Internal investigations & whistleblower
systems

The systematic detection of compliance violations and the reaction to them without errors of judgment represent a particular challenge for all those involved in the company, i.e. employees, managers and company bodies. For this reason, the working group Internal Investigations and Whistleblowing Systems aims to define organizational, procedural and methodological standards for the implementation of whistleblowing systems and the conduct of internal investigations.

The working group meets once a month on the second Thursday at 4.00 p.m. for a virtual meeting. In addition, special events (e.g. webcasts or on-site meetings) are held from time to time. for better networking) takes place.

focus-
points

The topic “Internal investigations and whistleblower systems” is considered comprehensively. The current legislationrelevant court cases, the discussion of best practices and the practical exchange of exchange of experience are us in the working group important.
The standards published by the working group “Internal investigations” and “Whistleblowing systems” are continuously continuously developedt. The aim is to a practical guideline for companies of any size or industry. to give and, of course, to meet current legal and practical requirements. and requirements.

working group results

Attention reading sample! Members can find the complete documents in SharePoint.

Working group leader

Tim Ahrens

Partner at Ernst & Young GmbH

Tim Ahrens is a partner at Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft in Hamburg and is jointly responsible for the Investigation division in the Forensic & Integrity Services department. He specializes in the management and execution of investigations in Germany and abroad as well as the design and implementation of compliance management systems.

Dr. Christiane Freund, LL.M.

Expert in Internal Investigations at Deutsche Bahn AG

Christiane Freund has been working at Deutsche Bahn AG since 2011. Since 2023, she has served as an Internal Investigations Specialist on the Group Executive Board, where her responsibilities include the technical design and management of internal investigation projects related to compliance reports, as well as the development of Group-wide standards and processes for internal investigations of such reports. Previously, she led internal investigation projects regarding compliance reports at German and foreign DB Group companies. Before joining Deutsche Bahn AG, she worked as an attorney at international law firms, advising on compliance issues and internal investigations both in Germany and abroad.

Christian Miege, LL.M.

Lawyer

Christian Miege is a corporate lawyer
at Rheinmetall AG in Düsseldorf, where he is responsible for all antitrust and merger control issues relating to the group. Previously, he was a partner in the Forensics & Integrity Services division at EY and head of the Internal Investigations department at thyssenkrupp AG, with global responsibility for compliance investigations throughout the thyssenkrupp Group. From 2007, Christian Miege worked for almost five years as a lawyer at Clifford Chance in the antitrust law department in Düsseldorf and Brussels. Christian Miege studied law in Bielefeld and Amsterdam (LL.M.).

Dr. Fabian A. Quast

Partner at Hengeler Mueller

Fabian Quast, LL.M. (London) is a partner in Hengeler Mueller’s Berlin office. He advises German and international companies on the development and implementation of compliance programs, the conduct of internal investigations and compliance due diligence reviews as well as crisis management. One focus is on cross-border internal investigations and support in regulatory or criminal investigations, which often run in parallel, as well as the enforcement of or defense against claims for damages. Fabian Quast is co-head of the DICO working group on internal investigations and whistleblower systems and a member of the working group on compliance management systems.

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