Strategic Legal Services

A British entrepreneur took over a German steel company with the help of a nine-figure loan. However, the German bank providing the loan suddenly took a liking to the company being acquired and prevented the largely completed acquisition process under a pretext. Their goal: to take possession of the company themselves through the right of lien, and then sell it to a third party at a high profit. The bank launched a campaign against the entrepreneur through the media, politicians, and trade unions. The public prosecutor's office then investigated on suspicion of fraud. The Briton, who was also an advisor to the British Crown, spent almost a year in pre-trial detention, his global business was on the brink of collapse, and his reputation was destroyed.
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With the help of NAÏMA Strategic Legal Services, massive pressure was exerted on the public prosecutor's office, which then felt compelled to follow the defenders' leads: The executive floor of the bank was searched for documents that could exonerate the client. The public prosecutor's office found what they were looking for, the client was released from pre-trial detention, the media suddenly painted a different picture of the British entrepreneur, and the charges largely fell apart. The 'fraudster' became a victim of the bank, and the supposed victims ultimately turned out to be the fraudsters. Following a subsequent civil lawsuit by the entrepreneur against the bank, the latter had to pay substantial damages and publicly apologize to their former customer.

A German bank distributes controversial and highly risky interest optimization products to municipalities, municipal utilities, and medium-sized enterprises. Many suffer enormous losses as a result. However, the bank merely shrugs its shoulders and claims to have adequately advised its customers. Municipalities and small to medium-sized enterprises feel deceived and are suing the bank(s).
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Thanks to a sophisticated communication strategy by NAÏMA Strategic Legal Services, the media picked up on the case. We prepared the highly complex financial product for media consumption and outlined the societal consequences. The media presence of the topic led to a wave of lawsuits against the financial institution (and other banks). The courts informed themselves via media and the internet about the serious consequences of the interest products. Key documents were anonymously leaked to the plaintiffs' representatives from the executive floor of the bank. The primarily accused banking institution had to suffer severe damage to its image, was convicted several times for misadvising, and settled out of court with municipalities and entrepreneurs in other cases. On the other hand, the leading law firm was pleased with a multitude of new mandates that had become aware of them through the media campaign.

An international supplier of automotive parts is fiercely attacked and denounced in the media by its Southeast European business partner and their company. The basis of the attack was a dispute between the two business partners over the future direction of their joint enterprise. The allegation: the German supplier supposedly aimed to deliberately ruin the factories in Southeast Europe and drive workers into unemployment. The mood on the ground was explosive. The media attacks were already having negative effects on a planned foreign acquisition by the German company in the neighboring country. A legal dispute loomed, and the first lawsuits had already been filed.

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After a thorough analysis of the media landscape and the political players in the Southeast European region, NAÏMA Strategic Legal Services launched a targeted information campaign that included not only the media but also union representatives. The explosive atmosphere in the factories and local politics calmed down, and the German company emerged as a savior, while its opponent suddenly found itself holding the short end of the stick. The aggressive business partner suddenly found himself on the defensive, his accusations proved to be unfounded and hypocritical. He had no choice but to give in during negotiations over the sale of his shares to his business partner.

In 2010, an oil platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing devastating damage to people and the environment of the adjacent US states. Oil and the dispersants used to combat the oil spill polluted the beaches and entered people's bodies. In an initial class-action lawsuit, affected individuals sued the operators of the platform for compensation due to the health consequences of the disaster. Ten years later, studies showed that people who were children and teenagers at the time and had stayed or lived near the beaches were now suffering from severe health consequences of the disaster. They had inhaled the wind-blown dispersants. The law firm, which had already represented victims at the time, was now looking for those children and teenagers, who were now between 10 and 21 years old. It was difficult to reach this target group through traditional media.

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Based on the sociographic and geographic data sets and studies we researched from the affected US states, we were able to locate potential victims and address them through social media. We advised the Florida-based litigation firm on how to formulate the messages without offending the local bar association. Within a few days of the campaign's launch, the firm was able to record about 700 new mandates.

Mr. K., a devout Catholic with a keen sense for business, proved to be a real boon for the impoverished diocese in Eastern Germany. He made millions through strategic investments for the religious community, which were used for the construction of daycare centers, senior homes, and the renovation of monasteries. However, during the financial crisis, some investments turned sour, angering the General Vicar and the Bishop responsible for finances. Through local media, the diocesan representatives launched the false claim that their financial advisor had sunk about 100 million EUR of the diocese's funds. They publicly accused Mr. K. from the pulpit, claiming they had no knowledge of the questionable investment dealings. For Mr. K., who was removed from his position and faced personal bankruptcy, years of suffering and insults from his fellow believers began, while the bishop's leadership continued to drive their falsehoods into the public to divert attention from their own misconduct and lies.
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Through a careful strategy that considered the client's religiosity, we were able to get leading media to report on the case. We proved, using copies of the investment contracts, that the General Vicar and the Bishop had lied. The signature of the General Vicar was clearly visible under the questionable investment dealings. Also, in the course of a years-long legal battle, Mr. K. was able to prove that no damage had occurred to the diocese and that the rumored sum of 100 million EUR was fabricated. We accompanied the legal disputes and Mr. K. until the end. There were departures from the church, and the diocesan leadership was vilified for their unchristian behavior. While Mr. K. rehabilitated himself, the diocesan leadership must live with the accusation of having driven an innocent man into dire straits and having violated several commandments.

An international manufacturer (USA) of large cleaning machines successfully marketed its products with the claim that they no longer required cleaning agents, but cleaned with 'electrically charged water'. This advertising annoyed its also very large competitor in Europe, who legally challenged this claim in various EU jurisdictions on competition grounds. The challenge was to bring the lawsuit and its message to the general public, especially to existing and potential customers, as well as to the cleaning industry in general.
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Together with the management of the suing company and an agency that had been working for the suing company for a long time, we developed messages for the media and various media channels. We timed the announcement of the lawsuit filing to coincide with an international cleaning trade fair and disseminated our statement there. The opening of the cleaning fair was on a Thursday. Due to the time difference, the US company hardly had the opportunity to counter our statements, especially since the approaching weekend prevented a timely response. The company's stock price dropped, the company came under public pressure, especially as the lawyers of the suing company were able to prove in various courts through renowned reports that 'electrically charged water' does not clean better than normal tap water. We communicatively accompanied the legal dispute, which was won in favor of the suing company.