Environmental Criminal Law & Administrative Offenses
Violations of environmental laws frequently entail consequences in criminal or administrative law. The potential areas of danger in this connection extend to all areas of environmental law.
In criminal law, the operation of facilities that are subject to licensing without a license or out of compliance with licenses issued and handling of hazardous waste are especially worthy of mention. The extent of the catalog of facilities that are subject to licensing pursuant to the 4th Ordinance for the Implementation of the German Federal Imission Control Act increases the risk of criminal liability in this connection. Fines for administrative offenses in the environmental sector are sometimes severe, especially when they are levied against members of management. Finally, legal sanctions in connection with environmental liability can justify administrative measures with grave consequences for the company affected (e. g., revocation of licenses, imposition of additional regulatory requirements).
To our way of thinking, therefore, our most important task is to avoid environmental liability right from the start through comprehensive advice. If an accusation has already been leveled, we defend our clients in administrative and/or judicial proceedings on the basis of a defense strategy oriented to the company affected.
