The founding partner Professor Dr. Christoph Knauer is responsible for the areas of corporate criminal law, commercial criminal law, tax criminal law, and medical criminal law, as well as criminal appeals and constitutional complaints.

He has many years of experience in all areas of criminal law and criminal procedure law; his litigation experience in particular also covers proceedings before the German Federal Court of Justice and the German Federal Constitutional Court.

Prof. Dr. Knauer advises and defends national and international companies and their managers in all areas of commercial criminal law and criminal tax law, in fine proceedings, and in connection with the criminal law aspects of internal investigations, compliance, and corporate bodies’ decisions under corporate law. Because of his experience in handling crisis situations, he is also regularly called in to advise management and supervisory boards with respect to high-risk decisions against the background of the business judgement rule.

He defends both executives of international companies and managing directors of small and medium-sized enterprises. He provides advice to medical practitioners and hospitals in criminal investigation proceedings and in the avoidance of risks under criminal law.

Fellow lawyers regularly recommend him for appeals and constitutional complaints.

Prof. Dr. Knauer works as defence counsel throughout Germany and as advisor across Europe and in the United States of America.

In March 2015, he was appointed Honorary Professor for the areas of commercial criminal law and criminal appeals at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich; and he is also an examiner in the First State Law Examination. He frequently holds lectures and has authored numerous publications, with special academic focus on criminal procedure law and commercial and corporate criminal law. Among other things, he is a co-publisher of the Munich Commentary on the German Code of Criminal Procedure and the Munich Defence Counsel Handbook, and a co-publisher and editor of the criminal law journal “Neue Zeitschrift für Strafrecht” (NStZ).

He has served as chairman of the board of the Munich Legal Society (Münchener Juristische Gesellschaft, MJG) since 2019 and, since 2020, he has also chaired the Criminal Procedure Committee. He is a member of the Rule of Law Working Group of the German Federal Bar Association (Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer, BRAK) and has chaired it since 2024. He has been a member of the board of the Munich Bar Association from June 2022 to June 2026 and vice-president of this organisation since December 2022. Currently, Prof. Dr. Knauer is also a member of the Commission on the Reform of the Code of Criminal Procedure established by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection. In September 2026, Prof. Dr Christoph Knauer was also elected to the Executive Committee of the Deutscher Juristentag e.V.

He studied law at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, until 1995. After his First State Law Examination, he worked as an assistant to Prof Dr. Claus Roxin at the Institute for Penology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität from 1995 to 2000. Since then, he has been a lecturer for criminal law and criminal procedure. In 2000, he obtained his PhD with a doctoral thesis on collegial decisions in corporate bodies (including management boards). In 2002, he passed the Second State Law Examination. Initially, he held senior positions at the legal publishing houses C.H. Beck and Wolters Kluwer Deutschland GmbH. Concurrently, he was engaged as of counsel defence attorney in various law firms, with special emphasis on criminal appeals proceedings.

From 2009 until 2022, Prof. Dr. Knauer was partner at the Munich law firm named Ufer Knauer Rechtsanwälte at the time. After his entry, this law firm evolved into one of Germany’s leading commercial criminal law specialists.

In 2023, he joined forces with Sören Schomburg and Dr. Björn Boerger to found the law firm Knauer Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB.

• Commercial criminal law

• Criminal tax law

• Compliance/internal Investigations

• Appeals and constitutional complaints

• Medical criminal law

• Bank criminal law

• Corruption: prevention and defence

• Capital market criminal law

• Money-laundering: prevention and defence

• Subsidy fraud

• Rules of professional practice

• Expert opinions on criminal law

• Support in parliamentary inquiry committees

• WirtschaftsWoche 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026: “Top Attorney in White-Collar Crime”

• Handelsblatt’s Best Lawyers Ranking 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026

• Legal500 Ranking: “Leading Partner” in advising companies

• Juve Ranking 2026/2027: “excellent expertise,” “very pleasant to work with,” “highly experienced, outstanding legal skills,” “unmatched in technical and strategic expertise,” “excellent sense of what matters,” “strong strategist”

• Juve Handbook 2025/2026: “goal-oriented, assertive,” “excellent expertise,” “good team player,” “extensive experience in white-collar crime cases,” “well-connected”

• Juve Handbook 2024/2025: “extremely strong, outstanding management of complex cases,” “excellent sense of what matters most,” “goal-oriented,” “resolute and assertive,” “top defense attorney,” “extensive experience,” “outstanding legal expertise,” “strong strategist”

• Juve Handbook 2022/2023 and 2023/2024: “excellent expertise,” “very pleasant to work with,” “very good,” “competent and collegial,” “brilliant in terms of expertise and rhetoric,” brilliant,” “extremely strong, outstanding handling of complex cases,” “strong strategist,” “extensive experience,” “well-connected”

• “is best known for his advice to corporate clients facing allegations of commercial, corporate, and tax crimes. He also assists with administrative fine proceedings and advises medical practitioners and hospitals on criminal liability and in investigations” in Chambers and Partners in the practice area Dispute Resolution: White-Collar Crime

• Daimler AG in the “diesel proceedings”

• Commerzbank AG (cum/ex proceedings)

• Continental AG in the “diesel cases”

• Hamburg Commercial Bank AG (formerly HSH Nordbank): support in the privatisation process, representation in the “Panama Papers cases”, advice with respect to risky decisions

• UniCredit Bank AG (cum/ex proceedings)

• Deutsche Bank AG (“Kirch cases”; first instance and appeal)

• Deutsche Börse AG (cum/ex proceedings)

• “Assisted suicide” (annulment of Section 217 of the German Criminal Code [Strafgesetzbuch, StGB] (assisted suicide services) by the German Federal Constitutional Court)

• Karl-Heinz Schreiber (appeal)

• Isar Kliniken GmbH: preventive advice

• Main accused building contractor in the “Regensburg corruption proceedings” (appeal)

