Family law

This practice area relates to inter-family relationships, including both civil and criminal law aspects of marriage and children. It encompasses: marital property, pre-nuptial agreements, divorce and alimony or maintenance agreements; child custody, visitation rights, and child support; domestic abuse and gender violence; legitimacy and paternity; adoption and fostering; legal emancipation; and family mediation.

Criminal law

This area of law relates to acts and omissions that are defined as a threat to public safety by international, national and local laws, procedures and rules. It includes such elements as the arrest, detention, charging and prosecution of those accused of having committed offences, as well as punishment by penalties which may include fines and imprisonment.

Labour law

This area of law concerns the relationships between workers, employers, unions, and governmental bodies, as regards the rights and obligations of all the parties involved. This can include: terms and conditions of employment contracts; termination, conflict resolution, arbitration and mediation; compliance with national and international standards, such as health and safety requirements; and collective agreements and actions.

Litigation

This area of law is concerned with the resolution of disputes between parties in the courts and may include: filing and serving complaints on behalf of a plaintiff and responding to a lawsuit on behalf of a defendant; determining appropriate damages or relief; undertaking pre-trial actions, such as discovery and depositions; pre-trial negotiation; representing clients in proceedings; assisting with post-sentence settlement agreements.

Real estate law

This area encompasses the rights and duties relating to the ownership and tenancy of real or immovable property (as opposed to personal or movable possessions), including both land and buildings, and includes: transfer of possession by sale, inheritance, and donation; conveyancing; registration; leases and tenancies; trusts, mortgages and security interests; easements, covenants and liens; and land and building regulation.

Inheritance law

Related to the disposal and distribution of property to heirs upon death, in compliance with both national and European Union legislation in cross-border cases, the legal area of succession includes: estate management; wills, trusts, and directives, such as proxies and powers of attorney; fiscal issues; legitimate descendants’ rights in civil law jurisdictions; and freedom of testament and probate in common law systems.

Insurance law and liability

This specialism regulates the relationships between parties as regards the insurer’s obligations and the insured party’s rights to reimbursement for losses, in the event that such occur. This typically includes policies between private-sector entities and individuals for health, life, malpractice, property and vehicle insurance, but can also cover state-run insurance policies for compensation, social security and unemployment.

Migration law

This specialization relates to the rights and responsibilities of citizens, other legal entities and states in regard to immigration, including such issues as residency, nationality, visas, refugee status determination, work permits, residence permits, marriage and civil unions. It incorporate aspects of administrative, criminal, human rights and labour law and, by definition, is concerned with questions involving more than one country or jurisdiction.

Transportation law

This practice area applies to the legislation and regulation of all kinds of air, land, and maritime means and systems of transport, including not only physical and communications infrastructure but also vehicles, vessels, and other conveyances, as well as the operation of the same. It may involve relationships between public- and private-sector actors, private individuals and other legal entities on a worldwide, national or local level.