Legal Services

for Private Clients

Insurance and Damages

In the event of damage or loss, we assist in claiming compensation from either the liable party or the insurance company. We handle both criminal and civil liability claims. Attorney Panu Karhu has extensive experience in the insurance industry and managing international claims. If necessary, we also provide legal representation in court proceedings or handle matters before the Insurance Board.

Our office has over 20 years of experience handling all types of criminal cases, representing both defendants and victims. In more serious criminal matters, we can obtain a court-appointed defense attorney or a victim’s legal counsel. We also handle criminal cases under legal aid, provided the eligibility criteria are met. Additionally, victims have the option to use their legal expenses insurance to cover costs in accordance with the policy terms.

Sometimes, an employer may terminate an employment relationship without a valid and substantial reason, or there may be other uncertainties surrounding the termination. We assist in clarifying the situation and, if necessary, provide legal representation in court proceedings. Naturally, we also offer support in matters related to establishing an employment relationship, as well as any issues that arise during employment. In employment-related disputes, it is often possible to utilize the legal expenses insurance provided by trade unions for their members.

We handle all types of family and inheritance law matters, including estate inventories, inheritance distributions, divorces, and property divisions. We also have experience conducting foreign genealogical research and managing cases where heirs or assets are located abroad. For estate inventories and inheritance distributions, we typically agree on a fixed price based on the nature and scope of the assignment.

Applying for a court decision regarding child custody, visitation rights, and child support almost always requires legal assistance. If parents cannot reach an agreement on their child’s matters, the only option is to seek a decision from the district court. In the district court, expert-assisted mediation is still possible if both parties agree to it. We have extensive experience in handling all child-related court cases and provide legal assistance in these matters. We also handle cases under legal aid and legal expenses insurance.

For home sellers and buyers, we offer real estate transaction services ranging from risk assessment to drafting or reviewing the sales contract, and if necessary, handling real estate disputes. For investors, we also provide services such as drafting agreements related to leasing and asset management. Additionally, we handle assignments related to decision-making in housing companies and protecting shareholder rights, including legal proceedings if required. If needed, we can also represent you as your legal counsel or attorney in shareholder meetings.

We also assist with smaller matters and situations where the need for legal help is still uncertain. You can contact us without the risk of unexpected costs, as we do not charge for initial consultations or general assessments of your situation. Document drafting and other clearly defined assignments are often handled for a fixed, pre-agreed fee.

Pricing

The initial consultation to identify the issue is free of charge.

  • For private clients, the hourly rate for attorneys starts at €220 (including VAT 25.5%), and for assistant lawyers, it starts at €200 (including VAT 25.5%).
  • The preparation of various agreements and other documents is generally handled at a fixed price agreed upon separately; for example, standard probate proceedings start at €1000 (including VAT 25.5%).
  • The work of assistants is billed at €100 per hour (including VAT 25.5%).
  • We invoice for each starting 15 minutes.

If the assignment is more responsible or demanding than usual, requiring special expertise in a particular field of law, the fee will be correspondingly higher. A higher rate is also used when the assignment is handled outside regular working hours, as a matter of urgency, or in a foreign language. Fees can also be reduced on a case-by-case basis.

If necessary, the agreed fee may be required to be paid in full or in part in advance.

In addition to the actual fee, we bill for external office costs required by the actions, such as official and court fees and translation costs. Time spent on travel for legal work is also billed in addition to the time spent handling the task.

In cases where the workload can be accurately assessed in advance, it is possible to agree on a maximum or fixed price.

If there is a particular reason, it can be agreed in advance that the fee will be a percentage of what is achieved by the client, or a special compensation agreement can be made if the desired result is achieved.

Ordinary office costs, such as telephone, postage, and copying costs, are included in the fees charged for actions. However, larger quantities of copies or postage costs are higher than usual, such as sending abroad or sending packages, may be charged separately, as well as other office costs higher than usual.

Most home and business insurance policies include a legal expenses component, which can, in many cases, cover at least part of the legal costs. We will determine the client’s legal expense insurance coverage for the case in question and the possibilities for free legal proceedings when starting the assignment.