Almost everyone at some point has needed a lawyer or is likely to need one. Whether it is a dispute with a neighbor, a divorce or a more serious problem, it is always essential to consult a competent professional. We are sure that if you are here, it’s because you are wondering where to find a good lawyer in Luxembourg.
If you feel a bit lost and want general advice on any issue you do not need to go directly to a lawyer, you can first go for free to the legal reception and information service of Luxembourg. The role of this department is to provide people with general information on the scope of their rights and the means to safeguard them.
Before looking at how to find a lawyer in Luxembourg it is important to understand how they operate to see which form of practice is best suited to your needs. The three main ways lawyers practice are through law firms, through consulting firms and independently as individual lawyers.
A law firm, also known as a "law buffet," is a company made up of several lawyers who work together. There are all kinds of law firms, from small, local outfits with just a few lawyers to huge international firms with loads of lawyers and a huge range of specialised legal services.
These firms usually have lawyers who are experts in different areas of law, such as commercial, labour or tax law. Plus, several lawyers can work together to provide more complete solutions. On top of that, law firms usually have more resources. The downside is that the cost of services in a law firm tends to be higher, and sometimes the treatment may be less personalised.
Some lawyers work in consulting firms, which are all about more than just legal practice. They also offer other services such as tax, business or management consulting.
These firms are great for clients who are looking for a one-stop shop or for clients working on complex projects or situations that require more than just legal advice. The downside is that the legal specialisation might not be as strong as it could be, as the focus is not just on law.
Individual lawyers work independently, usually operating in smaller offices and offering a more direct and personalised service.
Independent lawyers tend to have more affordable costs because they operate smaller and less expensive structures than larger firms. However, an independent lawyer usually has fewer resources which can be a disadvantage in complex cases. In addition, their area of expertise is limited compared to large firms that cover multiple areas of law.
Now we are going to focus on where and how to find a good lawyer in Luxembourg, we will see the different types of lawyers, the factors to consider when choosing a lawyer and finally where to find one.
All lawyers in Luxembourg, regardless of whether they work in the country, must be registered with the Barreau de Luxembourg, an institution that groups and regulates all lawyers working in the Grand Duchy.
There are multiple legal specialisations that cover different aspects of law, when choosing a lawyer it is very important to find one with the right focus.
When you're looking for a lawyer, it's important to focus on a few key things. First, make sure you find someone whose area of expertise matches your needs. If you're dealing with a real estate issue, it's probably not going to be helpful to hire a lawyer who focuses on family law or traffic cases. Make sure they have the right experience for your situation.
It's also important to consider experience. It's not a good idea to have a fresh graduate handle a complex legal case, just as it's not a good idea to have a new surgeon perform a major operation. A lawyer with a lot of experience can give you good advice and look after your interests well.
Finally, think about the lawyer's reputation, availability and how comfortable you feel with them. A lawyer with a good reputation and a strong online presence is often a reliable choice. It's also a good idea to check when they're free. If your case is time-sensitive, a lawyer with a heavy workload might not be the best fit. Above all, pick someone you feel at ease with. Trust and good communication are the building blocks of a solid working relationship.
The time has come to look for a lawyer, we already know what characteristics to look for and we are well-armed to choose, but where do we look? Well, we are going to see different search alternatives.
One way to find a good law firm is to search among the main law firms in the country. If they have reached this place it is very likely that it has been because of their effectiveness and the quality of their services. Here is a list of the largest law firms based on the number of lawyers.
Law Firm Ranking | Employees (2022) |
Arendt & Medernach | 700 |
Elvinger Hoss Prussen | 438 |
Allen & Overy | 235 |
Loyens & Loeff | 223 |
Clifford Chance | 180 |
Linklaters LLP | 161 |
BSP | 112 |
DLA Piper Luxembourg | 95 |
CMS Luxembourg | 90 |
Kleyr Grasso / Baker McKenzie | 85 |
Another way to search is to look for a particular lawyer with a high reputation in a specific field of law, for this purpose, the publication Les 100 avocats incontournables du Luxembourg made by Paperjam is of great help.
It’s possible to find several notable Luxembourg lawyers in different areas of law. Here is a summary table with 3 lawyers for each area of law, to see the complete list we recommend you look directly at the publication.
Area of Law | Lawyer Name | Law Firm | Position |
Administrative Law | Sébastien Couvreur | Krieger Associates | Associate |
Administrative Law | Steve Helminger | NCR Avocats | Associate |
Administrative Law | Marc Thewes | Thewes & Reuter | Founder & Partner |
Banking Law | Patrick Geortay | Linklaters LLP | Partner |
Banking Law | André Hoffmann | Elvinger Hoss Prussen | Partner |
Banking Law | Marie-Paule Gillen | TeDSM Avocats à la Courxt | Partner |
Civil Law | François Turk | Turk & Prum | Founder & Partner |
Civil Law | Armel Waisse | Molitor Avocats à la Cour | Partner |
Civil Law | Fabio Trevisan | BSP | Founder & Partner |
Family Law | Deidre Du Bois | Dupong, Krieps, Du Bois & Dias Videira | Partner |
Family Law | Claudine Erpelding | Wagener & Erpelding | Partner |
Family Law | Julie Durand | Durand, Hoffmann & Pietropaolo | Partner |
Fiscal Law | Frédéric Feyten | CMS Luxembourg | Partner |
Fiscal Law | Jean Schaffner | Allen & Overy | Partner |
Fiscal Law | Alain Steichen | BSP | Managing Partner |
Criminal Law | André Lutgen | Lutgen + Associés | Founder & Partner |
Criminal Law | Lynn Frank | Étude Frank Cohrs Bock | Founder & Partner |
Criminal Law | Florent Kirmann | Lutgen + Associés | Lawyer |
Real estate Law | Mario Di Stefano | DSM Avocats à la Cour | Managing Partner |
Real estate Law | Pierre Brasseur | Brasseur & Kasel | Founder & Partner |
Real estate Law | Christel Dumont | Dentons | Senior counsel |
Corporate Law | Peter Myners | Allen & Overy | Partner |
Corporate Law | Jean-Paul Spang | Kleyr Grasso | Partner |
Corporate Law | Katia Panichi | Elvinger Hoss Prussen | Partner |
Another option is to search in specialized search portals, here we leave you two of them.
Finally, we will discuss the cost of a lawyer in Luxembourg, however, it is quite complicated to give precise values as the cost can vary significantly depending on multiple factors such as the experience and prestige of the lawyer or law firm or the type of legal service required.
In any case, we can say that the hourly rate can start between 100 and 200 euros per hour and go up to 700 euros or more. Nevertheless, the rate is not always per hour, for some services, such as the drafting of legal documents, contracts, or incorporation of companies, some lawyers may offer a fixed rate. For simple acts, this fee can be between 500 and 1500 euros.
Complex cases or litigation costs can be significantly higher, exceeding 10,000 euros or more, depending on the duration and complexity of the case. In certain cases, however, some lawyers may work on a fee basis where the payment depends on the outcome of the case.
Source: paperjam.lu, issuu.com, legalfinder.lu, justice.public.lu, barreau.lu, josebruzonabogado.com, abc.es, grupomedicodurango.com
We took photos from these sources: Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash