Frequently Asked Questions
1. General
1.1 Why don’t you use a chatbot? Isn’t that the norm these days?
We’ve found — and you probably have too, if you’ve looked beyond the surface — that most chatbots just don’t deliver. They struggle with real questions, frustrate users with scripted dead ends, and often sound painfully robotic — the “bot” in chatbot doing most of the talking. Just think of your last run-in with a bank chatbot. Even the best ones require constant updates, clean data, and thoughtful integration with real human workflows. Frankly, we’d rather put that energy into improving how we talk to our clients directly.
1.2 Why just in English?
After more than 20 years working with clients from around the world, we’ve learned that we’re not in the language business or in the business of navigating international etiquette, for that matter. We’re here just to solve problems. If you can’t communicate in English at least at a basic level, chances are we’re not the right advisors for you — and you’re probably not our ideal client either. That said, we can communicate fluently in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.
1.3 What about your qualifications?
We won’t bore you with endless lists of degrees, memberships, or past cases — we can go into that if and when it matters. What you should know is that you’ll be dealing with professionals who hold LLMs, MBAs, MCIArb credentials, and have years of practical experience — plus a strong interest in new technologies, both as solutions and as investment opportunities.
2. International Trade, Contracts & Arbitration
2.1 How do you help companies involved in international trade?
We support companies engaged in international trade — whether you're dealing with the practicalities of export sales, negotiating cross-border contracts, or just trying to get paid without drama. We also help with what’s now called “business development” — which, in plain terms, means finding opportunities, partners, or markets that actually make sense for your product. We handle the intersection of legal and commercial matters in international settings with ease.
2.2 Do you draft international contracts — and can you adapt them for different jurisdictions?
Yes. We draft and review commercial agreements — including sales, distribution, agency, joint venture, and manufacturing contracts — with a focus on clarity and enforceability. We also tailor them for use across multiple jurisdictions, particularly within the EU, taking into account local laws, enforcement practices, and tax considerations.
2.3 What legal system do you recommend for cross-border contracts?
It depends on several factors — including leverage, enforcement risk, and the parties' preferences. We always respect party autonomy. When appropriate, we recommend arbitration clauses as a way to reduce reliance on any particular national legal system and to limit jurisdictional exposure.
2.4 Can you help enforce a foreign judgment or arbitral award?
Yes. We work with enforcement mechanisms under the New York Convention, Brussels I, or national frameworks. We coordinate local enforcement when needed.
2.5 Arbitration or court litigation?
Reaching either stage usually means value has already been lost — that’s our starting point. In theory, arbitration is well-suited for cross-border disputes due to its flexibility, confidentiality, and the expertise of arbitral tribunals. In practice, however, the increasing “lawyerization” of arbitration has eroded many of its original advantages, making it slower and more costly — often comparable to litigation. To counter this, we place strong emphasis on how dispute resolution clauses are drafted from the outset — to preserve efficiency, avoid procedural overkill, and keep arbitration true to its intended purpose. Whether we recommend arbitration or national courts depends on the case — we stay pragmatic.
2.6 Do you act as arbitrators?
Not yet — FCIArb is in progress. In the meantime, we help clients select appropriate neutral arbitrators for both institutional and ad hoc proceedings.
2.7 Do you handle commodity or shipping contracts?
Yes. We regularly advise on contracts governed by INCOTERMS, carriage of goods provisions, and marine risk allocation. For highly specialized matters (e.g. vessel chartering or insurance layers), we coordinate with technical experts.
2.8 What’s your approach to resolving disputes?
As Benjamin Franklin put it, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That said, we’re pragmatic — we know that some disputes can’t be avoided. If a fight isn’t worth having, we’ll tell you. But if it is, and you’ve got a solid position, we’ll pursue it with focus and strategy — no theatrics, just results.
2.9 Can you provide long-term legal support?
Yes. We support companies as outside counsel — with flat fees or retainers — especially in international commercial environments.
2.10 Do you use AI in dispute resolution, and if so, how?
In short, we’ve worked with contract automation and judicial decision-support systems for quite some time. Right now, we’re particularly interested in how AI can assist with assessing jurisdictional objections and calculating quantum in complex disputes.
3. Immigration & Residence Permits
3.1 Why mix investor immigration with international trade, tax, and everything else?
Because in real life, those things often aren’t separate. Back in 2009, we realized that most of our clients were business owners, investors, or professionals trying to build something that works across borders. Immigration, trade, tax, and corporate structuring are just pieces of the same puzzle — and we handle the full picture.
3.2 Do you handle residence permits for investors?
Yes. We specialize in immigration routes for investors, business owners, and self-sufficient individuals.
3.3 Do you handle family reunification, student, or asylum cases?
No. We don’t deal with family reunification or asylum. Our focus is almost entirely on economic and investment-based immigration. That said, most investor routes allow the main applicant to bring their immediate family — including dependent children and, in many cases, elderly parents — under the same permit.
3.4 How much do residence services cost?
Costs depend on the country and service scope. We’ll give you a fixed fee once we assess your case.
3.5 Can you guarantee approval?
No. That would mean selling a permit — which isn’t legal in the EU. We only take cases we believe have a real chance and handle them seriously, but the final word is always with the authorities.
3.6 Do you help with property purchases in Spain?
Yes, we can assist — but keep in mind that under current Spanish law, buying property no longer guarantees a residence permit, regardless of the amount. We help assess legal risks, negotiate contracts, and coordinate with local counsel or notaries when relevant.
3.7 Do you work with Chinese, Pakistani, or Middle Eastern clients?
Yes, obviously. The whole point of our services is to assist non-EU clients. That's the job.
4. Tax & Corporate Structures in the Baltics
4.1 Can you help register a company in Lithuania or Latvia?
Yes. We handle incorporation, structuring, banking, address setup, and VAT registration.
4.2 What types of businesses benefit from Baltic structures?
Consulting firms, holding companies, fintechs (including crypto exchanges and wallet operators), and international trading entities often use Baltic structures for their simplicity, low costs, and favourable tax regimes.
4.3 Is Estonia better than Lithuania or Latvia?
It depends on your needs — we help you choose. Estonia works well for retained-profit models, but so does Latvia, even if it’s less fashionable. Lithuania is a strong option if you're looking for low corporate income tax (5% to 15%) and a generally business-friendly environment, including for fintech.
4.4 Do you provide ongoing tax and accounting services?
No. We coordinate with reliable local accountants and tax professionals. We oversee structure and compliance, but for example we don’t file VAT returns ourselves.
4.5 Can I use a Baltic company for remote consulting or online work?
Yes. Many digital professionals and small teams operate this way. Just make sure you're familiar with rules on local substance, tax residency, and controlled foreign companies. Also, pay close attention to how your home country treats the use of foreign entities to shift or minimize personal tax liability. Spain, for instance, closely monitors the interposition of companies without real business purpose.
4.6 Is this legal tax avoidance?
Yes. What we do is tax planning: choosing from legal structures and jurisdictions to achieve the most efficient outcome (the principle of economía de opción under Spanish law, for example). We help clients reduce their tax burden within the bounds of the law. In any case, we’re not influencers selling one-size-fits-all “solutions” from Andorra or Dubai. The right approach depends on your actual situation — get in touch, we’ll assess it properly and then propose a solution.
4.7 What’s your fee structure?
We’ll give you a fixed price after a short review of what you actually need.