Law firm

Law firm for Criminal Law, Compliance and Whistleblowing in Austria

We offer customised solutions for special challenges. The firm’s founder, Dr. Elias Schönborn, not only specialises in Criminal Defense, but also has particular expertise in avoiding criminal law risks and the confidential Internal Investigation of possible legal violations. Austria-wide, discreet and with strategic foresight.

Dr. Elias Schönborn

Specialising in the areas of White-Collar Criminal Law, Compliance and Whistleblowing. Dr. Elias Schönborn is your competent partner in crisis situations and preventive advice. We are digitally orientated and use the latest technologies to provide you with effective and up-to-date support – regardless of your location in Austria. Whether you are an individual, a large corporation, a start-up or a medium-sized company: We focus on individual advice and customised solutions in the interests of our clients.

Personalised. Professional. At your side in criminal law.

Due to his early specialisation in the field of criminal law, Dr. Elias Schönborn can look back on a large number of successful Criminal Defense cases in Commercial and Medical Criminal Law.

Criminal proceedings are often a threatening experience for the accused persons. In such critical moments, it is our role to guide you with prudence, expertise and human understanding and to defend you competently. With our in-depth legal knowledge and experience from a large number of criminal proceedings, we offer you a defense strategy that is designed to comprehensively protect your rights and interests.

Proven expertise in the areas of compliance and whistleblowing

Dr. Schönborn is co-author of the first Austrian handbook on Criminal Compliance. In addition to his work as a lawyer, Dr. Elias Schönborn is also a certified Compliance Officer and regularly advises companies and public institutions on the design of effective compliance structures, the identification and minimisation of criminal law risks and the conduct of Internal Investigations. He also specialises in all legal issues relating to whistleblowing and is co-author of the first legal commentary on the Austrian Whistleblower Protection Act (HSchG). In addition to his practical work, Dr. Schönborn is a lecturer for renowned providers such as ARS, AWAK and MANZ.

You can find more information about our services here. Further information on the areas of law in which we specialise can be found here.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE


since 2023	Independent Attorney at Law & Criminal Defense Lawyer (law firm es.law in Vienna)
2018 – 2023	Associate/Attorney at Law at DORDA (White-Collar Criminal Law, Medical Criminal Law, Compliance, Civil Procedural Law)
2023	Legal 500: Honoured as 'Rising Star' (White Collar Crime)
2022	Certified Whistleblowing Officer training at the Institute for Internal Auditing Austria
2022	Recipient of the Promotional Award by Juristische Blätter
2021	Secondment as Inhouse Legal Counsel at GlaxoSmithKline Pharma GmbH in the area of Compliance
2021	Certified Compliance Officer training at Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut Wien
2020	Bar Exam in the district of the Higher Regional Court of Vienna with honours
2016 – 2019	Doctoral studies in law at the University of Vienna, merit scholarship holder; graduated with honours
2016 – 2017	Judicial clerkship in the district of the Higher Regional Court of Vienna with honours
2012 – 2016	Diploma studies in law at the University of Vienna and the London School of Economics and Political Science, specialising in criminal justice and criminal science; top 10% of graduates in the 2015/16 academic year; recipient of three merit scholarships

EXPERIENCE

Successfully defended a leading global technology company in the healthcare sector in a criminal case as an accused association, achieving the termination of the investigation within a few months.
Represented an aggrieved investor as a private party against an Austrian entrepreneur in cross-border criminal proceedings with a total amount of damages in the double-digit million range.
Successful defense of a managing director in an international criminal investigation for allegations of fraud in the millions – termination of the investigation proceedings.
Developed an anti-corruption guideline and provided ongoing criminal law compliance advice for a global medical device manufacturer.
Advised and supported a global automotive supplier during an internal investigation following a whistleblower report of criminally relevant allegations.
Created a compliance guideline and conducted a workshop for a public institution on anti-corruption and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.
Successfully defended an accused managing director in a criminal investigation for allegations of embezzlement in the millions – proceedings were terminated after a few months.
Represented a former professional soccer player as a private participant in an investigation related to a crypto fraud case with a six-figure amount of damage.

