Country guides
Jurisdiction-specific local counsel guides for cross-border legal work.
Germany local counsel guide for foreign lawyers
What foreign lawyers should clarify before asking a German colleague to assist with filings, hearings, or procedural steps.
Country guides
135 articles
Netherlands local counsel guide for cross-border matters
How to brief Dutch local counsel for hearings, filings, registry work, and commercial disputes without losing control of the client matter.
Belgium local counsel guide for lawyers
A practical guide to finding and briefing Belgian local counsel across language, region, court, and bar considerations.
UK local counsel guide for international lawyers
What international lawyers should clarify before instructing UK counsel or a UK-based solicitor on a cross-border task.
US local counsel guide for foreign lawyers
How foreign lawyers should think about state admission, local rules, pro hac vice support, and US counsel instructions.
Turkey-Germany legal task delegation: why this corridor should come first
A focused corridor is more credible than claiming every market at once. Turkey-Germany is a strong first corridor for lawyer-to-lawyer task delegation.
Turkish-speaking lawyer in the Netherlands: when lawyers need local counsel
For Turkey-Netherlands matters, language can help, but local admission, scope, conflicts, and reporting still decide whether the delegation is safe.
Local counsel in Germany: what international lawyers should scope first
Germany is a strong early market for LawyerGo, but local counsel work should be scoped by task, forum, documents, and reporting needs.
Local counsel in the Netherlands: a guide for cross-border legal matters
Netherlands-related matters often need local execution, language clarity, and careful scoping between Dutch procedure and the lead lawyer strategy.
Local counsel in the UK: what foreign lawyers need before delegating a task
UK local counsel work should be framed around the forum, procedure, documents, authority limits, and client communication.
Local counsel in France: a practical guide for international lawyers
France-related matters often need local procedural support, language clarity, and a clean record of what local counsel completed.
Local counsel in Spain: how lawyers should scope cross-border tasks
Spain is a common jurisdiction for commercial, property, employment, and enforcement questions that need verified local support.
Local counsel in Italy: what foreign lawyers should prepare
Italy-related tasks need clear instructions, local procedural awareness, and careful handling of documents and deadlines.
Local counsel in Portugal: a cross-border task guide for lawyers
Portugal matters can be handled more safely when local work is divided into scoped tasks with clear output.
Local counsel in Switzerland: a guide for international legal tasks
Switzerland requires careful attention to canton, language, procedure, and the exact local act being delegated.
Local counsel in Austria: what cross-border lawyers should know
Austria-related legal tasks should be scoped around the authority, document need, deadline, and local procedural output.
Local counsel in Sweden: a practical guide for international lawyers
Sweden-related work often requires clear local procedure, English-friendly communication, and careful task definition.
Local counsel in Norway: cross-border task guidance for lawyers
Norway-related matters benefit from verified local counsel when filings, registry checks, local procedure, or document context are required.
Local counsel in Denmark: a guide for international matters
Denmark-related tasks should be briefed around local procedure, documents, language, and the evidence the lead lawyer needs back.
Local counsel in Finland: a cross-border guide for lawyers
Finland-related tasks are best handled through verified local counsel when local procedure, registry records, or document context matter.
Local counsel in Ireland: guidance for international lawyers
Ireland-related legal tasks often need local procedural knowledge, company records, filings, or document review by verified counsel.
Local counsel in Poland: what foreign lawyers should scope
Poland-related cross-border tasks often require local records, filings, language support, and a clear procedural close-out.
Local counsel in the Czech Republic: an international lawyer guide
Czech Republic matters can require local support for corporate records, filings, procedural checks, and document review.
Local counsel in Romania: a cross-border legal task guide
Romania-related matters benefit from local counsel when registry checks, filings, enforcement steps, or local document review are needed.
Local counsel in Greece: guidance for international lawyers
Greece-related matters can need local legal support for filings, property records, company checks, court steps, and procedural notes.
Local counsel in the UAE: a cross-border guide for lawyers
UAE matters require careful attention to emirate, free zone, court or authority, language, and the exact local task.
Local counsel in Saudi Arabia: a guide for international lawyers
Saudi Arabia-related work should be scoped around local authority, document requirements, language, and verified professional support.
Local counsel in Qatar: a cross-border guide for lawyers
Qatar-related matters often require local procedural awareness, authority communication, document checks, and clear task records.
