Business law
Business law lawyer in Luxembourg
The firm assists companies and directors with every legal dimension of their activity: contracts, structuring, commercial relationships, governance and the resolution of business disputes.
In short
Luxembourg business law combines commercial law, company law and contract law within a highly international environment. A business lawyer in Luxembourg secures your contracts, structures the company, frames its governance and defends the business whenever a commercial dispute arises in practice.
Responsible for legal content: Maître Cora Maglo, Avocate à la Cour, Liste I du Barreau de Luxembourg depuis 2009. · Applicable law: Luxembourg
Business law lawyer in Luxembourg: key points at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Fees | Fixed prices and ranges stated upfront. Depending on the complexity of the transaction. Recurring services may be covered by a retainer. |
| Indicative timing | A contract review is generally delivered within 3 to 5 business days; negotiation or litigation matters follow their own timetable. |
| Documents required |
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| Deliverables |
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Business law covers all the rules governing the economic life of a company. In Luxembourg, it combines commercial law, corporate law and contract law, in a highly international environment.
Cerno helps companies secure their transactions upstream, negotiate from a position of strength and defend their interests when a dispute arises.
Business law: which commercial decision needs legal review?
Clarify whether you are entering a contract, dealing with a failing counterparty or negotiating an investment. The first legal assessment concerns obligations, evidence and available alternatives.
| Business situation | Documents to prepare | Decision to assess |
|---|---|---|
| Service or distribution agreement to sign | Draft, schedules, correspondence, standard terms | Who bears liability, how can the contract end and which law applies? |
| Counterparty not performing | Contract, performance evidence and notices | Renegotiate, notify a breach or consider proceedings? |
| Investment or acquisition | Term sheet, cap table and existing agreements | Which control rights, warranties and obligations require drafting? |
Applicable law, forum and evidence must be assessed for the specific matter. A consultation cannot guarantee a negotiation or litigation outcome.
Discuss my situation with a lawyerWhat companies need
Growth, new partners, fundraising, expansion: each stage creates legal risks that must be anticipated.
Many companies sign standard contracts without adapting them to their reality, which they pay for when a conflict arises.
The legal risk
Unbalanced clauses, poorly framed liability, no protection of intellectual property or data: so many gaps an opposing party can exploit.
A poorly prepared business dispute can freeze cash flow and operations for months.
How does the firm step in?
Audit of contracts and legal documentation, bespoke drafting, negotiation and, where necessary, litigation.
The firm thinks in terms of business risk, not purely of black-letter law.
Practice areas
When to call on the firm
- Negotiating and drafting a partnership or a framework agreement.
- Legal structuring of a new activity or a subsidiary.
- Securing general terms and conditions and supplier relationships.
- Managing a commercial dispute or the termination of a business relationship.
Start online
Start your case in under 5 minutes
A simple, transparent process supervised by a lawyer admitted to the Luxembourg Bar.
Today, most cases can be initiated entirely online. Our digital tools streamline administrative steps so the lawyer can focus on the legal analysis of your situation.
Step 1 of 5 · 3 to 5 minutes
Describe your need
Select your issue, answer a few simple questions and share your documents if needed.
What you get
- Initial qualification of the case
- List of useful documents
- Secure transmission
What reassures our clients
Confidentiality
Lawyer’s professional secrecy.
Speed
Start your case online 24/7.
Transparency
Fees communicated before engagement.
Expertise
Review by a lawyer of the Luxembourg Bar.
Simplicity
Under 5 minutes to open your case.
Fixed prices and ranges stated upfront
Depending on the complexity of the transaction. Recurring services may be covered by a retainer.
Why companies and investors choose Cerno
The firm is led by Maitre Cora Maglo, avocate a la Cour since 2009, trained at the London School of Economics, at Clifford Chance (corporate) and then Bonn Steichen & Partners (litigation). The standards of a large firm, with the accessibility of a single point of contact.
More than 3 000 matters handled, 4.7/5 on Google, international networks (EILN, AEA, Cross Border Advisory Solutions) and advice in French and English: concrete markers for entrusting your most sensitive transactions.
