An absolutely outstanding immigration firm! Schlun and Elseven Rechtsanwaite, and especially my lawyer Julie Schaefer, successfully handled the German naturalization process, for my entire family, from start to finish. They made our citizenship journey super smooth and stress-free. Their team was professional, patient, always just a phone call or email away, and highly knowledgeable. What could have been a daunting experience was handled with the utmost professionalism. I would not hesitate to use this firm for any future immigration needs. Five stars all the way—I couldn't have done this without them!

Julie Schaefer was absolutely wonderful to work with! She and her team were so patient with me and walked me through everything I’d need for the application, and they put up with all my check ins and were so reassuring! Working with Schlun & Elseven was the right choice, and their guidance was invaluable. I owe my citizenship to them, and I recommend anyone getting their German citizenship to work with them.

Highly recommend this firm as a legal counsel in Germany. Julie Schaefer and colleagues provided straightforward advice and guidance for our case. They fully explained what steps to take, documents to provide and how we should source them. I also appreciated the professionalism and positivity when it seemed as if the process was never ending.

I enthusiastically endorse and recommend Julie Schafer and Schlun & Elseven for your immigration needs. Julie helped my husband reinstate his German citizenship that he had as a child. She was thorough, knowledgeable, detail oriented and nuanced. I am a lawyer so I am not the best kind of client--impatient and demanding, both--but Julie answered all my questions and helped us stay the course until we received the Certificate of Citizenship from Germany at last. I highly recommend Julie and Schlun & Elseven for all your business and personal needs. You will be singing their praises just like we are!

My experience with this firm was exceptional. Responsive, knowledgeable, very helpful, friendly and supportive. I highly recommend working with Julie at Schlun Elseven Rechtsanwalte!

I engaged Schlun & Elseven for German citizenship by descent after they confirmed I had a good case (they provided an objective appraisal before I engaged). They managed the process and application very efficiently, and the timeline matched what they advised. It was complicated and laborious but they made it efficient and compliant and eventually successful. I’ve now been approved and received my certificate. Many thanks to Julie Schäfer and previously Nora Nolan. They are great to deal with. Professional, responsive, very pleasant and highly recommended. Everyone I dealt with at the firm (and there were many more) were great and at all times I felt in good hands. Highly recommended!

I had the please of using Julie Schafer at Schlun & Elseven Düsseldorf as my German solicitor to guide me in the UK to obtain my German citizenship and passport. Julie’s knowledge, guidance and expertise was just amazing, preparing me at the UK German Embassy with all the documents and organising the appointments was money well spent, which took a year to complete. I would highly recommend Julie who steps you through each stage professionally. Thank you!

Our experience with Julie Schafer and her Team has been excellent particularly with the help we received from Safa Al Hayek to obtain German Citizenship. Safa was very easy to communicate with and efficient in processing any query we had. This gave us a confident feeling that our Application was in very good hands. Thank you for all your help!

I am so grateful to my lawyer, Julie Schäfer and the whole team at Schlun & Elseven for helping me navigate the path to dual citizenship. They kept up with the changing rules along the way and helped me procure some vital documents to help achieve dual citizenship between Germany and the US. I cannot say enough good things about them... they are friendly, professional and I was able to meet with Julie and Dizeen and other team members in person when visiting my relatives in Cologne. I would have never been able to do this so smoothly on my own. Thank you to everyone there and I would highly recommend them

Feeling concerned about the future of the United States back in 2022 (rightfully so given where we are now in 2025!!) I began the process of considering trying to obtain German Citizenship through my father who had fled Nazi persecution in the late 1930s. I had almost no documentation concerning my now deceased father so it felt like a long shot. I found this law firm online and was paired with the attorney, Julie Schafer, to handle my case. On July 4th of this year (the irony) I received news that my German citizenship had been granted! I cannot speak highly enough of Julie who was not only my incredibly competent, professional, attentive attorney but also became my cherished friend. She walked me through the process step by step, answered any of my questions, guided me every step of the way, helped me secure the documentation I needed, I really just cannot speak highly enough of Julie. Don't get me wrong, it was still a lot of work and sometimes I would wonder if I had the energy or drive to continue but she was the ultimate cheerleader and obviously it was all well worth it in the end. It was also an unexpectedly emotional experience for me, learning family history I knew nothing about as it was never openly discussed within the family and as everyone has passed, there is no one left to ask. I feel so happy that I had the luck and foresight to choose this firm from an internet search and truly hope to be able to meet everyone who helped me in my journey in person one day. I wholeheartedly recommend this firm and Julie!