• Compliance (ombudsman) of Deutsche Bahn AG

• Expert witness for German criminal law in proceedings before the London High Court

• Commentary on Sections 218–219b of the German Criminal Code (StGB) (in collaboration with Serkan Erdogan), as well as commentary on Sections 203–205 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) and Sections 211, 212, 216, and Sections 222–229 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) (in collaboration with Serkan Erdogan and Johannes Brose, Judge at the Higher Regional Court), in Spickhoff, BeckOK Medical Law, 1st edition

• “Press Inquiries Regarding Defense Attorneys’ Names – Balancing the Right to Information, the Right to Privacy, and Client Confidentiality,” BRAK-Mitteilungen 5/2025, pp. 334–337 (co-authored with Till Dunckel)

• “In Memoriam Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Claus Roxin,” NStZ Editorial 4/2025 [2025]

• “The Possibility of a Genuine Career Change as an Opportunity for the Legal Profession and the Judiciary,” NStZ Editorial 2/2025 [2025]

• Introductory Remarks on § 333 and Commentary on §§ 333–358 (together with Hans Kudlich) in: Christoph Knauer (ed.), Munich Commentary on the Code of Criminal Procedure, Volume 3, §§ 333–499 StPO, C.H. Beck Publishers, 2024 [2024]

• “Seizure and Analysis of Cell Phones, Laptops, and Similar Devices,” co-authored with Dr. Anja Schmorl, Anwaltsblatt 09/2024 [2024]

• “Criminal Law Assessment of Climate Protests at Cultural Institutions and the Responses of Their Operators,” co-authored with Dr. Anja Schmorl, in: Handbook of Cultural Management: Law, Politics & Practice (84/2023), DUZ Medienhaus [2023]

• Commentary on §§203–205, 211, 212, 216, 217, 218, 218a, 218b, 218c, 219, 219a, 219b, 222, 223, 224, 226, 227, 228, 229 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) (together with Johannes Bose) in: Spickhoff, Medical Law, C.H. Beck, 4th edition 2022 [2022]

• “Assisted Suicide and Free Will” in: Scientific Findings, Ethical and Legal Debates, Questions of Implementation, Bobbert (ed.), Nomos, 2022, pp. 223 ff. [2022]

• “Digitization of Criminal Proceedings in the Context of the Rule of Law and Access to Justice,” BRAK-Mitteilungen 5/2022, Berlin, p. 244 ff. [2022]

• “Things Remain Exciting Following the BFH Ruling on Cum/Ex,” co-authored with Sören Schomburg, LTO March 18, 2022 [2022]

• Practical commentary on BGH, decision of June 25, 2020 – 3 StR 102/20 (notification of plea bargain-related discussions), co-authored with Tobias Pretsch, NStZ 2021, 310 [2021]

• “Corporate Criminal Law—The Current Status of the Corporate Sanctions Act,” in: Corporate Law in Discussion 2020. Annual Conference of the Corporate Law Association. (edited by the Corporate Law Association), Otto Schmidt 2021, p. 123 ff. [2021]

• “Criminal Liability in the Corporate Context,” co-authored with Dr. Simone Kämpfer, in: Klaus Volk/Stephan Beukelmann (eds.), Munich Lawyers’ Handbook on Defense in Economic and Tax Criminal Cases, C.H. Beck, 3rd ed. 2020, pp. 40 ff. [2022]

• “The Defense Case from the Perspective of the Company,” in: Lehmkuhl, Meyer, The Company in the Spotlight of National and International Criminal Proceedings, Nomos 2020 [2020]

• “The Government’s Draft Bill to Introduce a Law on Sanctioning Corporate Offenses—A Major Achievement or a Bitter Pill?” NStZ 2020, 441 [2020]

• Introductory Remarks on Section 333 and Commentary on Sections 333–358 (co-authored with Hans Kudlich) in: Christoph Knauer (ed.), Munich Commentary on the Code of Criminal Procedure, Vol. 3/1, Sections 333–499 StPO, C.H. Beck Publishers, 2019 [2019]

• Practical commentary on Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) decision of June 27, 2018—2 BvR 1405/17, 2 BvR 1780/17 (seizure of compliance documents), NStZ 2019, 164 [2019]

• “Cum/Ex Transactions—Are Criminal Law Doctrine and Practice Reaching Their Limits?”, co-authored with Sören Schomburg, NStZ 2019, 305 [2019]

• Commentary on Sections 203–205, 211, 212, 216, 217, 218, 218a, 218b, 218c, 219, 219a, 219b, 222, 223, 224, 226, 227, 228, 229 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) (together with Johannes Bose) and Sections 95–98 of the German Medicines Act (AMG) in: Spickhoff, Medical Law, C. H. Beck, 3rd ed., 2018 [2018]

• Chapter “Criminal Defense,” co-authored with Prof. Dr. Hans Kudlich, in: Hilgendorf/Kudlich/Valerius (eds.), Handbook of Criminal Law, Vol. 1: Fundamentals of Criminal Law, 2019, pp. 747 ff. [2019]

• “Criminal and Administrative Liability of Board Members for Organizational and Supervisory Failures in a Company,” co-authored with Monika Werndl, in Jayme/Mansel/Pfeiffer/Stürner, Yearbook of Italian Law, Vol. 29, 2017, pp. 89 ff. [2017]

• Practical Commentary on the Higher Regional Court of Celle, Decision of July 24, 2015—2 Ws 116/15 (Granting of Access to Telecommunications Surveillance Data and the Public Prosecutor’s Right to Appeal), co-authored with Tobias Pretsch, NStZ 2016, 305 (307) [2016]

• “On the Nature and Purpose of the Appeal,” NStZ 2016, 1 (written version, supplemented with footnotes, of the inaugural lecture delivered on July 17, 2015, upon being awarded an honorary professorship in economic criminal law and criminal appeals by Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich) [2016]