Local counsel in India: what international lawyers should scope first
India-related matters can involve multiple forums, languages, filings, corporate records, and procedural steps that need careful local scoping.
Local counsel in Japan: a cross-border guide for lawyers
Japan-related legal tasks often need language precision, local process, document context, and careful client communication.
Local counsel in South Korea: guidance for international matters
South Korea-related matters need local context for filings, corporate checks, employment questions, document review, and procedural steps.
Local counsel in China: what cross-border lawyers should prepare
China-related legal tasks require careful scoping, document control, local language, and clarity on what local counsel is being asked to do.
Local counsel in Hong Kong: a guide for international lawyers
Hong Kong matters often suit scoped local counsel tasks, especially in corporate, disputes, finance, and document review work.
Local counsel in Australia: guidance for cross-border legal work
Australia-related tasks should be scoped by state or territory, forum, document need, and the precise local step required.
Local counsel in Canada: what international lawyers should know
Canada-related tasks depend on province, forum, language, and whether local counsel is executing a step or advising on local law.
Local counsel in Mexico: cross-border task guidance for lawyers
Mexico-related matters often need local documents, authority communication, corporate checks, and Spanish-language legal context.
Local counsel in Argentina: a guide for international legal work
Argentina-related matters need clear local scoping for corporate records, filings, employment issues, documents, and procedural questions.
Local counsel in Chile: guidance for cross-border lawyers
Chile-related legal tasks often involve corporate records, employment, mining, commercial documents, or local procedural checks.
Local counsel in Colombia: a guide for international lawyers
Colombia-related tasks should be structured around local records, documents, filings, authority communication, and clear client-ready output.
Local counsel in South Africa: a cross-border guide for lawyers
South Africa-related matters often require local procedural support, company checks, document review, and clear reporting to the lead lawyer.
Local counsel in Nigeria: guidance for international lawyers
Nigeria-related legal tasks should be scoped around the forum, authority, state, document set, deadline, and expected close-out record.
Local counsel in Kenya: a cross-border task guide
Kenya-related matters can require local counsel for registry checks, filings, procedural support, document review, and authority communication.
Local counsel in Egypt: guidance for international lawyers
Egypt-related legal tasks need careful handling of local procedure, documents, language, authority requirements, and client communication.
How to open a company in the Netherlands
The steps to incorporate a Dutch BV — notarial deed, Chamber of Commerce registration, capital, UBO filing — and when to instruct local counsel.
How to open a company in Germany
Forming a German GmbH: €25,000 share capital, notarial deed, commercial-register entry, and the lighter UG alternative — plus when to brief local counsel.
How to open a company in Belgium
The Belgian BV/SRL after the 2019 company-law reform: no fixed minimum capital, a financial plan, notarial deed, and Crossroads Bank registration.
How to open a company in France
Forming a French SAS or SARL: choosing the form, statutes, the single online guichet unique, RCS registration, and the Kbis extract.
How to open a company in Spain
Forming a Spanish SL: the NIE, name certificate from the Registro Mercantil, notarial deed, capital, and registration — plus when to instruct local counsel.
How to open a company in Ireland
Forming an Irish LTD: the Constitution, CRO registration, the EEA-resident director rule (or Section 137 bond), and fast online incorporation.
How to open a company in Poland
Forming a Polish sp. z o.o.: minimum capital, the notarial route versus the 24-hour S24 online system, and KRS registration.
How to open a company in Italy
Forming an Italian S.r.l.: the standard and simplified models, capital, notarial deed, Business Register entry, and tax numbers.
How to open a company in the UK
Forming a UK private limited company (Ltd): Companies House registration, no minimum capital, directors and the PSC register, and when to instruct local counsel.
How to open a company in the US
Forming a US LLC or corporation: choosing a state, the registered agent, no federal registry, the EIN, and why foreign founders should plan the bank account early.
How to open a company in Portugal
Forming a Portuguese Lda: the "Empresa na Hora" one-stop, the NIF requirement, commercial registration, and why non-residents need a fiscal representative.
How to open a company in Switzerland
Forming a Swiss GmbH or AG: capital requirements, the notarial deed, commercial-register entry, and the resident-signatory rule that catches out foreign founders.
How to open a company in Austria
Forming an Austrian GmbH after the 2024 reform: the lower €10,000 capital, the new flexible company form, notarial deed, and Firmenbuch registration.
