Taking on your case
Taking on a case usually begins with an initial telephone conversation in which the essential circumstances of the case are discussed. This first call is confidential and serves to assess the factual and legal situation. I submit a binding fee proposal for the defense only once I know the case file; for the preceding review of the case file and initial assessment, I agree a fixed flat fee in advance.
In emergencies — in particular following an arrest — I can take on the case immediately by telephone. The formal mandate agreement is then completed once the most urgent defense steps have been set in motion.
The mandate can be given by the requested person themselves or by relatives. For clients in custody, I contact the detention facility without delay and request a visiting appointment.
Fees
Extradition proceedings are complex mandates that require a considerable investment of time and specialist expertise. The fee depends on the scope and difficulty of the individual case and is agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Privately retained defense
In privately retained defense, the fee is set within the framework of an individual fee agreement under Section 3a RVG. I work exclusively on flat-fee agreements (fixed price) — no hourly billing. The amount of the flat fee depends on various factors: the volume of the files and documents, the complexity of the legal situation, the number of states and authorities involved, the extent of the procedural steps required, and the need for urgent measures (suspension of detention, interim injunction).
I discuss the fee openly and transparently in the first conversation. No hidden costs are charged. Should the scope of the mandate change significantly in the course of the proceedings, this is discussed with the client beforehand.
An honest sense of the order of magnitude: a highly specialized defense in extradition proceedings is demanding — in extreme cases, costs of up to a mid five-figure amount may be considered. The specific amount can be seriously quantified only after access to the case file. The first telephone assessment is in any case free of charge and without obligation.
No court-appointed defense
I do not take on court-appointed defenses. The careful, time- and expertise-intensive defense in extradition proceedings cannot be carried out economically at the statutory fees for court-appointed defense (RVG). I therefore act exclusively as a privately retained defense lawyer on the basis of an individual fee agreement.
Initial consultation
The first telephone conversation to assess the situation and discuss how to proceed is confidential. The cost of any more extensive initial consultation is communicated transparently in advance.
Typical procedural steps and costs
An extradition case passes through several stages, each requiring its own effort. The fee reflects the entire defense workload — from immediate help on arrest, through detention review and the admissibility proceedings, up to a constitutional complaint where applicable.
Typical procedural steps include immediate help on arrest (contact, telephone advice, instruction on your rights), access to and review of the case file and the extradition request, the application for suspension of detention, the submission in the admissibility proceedings before the Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht, OLG), where applicable the constitutional complaint with an urgent application to the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht, BVerfG), as well as parallel proceedings (Interpol deletion, SIS deletion).
Legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance generally does not cover extradition proceedings, as these are criminal proceedings in an international context. It is nevertheless advisable to check the terms of your policy — in individual cases there is a claim to coverage for the initial consultation or for accompanying administrative proceedings (for example in the case of an SIS deletion).
How to reach me
Call or send an email. In the first conversation I discuss the situation, the prospects of success, and the fee with you — confidentially and without obligation.