At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, we understand the challenges and uncertainties our clients and their loved ones face when entangled in international legal proceedings. Whether individuals got arrested in Germany, find themselves imprisoned in a foreign country, are seeking enforcement of their sentence in their home country, or facing the prospect of extradition, our team of experienced international criminal defence lawyers is here to provide expert legal guidance. With a deep understanding of both domestic and international legal frameworks, we are committed to protecting your rights and interests every step of the way. Use our encrypted contact-form now to book a confidential consultation appointment.

Our team of international criminal defence lawyers specialises in handling a wide range of cases, with a particular focus on those involving Interpol Notices, European Arrest Warrants, and extradition requests.

Interpol Notices

Through the Interpol Network, a variety of Interpol Notices can be circulated to all member countries, with the Red Notice being the most common one. Although not an international arrest warrant, a Red Notice serves as a request from one member state of Interpol to law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a suspect. Besides placing the suspect at immediate risk of being extradited to face charges in the requesting country, a Red Notice can bear further severe consequences.

Interpol Notices and Diffusions have been continuously critized for their potential for abuse. In some instances, politically motivated Red Notices have been used solely to defame the person involved. Our team has successfully defended clients against politically motivated Red Notices, for example from Russia. Interpol Notices have also gained massive negative attention for being misused for minor financial crimes, or even debt. Our team has removed numerous Red Notices for unsubstantiated financial allegations. Just recently our expert lawyers achieved the deletion of a Red Notice from Saudi Arabia concerning accusations of commercial fraud.

Our extradition team advises and protects clients from the first suspicion, be it to prevent a Red Notice, to find out if they are already wanted by Interpol and ultimately with the removal of a Red Notice.

European Arrest Warrant

A European Arrest Warrant’s purpose is to speed up extradition procedures within the European Union. It can be issued by any of the EU Member States and is based on the principle of mutual recognition. It is circulated directly between judicial authorities. European Arrest Warrants are frequently issued, with 14,789 having been issued in 2021 alone – making it a frequent tool in international criminal prosecution. The most common offences leading to these warrants include theft, drug-related offences, fraud, and corruption. To effectively defend our client from an European Arrest Warrant, our lawyers thoroughly assess whether the European Arrest Warrant is appropriate to our client’s case and further determine what actions can be taken on that basis.

Extradition Requests

Being subject to an extradition request means being at permanent risk of detention and extradition, thus making expert legal aid indispensable. Once a national extradition warrant is issued, it is possible to challenge this warrant directly. Our team has successfully defended clients against extradition request from countless states, such as Russia, Iran, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, Romania and Ukraine. Our attorneys are also specialized in the defense against the extradition of white-collar criminals and offer comprehensive legal assistance following an arrest in Germany.

Due to the great amount of international criminal cases, we have effectively and successfully handled, our strategy for defending clients from international criminal prosecution has been shaped by the following factors:

• Close and Transparent Client Counselling: Our international criminal defence lawyers are always accessible to provide guidance and support to our clients throughout the entire process, explaining their rights, potential outcomes, and the implications of various legal strategies.
• Discretion and Privacy: We prioritise securing our clients’ freedom while protecting their privacy and devising discreet solutions.
• Interactions with International Authorities: We regularly communicate on our clients’ behalf with international organizations, diplomatic missions, and other authorities involved in the case to address procedural issues, extradition matters, or other legal concerns.
• Coordination with Experts: At Schlun & Elseven, we provide in-house investigators and collaborate with forensic experts and other professionals to gather evidence and build a strong defence for our clients.
• Cultural Sensitivity and Language Skills: Our lawyers are fluent in a variety of languages and have successfully worked with clients from diverse geographical und cultural backgrounds.
• Effective Case Management: We offer our clients our case management services to ensure that the multiple stages of extradition proceedings are streamlined, efficiently managed and delays are minimized.