BOOKS

PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES

Verhältnismäßigkeit und Datenschutz bei der Sicherstellung von Daten(trägern) – Zwischen effizienter Strafverfolgungs und effektivem Grundrechtsschutz (2024)
- Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Finanzstrafrecht (ZWF) · 15.07.2024 (together with Thiel)
Gesetzliche Regelungen zur Handy-Sicherstellung sind verfassungswidrig (Austria) (2024)
- WiJ – Journal der Wirtschaftsstrafrechtlichen Vereinigung e.V. (WisteV) 15.06.2024 (together with Thiel)
Stampiglienbeschluss als rechtsstaatliches Feigenblatt (2024)
- Die Presse Rechtspanorama vom 29.1.2024 (together with Seidl)
Ausgewählte strafrechtliche Schwachpunkte des HSchG (2024)
- ecolex 2024/1, 13
Das strafrechtliche Nachspiel zu den Corona-Förderungen (2023)
- Die Presse Rechtspanorama vom 10.7.2023 (together with Dondras)
How to implement an effective Criminal Compliance Management System (2023)
- CEJ 2023, Volume 9 No 1, 36
Criminal Compliance mit System meistern (2023)
- ZWF 2023, 11 (together with Keimelmayr)
Effektive Rechtsausübung und prozesstaktische Erwägungen für Privatbeteiligte (2023)
- ÖJZ 2023, 86
Buchbesprechung – Korruption im Krankenhaus – effektiv vermeiden, gegensteuern und aufklären (2022)
- RdM 2022, 236
Dürfen Strafverfolgungsbehörden Beschuldigte zur (biometrischen) Entschlüsselung von Endgeräten zwingen? (2022)
- JBl 2022, 361 (together with Seidl)
Haftung & Prävention: Aktuelle Antworten zum “Fake President Fraud” (2022)
- Compliance Praxis 1/2022, 31 (together with Spadinger)
Keine Geschäftsführerhaftung bei Cyber-Attacke – Zugleich eine Besprechung von OGH 8 ObA 109/20t (2022)
- ecolex 2022, 144 (together with Löw)
Behördenzugriff auf Handys gehört gesetzlich geregelt – und begrenzt (2022)
- Die Presse – Rechtspanorama vom 10.1.2022 (together with Seidl)
Anti-corruption compliance in times of the covid-19 pandemic – criminal law risks and incentives for compliance-management-systems in the healthcare sector (2021)
- CEJ 2021, Vol 7 No 1, 5
Antikorruptions-Compliance in Zeiten der COVID-19-Pandemie (2020)
- RdM 2020, 268
Offene Fragen zur Korruption im privaten Sektor nach § 309 StGB (2019)
- JSt 2019, 419
Aktive Korruption als Untreue? (2019)
- ZWF 2019, 174
Die Verursachung von Prozessrisiken aus strafrechtlicher Sicht (2019)
- JSt 2019, 228
Der rechtlich begründete Anspruch im Korruptionsstrafrecht (2019)
- JSt 2019, 9
Die Richtlinie zur Europäischen Ermittlungsanordnung – Kernfragen zu strafprozessualen Effizienzbestrebungen im Unionsrecht und Szenarien möglicher Rechtsschutzdefizite nach nationalem Recht (2017)
- juridikum 2017, 58
Zur strafrechtlichen Beurteilung des konzerninternen Cash Pooling (2016)
- JSt 2016, 421

LANGUAGES

German
English

MEMBERSHIPS

Association of Austrian Defense Lawyers (VÖStV)

Austrian White Collar Crime Association (AWCCA)

Association for Commercial Criminal Law (Wistev)

European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA)

Vienna Bar Association (RAK Vienna)

CLIENTS FEEDBACK

"In the most difficult time of my professional life, I am very happy to have Dr. Schönborn at my side. He gives me the feeling that he is always there for me and is always available with his legal knowledge and advice. In particular, Dr. Schönborn has a friendly manner and is able to explain even the most complicated legal situations to me in a clear manner. Dr. Schönborn always has his eye on the goal and guides me confidently towards it. I can recommend Dr. Schönborn with a clear conscience and would choose him as my legal representative again at any time"

"A lawyer who can be trusted without hesitation, because the way Dr. Schönborn looks after his clients could not be better. His professional, objective and determined way of working is downright impressive! I would highly recommend this expert in legal matters, especially as his human nature during the discussions conveys a strong sense of security, and subsequently his work has been reflected in the result to my complete satisfaction."

"We would like to thank Dr. Elias Schönborn for his extremely professional and humane legal representation in criminal proceedings. His competent intervention led to a positive outcome for us. This was only possible thanks to Dr. Elias Schönborn's truly experienced approach. We would like to thank him once again and give him our best recommendations."

"The professionals I had the opportunity to work with, most notably Dr. Elias Schönborn, are exceptional in terms of their customer service and went above and beyond my expectations. Right from the beginning, there is a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. Dr. Elias Schönborn is able to assess the situation from a variety of perspectives and clearly outline all of the possible courses of action and options. He also sketches out all of the potential developments of events. In essence, it is stress free and easy to work with him, and the atmosphere that he cultivates is one that is replete with confidence and clarity."

"A really very sympathetic and competent lawyer. Explains things clearly and acts quickly. You feel very well represented. Can recommend Dr. Schönborn with a clear conscience!"

"He always took the time to explain each step clearly and go through everything in detail. Thanks to this extremely high level of commitment, I felt informed and reassured throughout the entire process. In summary, I can recommend Dr. Elias Schönborn as a lawyer without reservation. Should I ever need legal support again, there is only one person I would choose. I am very grateful for the support and can highly recommend him."