How to open a company in Sweden
Forming a Swedish aktiebolag (AB): the SEK 25,000 minimum capital, Bolagsverket registration, the board, and the ID/BankID friction for foreign founders.
How to open a company in Denmark
Forming a Danish ApS: the DKK 40,000 capital, fast online registration with the Business Authority, the CVR number, and MitID friction for non-residents.
How to open a company in Czechia
Forming a Czech s.r.o.: the symbolic CZK 1 minimum capital, the notarial deed, Commercial Register entry, and the trade-licence step.
How to open a company in Romania
Forming a Romanian SRL: the minimal share capital, registration with the Trade Register (ONRC), the registered office, and tax setup.
How to open a company in Greece
Forming a Greek IKE: the €1 minimum capital, the one-stop service, the General Commercial Registry (GEMI), and the AFM tax number.
How to open a company in the UAE
Setting up in the UAE: mainland vs free zone vs offshore, 100% foreign ownership, the trade licence, and the new corporate tax — plus when to instruct local counsel.
How to open a company in Singapore
Forming a Singapore Pte Ltd: ACRA registration, the resident-director requirement, the company secretary, and fast one-day incorporation.
How to open a company in Norway
Forming a Norwegian AS: the NOK 30,000 share capital, registration with the Brønnøysund Register Centre, the board, and identity steps for non-residents.
How to open a company in Finland
Forming a Finnish Oy: the abolished minimum capital, registration with the Trade Register and tax authority, and identification for foreign founders.
Buying property in the Netherlands as a foreigner
How non-residents buy Dutch property: the notarial transfer deed, the Kadaster, transfer tax rates, the cooling-off period, and when to instruct local counsel.
Buying property in Germany as a foreigner
How non-residents buy German property: the mandatory notarial deed, the Grundbuch, the state-by-state transfer tax, and the priority notice that protects the buyer.
Buying property in Belgium as a foreigner
How non-residents buy Belgian property: the notarial deed, the preliminary compromis, and the registration duties that differ sharply by region.
Buying property in France as a foreigner
How non-residents buy French property: the compromis and its 10-day cooling-off, the mandatory notaire, the "frais de notaire", and mortgage conditions.
Buying property in Spain as a foreigner
How non-residents buy Spanish property: the NIE, the nota simple check, the notarial escritura, the Land Registry, and the resale vs new-build taxes.
Buying property in Ireland as a foreigner
How non-residents buy Irish property: solicitor-led conveyancing, contracts and exchange, stamp duty, and registration with Tailte Éireann.
Buying property in Poland as a foreigner
How non-residents buy Polish property: the notarial deed, the land and mortgage register, the transfer tax, and the permit some foreigners need.
Buying property in Italy as a foreigner
How non-residents buy Italian property: the codice fiscale, the reciprocity rule, the preliminary compromesso, the notaio, and first-home vs second-home taxes.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in the Netherlands
How creditors recover debts in the Netherlands: statutory collection costs, the summons procedure, the bailiff, and enforcing an EU judgment under Brussels Ia.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Germany
How creditors recover debts in Germany: the fast Mahnverfahren order-for-payment, enforcement by the bailiff, asset disclosure, and EU enforcement.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Belgium
How creditors recover debts in Belgium: the out-of-court IOS procedure for undisputed B2B debts, judicial recovery, the bailiff, and EU enforcement.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in France
How creditors recover debts in France: the injonction de payer, the commissaire de justice small-claims route, attachment, and EU enforcement.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Spain
How creditors recover debts in Spain: the proceso monitorio order for payment, the enforcement (ejecución) and embargo, and EU enforcement.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Ireland
How creditors recover debts in Ireland: the demand and summary summons, summary judgment, court levels by amount, and enforcement options.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Poland
How creditors recover debts in Poland: the order for payment, the electronic e-court (EPU) fast track, enforcement by the komornik, and EU enforcement.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in Italy
How creditors recover debts in Italy: the decreto ingiuntivo injunction, the precetto and pignoramento, the realities of enforcement, and EU enforcement.
Hiring and dismissing employees in the Netherlands
Dutch employment essentials: fixed-term chain rules, the dual dismissal route through the UWV or the subdistrict court, settlement agreements, and the transition payment.
Hiring and dismissing employees in Germany
German employment essentials: probation, the Kündigungsschutzgesetz protection, works-council consultation, notice periods, and severance through settlement.
