Company start-up
Together with Thomas Lüthi and two other partners, Dr. Andreas Pohlmann founded the interdisciplinary law and consulting firm Pohlmann & Company in Frankfurt am Main in February 2012. Its mission is to advise companies on the introduction and further development of compliance management systems and in the area of corporate governance. Initial mandates include comprehensive compliance risk analyses and health checks.
Further office and selected mandates
A second office was opened in Munich in August 2013 in order to serve the growing client base of the interdisciplinary law and consulting firm in southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Further mandates included advising a large German industrial company on the handling and management of past compliance incidents as well as various compliance risk analyses, health checks, training programs, business partner audits and the introduction of whistleblower systems.
Appointing new Partners and Extension of Consultancy
Pohlmann & Company strengthened its corporate law, compliance and competition law practice with further new partners. Nicole Willms from White & Case joined the firm as a partner at the beginning of the year. Soon thereafter, Dr. Thomas Preute, formerly Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Elster Group, joined the firm. In March 2014, the respected environmental and real estate attorney Dr. Horst Schlemminger joined the firm as equity partner – after 25 years with Clifford Chance.
In addition to numerous other mandates in the areas of preventive compliance advisory and environmental compliance, Pohlmann & Company advised Robert Bosch GmbH on the effectiveness of its worldwide compliance and legal function as well as the international chemicals group Celanese (legal successor to Hoechst AG) and the Hafen- und Marktbetriebe der Stadt Frankfurt/Main in numerous environmental matters. In addition, Pohlmann & Company supported and accompanied Bilfinger SE with regard to the compliance monitorship resulting from a settlement agreement with the US authorities.
Appointment to Petrobras Special Committee
The semi-state owned Brazilian oil company Petrobras, shaken by a corruption scandal, appointed Dr. Andreas Pohlmann as an independent foreign member of the three-member Special Committee, which accompanies the internal investigations into the matter.
New Office in Canada for the North American Market
In the third quarter of 2015, Pohlmann & Company opened an office in Montreal, Canada, headed by Stefan Hoffmann-Kuhnt, a recognized compliance expert. With this step, Pohlmann & Company focuses on the current development of compliance requirements facing companies in the North American market.
Expanding of the shareholder base and Appointment to Independent Compliance Monitor
At the beginning of 2016, the attorneys Dr. Thomas Preute and Nicole Willms were appointed equity partners. Pohlmann & Company is thus expanding its shareholder base, which previously consisted of the equity partners Dr. Andreas Pohlmann, Thomas Lüthi and Dr. Horst Schlemminger.
In mid-2016, Dr. Andreas Pohlmann is appointed Independent Compliance Monitor at a NASDAQ 100 company. The appointment is part of a settlement agreement between the company and the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Strengthening the team and further successful mandates
With four experienced specialists from industry and the legal profession, Pohlmann & Company expanded and strengthened the team. In addition, the former GEA Executive Board member Dr. Stephan Petri, a senior executive with many years of corporate experience, joined Pohlmann & Company as a partner.
That year, Stefan Hoffmann-Kuhnt served as a monitor for a Canadian company in a settlement with the World Bank. Since October 2017, Pohlmann & Company has also been advising Volkswagen’s Independent Compliance Monitor, Larry Thompson, as German Counsel. Other areas of focus included internal investigations and corporate governance.
5th Anniversary and Roundtable Discussion with Hui Chen
Pohlmann & Company celebrated its first successful five years in August, followed by an information and discussion session with Hui Chen, formerly in charge of assessing the compliance programs of companies targeted by the U.S. authorities at the U.S. Department of Justice.
We are growing further
Christian Beer and Julia Kahlenberg are made partners in March 2018. Christian was previously with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and also brought experience from a company when he joined in 2013. Julia joined Pohlmann & Company in 2015 and had previously worked in various compliance functions at Siemens and Osram. Dr. Anita Schieffer also joined Pohlmann & Company as partner in May 2018. The compliance specialist also moved from Siemens and strenghtened our Munich office.
Relaunch and News Blog
The comprehensive relaunch of the corporate website took place in October 2018. The aim was to implement a current and dynamic image that reflects the success story and expertise of Pohlmann & Company. In addition, our partners and professionals regularly publish articles in the News Blog on current developments in national and international legislation, jurisdiction and practice in the field of Compliance & Corporate Governance.
Environmental Compliance and Crisis Management
Pohlmann & Company comprehensively advised the Supervisory Board of TÜV SÜD AG in connection with the dam breach in Brazil (Brumadinho) and supported the organization and establishment of a crisis management system. Based on its many years of experience in the field of environmental compliance and in international consulting for companies in extreme situations, the company further expanded its expertise in crisis management.
Foundation of German Chapter WWCDA
In September Nicole Willms founded the German Chapter of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) together with 17 members from leading law and consulting firms. The aim of the association is to promote the success of women at all levels of their careers in the areas of commercial litigation, compliance and (internal) investigations.
New equity partners
With Uwe Erling, Pohlmann & Company is strengthening its environmental law and environmental compliance practice from January 1, 2020. Erling is a proven expert in public law, in particular administrative and environmental law, climate protection and emissions trading law, renewable energies law, as well as aviation law and mining law. Together with Erling, Julia Kahlenberg and Christian Beer also join the equity partnership.
Digital Platform for Compliance Risk Analysis
For many years, Pohlmann & Company, together with the IT company Proxora, has been offering customized compliance solutions and tools. Currently, an in-house developed program for compliance risk analysis, the “Compliance Risk Monitor”, is being rolled out to the first customers.
Compliance Monitorship and Internal Investigations
The second US DOJ/SEC monitorship in a short period of time consolidates our unique international reputation in the field of compliance consulting and internal investigations. We are considered the “first address” for clients when it comes to guiding companies, boards of directors or supervisory boards through complex situations in an independent, crisis-tested and goal-oriented manner.
Sustainability and Climate Protection
The consistent expansion of our environmental law team and our early focus on corporate social responsibility contribute to our ability to respond flexibly and competently to current challenges, such as the issue of ESG. The focus on sustainable and responsible management is also increasingly reflected in new ideas and initiatives to equip the firm’s day-to-day operations for the future.