Attorney Sought Law Firm Job to Spy On Businessman, Regulator Says

An unidentified attorney got a job at a law firm in Munich in order to gather information about businessman Leo Kirch on behalf of Deutsche Bank NG, says a German data-protection regulator.

The bank, which is Germany's biggest, called off the effort by private detectives it had retained before the lawyer actually started the internship at Bub Gauweiler & Partner, reports Bloomberg. Kirch is represented by the firm in a number of lawsuits against the bank.

Authorities are investigating whether the bank violated privacy laws by spying on several individuals. A spokesman for the bank declined to comment.

Additional coverage:

Telegraph: "Deutsche bankers facing criminal charges for spying"

Wall Street Journal: "Deutsche Bank Fires Two in Spying Probe"

Updated at 4 p.m. to add links to additional coverage.