• “White-Collar Criminal Proceedings, Collusion, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office—A Swansong for a Long-Standing Practice?” in: Festschrift for Bernd von Heintschel-Heinegg on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday on June 24, 2015, edited by Katrin Gierhake, Jan Bockemühl, Henning Ernst Müller, Tonio Walter, C.H. Beck Publishers, p. 243 ff. [2015]

• Practical Commentary on KG Berlin, Order of Dec. 9, 2014 – 2 Ws 7/15 (Withdrawal of an appeal in parallel proceedings following a plea agreement), co-authored with Tobias Pretsch, NStZ 2015, 236 (238) [2015]

• Practical commentary on BVerfG, Order of Jan. 15, 2015 – 2 BvR 2055/14 (Constitutional requirements for the suspension review in cases of notification violations), co-authored with Tobias Pretsch, NStZ 2015, 172 (174) [2015]

• Practical commentary on BGH, order of Oct. 20, 2014 – 5 StR 176/14 (Appointment of a Public Defender in Preliminary Proceedings), NStZ 2014, 722 [2014]

• Commentary on §§ 203–205, 211, 212, 216, 218, 218a, 218b, 218c, 219, 219a, 219b, 222–229 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) and §§ 95–98 of the German Medicines Act (AMG) (together with Johannes Bose) in: Spickhoff, Medical Law, C. H. Beck, 2nd ed. 2014 [2014]

• Chapter: “Criminal Liability in the Corporate Context,” co-authored with Dr. Simone Kämpfer, in: Klaus Volk (ed.), Munich Lawyers’ Handbook on Defense in Economic and Tax Criminal Cases, C. H. Beck Publishers, 2nd ed. 2014, p. 55 ff [2014]

• Commentary on OLG Celle, Judgment of Dec. 18, 2013 – 31 Ss 35/13 (Required Grounds for Appeal When Alleging a Violation of Disclosure Obligations Specific to Plea Bargains), NStZ, 2014, 290 [2014]

• Commentary on the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), Order of September 24, 2013 – 2 StR 267/13 (Informal settlement without court involvement), NStZ 2014, 113 [2014]

• Commentary on Federal Court of Justice (BGH), Order of August 8, 2013 – 3 StR 226/13 (Requirements for extended forfeiture in the acceptance and retention of proceeds from the sale of narcotics), co-authored with Mustafa Oglakcioglu, NStZ 2014, 82 [2014]

• “Compliance Management – The Emperor’s New Clothes?”, article in the anniversary volume of the Steinbeis Management Series, contributions to the discussion on compliance, fraud, forensic, and social management, edited by the School of Governance Risk & Compliance, 2013 [2013]

• “The Federal Constitutional Court’s Decision on Plea Bargaining in Criminal Proceedings (Judgment of March 19, 2013—2 BvR 2628/10, 2 BvR 2883/10, 2 BvR 2155/11, NStZ 2013, 295)—A Sensational Ruling or a Paper Tiger?”, NStZ 2013, 433 [2013]

• “Internal Investigations and Fair Trial—Reflections on the Application of the Principle of Fairness,” co-authored with Michael Gaul, NStZ 2013, 192 [2013]

• “Motions for the Taking of Evidence in Recent Case Law of the Federal Court of Justice,” StraFo 2012, 473 [2012]

• “Obituary for Appellate Defense Counsel Prof. Dr. Gunter Widmaier,” NStZ 10/2012, VII [2012]

• Commentary on Federal Court of Justice (BGH), Decision of April 25, 2011 – 5 StR 444/11 (Allegation of Evidence Against One’s Better Judgment), NStZ 2012, 583 [2012]

• “Higher Court Case Law on Procedural Agreements Under the Statutory Provisions—A Critical Overview,” co-authored with Andreas Lickleder, NStZ 2012, 366 [2012]

• Commentary on BVerfG, March 5, 2012 – 2 BvR 1464/11 (Consequences of the Absence of a “Negative Certificate” in Plea Bargaining in Criminal Proceedings), ZWH 2012, pp. 298–300 [2012]

• “The Criminal Liability of Legal Counsel, Internal Auditors, and Compliance Officers (‘Berliner Straßenreinigung – 5 StR 394/08’),” in: Schulz/Reinhart/Sahan (eds.), Festschrift for Imme Roxin on the Occasion of His 75th Birthday on May 15, 2012, pp. 465 ff. [2012]

• “Internal Investigations (Part II)—Specific Questions Regarding Implementation,” ZWH 2012, 81–88 [2012]

• “Internal Investigations (Part I)—Fundamentals,” ZWH 2012, 41–48 [2012]

• Commentary on Federal Court of Justice (BGH), Decision of April 13, 2011 – 1 StR 94/10 (Embezzlement through Sham Donations to a Political Party), ZWH 2011, p. 25 [2011]

• Commentary on Sections 203–205, 211, 212, 216, 218, 218a, 218b, 218c, 219, 219a, 219b, 222–229 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) (co-authored with Johannes Bose) and §§ 95–98 of the German Medicines Act (AMG) in: Spickhoff, Medical Law, C. H. Beck, Munich 2011 [2011]

• “The Physician, Communication, and Criminal Law: Aspects of Physician-Patient Confidentiality with Special Consideration of Supervision, Medical Consultations, and Expert Testimony,” in: Dölling/Götting/Meier/Ferrel (eds.), Festschrift for Heinz Schöch, 2010 [2010]

• “Internal Corporate (Preliminary) Investigations—What Remains of Nemo Tenetur and Fair Trial?”, co-authored with Dr. Erik Buhlmann, in: Anwaltsblatt 2010, pp. 387 ff. [2010]

• “Criminal Breach of Trust in the Theater and Cultural Sectors—In Particular Regarding So-Called Financial Breach of Trust,” co-authored with Dr. Erik Buhlmann, in: Handbook of Culture and Law, ed. by Gereon Röckrath and Alexander Unverzagt, Raabe Verlag (Klett), 2nd ed. 2009 [2009]

• Commentary on the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) decision of Aug. 29, 2008 – 2 StR 587/07: The Creation of Off-the-Books Funds as Embezzlement – The Siemens-ENEL Case, in: NStZ 2009, 151 ff [2009]

• “Legal Literature Between Tradition and Web 2.0.”

