With unique background, combined with dedication to excellence, Angelika Hellweger is serving as a leading figure in the field of white-collar crime and commercial disputes. Legal Director at Rahman Ravelli, Angelika is a dual-qualified Austrian counsel and English solicitor, bringing unparalleled expertise in international, high-level economic crime investigations and large-scale commercial disputes. With a specialization in criminal law honed during her university studies, Angelika’s passion for white-collar crime and complex disputes was ignited from the very start of her legal career.
Her journey began as an associate at Austria’s largest law firm, where she was immediately entrusted with significant responsibilities—drafting a freezing order for the London High Court and working on one of Austria’s most prominent white-collar crime cases at the time. This early exposure to high-stakes, cross-border cases shaped her understanding of the legal landscape and inspired her to pursue dual qualifications, mastering both civil and common law systems to deliver the best possible outcomes for her clients.
Angelika’s career is defined by her deep understanding of the nuances and advantages of both legal systems. This insight drove her to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, eventually leading her to London, where she now practices as a Legal Director at Rahman Ravelli. Her global experience, including time spent in the Middle East, has enriched her cultural understanding and enhanced her capabilities as a lawyer, allowing her to navigate the complexities of international law with skill and precision.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between Fortunes Time and Angelika Hellweger:
What initially attracted you to the field of law?
I was drawn to the possibility that a legal education can open up a number of different career pathways on which you can embark—pathways that are not typical “lawyer jobs, like solicitor or judge.”
It might sound naive, but the pursuit of justice was also one of my key motivations to study law. I wanted to protect those who might not be able to protect themselves from injustice.
Legal considerations are part of every business decision, and the law plays a key role in so many aspects of life—this makes it particularly exciting.
Tell us about Rahman Ravelli Solicitors. What are its offerings?
Rahman Ravelli is a firm with experience and acknowledged expertise in serious and corporate fraud, white-collar crime, bribery and corruption, sanctions, regulatory matters, complex crime, market abuse, asset recovery, and commercial litigation; particularly civil fraud. It has gained the highest legal guide rankings, a string of awards and legal successes, and a reputation second to none.
It is among the UK’s most prominent legal firms for managing all aspects of criminal and regulatory defense and dealing with UK and worldwide agencies. It receives instructions on the largest and most notable and complex multinational and multi-agency white-collar crime investigations.
It is in increasing demand to help corporations and senior executives investigate and self-report wrongdoing to achieve a civil, rather than a criminal, solution to an issue.
As a legal leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?
Although the situation is gradually changing, the area of white-collar crime is still a very male-dominated one, both from a law firm partner perspective and from a client perspective; where the “white-male-pale-stale description” is still prevalent. This makes building a network challenging. But the answer to that is not that women should only network between themselves. Women are less often invited to speak on panels at legal conferences, are less often invited when it comes to building professional relationships with important clients or other law firms, and are often tasked with typical “housework” duties within a law firm.
So, it’s an ongoing challenge to find ways to properly network. This means a lot of self-generated initiative is required when identifying proper speaking opportunities. And this also means asking those males for support who are willing and able to introduce you into circles that might otherwise be very difficult to access.
Challenges make you stronger: What is your take on this? Tell us about the challenge of being a women leader.
As a woman, you will be judged by others all the time, irrespective of what you do. And this obviously continues when you are a woman in a leadership position. This goes from personal statements like “Look what she’s wearing today” and “Don’t you think her dress is too long or too short?” through to statements concerning personal life (Is she married or divorced, and why or why not?). Does she have children and why or why not?) and on to statements about being “bossy” when a woman is being assertive in their professional life. I think it’s good advice not to carry the weight of other people’s opinions on your shoulders. Rather, try and surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you and who support you in both your professional and private endeavors.
What advice would you offer to aspiring legal professionals who are interested in pursuing a career in the legal field?
Always stay curious and pursue your own interests and passions besides the law, as those other interests will make you a better lawyer in the long run.
Try to get insights into as many fields of law as possible, either in university or through some work experience. before you decide in which areas you want to specialize.
Everyone has their own way and speed when it comes to building his or her career. Walk your own path. Don’t be intimidated by those who seem to be the “overachievers” and find out what works best for you—a career in law is a marathon, not a sprint. And learn to rest well as you are progressing.
If your career in law progresses differently than those of your peers because, for example, you move for some time abroad or because you dedicate your time to your private life, see it as a unique mark that sets you apart from others.
Embrace change: if you find out that another field of law suits you better than the one chosen before, don’t be afraid of switching to the other field, regardless of which stage of your career you are at.
