General Criminal Law

Defence in investigations and main hearings.

Criminal proceedings have a profound impact on those involved – professionally, privately and financially. Early, calm and strategic defence is therefore more important than any quick reaction “from the gut”.

Even before the state examination I supplemented my criminal law training with a two-year advanced course in “deviant behaviour” at the University of Hanover – focusing, among other things, on criminal law, law of sentence enforcement, psychology of deviant behaviour and the law of evidence. In addition, I completed investigative training at the private US police academy “Fortis”. I therefore do not work with statutes alone, but with a strong focus on facts, evidence and investigative tactics – in the spirit of the Roman legal maxim: da mihi facta, dabo tibi ius (“give me the facts, and I will give you the law”).

I take on defence work in investigations and main hearings and am also available at short notice in acute situations – searches, arrest, summons for questioning.

Attorney at Law Martin Heynert – Criminal defence

Focus areas in criminal defence

Not every case is spectacular – but for those concerned, every case is existential. I provide defence across the whole field of general criminal law, with particular experience in complex and business-related matters.

  • General criminal law
    Offences against the person, property and asset offences, traffic offences and others.
  • Business-related criminal proceedings
    Fraud, embezzlement, corruption, insolvency-related issues, criminal liability risks for directors.
  • Defence of professionals
    Proceedings against physicians, lawyers, corporate bodies and senior executives.
  • Own defence investigations with strong investigative capabilities
    Building an independent defence strategy with targeted investigations outside the law-enforcement authorities – supported by a “private MEK” (mobile task force) of former senior criminal police officers, enabling high-quality, discreet and legally sound investigative work.
  • Early defence in investigative proceedings
    Access to the case file, assessment of the allegations, defence strategy, communication with the authorities.
  • Main hearing
    Preparation, motions to take evidence, examination of witnesses, dealing with media and public attention.
  • Appeals (Revision) before Higher Regional Courts and the Federal Court of Justice
    Drafting grounds of appeal in a highly formalised remedy procedure in which even minor formal errors can lead to inadmissibility.
  • Constitutional complaints in criminal matters
    Review and drafting of constitutional complaints to the Federal Constitutional Court, where, in addition to the substantive arguments, strict compliance with all formal requirements is of crucial importance.
  • Retrial (Wiederaufnahme)
    Preparation and substantiation of applications for retrial, in which the applicant will generally need to present new facts or evidence – often obtained through own investigations – capable of demonstrating that the original judgment may be wrong.
  • Enforcement of sentences
    Questions of suspension of sentence on probation, relaxed regimes of imprisonment, and early release on licence.

Approach in criminal cases

For me, criminal defence does not mean conducting every case loudly. Very often a calm, structured and discreet approach is more successful – especially where, in addition to the criminal-law dimension, professional or economic consequences also have to be taken into account.

In extensive case files I use modern AI tools – within a protected data environment – to analyse the material. Particularly with files running to many thousands of pages, this makes it possible to identify patterns, contradictions and exculpatory details much more quickly. It provides a level of overview that was previously hardly attainable and allows for superior, more precise reactions during the taking of evidence.

  • Early involvement – ideally before any first interview or statement to the authorities.
  • Clear communication – with clients, but also with investigative authorities.
  • Strategy instead of activism – not every tough stance is useful, and not every cooperation is harmful.
  • Confidentiality – discreet handling of sensitive matters, in particular where professionals are concerned.

Contact in criminal cases

If you are subject to a criminal investigation or if a summons, search or arrest is imminent, obtaining advice at an early stage is crucial.

Contact:
E-mail: martin@heynert.com
Phone: Office Magdeburg +49.391.5982-243, Mobile +49.171.4135269
Appointments by arrangement in Magdeburg and Hildesheim.