, in: Criminal Defense in a Constitutional State, 25 Years of the Criminal Law Working Group of the German Bar Association, 2009, p. 170 ff [2009]

• “Judicial Findings or Fact-Finding Proceedings—On the Role of Attorneys in the Adjudication of Cases,” co-authored with Christian Wolf, in: FS Scharf

• “On the Duty of Truth of the (Appellate) Defense Counsel,” in: Criminal Defense, Appeals, and the Entire Field of Criminal Law, Festschrift for Gunter Widmaier on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday on September 28, 2008, edited by Heinz Schöch, Helmut Satzger, Gerhard Schäfer, Alexander Ignor, and Christoph Knauer, pp. 291 ff [2008]

• “Studying Law—But How?”, co-authored with Stephan Lorenz, in: JuS-Start, Special Issue for First-Semester Students 2008, p. 1 ff [2008]

• “The Distinction Between Medicines and Intermediate Products—On the Interpretation of Section 2 of the German Medicines Act (AMG) from a Criminal Law Perspective,” in: Pharma & Recht 2008, p. 199 ff [2008]

• “Preparing to Become a Lawyer Begins in College,” in: JA, Special Issue for First-Semester Students 2007, pp. 85 ff [2007]

• “On the Liberalization and Commercialization of the Legal Profession: 20 Years Since the Federal Constitutional Court’s ‘Bastille’ Decisions,” co-authored with Christian Wolf, in: BRAK-Mitteilungen 2007, pp. 142 ff [2007]

• “The Principle of Expediency and Pretrial Detention,” in: StraFo 2007, p. 309 ff [2007]

• Commentary on the judgment in BGH, StV 2007, 340 (interruption of the main hearing prior to the pronouncement of the judgment) ; Federal Court of Justice (BGH), StV 2006, 680 (interruption due to “postponed dates”); Federal Court of Justice (BGH), StV 2007, 229 (time limit for interruption before the pronouncement of judgment) in: StV 2007, p. 340 ff [2007]

• Chapter: “Perpetration and Participation,” co-authored with Simone Kämpfer (subchapter “Criminal Liability for Decisions Made by Bodies” as sole author) in: Klaus Volk (ed.), Munich Lawyers’ Handbook on Defense in Economic and Tax Criminal Cases, C.H. Beck, 2006, p. 51 ff [2006]

• “A Restrictive Interpretation of Legal Provisions under the Anti-Corruption Act,” co-authored with Johannes Kaspar, in: Goltdammer’s Archive for Criminal Law (GA) 2005, pp. 385 ff [2005]

• “Changes to Civil and Criminal Procedure Resulting from the First Judicial Modernization Act,” co-authored with Christian Wolf, Part II, NJW 2004, p. 2932 et seq. [2004]

• “Changes to Civil and Criminal Procedure Resulting from the First Judicial Modernization Act,” co-authored with Christian Wolf, Part I,

NJW 2004, pp. 2857 ff [2004]

• NJW Editorial, Issue 31/2004, p. III [2004]

• “Training Expectations After the Reform—A Missed Target?”, in JuS Magazine Issue 5 2004, pp. 7 ff [2004]

• “The Criminal Judge as ‘Super Judge,’ or: Modernizing and Speeding Up the Justice System at the Expense of Criminal Proceedings?” in: StraFO 2003, p. 365 ff [2003]

• “The New Rules of Evidence Under the Justice Modernization and Acceleration Act—A Violation of the Principles of the Civil Procedure Code (ZPO) and the Criminal Procedure Code (StPO)?,” co-authored with Christian Wolf, in: NJW Special Issue on the 2nd Hanover ZPO Symposium 2003, p. 33 ff [2003]

• “Criminal Liability for Manslaughter by Omission in the Failure to Secure a Politburo Resolution,” NJW 2003, pp. 3101 ff [2003]

• “Is Private Autonomy Threatened by Therapeutic Mediation?,” co-authored with Christian Wolf and Matthias M. Weber, in: NJW 2003, pp. 1488 ff. [2003]

• “Training Grounds for the Legal Elite,” in: Anwalt (supplement to the NJW) 2003/3, pp. 12 ff. [2003]

• “The Criminal Liability of Bank Executives for the Improper Granting of Loans,” in: Neue Zeitschrift für Strafrecht (NStZ) 2002, p. 399 ff [2002]

• Criminal Law Exam: “A Dangerous Game of Skat,” in: Juristische Schulung (JuS) 2002, p. 54 ff [2002]

• “Criminal Breach of Trust in the Theater and Cultural Sectors—In Particular Regarding So-Called Budgetary Breach of Trust,” in: Handbook on Culture and Law, ed. by Gereon Röckrath and Alexander Unverzagt, Raabe Verlag, 2001 [2001]

• Book review of Jan Philipp Reemtsma, The Victim’s Right to the Punishment of the Offender, Munich, C.H. Beck 1999, in: Monatsschrift für Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform, Issue 1/2000, p. 54 ff [2000]

• “Medical Treatment, Consent, and Informed Consent—Excessive Demands on the Physician?”, in: Medical Criminal Law, ed. by Claus Roxin and Ulrich Schroth in collaboration with Christoph Knauer and Harald Niedermair, Stuttgart 2000, pp. 9 ff. (2nd ed. 2001) [2001]

