Complex Criminal Law – Short Dossier
Defense or representation in criminal proceedings – analytical, structured, discreet.
This short dossier gives a compact overview of how I work in complex criminal cases and in which constellations it makes sense to involve me. It is aimed at people who need decision clarity at short notice – less legal detail, more of a clear line.
Who this dossier is for
Criminal proceedings affect people and organisations in very different ways. Typically I am instructed by:
- Defendants
for example in cases of assault, offences against property, traffic offences or business-related accusations. - Injured parties / victims
who want to defend themselves against criminal conduct or actively use their position in the proceedings. - Professionals in exposed positions
e.g. physicians, lawyers, pilots, board members and senior executives with particular professional risks.
- Companies and institutions
whose bodies or employees are subject to criminal allegations, or who themselves appear as injured parties. - Families and trusted persons
who seek orientation and a second opinion for someone close to them.
In all cases the following applies: I work exclusively on one side – either for a defendant or for an injured party. I will not represent both sides in the same matter.
Typical constellations
I am often brought in when the proceedings are already moving or an escalation is looming.
- Aviation-related criminal crises
Investigations and criminal proceedings with an aviation nexus, for example following safety-relevant incidents, accidents or organizational and compliance-related issues – often involving international authorities, regulators and other state actors. - Early investigation stage
summons as a suspect, search, seizure of documents or IT, first contact by the police or public prosecutor’s office. - Extensive investigation files
many hundreds or thousands of pages, several parties involved, contradictory statements, an unclear evidence situation. - Professional exposure
when, in addition to the criminal law assessment, licences, professional registrations or board positions are at stake.
- Main hearing under pressure
public attention, media interest, risk of imprisonment or existential collateral consequences. - Appeals, constitutional complaints, reopening
where an existing judgment is to be critically reviewed or challenged on the basis of new facts. - Own exonerating investigations
building an exoneration strategy with targeted investigations outside the criminal justice authorities, supported by experienced former special-task-force detectives (MEK). - Children abducted abroad
cases in which children are taken abroad by one parent and kept there – for example in states in North Africa or the Middle East. Here, criminal law, family law, the Foreign Office and negotiations with local actors all interact.
My approach in complex criminal cases
I understand complex criminal defense as an analytical task: stories and judgments become verifiable facts; large volumes of files are turned into a clear decision architecture.
Even before sitting the state exam, I supplemented my criminal law studies with a two-year in-depth programme on “deviant behavior” – including psychology of deviant behavior, law of evidence and law of execution of sentences. Added to this are operational experiences from cooperating with specialised investigative units.
- Analytical rather than impulsive
Hypothesis spaces are structured: what is probable, what is provable, what will not stand up in a main hearing? - Strategy instead of volume
Not every sharp formulation helps, and not every act of cooperation harms. What matters is a defense that fits the person and the situation.
- Causality at the centre
From the origin of the problem and the development of the proceedings through to realistic exit scenarios: cause–effect rather than activism. - Modern tools
In very extensive files I use AI-supported analysis – in a protected data environment – to identify patterns, contradictions and exonerating details more quickly.
How cooperation typically works
The goal is to turn a burdensome and confusing situation back into actionable options as quickly as possible.
- 1. Confidential initial discussion
Clarifying the starting point, the time pressure and whether I can represent you as a defendant or as an injured party – never both sides in the same case. - 2. Review of documents
First assessment of files, summonses, orders or letters from the authorities; deciding which steps are immediately necessary. - 3. Strategic line
Developing a defense or representation strategy: remain silent or make a statement, conduct own investigations, deal with the media, and coordinate with other advisors where appropriate. - 4. Support throughout the proceedings
Representation vis-à-vis the police, public prosecutor’s office and court, preparation for appointments and the main hearing, and drafting appeals where appropriate.
Three sentences that describe my approach well
- I need clarity on the facts before I recommend a loud defense.
- I defend or I represent – but never both sides of the same case.
- I prefer to work in a structured and calm way rather than quickly and spectacularly.
Contact for an initial discussion
If you are reading this dossier, you are probably facing an important decision – or someone close to you is. A structured initial discussion can help to assess the situation and avoid typical mistakes.
I am available for a confidential first consultation – by phone, video or in person.
Contact:
E-mail: martin@heynert.com
Phone: Office +49.391.5982-243, Mobile +49.171.4135269