Legal500, 2024

  • Real estate and construction

Leveraging ‘excellent real estate knowledge’, DSM Avocats à la Cour provides ‘very practical advice’ to investors, developers, banks and construction companies throughout the life cycle of a real estate transaction – from securing acquisition of the land and advice on zoning/environmental issues through to lease negotiations and divestment of the property. Team head Mario Di Stefano‘s wide-ranging expertise covers transactional, litigation and financing matters, including advice on development projects and lease agreements.

Leading individual: Mario Di Stefano – DSM Avocats à la Cour

Practice head: Mario Di Stefano

Other key lawyers: Renaud Le Squeren; Vanessa Lomoro; Quentin Martin

Testimonials

‘They have excellent real estate knowledge and provide very practical advice.’

  • Dispute resolution

Led by ‘seasoned litigator’ Mario Di Stefano, DSM Avocats à la Cour provides ‘solutions-oriented and good strategic advice’ to clients, primarily within the real estate and construction sector, bringing or defending claims within the civil and administrative courts, relating to, inter alia, commercial leases, public procurement, urban development and alleged defects.

Practice head: Mario Di Stefano

Other key lawyers: Renaud Le Squeren; Marie-Paule Gillen; Alex Pham; Alban Colson

Testimonials

‘The team is very specialized and efficient, attentive, available and responsive.’

‘They have extensive expertise in complex litigation and provide very solutions-oriented and good strategic advice.’

‘Mario Di Stefano is a seasoned litigator.’

  • Tax

At DSM Avocats à la Cour, Alex Pham is ‘a fine strategist when it comes to tax litigation’, regularly securing high-profile victories for HNWIs, corporates and funds in hearings before the civil and administrative courts. In addition, Pham also handles some corporate structuring work and is ‘highly skilled in providing tax advice on cross-border transactions’.

Practice head: Mario Di Stefano

Other key lawyers: Alex Pham

Testimonials

‘They provide top-level tax advice, but they are also seasoned tax litigators, which is an asset in the Luxembourg new tax environment. Therefore, when necessary, the tax team is qualified to represent clients before all European and Luxembourg administrative and civil courts. They successfully defend clients in landmark cases creating precedents.’

‘Alex Pham is a fine strategist when it comes to tax litigation and highly skilled in providing tax advice on cross-border transactions. He listens to the clients’ needs and is up-to-date with market trends and regulations.’

  • Commercial, corporate and M&A

Drawing upon a ‘deep knowledge of the law’ as well as effective use of legal technology, DSM Avocats à la Cour provides an efficient service to funds and corporates seeking advice across a range of transactional and day-to-day corporate and commercial matters, including as it relates to corporate governance and compliance. The ‘responsive and technically excellent’ Renaud Le Squeren regularly handles corporate work in the TMT space, including advice on commercial issues and digitisation projects, as well as on M&A in the sector. Managing partner Mario Di Stefano co-heads the team alongside Le Squeren, with both also regularly involved in real estate-related corporate matters.

Practice heads: Mario Di Stefano; Renaud Le Squeren

Other key lawyers: Jean-Philippe FRANCOIS; Héloïse CUCHE

Testimonials

‘The team is very efficient and responsive, combined with a deep knowledge of the law. They are very interested in legal tech and already do use a variety of tools.’

‘Renaud Le Squeren: totally reliable and honest. Always ready to help, responsive and technically excellent.’

‘Renaud Le Squeren is a seasoned expert in his areas of expertise. He understands complex issues quickly and has an uncanny ability to boil them down to the essential talking points and propose clear and workable solutions.’

‘I would like to highlight the fact that we can always count on them when we need their help or advice.’

‘Renaud Le Squeren stands out for his pragmatic approach combined with great legal skills. It is always a pleasure working with him.’

‘Available, responsive, very accurate in their analysis.’

‘Very solid expertise and experience in a variety of disciplines. Quick turnaround and productive methods of working.’

 

Legal500, 2023

The Legal 500 – The Clients Guide to Law Firms

  • Real estate and construction

Real estate is a core area of focus for independent law firm DSM Avocats à la Cour and the firm has developed deep market knowledge and connections with core stakeholders in the space, as a result of its involvement throughout the life cycle of office, commercial and residential projects. Key to the firm’s success in the area is the work of ‘outstanding’ team head Mario Di Stefano, who takes a hands-on approach to work in the space and provides a partner-led service on behalf of clients, from securing acquisition of the land, advice on zoning/environmental issues, lease negotiations and divestment of the property.

Leading individuals: Mario Di Stefano

Testimonials

‘The firm provides speedy and effective legal advice with good, organised teamwork. It is highly sophisticated and provides prompt responses.’

