Barcelona Law Firms

We educated, privileged lawyers have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society, to ensure that justice exists for all, both legal and economic justice.

So said Sonia Sotomayor, nominated to the Supreme Court of Justice in the US by Barack Obama, on the topic of law and order.

Most of us would, no doubt, prefer not to have to get involved in any legal cases when abroad, but if you do it’s well worth employing the services of those educated experts to help us navigate the obtuse and often impenetrable (to the layman at least) field of law. After all, more cynical commentators than Señora Sotomayor have noted that:

The law was made for one thing alone, for the exploitation of those who don’t understand it. (Bertolt Brecht).

Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through. (Jonathan Swift).

In other words, money invested in great legal advice is usually money well spent. Indeed, it is often money saved, as you really don’t want to be the small fly if you do find yourself in a sticky situation. This is twice as true if you’re an expat living abroad, who is unfamiliar with the language – or in Barcelona’s case, languages – and the lay of the land.

Barcelona Law Firms

Whether you need help getting your immigration papers together, doing the paperwork on buying a property, getting married (or divorced!), protecting your business, or if you’ve found yourself in a spot of bother with the local police, we’ve compiled a succinct list of law firms with English speaking legal experts who can offer you the advice you need.

1. Murla i Contreras

Murla & Contreras Advocats is staffed by highly specialised professionals and known for their international outlook and academic research. They are specialists in immigration law, and take pride in helping immigrants take advantage of the many opportunities they have in Barcelona to study, to develop their career and to begin a new life in Spain. Their knowledge of the local bureaucracy can help both EU and non-EU citizens obtain a residence card and a NIE number, helping families to stay together and – in many cases – helping their dreams of living and working in Barcelona to come true!

Murla & Contreras’ belief that all people should be treated equally, with dignity and empathy, regardless of their citizenship, extends to all creatures great and small; i.e. they also specialise in animal law, should you need the legal equivalent of Ace Ventura Pet Detective while in Catalonia.
www.murlacontreras.com

2. Exit Legal Advice

Exit Legal Advice is a law firm created by lawyers with more than 20 years of national and international legal practice, with a commitment to quality, honesty, professionalism and efficiency for all their clients. They understand that expats in Spain often need specific advice on a wide range of areas such as: becoming a Spanish tax resident and associated taxes, house rental, acquiring real estate, setting up a business, and other legal issues involving the growth and development of their business.

The main services offered by Exit Legal Advice are focused on legal and tax advice to individuals and entities, including the correct fulfilment of their tax obligations, adequate planning to minimize the tax cost, double tax issues, assistance with tax audits/appeals, and tax residence issues. They can also assist clients with the legal aspects of starting a new businesses, such as reviewing contracts, Data protection, restructurings, real estate transactions and litigation, among others.
exitlegal.net

3. Conesa Legal

Specialising in labour law, Conesa Legal can advise small and medium sized businesses on the ins and outs of Spanish employment laws, as well as payroll, accounting and social security issues. They can also help individuals who feel they are the victims of unfair dismissal, or workplace harassment, and their team are English speaking.
www.conesalegal.com/en

4. BCN Ideal Services

Primarily an agency for providing households with domestic care, BCN Ideal Services also provide a number of legal services around immigration, working visas and labour laws. They have particular experience helping Filipino nationals moving to Spain to live and work.

More Advice

For more info on your legal rights in Catalonia check this page of the Ajuntament’s website.

Meanwhile if you’re in trouble with the law, but can’t afford a lawyer, check this page on the Ministry of Justice’s website on free legal assistance in Spain.