Hiring and dismissing employees in Belgium
Belgian employment essentials: the single employment status, seniority-based notice, the duty to motivate a dismissal, and protected workers.
Hiring and dismissing employees in France
French employment essentials: the CDI default, the strict dismissal procedure, "real and serious cause", severance and notice, and capped unfair-dismissal damages.
Hiring and dismissing employees in Spain
Spanish employment essentials: the permanent-contract default, the three dismissal types, the severance figures, and the unfair-dismissal choice.
Hiring and dismissing employees in Ireland
Irish employment essentials: the written statement of terms, the Unfair Dismissals Acts, minimum notice, redundancy pay, and the WRC.
Hiring and dismissing employees in Poland
Polish employment essentials: contract types, tenure-based notice periods, the justified-reason requirement, union consultation, and protected employees.
Hiring and dismissing employees in Italy
Italian employment essentials: the just-cause and justified-reason requirement, the Jobs Act remedies, employer-size thresholds, and the TFR severance accrual.
Cross-border inheritance in the Netherlands
How Dutch succession works in cross-border estates: the EU Succession Regulation, the legitimate portion as a money claim, the statutory division, and the certificate of inheritance.
Cross-border inheritance in Germany
How German succession works in cross-border estates: the EU Succession Regulation, the compulsory share (Pflichtteil), the certificate of inheritance, and inheritance tax.
Cross-border inheritance in Belgium
How Belgian succession works in cross-border estates: the EU Succession Regulation, the reserved portion after the 2018 reform, and region-based inheritance tax.
Cross-border inheritance in France
How French succession works in cross-border estates: the EU Succession Regulation, the strong réserve héréditaire, the notaire, and the 2021 protective levy.
Cross-border inheritance in Spain
How Spanish succession works in cross-border estates: the EU Succession Regulation, the legítima, the wide regional (foral) variation, and region-based inheritance tax.
Cross-border inheritance in Ireland
How Irish succession works in cross-border estates: Ireland is outside the EU Succession Regulation, the spouse’s legal right share, probate, and Capital Acquisitions Tax.
Cross-border inheritance in Poland
How Polish succession works in cross-border estates: the EU Succession Regulation, the zachowek money claim, the notarial or court route, and inheritance tax.
Cross-border inheritance in Italy
How Italian succession works in cross-border estates: the EU Succession Regulation, the legittima and the claw-back action, the succession declaration, and inheritance tax.
Work and residence permits in the Netherlands
How non-EU nationals work in the Netherlands: the Highly Skilled Migrant route via a recognised sponsor, the orientation year, the DAFT for US founders, and EU routes.
Work and residence permits in Germany
How non-EU nationals work in Germany: the Skilled Workers Act, the points-based Opportunity Card, the EU Blue Card, and qualification recognition.
Work and residence permits in Belgium
How non-EU nationals work in Belgium: the single permit with region-based work authorisation, the EU Blue Card, and the professional card for the self-employed.
Work and residence permits in France
How non-EU nationals work in France: the multi-year Passeport Talent for skilled workers, founders and investors, the standard employee permit, and the EU Blue Card.
Work and residence permits in Spain
How non-EU nationals work in Spain: the general regime versus the Entrepreneurs Law, the Startup Law digital-nomad visa, the end of the golden visa, and EU routes.
Work and residence permits in Ireland
How non-EEA nationals work in Ireland: the employment-permit system outside Schengen, the Critical Skills permit, the General Employment Permit, and residence stamps.
Work and residence permits in Poland
How non-EU nationals work in Poland: the work-permit types, the simplified declaration route, the temporary residence and work permit, and the EU Blue Card.
Work and residence permits in Italy
How non-EU nationals work in Italy: the Decreto Flussi quota system, the Nulla Osta, the EU Blue Card, and the investor and digital-nomad routes.
Trademark registration in the Netherlands
How to protect a brand in the Netherlands: there is no Dutch-only trademark — you register a Benelux mark via BOIP, or an EU trade mark via EUIPO. The routes explained.
Trademark registration in Germany
How to protect a brand in Germany: filing with the DPMA, the absolute-grounds examination, the post-registration opposition window, and the EU and Madrid routes.
Trademark registration in Belgium
How to protect a brand in Belgium: like the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium has no national-only mark — you file a Benelux trademark with BOIP, or an EU mark.
Trademark registration in France
How to protect a brand in France: filing with INPI, the opposition stage, the administrative invalidity and revocation route at INPI, and the EU and Madrid options.