Company formation and structuring
Choice of form, SOPARFI or operating company, capital, articles of association and governance: the firm structures your Luxembourg vehicle and aligns it with your tax position and your strategy. See setting up a company, corporate law and the SOPARFI.
Commercial contracts and business relationships
Distribution, agency, partnership, services, general terms and conditions: a well-drafted contract is your best protection. The firm drafts, negotiates and secures. See contract drafting, commercial law and general terms and conditions of sale.
Shareholders' agreements and governance
Allocation of capital, exit clauses, governance and directors' liability: the shareholders' agreement organises the balance of power and prevents deadlock. See the shareholders' agreement, corporate governance and the independent director.
Mergers and acquisitions and due diligence
Acquisition, disposal, build-up or joint venture: the firm conducts the due diligence, negotiates the SPA and secures the closing. See mergers and acquisitions, legal due diligence and the joint venture.
Private equity, venture capital and funds
Term sheets, investor agreements and management packages, both for founders and for investors. See private equity, venture capital and investment funds (RAIF, SIF, SICAR, AIFM), brought together in the investors and corporate practice.
The distinctive edge: Corporate + Immigration
Combining business law and immigration makes it possible to assist the foreign investor as a single whole: structuring the company and obtaining the director's residence permit. See investor residence, entrepreneur and start-up immigration and corporate immigration.
Business litigation and debt recovery
When negotiation fails, the firm defends your interests in commercial litigation and recovers your debts, in Luxembourg and internationally. See litigation and debt recovery.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between business law, commercial law and corporate law?
Business law is the overarching field. Commercial law governs relationships between traders and commercial transactions; corporate law governs the formation and life of companies.
Can the firm act before a contract is signed?
Yes, and that is often where its work is most cost-effective: securing matters upstream costs less than settling a dispute.
Do you assist with cross-border transactions?
Yes, the firm coordinates matters involving France, Belgium, Germany and the European Union, with the support of international networks (EILN, AEA).
Do you handle mergers and acquisitions (M&A)?
Yes: due diligence, SPA negotiation, representations and warranties and closing. The firm acts for the buyer as well as the seller.
Do you draft shareholders' agreements?
Yes. The firm structures the balance between shareholders (governance, liquidity and exit clauses) to prevent deadlock.
Do you assist with a fundraising round?
Yes, at seed stage as well as Series A/B: term sheet, investor agreement, warrants and stock options, both for founders and for investors.
Do I need a SOPARFI to structure an investment?
It is the most common holding vehicle. The firm determines the appropriate structure and aligns it with your tax position and your substance.
Do you assist foreign investors?
Yes. Combining corporate and immigration work makes it possible to structure the company and secure the director's residence permit within a single, coherent matter.
What are your fees in business law?
Fixed prices or ranges stated before any engagement; consultation from EUR 175 excl. VAT, transaction documentation from EUR 1,500 depending on complexity.
In which languages do you work?
French and English. Another language can be considered depending on the matter; mention it in your request.
Why use a business lawyer in Luxembourg?
To secure the strategic decisions that commit the company: choice of structure, contracts, capital transactions, acquisitions and disputes. The lawyer anticipates legal, operational and financial risks before they turn into costly litigation.
What is the difference between a business lawyer and a fiduciary?
The fiduciary handles accounting, domiciliation and administrative obligations. The lawyer advises on the law, drafts and negotiates agreements, defends your interests and bears professional liability, subject to professional secrecy and admission to the Bar.
Can a lawyer set up my company in Luxembourg?
Yes. The lawyer advises on the appropriate form (SARL, SA, SOPARFI, SPF), drafts the articles of association and the shareholders' agreement, and handles registration with the trade register as well as the RBE filing.
Which lawyer for a business acquisition (M&A)?
A business lawyer handles the letter of intent, due diligence, the SPA, the representations and warranties, the shareholders' agreement and closing, for both the buyer and the seller.
How do you protect a company's shareholders?
Through a shareholders' agreement governing exits, pre-emption, approval, governance and the resolution of deadlocks. It is the key tool for preventing disputes between shareholders.