I used Schlun and Elseven to procure German Citizenship for my son via my German citizenship status. They were professional, and very detail oriented in all respects, which made the process very efficient for us. A special Thank you to Julie for her friendly demeanour and prompt responses and for her knowedge of the subject. I would highly recommend Schlun and Elseven.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Schlun & Elseven. I hired them to represent me in an international legal process which I expected would take several years to resolve. Despite conducting the entire process via email, I found them responsive, efficient and effective in handling my case. There were some unique challenges to my situation and the team led by Julie Schäfer were thorough and responsive during the lengthy process. After more than two years my case was successfully resolved, and I have the team, their support, and diligence to thank for that success.

Schlun & Elseven (and Julie S specifically) handled our application for German Citizenship and we are so grateful for them! They guided us through every step of the process, and were responsive, detail-oriented, kind, and beyond helpful at every turn. We cannot recommend their services highly enough. All 6 applicants across three generations now have German passports in hand. THANK YOU Julie and and S&E!

We worked with Schlun & Elseven, specifically Julie Schäfer, on a §5 StAG German citizenship application, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. This process isn’t just about paperwork - it’s also about discovering your family’s history and reconnecting with your roots. Julie and her team understood that and treated our case with both professionalism and genuine care. At first, we thought my mother’s German records would be enough, but the BVA requested additional documentation on my grandparents, which threw us for a loop. Julie was on top of it immediately, guiding us through tracking down the records and ensuring everything was presented as strongly as possible. Beyond their expertise, what really stood out was how adept they were at problem-solving and how consistently they overdelivered. Every challenge that came up was handled quickly, efficiently, and with a reassuring level of confidence. Julie and her team kept us informed, responded quickly, and made a stressful process much smoother. If you’re applying under §5 StAG or any other German citizenship route, I highly recommend working with Schlun & Elseven and Julie Schäfer. They are not only experts but also truly understand the human side of this journey, making them the perfect team to have in your corner.

I cannot recommend S&E highly enough following the successful attainment of German naturalisation and passports for me and my three children. The process was made clear and straightforward, the team were responsive and always on hand, the advice to the last was good and just two years after I first contacted the firm my three children and I have all received our naturalisation certificates. Language was never a barrier. What I needed to attain was made explained clearly and help and advice provided where necessary. Julie Schafer, who was my lead lawyer and advisor was welcoming, spoke great English and always helpful. Bottom line? Despite my initial trepidation (and who wouldn't be when using a firm that you have never heard of before) this was a really good experience. I can't recommend the team and the firm highly enough. Thank you S&E - you absolutely deserve this very favourable review.

I would like to express my gratitude with Julie for exceptional assistance in helping my family obtain German citizenship. Her guidance was invaluable throughout this process, and we are grateful for it. She always kept us informed, answered our questions with clarity, and provided reassurance at every step.

I cannot speak highly enough about the service I received at Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, who were instrumental in facilitating the acquisition of naturalized German citizenship for me and my mother, who is a Holocaust survivor. My attorney at the firm, Julie Schäfer, was exceptional: thorough, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, committed, compassionate, communicative, caring, personable, and professional. I could not have asked for a better advocate or friend. Though we live thousands of miles apart, it always seemed as though Julie was right next door. My experience rates five stars, without reservation.

After several months of very frustrating research concerning my right to German citizenship, I almost gave up trying. Due to changes in German laws, I just couldn't figure out the correct path towards a German passport, whether direct application, certificate of citizenship, or certificate of naturalization. I decided to take the risk of hiring a law firm to do the research on my behalf. I settled on the German law firm Schlun & Elseven based of their track record and excellent reviews. Initially, my new lawyer developed a comprehensive plan that required me to find a small mountain of documents. Many of the documents would have required certified copies and translations--a costly endeavor. I had completed maybe seventy percent of the required documents when I was notified that my lawyer had left the S&E lawfirm. In due course, my new lawyer (and former supervisor of my first lawyer), Julie Schäfer, asked me to stop everything that I was working on while she conducted a full review of my case. After a couple of weeks, she asked me to contact her through a video conference call. After giving me a detailed account of German citizenship law as to how it applied to me, she announced in her professional opinion that I had always been a German citizen and I only needed to apply for my German passport using the more simple, direct way. My first lawyer had actually wanted me to pursue the German Naturalization process, a much longer activity requiring a mountain of documentation and cost. In the end, only a relatively small amount of documents, along with a cover letter from my lawyer, were need to directly apply for my passport. Unfortunately due to issues and delays at the German printing office, it took almost ten weeks to receive my new DEUTSCH passport. I was ecstatic when I received the document and all of my German relatives were happy for me. Thank you Ms Schäfer and the S & E staff for helping to make my long-awaited dream come true.

