Criminal Defense Attorneys | Expert Legal Representation

Do you need a criminal defense attorney?

From our law firm we can provide you with an urgent attorney, specially trained in this field. This would include the most common types of crimes, among which we can mention:

• Crimes related to narcotic substances, also known as drug trafficking or drug dealing offenses. Penalties for crimes of this type depend on the type of substance involved. The Spanish Penal Code distinguishes between drugs that cause serious harm to health (cocaine, heroin…) and those that do not (cannabis, hashish…). In common terms, this classification is known as hard or soft drugs.
• Crimes of smuggling, for example, tobacco smuggling.
• Money laundering.
• Crimes related to State borders (customs). Often in this type of crime, rigid inflatable vessels are involved.
• Crimes related to criminal gangs or organizations, such as assault, coercion, extortion, and drug dealing.
• Crimes of abuse of authority, such as unlawful detention, unlawful searches, police brutality, unauthorized phone tapping in violation of judicial safeguards…
• Entry and search of premises, unlawful entry into a dwelling.
• Search of vehicles, etc.

This is a non-exhaustive list, as all crimes that exist in Spain are set out in the Penal Code.

This Code has undergone several amendments, the most recent of which took place in 2015. An attorney specializing in this field will have the up-to-date knowledge that the law requires, being aware of the changes that have occurred. The legal field is a discipline that demands constant updating, and that is why at our law firm we make sure to meet this requirement in order to offer a quality service to our clients.

It is also important that when seeking legal assistance in criminal cases you specifically turn to a criminal defense attorney, as this area requires specific training and experience. As you likely know, in Law there are different branches: Civil, Labor, Criminal… For this reason it is important to take the time to find the right professional for your case.

Although all attorneys are legal professionals, as we have said their experience is limited to their area of practice. Our law firm has professionals who already have experience in this field, with knowledge of all the crimes we have mentioned above. Likewise, we also have professionals trained in other areas of law, who will equally be able to assist you in their respective fields.

We remind you that in the criminal sphere, offenses are pursued exclusively through formal complaint (querella) and report (denuncia). These are two distinct concepts that often cause confusion, and for that reason we will proceed to explain them below.

A report (denuncia) is anonymous in nature, meaning it is not necessary to know the name of the person being reported. This is quite common in cases of theft or robbery, for example, where we do not know who committed the crime when our belongings were taken. A report may also be filed by the police, in which case it is called an official report (atestado). We should be aware that by filing a report we do not become a party to the criminal proceedings. This means that the outcome of the proceedings will not be communicated to us (except in specific cases, such as if we participate as witnesses). For the reasons we have just explained, filing a report does not strictly require an attorney. Nevertheless, if we have been victims of a crime it would be advisable to first seek advice from an attorney before taking further steps.

A formal complaint (querella), on the other hand, has a different character from the previous concept. In this case it is not anonymous; rather, we must know the identity of the person against whom we are proceeding. To give an example, in gender-based violence offenses a formal complaint may be filed, since the identity of the perpetrator is known.

In summary: a formal complaint requires that it be directed against a specific person. This is the main difference from the report we have just explained. But there is also another difference: in this case we will have the right to know the outcome of the proceedings, since we will be a party to them. In technical terms, we will be a procedural party. In these cases the defense of an attorney will be required, unlike with a report. We will also need to appoint a Procurador (court representative), as provided for by procedural law.

A criminal defense attorney also acts as a prison law attorney, meaning they are responsible for providing assistance to the detainee, including during pretrial detention. Whether or not a trial ultimately takes place, the attorney will accompany and guide the client throughout the entire duration of the proceedings. During pretrial detention the rights of the detainee must be respected at all times, and if necessary it is possible to apply for habeas corpus. This is a procedure that allows the detainee to appear directly before the Judge, with the aim of preventing arbitrary arrests and detentions without the proper legal guarantees.

We hold a consolidated position in the legal world with extensive experience; reasons for which we are able to adequately assist those who require our services. We can say that our clients are satisfied with our work and that we strive to carry out our work with professionalism, rigor, and courtesy.

If you need more information do not hesitate to contact us. To do so we recommend that you request a prior appointment, which you can do by phone, fax, or via the email address indicated on our website. Once that appointment has been arranged, you can tell us about your case and we will study it individually, guiding you in all other respects. We will take care of everything so that you do not have to worry about anything else.