Sarah Johnen

Dr. Johnen has represented clients and conducted investigations in a variety of industries, such as automotive, construction, logistics and natural resources. She has broad experience defending government inquiries and conducting internal investigations in fraud, bribery, accounting irregularities and related matters. She also holds a master’s degree in medical law.

Her 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

Dr. Johnen has been named to Best Lawyers’ Ones To Watch list since its inaugural edition in 2021. The Legal 500 Deutschland also recognizes her 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.”

She is a member of the firm’s German Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and regularly plans and implements diversity initiatives for Skadden’s German and European offices.