‘It is a dynamic team.’

‘The outstanding Mario Di Stefano is reliable, very responsive and provides practical solutions.’

  • Dispute resolution

At DSM Avocats à la Cour, team head Mario Di Stefano provides ‘responsive, very hands-on and detail oriented’ advice to clients across a range of commercial disputes, including in the context of contentious real estate and construction matters.

Testimonials

‘They understand the business rationale behind the dispute and what is at stake and put the necessary efforts on the case.’

‘Mario Di Stefano is responsive, very hands-on and detail oriented.’

  • Commercial, corporate and M&A

DSM Avocats à la Cour has ‘deep knowledge of Luxembourg law and displays a pragmatic and highly responsive approach’ on behalf of corporates and funds across a range corporate and commercial matters, including on M&A and joint venture structuring. Headed by the ‘very hands-on’ Mario Di Stefano and the ‘very responsive’ Renaud Le Squeren much of the work relates to real estate matters.

Testimonials

‘The firm has deep knowledge of Luxembourg law and displays a pragmatic and highly responsive approach.‘

‘Mario Di Stefano is quick to answer, very hands-on, pays attention to details and has a good sense of humour.’

‘Renaud Le Squeren is a very experienced lawyer with excellent skills and is always very responsive.’

Legal500, 2022

The Legal 500 – The Clients Guide to Law Firms

Real estate is a core area of focus for DSM Avocats à la Cour and this is demonstrated in its ability to provide an ‘efficient and pragmatic’ service to a range of stakeholders, including developers, investors, brokers and family offices. Team head Mario Di Stefano is pivotal to the success of the practice in light of his broad expertise, which covers work throughout the life cycle of a real estate project, including acquisition of the land, advice on zoning/environmental issues, lease negotiations and divestment of the property. Renaud Le Squeren is also a key contact and excels in advising on projects underpinned by sophisticated financing mechanisms including securitization vehicles.

Leading individuals: Mario Di Stefano – DSM Avocats à la Cour

Testimonials

‘It is an efficient, pragmatic and competent team.’

‘As a leading surety provider in Benelux for real estate and construction companies we appreciate the firm’s in-depth knowledge of the industry.’

‘Mario di Stefano often says “no” to us, which means he really assist us to avoid making mistakes. He assisted us in very complex matter linked to large real estate transactions involving international banks and a listed real estate developer.’

The ‘business savvy’ team at DSM Avocats à la Cour is adept at utilising conventional litigation and ADR techniques to good effect on behalf of private sector clients, particularly in the context of tax and real estate disputes. The practice, headed by Mario Di Stefano and featuring Alban Colson, is also ‘good at helping with strategic planning in cross-border litigation’.

Testimonials

‘They are business savvy and also understand what it is like to work with other law firms (acting as lead counsel).’

‘They understand the commercial issues/realities and can advise me on what really matters.’

‘They are good at helping with strategic planning in cross-border litigation.’

In spite of its relatively small size, DSM Avocats à la Cour has ‘real experience working for international clients’ across a range of corporate and commercial matters, including on M&A and joint venture structuring. Renaud Le Squeren is ‘very responsive and friendly’, and co-heads the team alongside Mario Di Stefano, who ‘has a very deep knowledge of company law and M&A’.

Testimonials

‘It is very reliable in terms of legal skills and cost efficiency.’

‘The team is highly responsive and provides expertise across a wide range of competencies.’

‘The availability of partners is outstanding and the trickle down effect on associates seamless and efficient.’

‘It is a smaller law firm but for Luxembourg they have real experience working for international clients. They are very responsive and give excellent advice. It is one of the firms I work with in Luxembourg.’

‘Renaud Le Squeren: smart mind, shows great experience in leading transactions, always very responsive and friendly.’

‘Renaud Le Squeren is not only a consummate professional and an excellent lawyer, but also a profoundly human character who has an almost uncanny talent for understanding very specific situations instantly and putting them in their broader context at once, which results in perfect and actionable counsel.’

‘Mario Di Stefano is someone I enjoy working with. He has a lot of experience and is a very pragmatic person.’

‘Mario Di Stefano is a very serious and competent lawyer and has a very deep knowledge in the sector of company law and M&A. Moreover, he has a great ethical sense, great flexibility, promptness in offering answers and collaborative spirit.’

Legal500, 2021

With a ‘perfect combination of experience and agility‘, DSM Avocats A La Cour‘s two-partner team provides ‘accurate and timely advice‘ to a wide range of stakeholders engaged in local real estate matters. Mario Di Stefano ‘always delivers exhaustive and well-documented legal work‘ and has developed a particularly strong reputation among developers, by virtue of his ability to provide a “cradle-to-grave” service, including wide-ranging zoning, planning and environmental due diligence at the front-end of the transaction, through to the ultimate divestment process.

