Economic Criminal Law Firm

Economic crimes are comprehensively regulated in the Penal Code, primarily in Chapter XXXVI titled "Crimes Against Economic Turnover." According to Article 296 of the Penal Code, liability is incurred by a person who, while handling financial matters or business activities, causes significant financial damage through the abuse of entrusted powers or failure to fulfill duties. This is one of the most frequently encountered violations of law in this area.

Economic crimes also include acts such as:

• forgery of documents in economic transactions,
• financial fraud,
• and actions detrimental to creditors by concealing assets or transferring assets.

An entrepreneur or manager may therefore bear criminal liability not only for direct actions, but also for omissions that consequently lead to damage.

Proceedings concerning economic crimes are characterized by high complexity. They require analysis of contracts, financial documents, legal acts, and numerous pieces of evidence, which are often difficult to interpret without specialized legal and economic knowledge. Our law firm has been handling such cases for years, providing thorough analysis and support in building an effective defense strategy.

Economic Criminal Law

Economic criminal law is a branch of criminal law that focuses on protecting economic interests and the proper functioning of the market. The legislator's aim is to counteract unfair practices that may destabilize the market or lead to financial losses for contractors and institutions.

The most frequently analyzed issues include prohibited acts described in Articles 296–309 of the Penal Code. These provisions include, among others, regulations concerning:

• abuse of powers by persons managing the financial affairs of companies,
• mismanagement leading to significant losses,
• financial fraud and extortion,
• money laundering (Article 299 of the Penal Code),
• tax and customs offenses, which are often related to economic turnover.

Each of these violations can lead to serious criminal or civil consequences.

Examples of Economic Crime

To better understand what economic crime is, it is worth citing a few examples of situations that may lead to the initiation of criminal proceedings. In practice, we most often encounter the following categories of acts:

Abuse of Trust and Mismanagement

Situations where individuals managing a company undertake actions contrary to the company's interest, leading to financial losses. An example might be entering into a contract that benefits only one party or undertaking investments without risk analysis.

Fraud and Extortion

These include both financial manipulations and deliberate misleading of contractors. A typical example is incurring obligations in advance without the intention of repayment.

Money Laundering

A prohibited act described in Article 299 of the Penal Code, involving the concealment of the origin of funds obtained through crime. Such proceedings are complex as they require close cooperation between law enforcement agencies and financial institutions.

Document Forgery

This pertains to both forged invoices and irregularities in accounting books. Such actions are often part of larger financial fraud schemes.

Each of the mentioned examples has a different legal character and requires a distinct procedural strategy. At Haber&Haber, we analyze each case individually, determining which evidence may be most crucial, and what defense strategy should be adopted to effectively protect the Client's interests.

How Can We Assist?

Economic criminal law requires knowledge of regulations and the ability to act practically at every stage of the proceedings. Our law firm supports entrepreneurs and private individuals who face charges related to economic crimes.

Our actions primarily include:

• preventive advice – we analyze the legal situation of the enterprise to minimize the risks associated with conducting business. We indicate solutions that help avoid charges or mitigate their effects.
• Defense strategy development – we prepare a defense line tailored to the specifics of the case. We discuss it jointly with the Client so that every decision is well-considered and based on a thorough analysis of the evidence.
• Representation in criminal proceedings – we provide support during interrogations, court hearings, and negotiations with law enforcement agencies. Thanks to procedural experience, we can effectively respond to the actions of the prosecution and the court.
• Analysis of evidence material – we examine collected documents, expert opinions, and other evidence, assessing their usefulness in the process. Often, it is a meticulous analysis of evidence that allows demonstrating the lack of grounds for attributing guilt to the Client.

Our experience in handling cases in the field of economic criminal law enables us to combine legal knowledge with business practice. We understand economic mechanisms and know how they translate into the assessment of actions by managers and entrepreneurs by law enforcement agencies. This allows us to effectively support Clients in processes that often determine the further functioning of the company and its image.