When international clients need German legal advice, access and coordination matter as much as legal expertise itself – regardless of time zone, language, or where a case needs to be handled. That is why Schlun & Elseven works entirely in English wherever needed and handles matters remotely as standard practice from the very first consultation, backed by more than a decade advising businesses, executives, and private clients from around the world.
Where a matter extends beyond German law, we coordinate directly with partner firms abroad – most notably through our membership in the Primerus network – so clients stay within a single, consistent relationship throughout, rather than having to manage several unrelated firms themselves.
How We Support International Clients
Schlun & Elseven advises companies, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and private clients on complex domestic and cross-border matters, working with clients worldwide without requiring an in-person visit to Germany. As a digital-first firm, we conduct consultations, share documents, and manage cases remotely as standard practice, and we handle every matter in English wherever the client needs it. Where a matter touches another jurisdiction, we coordinate with experienced lawyers in that jurisdiction, take overall responsibility for the matter, and maintain clear communication throughout.
Clients working with us on international matters benefit from:
- full English-language support at every stage,
- a digital-first way of working that does not depend on being in Germany,
- a dedicated point of contact at Schlun & Elseven,
- access to specialized partner firms in numerous jurisdictions,
- an interdisciplinary assessment spanning the relevant practice areas.
Much of this coordination runs through one relationship in particular: our membership in the Primerus network.
Schlun & Elseven: A Primerus Network Member
Schlun & Elseven has been a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms since June 9, 2026, joining a global network of more than 115 independent law firms across more than 40 countries.
Member firms build their cooperation on a shared set of professional standards, covering integrity, high technical quality, transparent and appropriate fee structures, continuous professional development, respectful conduct toward clients and colleagues, and a commitment to social responsibility. Membership is preceded by a multi-stage vetting process in which each firm is assessed on criteria including legal quality, reputation, firm structure, and client focus.
Through Primerus, we have direct access to quality-reviewed law firms across almost every region of the world, while Schlun & Elseven retains overall coordination of the matter. This gives clients a trusted local partner in the jurisdictions that matter to them, without the need to search for and vet foreign counsel independently, and without losing a single, consistent point of contact throughout.
As Aykut Elseven, Managing Partner, puts it: “Our clients should have a clear and reliable point of contact even in international matters. Primerus gives us direct access to experienced partner firms around the world, while coordination of the matter remains with Schlun & Elseven. This allows us to manage cross-border affairs even more consistently from a single source.”
The membership complements a second layer of coordination we have built directly into our own firm: our International Desks.
Our International Desks
In addition to the Primerus network, Schlun & Elseven maintains its own International Desks and a long-established network of international cooperation partners. A dedicated contact partner leads each desk, combining knowledge of German and European law with linguistic and cultural expertise for that region.
Depending on the matter, our International Desks assist in particular with:
- investments and business activities in Germany
- the employment and international assignment of employees
- immigration and residence matters
- cross-border contracts and corporate structures
- international disputes and enforcement proceedings
- citizenship and family law matters
- cross-border criminal law matters
Because these matters rarely stay within one legal category, our desks also work closely with colleagues across other practice groups as needed. A foreign investor establishing a German subsidiary, for example, may need corporate structuring advice alongside employment and tax guidance from the outset, while a family relocating to Germany may require immigration support together with input on inheritance or family law. Depending on the matter, our desks draw on colleagues across:
Our Process
Working with your desk follows a consistent process, regardless of how many jurisdictions or practice areas are involved:
- We analyze the matter and identify the relevant jurisdictions and areas of law involved.
- We assemble the right team, bringing in a specialized partner firm through Primerus where the matter requires foreign law expertise.
- We coordinate centrally, consolidating communication under one point of contact.
- We keep your objectives in view throughout, whether the matter spans two jurisdictions or several.
Find Your Regional Desk
Contact Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte
Please use our online form to outline your request to us. After receiving your request, we will make a brief initial assessment based on the facts described and provide you with a cost offer. You can then decide whether you would like to engage our services.