Trademark registration in Spain
How to protect a brand in Spain: filing with the OEPM, the opposition-based system, the notification of earlier rights, and the EU and Madrid routes.
Trademark registration in Ireland
How to protect a brand in Ireland: filing with the IPOI, the common-law action of passing off for unregistered marks, and the EU and Madrid routes.
Trademark registration in Poland
How to protect a brand in Poland: filing with the Patent Office (UPRP), the opposition system introduced in 2016, and the EU and Madrid routes.
Trademark registration in Italy
How to protect a brand in Italy: filing with the UIBM (including via Chambers of Commerce), the opposition stage, and the EU and Madrid routes.
Suing a company in the Netherlands
How to bring a commercial claim in the Netherlands: which court has jurisdiction, the subdistrict vs district split, the writ of summons, and the English-language NCC.
Suing a company in Germany
How to bring a commercial claim in Germany: the Amtsgericht vs Landgericht split, the Chamber for Commercial Matters, the new English commercial courts, and predictable costs.
Suing a company in Belgium
How to bring a commercial claim in Belgium: the dedicated Enterprise Court, the writ of summons, representation, and the fixed procedural indemnity.
Suing a company in France
How to bring a commercial claim in France: the commercial court with its lay merchant judges, the assignation, representation, and appeal.
Suing a company in Spain
How to bring a commercial claim in Spain: the commercial courts, the ordinary vs oral procedure, mandatory representation, and how a claim begins.
Suing a company in Ireland
How to bring a commercial claim in Ireland: the courts by value, the fast-tracked Commercial Court, how proceedings start, and the loser-pays rule.
Suing a company in Poland
How to bring a commercial claim in Poland: the commercial divisions, the stricter separate commercial procedure, courts by value, and how a claim begins.
Suing a company in Italy
How to bring a commercial claim in Italy: the specialised business court, the mandatory mediation that can precede a lawsuit, the writ of summons, and timelines.
Buying property in the UK as a foreigner
How non-residents buy UK property: solicitor-led conveyancing with no notary, freehold vs leasehold, Stamp Duty Land Tax and the non-resident surcharge, and the Land Registry.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in the UK
How creditors recover debts in the UK: the pre-action protocol, the County Court and Money Claim Online, enforcement options, and post-Brexit foreign judgments.
Hiring and dismissing employees in the UK
UK employment essentials: the written statement, unfair-dismissal protection and the qualifying period, statutory notice and redundancy pay, ACAS and the tribunal.
Cross-border inheritance in the UK
How UK succession works in cross-border estates: testamentary freedom in England, the 1975 Act claim, probate, domicile-based tax, and why the EU rules do not apply.
Work and residence permits in the UK
How to work in the UK after Brexit: the points-based system, the Skilled Worker visa and sponsor licence, talent and founder routes, and the end of EU free movement.
Trademark registration in the UK
How to protect a brand in the UK after Brexit: the UKIPO, why the EU trade mark no longer covers the UK, common-law passing off, and the Madrid route.
Suing a company in the UK
How to bring a commercial claim in the UK: the Civil Procedure Rules, the County Court vs the Business and Property Courts, loser-pays costs, and post-Brexit jurisdiction.
Buying property in the US as a foreigner
How non-residents buy US property: title companies and title insurance instead of a notary, escrow and county recording, FIRPTA on sale, and state-by-state variation.
Debt collection and enforcing a judgment in the US
How creditors recover debts in the US: suing in state court, the FDCPA limits on collectors, enforcement by garnishment and liens, and recognising foreign judgments.
Hiring and dismissing employees in the US
US employment essentials: at-will employment and its exceptions, federal anti-discrimination law, the WARN Act, the absence of statutory severance, and state variation.
Cross-border inheritance in the US
How US succession works in cross-border estates: state-law probate, testamentary freedom and the spousal elective share, Louisiana’s forced heirship, and estate tax traps.
Work and residence permits in the US
How to work in the US: the federal visa system, H-1B and its cap, the L-1, O-1 and E-2 routes, and the employment-based green card with its PERM step.
Trademark registration in the US
How to protect a brand in the US: the USPTO, why use in commerce matters in a use-based system, intent-to-use applications, specimens, and maintenance.
Suing a company in the US
How to bring a commercial claim in the US: federal vs state courts, personal jurisdiction, broad discovery, the American Rule on costs, and juries.