• “AIDS and HIV—Still a Challenge for Criminal Law Theory,” in: Goltdammer’s Archive for Criminal Law (GA) 1998, pp. 428 ff [1998]

• “The Criminal Liability of an HIV-Positive Person Engaging in Sexual Contact While Taking Precautions,” in: AIDS Research (AIFO) 1994,

p. 463 ff [1994]

• “The ‘AIDS Bite’—Aggravated Assault or Even a Homicide?” Legal Article, in: Theft—No Thanks!, Magazine for Effective Merchandise Security, Issue 11/1993, p. 20 ff [1993]

Book Publications/Editorships:

• Munich Lawyers’ Handbook on Criminal Defense, Eckhart Müller/Reinhold Schlothauer/Christoph Knauer (eds.), 3rd edition, C.H. Beck, 2022 [2022]

• Co-editor of the Munich Commentary on the Code of Criminal Procedure (together with Hans Kudlich and Hartmut Schneider), C.H. Beck, Vol. 1 published in 2014 [2014]

• Co-editor of the New Journal of Criminal Law (NStZ), C.H. Beck, Munich

• “Criminal Defense, Appeals, and the Entire Field of Criminal Law,” Festschrift for Gunter Widmaier on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday on September 28, 2008, edited by Heinz Schöch, Helmut Satzger, Gerhard Schäfer, Alexander Ignor, and Christoph Knauer, 2008 [2008]

• Co-editor of the Juristische Arbeitsblätter (JA), Luchterhand-Verlag, (2006–2007) [2006]

• “Collegial Decision-Making and Criminal Law,” C.H. Beck, 2001 (also a doctoral dissertation in law, 2000) [2000]

• Editor of the volume “Medical Criminal Law” (edited by Claus Roxin, Ulrich Schroth, in collaboration with Harald Niedermair and Christoph Knauer), Boorberg-Verlag, 1st ed., Stuttgart 2000; 2nd ed., 2001 [2001]

Other:

• Commemorative volume for Ingeborg Tepperwien’s 65th birthday, editor, published by C.H. Beck, Munich, Frankfurt am Main

• Article: “The So-Called VW Ruling of the Federal Court of Justice (Volckert Case),” NJW Audio CD, January 2010 [2010]

• Co-editor and co-designer of the special edition NJW Audio CD 2003 [2003]

• Article: “The Defendant’s Waiver of Appeal Following a Plea Agreement,” NJW Audio CD November 2003 [2003]

• On 19–20 June 2026, Prof. Knauer chaired and moderated the NStZ Annual Conference 2026 in Frankfurt alongside Prof. Andreas Mosbacher, and gave a presentation on the topic “The Audi ruling in the diesel scandal: legal framework and implications for advisory services, particularly at executive board level”.

• On 3 September 2025, Prof. Knauer spoke alongside Prof. Dr Bertram Schmitt, Judge at the International Criminal Court, and Federal Prosecutor Prof. Dr Hartmut at a conference organised by the German Judges’ Academy on the topic “Understanding Roles in Criminal Proceedings and the Outside Perspective”.

• On 11–12 July 2025, Prof. Knauer chaired and moderated the 2025 NStZ Annual Conference in Frankfurt together with Prof. Andreas Mosbacher.

• On 31 June 2025, Prof. Knauer took part in a discussion on “The Right to Life – The Right to Die” at the 40th Conference of German-speaking Lecturers in Criminal Law, alongside Federal Constitutional Court Judge Professor Dr Henning Radtke, Professor Dr Scarlett Jansen and Professor Dr Stephan Sahm.

• On 6 December 2024, Prof. Knauer chaired the 19th Beck Criminal Law Conference in Munich.

• On 27–28 November 2024, Prof. Knauer took part in a discussion at the 17th Munich Compliance Symposium on the topic “Corporate Investigations: The Role of the CCO from the Perspective of the Defence, the Public Prosecution Service and the CCO” together with Dr Sofia Halfmann and Senior Public Prosecutor Dr Christopher Wenzl.

• On 21–22 June 2024, Prof. Knauer chaired and moderated the 2024 NStZ Annual Conference in Frankfurt together with Prof. Andreas Mosbacher.

• On 24 November 2023, Prof. Knauer chaired the 18th Beck Criminal Law Conference and delivered a presentation on the topic “Current case law on criminal procedure”

• On 11 October 2023, Prof. Knauer was heard as an expert witness before the Legal Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag on the draft bill concerning the digital documentation of criminal trials.

• On 7 July 2023, Prof. Knauer took part in a ‘fireside chat’ at the NStZ Annual Conference 2023 on the topic ‘Psychology in white-collar criminal proceedings: dealing with difficult individuals and situations’.

• On 31 May 2023, Prof. Knauer was a guest on the BRAK’s podcast series ‘(R)ECHT INTERESSANT’, where he commented on current legal policy developments surrounding the issue of digital documentation of criminal trials.

• On 8 May 2023, Prof. Knauer gave a presentation at the 6th Hamburg Law Day organised by the Hanseatic Bar Association on the topic “The Protection of the General Right of Personality in Preliminary Investigations”.

• On 7 December 2022, Prof. Knauer appeared as a guest on the BRAK’s podcast series ‘(R)ECHT INTERESSANT’ and commented on the draft bill on the documentation of criminal trials

• On 28 November 2022, Prof. Knauer was heard as an expert witness before the Legal Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag on the subject of assisted dying and the relevant draft legislation.

• On 18 November 2022, Prof. Knauer gave a presentation at the 17th Beck Criminal Law Conference on the topic ‘Current case law on criminal procedure’

• On 11 November 2022, Prof. Knauer chaired the session ‘Reconstruction of trials’ at the conference ‘The Legal Profession in the Spotlight of Academic Research’, organised by the German Federal Bar Association (BRAK) and the Institute for Litigation and Legal Practice (IPA)

• On 5 October 2022, Prof. Knauer spoke at JUC Berlin on the topic of directors’ duties alongside Prof. Grigoleit

• On 30 September 2022, Prof. Knauer chaired the session ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Times of Crisis’ at an event entitled ‘The Legal Profession in Transition’, organised by the International Lawyers’ Forum (IAF) and the German Federal Bar Association (BRAK)

• On 1 July 2022, Prof. Knauer delivered a lecture at the NStZ Annual Conference 2022 on the topic ‘The Expert Witness in Commercial Criminal Proceedings’.

