The ambitious lawyer Katharina Tenzer begins her traineeship at the prestigious law firm of Hamburg tax attorney Friedemann Hausner. Tension is high: a respected colleague has been brutally murdered in Liechtenstein, and all files from his office have been stolen. Among them are documents that prove the massive tax evasion of Hausner's wealthiest clients. Shortly after, the Hamburg business family Koppersberg receives a blackmail email threatening to present the stolen data to the tax office—this could result in prison sentences and back payments in the multi-million range. Hausner's first instinct is to save himself and plans to destroy incriminating material. However, before he can act, he gets involved in a car accident and must stay in the hospital for an extended period.