Profile

Sarah Johnen

European Counsel,
White Collar Defense and Investigations,
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

My Contact Information

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Frankfurt am Main
Work: +49.69.7422.0174

Social Links

Chapter Location

Germany

Bio

I advise domestic and international management and supervisory boards in connection with corporate governance, internal investigations and compliance matters. I have broad experience defending government inquiries and conducting internal investigations in bribery, accounting irregularities and related matters in a variety of industries, such as automotive, construction, logistics and natural resources.

My experience includes advising, among others:

  • a global private equity firm on a criminal investigation of a high-level executive of a target company
  • a multinational industrial technology company on corruption allegations involving its subsidiary in China
  • a global investment management firm on reviewing business decisions made by the management of one of its joint ventures that caused its financial distress
  • ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE on an internal investigation by its supervisory board in connection with regulatory requirements of certain subsidiaries and related corporate governance aspects
  • the supervisory board of a multinational manufacturer of industrial goods on an internal investigation into allegations of fraud, violations of food hygiene regulations and related corporate governance matters
  • the supervisory board of Continental AG on an internal investigation in connection with car emissions and related corporate governance matters
  • the board of directors of a Middle East-based developer and operator of power generation plants on an internal investigation into fraud, bribery and corruption allegations relating to a southeast Asia energy project
  • funds advised by Energy Infrastructure Partners AG on a €530 million investment for a 49% stake in BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH
  • the management board of an international automobile manufacturer regarding consequence management on diesel emissions
  • a multinational company in the logistics sector on several internal investigations concerning alleged corruption and accounting irregularities
  • the managing directors of a German investment company on the decision-making process regarding the assertion of claims against a D&O insurer
  • the internal audit department of a multinational company on the logistics sector in an internal review of alleged corruption and accounting irregularities
  • a multinational shipping company on an internal investigation concerning alleged corruption

I have been named to Best Lawyers’ Ones To Watch list since its inaugural edition in 2021. In addition, WirtschaftsWoche ranks me as a Highly Recommended Lawyer in its Compliance category and The Legal 500 Deutschland has recognized me as a “key contact for corporate governance issues” and for being “an extremely meticulous lawyer with a very good feel for the needs of a large corporation.”

I am a member of the firm’s German Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee regularly plan and implement diversity initiatives for Skadden’s German and European offices.

Practice Areas

  • Internal Investigations