• An episode of the BRAK’s ‘(R)ECHT INTERESSANT’ podcast series has been published under the title ‘Professional Policy Quartet – Let’s Play Cards: Cards on the Table for the New Legislative Period’. Prof. Knauer, Hans Ulrich Otto, President of the Hamm Bar Association, Jan Helge Kestel, President of the Thuringia Bar Association, and Stephanie Beyrich, press spokesperson for the BRAK, discuss the changes that can be expected and hoped for in legal policy following the federal election and with a new government. https://www.brak.de/service/podcast/

• On 18 May 2022, Prof. Knauer co-hosted a seminar with Prof. Grigoleit on the topic of “Corporate and criminal liability of executive and supervisory board members” at the Continuing Professional Development Institute of the Stuttgart Bar Association GmbH.

• On 26 June 2022, Prof. Knauer took part in a panel discussion on the topic “When technology makes fairer decisions than a judge” at the ELSA conference in Passau

• On 30 March 2022, Prof. Knauer participated as an expert in a panel discussion on the topic of assisted suicide, organised by Ms Helling-Plahr, Member of the Bundestag

• On 30 January 2022, Prof. Knauer took part as an expert in a digital expert workshop on the topic ‘Assisted suicide and free will’, organised by the University of Münster

• On 3 December 2021, Prof. Knauer gave a presentation at the 16th Beck Criminal Law Conference on the topic of ‘Current case law on criminal procedure’.

• On 12 November 2021, Prof. Knauer gave a lecture on “Current case law of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in criminal matters” as part of the Annual Criminal Law Conference of the German Lawyers’ Institute (Deutsches Anwaltsinstitut e.V.).

• On 9 November 2021, Prof. Knauer gave a lecture at the Munich Law Society on the topic ‘The Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling on commercial assisted suicide (Section 217 of the German Criminal Code) and its consequences’

• On 19 October 2021, Prof. Knauer spoke on the topic ‘The Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling on commercial assisted suicide (Section 217 of the German Criminal Code) – What has happened, what remains, what lies ahead?’, organised by the Lions Club München Blutenburg,

• On 11 June 2021, Prof. Knauer gave a presentation at the NStZ Annual Conference 2021 on the topic ‘Cum/Ex proceedings – an initial interim assessment’.

• On 22 March 2021, Prof. Knauer spoke alongside Prof. Grigoleit at the JUC Network on the topic “Criminal and civil liability of the executive board and supervisory board”

• On 6 November 2020, Prof. Knauer spoke at the 23rd Annual Conference of the VGR on “Current Developments in Corporate Criminal Law – the Draft Bill to Strengthen Integrity in Business”, standing in at short notice for Dr Simone Kämpfer, a lawyer.

• As the first episode of its podcast series “(R)ECHT INTERESSANT”, the BRAK has published a podcast entitled “Lawyers and Covid-19”. In it, Prof. Knauer talks to the BRAK’s press spokesperson, Ms Beyrich, about the impact of Covid-19 on day-to-day life in law firms. https://www.brak.de/service/podcast/

• On 27 November 2020, Prof. Knauer will present the latest case law on criminal procedure at the 15th Beck Criminal Law Conference.

• As part of the 13th Munich Compliance Symposium, 12–13 November 2020, Prof. Knauer took part in a panel discussion on the ‘Act on Sanctions against Associations’.

• On 10 October 2020, Prof. Knauer gave a presentation on the topic ‘Act to Strengthen Integrity in Business – the Act on Sanctions against Organisations’ at the NStZ Annual Conference 2020.

• At the 14th Beck Criminal Law Conference on 29 November 2019, Professor Knauer discussed the latest case law on criminal procedure.

• On 15 November 2019, as part of the 5th Corporate Criminal Law Days, Professor Knauer discussed companies’ perspectives on national and international criminal proceedings.

• On 12 November 2019, Professor Knauer gave a presentation at the JUC Network for Corporate Criminal Law (Berlin) on the topic ‘Criminal procedural issues in corporate criminal law – options for the defence’.

• On 8 October 2019, Professor Knauer gave a presentation at the JUC Network for Corporate Criminal Law (Munich) on the topic ‘Criminal procedural issues in corporate criminal law – options for the defence’.

• At the 18th NStZ Annual Conference 2019 on 5 July 2019, Professor Knauer spoke alongside Dr Hohoff (judge at the Federal Court of Justice) on the topic ‘Appeals in Commercial Cases’.

• As part of the 6th Annual Criminal Law Workshop organised by the German Lawyers’ Institute on 24 May 2019, Professor Knauer gave a presentation on the topic ‘Taking stock following the reform of the Code of Criminal Procedure – where is the right to request evidence heading?’.

• On 23 January 2019, Professor Knauer was a guest speaker at the Bavarian Academy for Administrative Management, giving a talk on the topic “Corruption and Compliance: How to Deal with Suspected Cases”.

• At the 13th Beck Criminal Law Conference 2018 on 7 December 2018, Professor Knauer spoke on the topic “Current Case Law on Criminal Procedure”.

• As part of the 4th Corporate Criminal Law Days at the Faculty of Law, University of Augsburg, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer spoke on 1 December 2018 on the topic ‘Compliance and the discontinuation of proceedings: from the perspective of corporate defence counsel’.

• On 20 November 2018, Professor Knauer took part in the panel discussion ‘Reporting on Suspicions: The Fine Line between a Campaign and Legitimate Public Interest’ as part of the Consilium Legal Communications Summit.

