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Yann Bevilacqua
Genève · Commercial law
CHF 350.–/h
No reviews yet
Lawyer in Geneva
Find a verified lawyer or legal adviser in Geneva, and see straight away which Geneva authority handles your case, from tenancy to criminal matters.
Geneva lies in the canton of Geneva, in the canton of Geneva.
Geneva lies in the canton of Geneva, in the canton of Geneva.
The local picture
Geneva
Geneva is where the justice of the whole canton sits. With no judicial districts, the Tribunal civil (civil court), the Tribunal pénal (criminal court), the Tribunal des prud’hommes (employment tribunal) and the Ministère public (public prosecutor) cover the entire canton. A tenancy dispute starts before the Commission de conciliation en matière de baux et loyers; a dispute with an employer goes to the employment tribunal; a divorce goes to the Tribunal de première instance. Knowing where to turn saves detours and missed deadlines, especially when a notice to quit or a dismissal has just arrived.
As an international city, Geneva is home to many people who work for an international organisation or a foreign company, and to many cross-border commuters looking for a lawyer who can explain Swiss law in their own language. On ora., every lawyer is checked against a cantonal register of lawyers and every legal adviser holds a Swiss law degree. You compare practice areas, languages and fees, then book an appointment with a Geneva law firm or by video.
Practitioners
Lawyers in Geneva
Nearest first: offices in Geneva, then the district and the canton, then those who meet by video call in your language.
See all practitionersOffices in Geneva1 practitioner
Elsewhere in the canton of Geneva2 practitioners
Instant confirmationMe Usman Toseef
Geneva · Family law
CHF 10.–/h
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Paola Arcidiacono
Geneva · Commercial law
CHF 140.–/h
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Justice in Geneva
Which authority for which dispute?
Before you consult, it helps to know who decides. These are the competent authorities for Geneva, each with its official website.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), swisstopo
- Tenancy
- Work
- Family
- Criminal
- Legal aid
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), swisstopo
Tenancy
Tenancy: conciliation comes first
In Geneva, a dispute between tenant and landlord normally starts before the Commission de conciliation en matière de baux et loyers (tenancy conciliation board). It hears both parties and looks for an agreement; if conciliation fails, it issues an authorisation to proceed, which lets you take the case to the Tribunal des baux et loyers, the tenancy court. Both belong to the Tribunal civil. Time limits to challenge a notice or a rent increase are short, so seek advice as soon as the letter arrives.
- Official website
Competent authority
Commission de conciliation en matière de baux et loyers
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Work
Work: the employment tribunal
Disputes under a private-law employment contract go to the Tribunal des prud’hommes (employment tribunal), which covers the whole canton. Proceedings normally begin with an attempt at conciliation. Dismissal, unpaid wages, overtime or a work certificate: an employment lawyer first assesses your prospects and the documents you will need. People employed by the public administration usually fall under public law and follow other routes of appeal.
- Official website
Competent authority
Tribunal des prud’hommes
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Family
Family: the civil court
Divorce, separation, custody or maintenance: these cases go to the Tribunal de première instance, part of the Tribunal civil (civil court). A family lawyer helps you prepare an agreement, apply for measures to protect the marital union, or defend your interests when no agreement is possible. Mediation is worth considering before or during the proceedings, particularly where children are involved.
- Official website
Competent authority
Tribunal civil
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Criminal
Criminal matters: the public prosecutor
A criminal complaint, a summons for questioning or a penalty order: the investigation is led by the Ministère public (public prosecutor). It may drop the case, issue a penalty order or indict before the Tribunal pénal (criminal court). A penalty order is challenged by filing an objection, and the time limit is very short. Whether you are accused or a victim, it pays to consult a criminal lawyer from the first summons.
- Official website
Competent authority
Ministère public
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Legal aid
Legal aid: the legal aid registry
If you cannot afford the costs of proceedings, you can apply for legal aid. In Geneva, the application goes to the Greffe de l’assistance juridique, the legal aid registry, which looks at your financial situation and your case’s prospects. If granted, legal aid can cover court costs and a lawyer’s fees. Raise the question at your first contact with the practitioner you choose.
- Official website
Competent authority
Greffe de l’assistance juridique
Serves: the whole canton
Areas of law
Areas covered in Geneva
One panel for each area in which verified practitioners work in the canton of Geneva. Other areas remain available by video call.
No practitioner in the canton of Geneva yet
Nobody in the canton is registered for these areas yet. Practitioners from elsewhere can meet you by video call.
- Employment law
- Property law
- Landlord and tenant law
- Criminal law
- Immigration law
- Succession law
- Insurance law
- Tax law
- Debt enforcement law
- Administrative law
- Data protection law
- Arbitration
Common situations
The questions that come up most
Six common situations in the areas where most practitioners work in the canton of Geneva.
Pricing on ora.
Two lines, never one total
Each practitioner sets their own fees and shows them on their profile before you book. You pay ora., which collects on the practitioner’s behalf; ora. charges its service fee on a separate line.
- Practitioner's feeSet by the practitioner, paid out to the practitioner
- ora. service fee (non-refundable)A separate line, paid to ora.
- You choose an appointment
- You pay ora., which collects for the practitioner
- The work takes place
- If you disagree, ora. mediates
Cantonal registers checked by hand
- Geneva
- Vaud
- Neuchâtel
- Fribourg
- Valais
- Jura
We keep the name of the register and the date of every check.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions in Geneva
Local answers, checked against official sources. A practitioner can look at your situation in detail.
See all questionsWhich court handles a tenancy dispute in Geneva?
The first step is the Commission de conciliation en matière de baux et loyers (tenancy conciliation board), which tries to bring tenant and landlord to an agreement. If none is reached, it issues an authorisation to proceed and the case can go to the Tribunal des baux et loyers, part of the Tribunal civil. Time limits to challenge a notice or a rent increase are short, so consult a landlord and tenant lawyer as soon as the letter arrives.
Where do I take a dispute with my employer in Geneva?
Disputes under a private-law employment contract go to the Tribunal des prud’hommes (employment tribunal), which normally begins with an attempt at conciliation. Unfair dismissal, unpaid wages or a work certificate: an employment lawyer helps you put a figure on your claims and gather the documents. Staff of the public administration usually fall under different, public-law rules.
Who investigates a criminal case in Geneva?
The Ministère public (public prosecutor) leads the investigation: it receives complaints, questions the parties and decides whether to drop the case, issue a penalty order or indict before the Tribunal pénal. The time limit to object to a penalty order is very short. A criminal lawyer can assist you from the first interview, whether you are accused or a victim.
Can I see a lawyer in English in Geneva?
Proceedings before the Geneva courts are conducted in French. For consultations, however, many Geneva lawyers also work in English or other languages. Every profile on ora. lists the languages the practitioner speaks, and you can book an appointment at the office or by video. If proceedings begin, your lawyer will tell you which documents need translating.
How much does a lawyer cost in Geneva?
Each practitioner sets their own fees, and the rates of lawyers available in Geneva are shown live on this page and on every profile before you book. ora.’s service fee appears on a separate line and is never added into the fee, and you pay the practitioner directly. If your means are limited, you can apply for legal aid to the Greffe de l’assistance juridique (legal aid registry).
Next step
Find your practitioner in Geneva
Choose an area of law: the directory opens on the practitioners who work near you.
- Video consultation
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