Commercial & Corporate Law Lawyers in Luxembourg

Local practice notes

Commercial & Corporate Law in Luxembourg: what you need to know

Luxembourg’s commercial and corporate law operates within a continental civil-law framework, with two independent Bars and a trilingual legal environment. The following notes summarise the key practical points you should understand when seeking corporate legal assistance in the Grand Duchy. They are drawn from official Luxembourg sources and are not legal advice.

Court structure and commercial jurisdiction

Ordinary civil and commercial disputes are heard by the two District Courts (Luxembourg and Diekirch) unless they fall within the lower-value jurisdiction of the three Justices of the Peace (up to EUR 10,000, or EUR 15,000 in certain cases). Appeals go to the Court of Appeal and cassation to the Court of Cassation, both within the Supreme Court of Justice in Luxembourg City.

Who may represent you

Only lawyers registered on the roll of the Barreau de Luxembourg or the Barreau de Diekirch may practise law in Luxembourg. For representation before the District Courts in civil matters, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation, an ‘avocat à la Cour’ (List I) is in principle mandatory. In commercial matters, exceptions may allow a non-specialised lawyer or self-representation, but professional assistance remains strongly advisable.

Costs and fees

Luxembourg has no court fees payable to the State for bringing proceedings. The main cost is the lawyer’s fee, which is freely agreed between lawyer and client because there is no binding official tariff. The losing party may be ordered to pay costs, but each party normally bears its own lawyer’s fees unless the court awards a procedural-indemnity allowance. Legal aid is available for those of insufficient means.

Trilingual procedure

All procedural documents must be drafted in French, but hearings may be conducted in French, German or Luxembourgish; court-provided translation is paid for by the State. Laws and the official journal are published in French, so a working command of French is essential for litigation, while corporate documents are often drafted in French.

Notarial deed for real-estate transfers

If your corporate matter involves the transfer of immovable property, the transaction must be recorded in an authentic notarial deed to be opposable to third parties and capable of transcription in the mortgage register. A private preliminary agreement (compromis de vente) is commonly signed first, but only the notarial deed confers third-party protection.

Two independent Bars

Luxembourg is unusual for a small country in having two separate Bars: the Barreau de Luxembourg, by far the largest, and the Barreau de Diekirch, covering the northern judicial district. Each Bar is headed by its own Bâtonnier and administers legal aid and disciplinary matters. Registration on one of the two rolls is mandatory to practise.

Key time limit — Commercial & Corporate Law

General limitation period (civil and commercial claims) — 30 years. All actions, whether real or personal, are prescribed by thirty years under Article 2262 of the Civil Code, without the party relying on the prescription being required to produce a title or to answer an objection of bad faith.

The data on this page comes from official Luxembourg sources (e-Justice, Guichet.lu, Legilux, ITM, the Ministry of Justice and the Luxembourg Bars), consulted in April 2025.

• National justice systems – Luxembourg
• Professions du droit – Avocat
• Code civil – Legilux
• ITM – Notice periods
• Guichet.lu – Residential lease termination
• Guichet.lu – Succession declaration
• Guichet.lu – Administrative appeals
• Justice.lu – Succession
• Guichet.lu – Lawyers’ fees and legal aid
• e-Justice – Access to justice in Luxembourg
• e-Justice – Restrictions on successions
• Administration des contributions directes – Resident/non-resident
• Guichet.lu – Compromis de vente