• As part of the DAI’s 5th Annual Criminal Law Conference, Professor Knauer gave a presentation alongside Dr Tully on 29 June 2018 on the topic ‘Current case law and developments in procedural law from the perspective of an appeal judge and defence counsel’.

• On 22 June 2018, Professor Knauer gave a presentation at the 17th NStZ Annual Conference 2018 on the topic “Cum/Ex transactions – are criminal law doctrine and practice reaching their limits?”

• On 8 June 2018, Professor Knauer took part in a panel discussion at the 2018 German Lawyers’ Day on the topic ‘Dos and Don’ts in Crisis Situations – Avoiding Mistakes in Corporate or Client Crises – Dealing with the Media Correctly’.

• On 1 December 2017, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer spoke at the 12th Beck Criminal Law Conference 2017 on the topic ‘Current case law on criminal procedure’.

• On 24 November 2017, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer took part in a panel discussion on the topic ‘New developments in the law on asset recovery’ as part of the 3rd Corporate Criminal Law Days.

• At the 10th Munich Compliance Symposium 2017 (9–10 November 2017), Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation, together with a representative from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, on the topic “Corporate investigations and internal investigations – from the perspective of a public prosecutor and a criminal defence lawyer”.

• On 30 June 2017, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer spoke at the 4th DAI Annual Conference on the topic “Options for structuring and obligations regarding the structure of criminal proceedings”.

• On 23 June 2017, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation at the 16th NStZ Annual Conference on the topic “New criminal law for board members following the HSH Nordbank case (Federal Court of Justice, judgment of 12 October 2016 – 5 StR 134/15)”. His co-presenter is VRiOLG Dr Marc Tully.

• On 22 February 2017, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer spoke alongside Professor Dr Dr h.c. mult. Claus Roxin at the WisteV event ‘Organisational Control and White-Collar Crime Law’ on the topics ‘Fundamentals of Organisational Control’ (Roxin) and ‘Application to White-Collar Crime Law’ (Knauer).

• At the 11th Beck Criminal Law Conference 2016 on 2 December 2016, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer delivered a lecture entitled ‘Recent case law on criminal procedure’.

• On 24 November 2016, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer spoke alongside Professor Dr Hartmut Schneider (Federal Prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice) at the DAI conference on the topic of ‘Current Developments in Criminal Procedure Law’.

• On 7 and 8 October 2016 –, At the XXVI Congress of the German-Italian Lawyers’ Association – Association for the Exchange of Ideas between German and Italian Lawyers – e.V., Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gave a lecture on the topic “The criminal and administrative liability of board members for organisational and supervisory failings within a company”.

• On 1 September 2016 –, Lawyer Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gave a lecture entitled ‘Current Issues from the Defence’s Perspective’ as part of Session 25c, ‘Criminal Procedure Issues in the Main Hearing’, at the German Judges’ Academy in Wustrau.

• On 24 and 25 June 2016 –, At the 3rd DAI Annual Conference on Criminal Law in Hamburg, lawyer Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation on ‘The development of criminal proceedings from the defence’s perspective’ and, together with Professor Dr Andreas Mosbacher (judge at the Federal Court of Justice) and Professor Dr Hartmut Schneider (Federal Public Prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice), on ‘Outlook on the reform of criminal proceedings’ 24 and 25 June 2016 – At the 3rd DAI Annual Conference on Criminal Law in Hamburg, lawyer Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation on ‘The development of criminal proceedings from the defence’s perspective’ and, together with Professor Dr Andreas Mosbacher (judge at the Federal Court of Justice) and Professor Dr Hartmut Schneider (Federal Public Prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice) on the topic “Outlook on the Reform of Criminal Procedure”.

• On 3 June 2016 –, At the 67th German Lawyers’ Conference in Berlin, Professor Christoph Knauer takes part in the panel discussion “Character assassination or secret justice? The role and limits of media relations in criminal investigations”.

• On 11 May 2016 –, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer presents the handbook “Re-trial in Criminal Cases” by Dr Klaus Miebach and Dr Olaf Hohmann.

• On 4 February 2016 –, At the 11th Business Psychology Lounge hosted by the University of Applied Management, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gives a lecture on the topic ‘No journey is harder than the one from the Bayerischer Hof to Stadelheim’.

• On 20 November 2015 –, At the 10th Beck Criminal Law Conference in Munich, lawyer Professor Dr Christoph Knauer, together with Professor Dr Hartmut Schneider, gave a presentation on ‘Current case law in criminal procedure’.

• On 17 July 2015 –, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer delivers his inaugural lecture at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, entitled “On the Nature and Purpose of Appeals”.

• On 15 July 2015 –, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer speaks at Munich RE’s “Expert Network Training Initiative 2015” on the topic “Criminal risks in the financial services sector”.

• On 19 June 2015 –, At the 14th NStZ Annual Conference in Frankfurt am Main, lawyer Professor Dr Christoph Knauer gives a presentation on the topic “Caught between a rock and a hard place: criminal law, company law and regulatory challenges in the event of a criminal incident at a bank”. Further information can be found on the NStZ Annual Conference website.

• On 12–, 13 June 2015 – At the DAI Annual Conference on Criminal Law in Hamburg, Professor Dr Christoph Knauer, barrister, gave a presentation on the topic “The law on the admissibility of evidence: expansion or restriction”. Other speakers: Professor Dr Andreas Mosbacher, Judge at the Federal Court of Justice, Karlsruhe; Professor Dr Hartmut Schneider, Federal Prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice, Leipzig; Dr Margarete Gräfin von Galen, barrister, specialist in criminal law.

• On 17–, 18 April 2015 – Professor Dr Christoph Knauer, barrister, gave a lecture at the Traunstein Cancer Congress entitled ‘Informing patients about a cancer diagnosis: between empathy and criminal law’.

