Companies have recognized the utility of employing an ombudsman as an effective preventive tool against economic crime. Independence and objectivity, along with the assurance of anonymity, have emerged as key ingredients to incentivize whistleblowers to disclose information. The various designs of ombudsman systems demonstrate that these principles are primarily intended to be guaranteed by the company's engagement of a lawyer. This study particularly addresses the question of the lawyer's independence through the contract and any potential entanglements between the ombudsman and the company that could have detrimental consequences for attorney-client privilege.