedings.
Our aim: to make risks manageable, to secure control and to preserve your ability to act even under considerable pressure.
Our promise
A personal insight into the firm's way of working: precise analysis, clear communication and responsibility in situations of considerable significance.
Our promise
Your situation
Criminal-law and regulatory risks in white-collar and tax criminal law arise from very different starting positions. What is decisive is not only the legal assessment of individual matters, but which measures make strategic sense in your concrete situation.
01
INVESTIGATIONS OR ALLEGATIONS
When criminal-law or regulatory allegations are raised against you or your company, or measures such as searches, seizures or interrogations take place, what matters is to restore control and the ability to act.
Strategic Defense02
LARGE-SCALE PROCEEDINGS OR CRISIS
When investigations reach exceptional dimensions — for instance through international connections, political sensitivity or considerable economic consequences — what matters is to lead the situation strategically across the board.
Highly Complex Proceedings03
PREVENTIVE SAFEGUARDING
When entrepreneurial decisions can trigger criminal-law or regulatory risks, what matters is to recognize, classify and steer them in a controlled way early — before an investigation is opened.
Criminal-Law PreventionReferences
Trust does not arise through volume, but through robust experience, precise work and clients who rely on clear leadership even under pressure.
“Strategically clear, exceptionally precise and strong in execution – even under considerable pressure.”
“This is an incredible result!! I have read the discontinuation notice and it seems clear that the investigation is thereby concluded.”
“Complex matters were quickly structured and translated into robust decision options.”
Experience that shapes our way of working
“This firm distinguishes itself through outstanding competence in handling even the most demanding and complex matters, thereby setting the standard for excellent and sophisticated legal services.”
Since 2019
Defense of a former board member of an international bank
Since 2017
Defense of a former technology board member of a German car manufacturer
2025 – 2025
Defense of one of the world's largest car manufacturers
2020 – 2025
Defense of the former chief accountant
2023
Defense of an entrepreneur
2021 – 2022
Strategic advice to the managing partner and individual partners of the firm regarding the advice given to one of the banks involved in the relevant period
2018 – 2021
Defense of a German car manufacturer
2009 – 2012
Defense of a German subsidiary
Since 2008
Defense of a former chief financial officer
2006 – 2010
Defense of around 20 executives operating worldwide
Since 2004
First corporate defense: fending off a fine against one of the world's largest automotive supply groups
2000 – 2003
in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Gunter Widmaier
STRATEGIC OVERALL CONTROL
In white-collar and tax criminal proceedings, legal questions rarely concern only individual offenses. They affect organizations, decision-making processes, reputation and economic stability.
Our work therefore does not start in isolation with the allegation, but with the entire decision-making situation. We analyze risks, dynamics and courses of action and integrate criminal-law questions into a strategic overall control.
Prevention and defense are not separate areas here, but follow the same logic: recognize risks early, limit escalation and secure control.
Our clients are board members, managing directors, supervisory boards, entrepreneurs, officers, institutions and organizations with heightened responsibility and corresponding risk potential.
Learn moreMeasures already at the point of suspicion
OUR METHOD:
Targeted precision down to the last detail is our highest priority. We dissect files: facts, the evidence, the course of the proceeding. Our way of working follows a clear method: legal microsurgery.
It stands for: targeted depth of detail, maximum verifiability, systematic error analysis, structured argument and thinking across instances.
Where others work with plausible arguments, we examine, substantiate and explain in a targeted way down to the last detail.
This method is a fixed part of our firm's culture. We think further. We examine more deeply. And we find ways where others no longer see any.
Learn moreEXPERIENCE IN STEERING:
Our firm has long-standing experience defending companies, officers and institutions in white-collar and tax criminal proceedings of considerable significance.
These include proceedings with international connections, parallel investigations by several authorities, complex corporate structures as well as political or public sensitivity.
We represent clients nationwide and internationally and, where needed, coordinate cooperation with specialized defense counsel in other jurisdictions.
In these constellations, experience means not only legal expertise, but the ability to enable robust decisions even under exceptional pressure.
Learn moreWHY DECISION-MAKERS ENGAGE US
Exclusively white-collar and tax criminal law – no general criminal defense, no side areas.
We know numerous large-scale proceedings from our own practice – also with an international dimension. Under media and political pressure in particular, clear priorities and a robust strategic line are needed.
Dr. Sabine Stetter's many years of work in appellate proceedings before the Federal Court of Justice shape our work to this day. We factor in procedural errors, legal points of attack and the tenability of the defense from the very start.
Complex proceedings need the best specialists – at the right time. We therefore bundle additional competences when needed, without giving up the strategic criminal-law leadership.
DR. SABINE STETTER
Dr. Sabine Stetter has more than 25 years of professional experience as a lawyer. As a specialist lawyer for criminal law and a specialist lawyer for tax law, she combines two disciplines that often interlock inseparably in complex white-collar and tax criminal proceedings.
Her many years of work in appellate proceedings before the Federal Court of Justice have lastingly shaped her appellate sensibility.
As early as 2004, Dr. Sabine Stetter personally defended international groups, companies and public-law entities. This early focus came at a time when criminal-law and regulatory corporate defense was not yet an established speciality.
In 2010 she founded stetter Rechtsanwälte.
She combines legal precision with economic thinking. In defense as in prevention, the aim is to limit risks, control escalation and create robust courses of action.
ABOUT THE FIRM
At the center of our work is not only the legal examination of individual offenses. What is decisive is the strategic overall control in situations where criminal-law pressure touches personal room for manoeuvre, organizational stability and economic substance.
We stand for substance instead of showmanship. This produces results that others did not have in view or would have thought impossible.
Our aim is to secure the ability to act of decision-makers and companies under criminal-law and regulatory risks.
Our structure is deliberately lean and highly specialized. We conduct mandates personally, with a clear strategy and transparent communication.
You receive:
We are recognized
Our expertise is regularly honoured by professional publications and rankings.
Listed 2010 – 2026
Listed 2026
Listed 2020 – 2026
Listed 2015 – 2026
Listed 2019 – 2026
Listed 2026
Listed 2018 – 2024
Listed 2020 – 2025
Listed 2018 – 2025
ARTICLES AND TALKS
We continuously analyze developments in white-collar and tax criminal law and classify their significance for companies, officers and decision-makers.
Our articles combine legal precision with a strategic perspective on risks, room for manoeuvre and future developments.
Immediately reachable in an emergency
The earlier we know and structure your situation, the more stable your ability to act remains.
We are available to you nationwide and internationally – confidential, personal and with clear responsibility in the mandate.
FAQ
White-collar crime and tax criminal law are today among the most significant legal risks for companies, executives and institutions – regardless of sector, size or organizational form. When criminal-law questions touch personal responsibility, economic substance or the stability of an organization, the quality of the legal support decides far more than the outcome of a single proceeding.
White-collar crime covers all offenses in the economic sphere: breach of trust, fraud, corruption, insider dealing, accounting offenses, money laundering. You need a specialist at the latest at the first contact with the authorities – better still beforehand.
Stay calm, make no statements without a lawyer, document all measures and contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Early legal intervention secures your ability to act.
A penalty-exempting voluntary self-disclosure requires complete disclosure of all non-time-barred evasions, timely back-payment and formal correctness. It must be reviewed by a lawyer before investigations are opened.
Yes. The firm defends nationwide and internationally – in particular in proceedings with US/UK connections, cross-border investigations and clients from other European countries.
As early as possible – ideally at the first suspicion or first contact with the authorities. Early intervention prevents mistakes and secures room for manoeuvre for the entire duration of the proceeding.
