Expertise
Volker Beissenhirtz – in addition to his experience as lawyer and management consultant – has more than twenty years of experience in operational roles on executive boards, supervisory boards, and as a compliance officer.
In these roles, Volker has implemented integrated corporate governance, risk, and compliance management systems in companies facing exceptional circumstances, thereby steering them back onto the path to success.
In addition to his Ph.D. and LL.M. from the LSE, Volker is certified as a turnaround professional and as a compliance officer.
Volker advises...
- Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises,
- in and regarding the prevention of corporate crises,
- in the investigation of crimes against companies and the recovery of assets,
- in the planning and implementation of governance, risk, and compliance structures,
- and assisting foreign companies with their activities in Germany.
Experience Highlights
Member of the Executive Board of a cooperative
- stabilized the organisation following the departure of two consecutive Executive Board members in the wake of extensive criminal investigations;
- established transparency for the Supervisory Board and succeeding Executive Board members;
- addressed past issues
Managing Director of a GmbH
- responsible for avoiding insolvency,
- preparing a restructuring report and implementing restructuring measures,
- securing additional financing, and developing sales, marketing, operational organization, and controlling
Advisory board member at a medium-sized Berlin-based corporate group
- responsible for designing and implementing early-warning risk detection systems,
- designing and implementing a so-called “emergency kit,” and restructuring the management organisation to increase the company’s resilience
Chair of the compliance committee of a professional association
- responsible for establishing a compliance management system in collaboration with management
Career History
Previous experience
- Beissenhirtz – Business Law
- Schultze & Braun GmbH Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft (2005 – 2013)
- Coudert Brothers LLP (2003 – 2005)
- PwC Veltins Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH (2000 – 2003)
Memberships
- Bundesverband Mittelständische Wirtschaft (BVMW), Legal Commission, Dep. Chairman
- Deutscher Restrukturierungs- und Insolvenzgerichtstag (DRIT), Treasurer
- European Association of Turnaround Professionals (EACTP, Board-Member (2016 – 2021
- Turnaround Management Association (D & UK)
Education
- Certified Compliance Officer (School GRC)
- Certified Turnaround Professional (EACTP)
- Legal clerkship in Ulm, Speyer & Paris
- Universities of Constance & Lausanne, London School of Economics & Political Science (LL.M.) University of Halle (doctorate)
Other
- “GRC – die Basis für nachhaltige Transformation, Restrukturierung & Sanierung” (“GRC—The Foundation for Sustainable Transformation, Restructuring, and Turnaround”), ZInsO 2025, 191
- “Der Blick hinter die Glaskugel – Gedanken zur Risiko- und Krisenfrüherkennung in mittelständischen Unternehmen“ (“Looking behind the crystal ball – thoughts on early risk and crisis detection in SMEs”), ZInsO 2020, 1673
- “Liquiditätsplanung & Risikominimierung: Sicher durch jede Unternehmensphasen“, (“Liquidity Planning & Risk Minimization: Navigating Every Phase of the Business“), BVMW WebImpuls, 5. June 2026
- “Risikofrüherkennung für den CFO – aktueller denn je” (“Early Risk Detection for the CFO—More Relevant Than Ever”) Key-Note, Atreus CFO Community, Munich, 10. April 2025
Volker is a consultant in gunnercooke Consulting GmbH, whose registered office is Kurfuerstendamm 15, 10719 Berlin, AG Charlottenburg, HRB 281313 B.