Ich bin sehr zufrieden mit der Art und Weise, wie Frau Leonie Kämpfer meinen Fall übernommen hat. Sie macht ihrem Namen alle Ehre! Sie ist sehr kompetent und wir sind zu einem positiven Ergebnis gekommen. Ich kann diese Kanzlei empfehlen.

Ich hatte das Vergnügen, mit Frau Schaefer bei meinem Antrag auf deutsche Staatsbürgerschaft zusammenzuarbeiten. Frau Schaefer erläuterte ausführlich und klar den Prozess und die damit verbundenen Gebühren. Sie war immer ansprechbar und hat wie versprochen weitergeholfen, ohne dass ich dazu aufgefordert wurde. Sie war sympathisch, so freundlich und immer professionell. Ich habe sie und die Kanzlei Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte meiner Familie empfohlen, damit auch sie die Erlangung der deutschen Staatsbürgerschaft prüfen können. Ich werde nicht zögern, mich erneut an sie zu wenden, wenn ich in Zukunft eine rechtliche Vertretung benötige (hoffentlich werde ich das nicht brauchen ;-). ________ I had the pleasure of working with Ms. Schaefer on my application for German citizenship. Ms. Schaefer explained the process and the associated fees in detail and clearly. She was always approachable and helped as promised without me having to follow-up. She was personable, so friendly and always professional. I recommended her and the law firm Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte to my family so that they too could consider obtaining German citizenship. I will not hesitate to contact her again if I need legal representation in the future (hopefully I won't need that ;-).

Attorney Julie Schaefer from the Schlun and Elseven law firm was invaluable in helping me secure German citizenship. She answered my e-mails without delay, found documents that were needed, gave me advice on how to organize and prepare my application, reviewed everything, submitted my application to the Federal Administration with a recommendation for immediate consideration, and maintained ongoing contact with the agent evaluating it. Overall, it took less than a year from the date I first contacted S&E to the date that my application was approved. I was completely satisfied with the representation that Ms. Schaefer and S&E provided regarding my application and recommend their services without reservation. Richard Wollert, Ph.D.

I contacted the Schlun & Elseven to help with the paperwork to apply for a German citizenship for my daughter and grandson. Julie Schafer was very efficient and helped me through the process. I highly recommend the company and could not have completed the process without them.

I live in the U.S. and had become very worried for a friend of mine living in Germany due to a bad living situation. I reached out to S&E and they put me in contact with Tobias. Not only does he have a broad knowledge base to draw from to estimate possible outcomes for my friends situation, he has a calming demeanor to alleviate client anxiety, he is willing to go the extra mile to help, excellent communication and critical thinking skills, and does his best to be clear and honest with his clients. Being as I could not just quickly travel to Germany from the U.S. to check on my friend, this was the next best thing. I feel fortunate to not have to keep searching for another lawyer in Germany should my friend run into any more trouble. I found a trustworthy one on the first try which has saved me time and effort that I can now use on other matters. Thank you so much!

I reached out to Schlun & Elseven a few years ago seeking information on obtaining German citizenship through ancestry. Subsequently I agreed to sign on with the company and Julie became my main contact. She provided clear guidance and advised on what was required. Documents were provided and Julie took care of the rest, dealing with the government and ensuring the process was done correctly. I recently obtained my German citizenship and am very happy that I hired Schlun & Elseven to assist me with this process. What could have been a very stressful and time consuming process became so much easier due to their professionalism and great work. I highly recommend Schlun & Elseven for your citizenship needs.

I was extremely lucky to come across the German law firm Schlun & Elseven just by chance on the internet. Julie Schafer, my attorney there, was excellent in informing and guiding me through the entire citizen application process, which, although cumbersome and stressfull, has just had a 100% successful outcome. I would highly recommend her to anyone considering the naturalization process. She was always prompt, courteous and very helpful. Trixie Dorsett Germer, May 2023