Quick answer
What does a business lawyer do in Luxembourg?
A business lawyer advises companies, executives and investors on company formation, contract drafting, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, fundraising, shareholders' agreements and commercial litigation. At Cerno, every matter is supervised by a lawyer admitted to the Luxembourg Bar.
Our approach
A pragmatic reading of every case
Our aim is not only to explain the rule, but to identify the most effective route to your objectives. Every matter is analysed from three angles.
Legal risk
The applicable rule, deadlines and possible points of dispute.
Operational risk
The concrete impact on your business, your contracts and your organisation.
Financial risk
The cost of a decision, a dispute or inaction, quantified upfront.
Expertise
Our business law expertise
Formation and structuring
- SARL and SARL-S
- SA
- SOPARFI and holdings
- Joint ventures
Growth and capital
- Capital increase
- Bringing in investors
- Share issuance
- Capital reorganisation
Shareholder protection
- Shareholders' agreements
- Exit and pre-emption clauses
- Approval clauses
- Governance
Transfer of ownership
- Sale of a business
- Transfer of securities
- Wealth reorganisation
- Succession planning
Acquisitions and disposals (M&A)
- Share Purchase Agreement (SPA)
- Asset deals
- Due diligence
- Representations and warranties
- Closing
Investors
- SOPARFI holding
- Acquisition of shareholdings
- Fundraising
- Shareholder rights
Typical situations
The engagements we handle in this area
Setting up a Luxembourg holding company
Structuring, drafting of the articles of association and governance for an international group, through to registration.
Acquisition of an SME
Due diligence, negotiation of warranties and assistance through to closing.
Dispute between shareholders
Mediation, negotiation and litigation to protect the shareholder or the director.
Illustrative situations describing types of engagement, not identifiable client matters or results obtained. Every matter is handled and validated by a lawyer registered with the Luxembourg Bar.
They entrust us with their cases
Varied profiles, the same standard of excellence
- Entrepreneurs setting up their company in Luxembourg
- International investors
- SME executives
- International groups
- Expatriates and international families
- Employers recruiting foreign talent
Explore our key areas of expertise
Member of
Affiliations & professional networks
Free guide · PDF
The practical guide to secure your next step
Checklists, key steps and points to watch, prepared by the firm. Get it instantly, no strings attached.
- The key steps, explained simply
- The documents to prepare
- The common mistakes to avoid
Go further
Related pages
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Founded in 2013; Maître Cora Maglo has been admitted to the Luxembourg Bar since 2009
- 2013
- independent firm
- 2009
- at the Bar since 2009
- 4,7/5
- 81 Google reviewsRead reviews
Expertise & authority
Ongoing review and analysis of Luxembourg and European case law
Avocate à la Cour, List I of the Luxembourg Bar since 2009
Trained at the London School of Economics, formerly at Clifford Chance and Bonn Steichen & Partners
Member of international networks: EILN, AEA, Cross Border Advisory Solutions
Every matter handled and approved by a lawyer admitted to the Bar
Support in French and English
Testimonials
What our clients say
Selected excerpts from public reviews. Consult the Google listing for all ratings and comments; a testimonial does not guarantee a legal outcome.
Had a consultation with Me Cora Maglo about my Luxembourg Blue Card application. She explained everything clearly: the process, timeline and documents I need, and helped me with my wife’s family reunification too. Honest and practical advice. I felt confident after talking to her.F. P.J’ai beaucoup apprécié le service de Maître Maglo : son sérieux, sa sympathie, son professionnalisme et sa disponibilité. Toujours répondu rapidement et clairement, avec des conseils pragmatiques, sans pousser à des procédures longues et coûteuses lorsqu’elles ne sont pas justifiées.N. W.Super assistance and great support! Highly recommend. All my questions were answered, Cora and her team kept me updated all the time. I will definitely reach out to them next time for my residency.T.They talk about us
The firm referenced and cited
Professional directories, business press and legal publications where Cerno Law Firm and Maître Cora Maglo are referenced.
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Why contact us?
- Response within 48 working hours
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- Fees announced in advance
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- Companies, investors and individuals
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