• On 10 February 2015 –, Dr Christoph Knauer, barrister, gives a lecture to specialist solicitors at the Munich Bar Association on the subject of medical criminal law.

• On 28 November 2014 –, Dr Christoph Knauer, barrister, speaks at the 9th Beck Criminal Law Conference 2014 on recent supreme court rulings in criminal law.

• On 9 October 2014 –, Dr Christoph Knauer, barrister, gave a presentation at the 2nd Hanover Bar Conference on the topic of ‘breach of client confidentiality’. Other speakers: Professor Dr Christian Wolf, Tobias Freudenberg, Dr Ulrich Wessels, Dr Bernd Mayer.

• On 17–, 19 July 2014 – Dr Christoph Knauer, barrister, gave a presentation on the topics of white-collar crime and criminal procedure as part of the Beck Academy’s summer course in criminal law.

• On 4–, 5 July 2014 – Dr Christoph Knauer, solicitor, gave a presentation at the 13th NStZ Annual Conference in Frankfurt am Main on the topic of ‘Criminal procedural issues in handling large-scale or complex (white-collar) criminal proceedings’.

• On 20–, 21 June 2014 – Dr Christoph Knauer speaks at the German Lawyers’ Institute’s Annual Criminal Law Conference on the topics “Current developments in criminal procedure law” and “Problems associated with the outsourcing of evidence to third parties from the perspective of the legal profession” . Other speakers: Professor Dr Andreas Mosbacher, Judge at the Federal Court of Justice; Professor Dr Hartmut Schneider, Federal Prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice; Annette Marbeth-Kubicki, barrister.

• On 10 April 2014 –, Lawyer Dr Christoph Knauer gave a lecture entitled “New Challenges in White-Collar Crime Law” as part of Conference 11d/14 “Developments and Trends in Criminal Law” organised by the German Judges’ Academy in Wustrau.

• On 7–, 8 February 2014 – Lawyers Dr Florian Ufer and Dr Christoph Knauer give presentations on the topic of “Criminal Procedure Law and Criminal Defence” as part of the specialist lawyer course in criminal law.

• On 29 November 2013 –, Lawyer Dr Christoph Knauer delivers a lecture entitled “Current Case Law on Criminal Procedure” as part of the 8th Beck Criminal Law Conference.

• On 12 November 2013 –, Dr Christoph Knauer, barrister, gives a presentation followed by a panel discussion on the topic “The fight against corruption in our neighbouring country, Germany – whistleblowing, plea bargains in the fight against white-collar crime and leniency schemes are the order of the day in Bavaria. Do these mechanisms deliver the desired results?” at the 22nd Forum of Public Prosecutors in Kufstein, Austria. Other speakers: Senior Public Prosecutor Renate Wimmer, Munich I Public Prosecutor’s Office, and Senior Public Prosecutor Hildegard Wolff, Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office.

• On 8–, 9 November 2013 – Lawyers Dr Florian Ufer and Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation on ‘Criminal Procedure Law and Criminal Defence’ as part of the specialist lawyer course in criminal law.

• On 17 October 2013 –, Lawyer Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation on ‘Criminal Law Fundamentals of Internal Investigations’ as part of the Cologne Compliance Days.

• On 18 April 2013 –, Dr Christoph Knauer, lawyer, gives a lecture entitled “New Challenges in White-Collar Crime Law” as part of Conference No. 12d/13 “Developments and Trends in Criminal Law” organised by the German Judges’ Academy in Wustrau

• On 15 August 2012 –, “Panel discussion” on plea bargaining in criminal proceedings as part of Conference No. 23d of the German Judges’ Academy in Wustrau; participants: Prof. Dr Bertram Schmitt, Judge at the Federal Court of Justice (BGH); Prof. Dr Harmut Schneider, Federal Prosecutor at the BGH; and Dr Christoph Knauer, lawyer.

• On 1–, 3 June 2012 – Barristers Dr Florian Ufer and Dr Christoph Knauer gave lectures on general topics relating to the Code of Criminal Procedure as part of the specialist barrister course in criminal law (Fürstenberg Seminars).

• On 11–, 13 May 2012 – Dr Christoph Knauer, together with Prof. Dr Hartmut Schneider, Federal Public Prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice, held a seminar on current issues relating to the Code of Criminal Procedure as part of the specialist lawyer course in criminal law (Fürstenberg Seminare.

• On 21 April 2012 –, Dr Christoph Knauer gives a lecture on the topic ‘Applications for the taking of evidence in recent case law of the Federal Court of Justice’ at the 14th Criminal Defence Lawyers’ Spring Symposium in Karlsruhe, organised by the Criminal Law Working Group of the German Bar Association.

• On 11 November 2011 –, Dr Christoph Knauer delivers a lecture on ‘Case law on plea bargaining in criminal proceedings following the reform’ at the 6th Beck Criminal Law Conference.

• On 21–, 22 October 2011 – Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation on ‘Internal investigations’ at the ‘4th Munich Compliance Symposium’

• On 14 September 2010 Dr Christoph Knauer gave a lecture on the topic of breach of trust as part of the judges’ training programme in Wustrau.

• On 12 June 2010 –, Dr Christoph Knauer gave a presentation on ‘Criminal liability of legal advisers, internal auditors and compliance officers (“Berliner Straßenreinigung” – 5 StR 394/08)’ at the 9th NStZ Annual Conference on White-Collar Crime 2010 organised by the NStZ in Frankfurt.

• Münchener Juristischen Gesellschaft e.V.

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Strafrecht des DAV

• Münchener Anwaltverein e.V.

• Deutscher Juristentag e.V.

• Deutsch-Israelische Juristenvereinigung e.V.

• Wirtschaftstrafrechtliche Vereinigung e.V. (WisteV)

German, English