As former head of department at the German Police University, Dr. Rackow has first-hand knowledge of how investigative authorities operate and make decisions. He has extensive academic expertise in criminal law and criminal procedure, as well as many years of experience in private practice.

Extradition proceedings involve transferring a prosecuted person to another state for the purpose of criminal prosecution or enforcement of a sentence. In practice, extradition is frequently associated with detention. Both substantive and procedural objections can be raised against extradition decisions – particularly regarding potential human rights violations or political persecution in the requesting state.

Dr. Rackow analyzes and evaluates such proceedings from systematic legal and European law perspectives. He considers EU law alongside relevant international agreements and national regulations of the states involved. His expertise particularly supports our practice groups for extradition law and Interpol proceedings.

Dr. Rackow has in-depth knowledge across all areas of substantive and procedural criminal law, from general criminal law to narcotics law and business criminal law. His experience enables him to conduct rigorous analyses of complex questions related to criminal procedure, particularly in cross-border proceedings.

He combines legal precision with a clear understanding of how investigative authorities, public prosecutors, and courts operate and make decisions – both in Germany and internationally. He plays an essential role in developing and optimizing defense strategies within the firm.

Dr. Peter Rackow completed his doctoral degree at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in criminal procedure law with a dissertation on “The DNA Identity Establishment Act and its Problems.” His habilitation thesis addressed so-called “neutral acts” in criminal law – a subject with particular relevance to business criminal law.

Following his academic work in Göttingen, Dr. Rackow headed the department for criminal law, criminal procedure law, and criminal policy at the German Police University in Münster-Hiltrup. Concurrently, he practiced law in Hanover and Burgwedel and taught at various universities, including the University of Administrative Sciences in Speyer and Philipps-Universität Marburg. He also served as a visiting professor at Saarland University.

Dr. Rackow participated in the German team of an international EU project on the European Investigation Order and is currently engaged in a further EU initiative on the digitalization of criminal proceedings.

The Cambridge Companion to European Criminal Law, Cambridge et al. 2023 as editor with Kai Ambos.

Rechtshilferecht in Strafsachen, Baden-Baden, 2nd ed. 2020 as editor with Kai Ambos and Stefan König.

Institutionenalisierung der Verteidigung, in: Böse (volume editor), Enzyklopädie Europarecht Europäisches Strafrecht, Baden-Baden, 2nd ed. 2021, p. 1161.