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Overall, the diesel scandal has cost the automaker so far 30 billion euros.
Düsseldorf consultants, forensic experts and above all lawyers: According to information of the Handelsblatt, the Volkswagen Group for the processing of the diesel scandal in the meantime now spent 1.77 billion euros. The amount refers to all markets and all brands of the group, as a spokesman for Volkswagen confirmed.
This should already be the highest amount that a German company has paid for the processing of an economic offense. For comparison: In the corruption affair should Siemens spent about one billion euros for consultants.
In September 2015 it became known that Volkswagen had systematically manipulated the emissions of around 11 million diesel cars, Since then, the carmaker has engaged numerous consultants. In addition to communication agencies such as Hering Schuppener and forensic experts such as the WP company Deloitte accounts for the lion’s share of the cost of law firms.
In the United States had VW some legal disputes deny, both in criminal and civil matters. Kirkland & Ellis was one of the most important law firms there, for example in the dispute with the regulatory authorities.
American top law firms are expensive compared to German law firms, renowned partners call hourly rates of $ 1000 or more. A lot of money cost the car maker also a comparison with the US customers. The Wolfsburg had to pay the fees of the plaintiff lawyers, which are remunerated success-dependent.
In Germany Numerous law firms are also involved in the diesel scandal. In some areas, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has the lead, such as the lawsuits of car owners. There are now 63,000 individual lawsuits in Germany plus more than 400,000 diesel owners, who have joined the sample claim action of the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv),
Freshfields coordinates the defense of these lawsuits and also represents VW in labor disputes with six dismissed managers. In the action of the shareholders for possible breach of information duties VW relies on SZA Schilling Zutt Anschütz and Göhmann.
Also criminally mixed Freshfields. Although the first round of internal reconnaissance was taken over by the US law firm Jones Day, this mandate is now over. Gleiss Lutz plays an important role as advisor to the Supervisory Board.
Overall, the diesel scandal VW has cost around 30 billion euros. However, the final bill should turn out to be a few billion euros higher – also because the lawyers are far from finished with their work.
More: At the end of June wants VW with Traton to the stock market. This step serves as an example for the new way. Now the group announced further details of the IPO,
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