Defense Lawyer in Cologne
When one should engage a defense lawyer
You or your company are charged with a criminal offense or an administrative offense, respectively?
In such a situation, it is important to have someone at your side, you can rely on and who commands his profession.
Dr. Dirk Schlei
Lawyer
Specialist Solicitor for Criminal Law

What makes me stand out as a defense lawyer
Seniority and Experience
I have been admitted to the bar since 1995 – first in Düsseldorf, later in Cologne. I have great seniority, and experience in criminal defense. This enables me to act at eye level with the police, the public prosecutor’s office and the court: extremely committed and – whenever necessary – combative.
Competence by specialisation
As a specialist solicitor for criminal law in Cologne, criminal defense is my exclusive field of activity.
Please read the reviews by my clients.
Maintaining competence through further training
Since the successful completion of the specialist lawyer training for criminal law, I have been constantly fostering my special knowledge of criminal law – among other things by attending advanced training events several times a year.
How would I conduct your criminal defense?
Facts
At first: accurate determination of the facts by intense discussion with you, the client, comprehensive study of the files and, if necessary, own investigations.
Legal Analysis
In a second step: exact analysis of the material legal situation and reasonable assessment of the proceedings to be expected.
Defense Strategy
Finally: joint determination of how to proceed, in particular: the most promising defense strategy.
Experience etc.
Experience
Successful criminal defense in several hundred cases, inter alia white-collar offenses of the following kind:
- (violation of) accounting duties
- bankruptcy
- (violation of) compulsory insurance law
- (violation of) duty to request to open insolvency proceedings
- (violation of) foreign trade law
- forgery of documents
- fraud
- subsidy fraud
- unlawful gambling
- hiding unlawfully obtained assets
- money laundering
- non-payment and breach of trust concerning wages and salaries
- (violation of the laws on) shipments of waste
- tax offences
- trademark infringement
- …
English
- Fluent English, also proven in numerous international legal disputes including criminal proceedings.
- Several months traineeship at attorneys Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte, USA.
Education
- Doctorate to the Doctor of Rights.
- Studies of law in Freiburg, Germany.
- Legal clerkship inter alia at the Tax Court Duesseldorf, Germany.
Qualifications & Trainings
- Specialist Solicitor for Criminal Law.
- Certified as Compliance Officer (TUEV).
- Trader examinations on the energy exchanges EEX (Leipzig, Germany) and EPEX (Paris, France).
- Specialist training tax law.
- Notary training corporate law.
How to get into contact
Phone +49 221 425352
Emergency +49 1522 8522972
Fax +49 221 445365
Wilhelm-Waldeyer-Str. 14
50937 Cologne
Germany