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  • Martin Knaup
Dr. Martin Knaup, LL.B.
Dr. Martin Knaup, LL.B.

Dr. Martin Knaup, LL.B.

Partner

  • Hamburg Germany
  • San Francisco USA
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+49 40 36803 0
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Featured award

Legal 500 2026

Martin is an outstanding lawyer in the field of corporate compliance. His in-depth expertise, pragmatic approach and ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical solutions make him an effective partner.

Scroll to featured award

Martin is Co-Head of the Compliance Practice Group at Taylor Wessing in Germany. As a certified compliance officer, he specialises in providing ongoing advice to national and international companies in the area of corporate compliance, in particular on the implementation and development of preventive compliance management systems.

His legal work focuses, inter alia, on the prevention of money laundering (compliance with customer due diligence obligations under the Money Laundering Act, implementation and monitoring of KYC checks and business partner screenings (M&A), identification of beneficial owners (UBO), compliance with notification obligations to the transparency register, etc.) and advice on internal reporting systems (in particular implementation of the requirements of the Whistleblower Protection Act).

As an expert in corporate compliance, Martin knows how to establish the necessary process and organisational framework within the company and is thus available to his clients as a "trusted advisor" in compliance matters. His excellent network within the firm enables him to directly involve colleagues with the necessary expertise, as required, in order to provide clients with comprehensive compliance advice.

In the event of (alleged) compliance violations (especially as a result of identified compliance violations and whistleblower hints), Martin regularly manages and coordinates internal investigations. He advises on disputes between shareholders of partnerships and corporations as well as directors' and officers' liability claims/litigation. Experience gained through a secondment at a listed industrial group has shaped his understanding of economic contexts and corporate interests.

Martin is a frequently requested speaker on the topic of compliance and internal investigations and regularly lectures at industry associations such as the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) or the Professional Association of Compliance Managers (BCM). He also trains in-house lawyers on the implementation of preventive compliance measures and structures.

Expertise

Services and Groups

Corporate crime & compliance
Disputes & investigations
Corporate/M&A & capital markets
Multi-service
Environmental, social & governance (ESG)
Corporate litigation & post-M&A disputes
Trade secrets
Compliance
Anti-money laundering & proceeds of crime
Whistleblowing

Sectors

Manufacturing & industrials
Technology, media & communications
Aerospace & defence

CV

Since 2022 Equity Partner, Taylor Wessing
2017 Salary Partner, Taylor Wessing
Since 2016 Lecturer, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Hamburg
2015 – 2017 Senior Associate, Taylor Wessing
2012 – 2015 Associate, Taylor Wessing
2010 – 2012 Legal clerkship, Hamburg with postings in Munich and New York
2012 Admitted and established as a lawyer, Hamburg
2012 Second state examination, Hamburg
2011 Doctoral degree on dissertation on an international commercial law theme, Bucerius Law School, Hamburg
2008 First state examination
2005 Study of law, University of Sydney Law School, Australia
2003 – 2008 Legal degree studies, Bucerius Law School, Hamburg

Career

Since 2022 Equity Partner, Taylor Wessing
2017 Salary Partner, Taylor Wessing
Since 2016 Lecturer, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Hamburg
2015 – 2017 Senior Associate, Taylor Wessing
2012 – 2015 Associate, Taylor Wessing
2010 – 2012 Legal clerkship, Hamburg with postings in Munich and New York

Education

2012 Admitted and established as a lawyer, Hamburg
2012 Second state examination, Hamburg
2011 Doctoral degree on dissertation on an international commercial law theme, Bucerius Law School, Hamburg
2008 First state examination
2005 Study of law, University of Sydney Law School, Australia
2003 – 2008 Legal degree studies, Bucerius Law School, Hamburg

Publications

Systemupdate, in: Compliance Manager, 06/2021, gemeinsam mit André Lippert und Rebekka Krause

Der Gesetzesentwurf des Lieferkettengesetzes im Überblick, in: comply, 05/2021, S. 21-23, gemeinsam mit Sebastian Rünz

Dissertation: Die Begrenzung globaler Unternehmensleitung durch 9 Absatz 2 Satz 2 StGB, Duncker & Humblot, 2011

Additional languages

English

Awards

Legal 500 2026

Featured

Martin is an outstanding lawyer in the field of corporate compliance. His in-depth expertise, pragmatic approach and ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical solutions make him an effective partner.

Legal 500 2026

Recommended lawyer for Compliance

The Best Lawyers™ in Germany 2025

Best lawyers: Litigation

Legal 500 2025

Recommended lawyer for Compliance

Leading individual: Litigation

Recommended lawyer for Compliance

Ranked as leading lawyer for Compliance in Germany

Ranked as Top-100 business lawyer in Germany

Leading individual: Litigation

'I experienced Martin Knaup as a motivated compliance expert who was also able to recommend suitable IT tools in a well-founded and reasoned manner.'

Ranked in the list of the top 100 lawyers in Germany

Frequently recommended for Compliance

Martin's news & insights

View Martin's insights
Disputes Predictions 2026 | Taylor Wessing
Click here to find out more
Disputes & investigations

Disputes Predictions – The litigation and arbitration issues companies must prepare for

26 February 2026

by multiple authors

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Competition, EU & trade

EU authorized new sanctions against Russia

General overview of the sanctions regime and explaination what companies need to do now

4 August 2025
Briefing

by multiple authors

Click here to find out more
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Corporate crime & compliance

Corporate crime and punishment: recent developments in corporate criminal liability

25 March 2025
In-depth analysis

by multiple authors

Click here to find out more
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