horak lawyers
On 23 October 2026, the Düsseldorf Regional Court sentenced two parties to several years of imprisonment in the international tax fraud complex "Operation Goliath". According to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), these are the first convictions in a German EPPO case, in which a court found that the accused had participated in a criminal organisation. The case shows how tight [...]
ECJ, Judgments of 1 October 2026, C-855/24 P (Crown Holdings) and C-845/24 P (Silgan Holdings) When the cartel investigation changes to the EU Commission Companies cannot rely on a trial that has been started at the Federal Cartel Office to be completed there. On 1 October 2026, the European Court of Justice confirmed that the European Commission had initiated cartel proceedings under certain [...]
Judgment of the European Court of Justice of 15 October 2026 – C-70/25, Tukowiecka Banks and other payment service providers may not refuse or delay the reimbursement of unauthorized payment transactions solely because they accuse the customer of gross negligence. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has clarified this in the case of Tukowiecka. The decision is particularly relevant to complaint management, fraud prevention and [...]
On an unannounced official visit, employees need a short, achievable action plan. Clear contacts, factual documentation and the respect of the respective rights are crucial.
Manufacturers of digital products need to work together on security incidents in both legal and technical terms. A prepared reporting process combines product knowledge, incident response and clear decisions.
An AI application can affect several legal areas at the same time. A release process must therefore consider the role, function, data and actual use.
Compliance risks influence purchasing decision, contract design and integration. A careful examination is based on the target company and its actual business relationships.
A breach of compliance can jeopardise participation in public procurement. Self-cleaning depends on the legal requirements and comprehensible measures.
Know-how protection begins with the question of which information is really confidential. Contracts, technical authorizations and operational procedures must jointly support this protection.
An informal conversation can become relevant under antitrust law if competitors exchange sensitive information. Companies should prepare employees for specific interview situations and offer a reliable internal reporting route.
