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Moritz Thate
Counsel

Moritz Thate

Rechtsanwalt

Languages
  • German
  • English

White-collar crime and compliance lawyer Moritz Thate defends companies and private

individuals in criminal and fine proceedings and advises companies affected by criminal

offences.

As a (corporate) defence lawyer, Moritz both handles the criminal defence against accusations and the representation of interests under civil law. Always aiming at achieving a comprehensive settlement of the case for his clients, Moritz can draw on his long-standing litigation experience and his expertise in commercial law and other legal matters that relate to white-collar crime. He is experienced in dealing with the authorities in cases of administrative offences, with public prosecutors in criminal investigations and with fellow defence lawyers in organising an efficient collaborative defence of clients.

Moritz also represents companies that have been victims of criminal offences. He has

wide-ranging experience in internal investigations and in dealing with allegations of criminal offences as well as in advising committees and in cooperating with the public prosecutor's office. To enforce his clients' claims, he represents them in civil and adhesion procedures. Moritz has handled numerous court proceedings (at first and second instance) with high amounts in dispute and involving highly complex factual and legal issues.

Moritz joined CMS in 2015 and was made counsel in 2020.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Listed for Conflict Resolution
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2025 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed for Conflict Resolution
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2024 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Relevant experience

  • German food manufacturer | Defence against the threat of confiscation in criminal proceedings on charges of commercial gang fraud with around 50 scheduled main hearing days before a chamber dealing with corporate offences
  • Managing director of healthcare company | Defence in criminal proceedings regarding allegations of fraud (amount: several hundred thousand euros)
  • Group operating hospitals and care homes | Civil litigation representation in 12 court proceedings for the purpose of asset recovery following fraud, corruption and embezzlement offences (amount in dispute: beyond the upper limit of EUR 30 million)
  • German listed stock corporation | Defence in criminal proceedings regarding food law offences
  • Legal representation in appeal proceedings in a claim for damages following a criminal offence (embezzlement) with an amount in dispute of several million euros
  • Managing director | Defence in criminal tax proceedings regarding allegations of tax evasion amounting to several hundred thousand euros
  • German hospital operator | Advising on compliance issues following a death caused by a third party
  • US consumer goods manufacturer | Defence and civil law advice regarding allegations of administrative offences under the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB)
  • Tech start-up company | Defence in criminal proceedings regarding allegations of money laundering, operating a criminal online trading platform and criminal charges under the German Banking Act
  • German telecoms company | Civil litigation representation in D&O liability proceedings against former managing director and D&O insurance company (amount in dispute: beyond the upper limit of EUR 30 million)
  • Managing director of healthcare company | Defence in criminal proceedings on charges of falsification of documents and obtaining residence permits by fraud
  • Board member of healthcare company | Defence in several criminal proceedings for subsidy fraud, delay in filing for insolvency and bankruptcy
  • Civil litigation representation in a D&O liability case against the former managing director of a municipal energy supplier
  • Shareholder | Advice and legal representation in a shareholder dispute regarding the transfer of assets out of the company by its managing partners

Lectures list

  • "Krisenfall Ermittlungsverfahren: Wie Sie Ihr Unternehmen optimal vorbereiten und im Ernstfall richtig reagieren", Mandantenveranstaltung, 17. Juni 2021 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Daniel Kaiser)
  • "Folgen von Compliance-Verstößen – Reform der strafrechtlichen Vermögensabschöpfung", Mandantenveranstaltung, 7. November 2017

Education

  • Second state examination in law
  • Trainee lawyer in Munich Higher Regional Court district
  • First state examination in law
  • Law studies at the University of Munich
  • MA in performing arts at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz

Insights by Moritz

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