Leading individuals: Mario Di Stefano

Testimonials

The team is flexible and responsive.

Top-notch firm, highly technical and with a great service, from beginning until the end. Perfect combination of experience and agility.

Mario Di Stefano always delivers exhaustive and well-documented legal work. He displays exceptional communication skills.

DSM Avocats A La Cour‘s dispute resolution team has familiarity with a range of litigation techniques, including ADR, which it effectively implements for private sector clients on real estate and tax disputes, in particular.

Benefiting from a ‘perfect combination of experience and agility‘, DSM Avocats A La Cour provides ‘responsive and business-minded advice‘ to national and international clients across a range of corporate and commercial mandates, including advice on M&A and international joint ventures. Mario Di Stefano possesses ‘exceptional communication skills‘ and, along with the ‘responsive and proactive‘ Renaud Le Squeren, is a key member of the team that is particularly active in the real estate sector.

Testimonials

They are responsive and understand the client’s business rationale.

They not only exhibit outstanding legal skills, but are also very friendly lawyers and staff, with whom it is a pleasure working.

Top-notch firm, highly technical and with great service, from beginning til end. It displays a perfect combination of experience and agility.

Mario Di Stefano provides timely and business-minded advice.

Mario Di Stefano always delivers exhaustive and well-documented legal work. He has exceptional communication skills.

The very responsive Renaud Le Squeren has excellent legal skills in corporate and commercial law and data protection.

 

LEGAL500, 2020

DSM Avocats A La Cour advises a diverse array of stakeholders, including funds, banks, developers and contractors, on corporate real estate, zoning and planning, and real estate acquisition projects.

Jointly headed by Mario DI STEFANO and Renaud LE SQUEREN, DSM Avocats A La Cour handles a broad array of ongoing corporate and commercial matters for local entities and international clients based in Luxembourg. The team also regularly handles cross-border M&A work across a range of industry sectors, including real estate.

Well-versed in alternative dispute resolution techniques in addition to formal litigation, DSM Avocats A La Cour represents clients across a broad range of domestic and cross-border commercial litigation. Alban COLSON is also noted for his white-collar expertise.

Legal500, 2019

  • Real Estate and Construction

DSM Avocats A La Cour advises a wide range of stakeholders, including funds, banks, developers and contractors, on corporate real estate, zoning and planning, and real estate acquisition projects. Mario Di Stefano is well-versed in local real estate development matters and heads the two-partner team that also includes the ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Renaud Le Squeren , who regularly employs sophisticated financing structures to facilitate transactions in the sector.

  • Commercial, Corporate and M&A

Led by Luxembourg and German-qualified partner Mario Di Stefano, DSM Avocats A La Cour has experience on M&A matters for both private equity and corporate clients. Renaud Le Squeren has a particular focus on real-estate-related corporate matters.

  • Dispute Resolution

At DSM Avocats A La Cour, dual-qualified Luxembourg and German partner Mario Di Stefano has broad-ranging litigation and arbitration expertise across a range of areas including as it relates to construction, administrative law and tax.

Legal500, 2018

  • Real Estate and Construction

The ‘responsive’ two-partner team at DSM Avocats A La Cour provides ‘an excellent service’ to funds, banks, developers, brokers and contractors on matters including corporate real estate, zoning and planning, and real estate acquisition projects. Practice head Mario di Stefano has particular expertise advising on real estate development matters and Renaud Le Squeren is ‘excellent’.

  • Commercial, Corporate and M&

As well as regularly handling real estate-related M&A, DSM Avocats A La Cour also handles an increasing amount of day-to-day corporate and transactional work across other sectors including the financial services industry. Mario di Stefano and Renaud le Squeren are recommended.

  • Dispute Resolution

DSM Avocats A La Cour represents domestic and international clients in a broad range of civil, real estate and commercial disputes.

Legal500, 2017

  • Real Estate and Construction

At DSM Avocats A La Cour, team head Mario di Stefano handles a wide range of real estate matters, from financing and due diligence issues through to exit strategies. Di Stefano is particularly recommended for real estate development work and recently advised an international construction group on the acquisition and development of two Luxembourg-based real estate projects.

  • Commercial, Corporate and M&A

DSM Avocats A La Cour provides a ‘responsive and cost-effective’ service across a range of corporate matters with a particular focus on the real estate sector.

  • Dispute Resolution

DSM Avocats A La Cour‘s team represents domestic and international clients across a broad range of civil, real estate and commercial disputes.