"Most Influential Criminal Lawyer - Belgium"
(Global Excellence Award 2021)
(Global Excellence Award 2022)

"Criminal Law Lawyer of the Year"
(Legal Awards 2021)

"Human Rights Law Lawyer of the Year"
(Legal Awards 2020)
READ MORE Quicklinks: contact us ADVOCAAT | AVOCAT | ATTORNEY JOACHIM MEESE curriculum j. meese our approach
Joachim Meese

About us

Law firm Joachim Meese is a law firm that focuses exclusively on criminal law and assists private individuals, companies, government agencies and attorneys or law firms. The firm is run by Joachim Meese, professor at the University of Antwerp. With 24 years of experience as a lawyer and an academic, he has everything in-house to advise or assist you in the most professional and qualitative way (curriculum). He is frequently engaged by large (international) law firms and has already worked for numerous (international) large companies and in the most high-profile criminal cases. He also has the necessary expertise for conducting specific proceedings (e.g. before the Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation or the European Court of Human Rights) or for issuing advice or affidavits to law firms or companies. You can read more about this on our expertise page.

Our mission is simple: to advise or assist you as we would like to be defended and treated. This includes a superior defence in which tactical and intellectual ingenuity meet, coupled with a professional service. We like to be judged on our approach, because we are convinced that you will appreciate it. Below is a list of what you can expect from us.

Our Approach

Superior and professional services

Today’s law is so complex that only far-reaching specialisation can guarantee excellent defence or assistance. The basis is therefore in-depth knowledge of legislation as well as national and international case law. However, knowledge alone is not enough. Finding a solution to your problem often also requires a creative mind. Law and jurisprudence are evolving all the time. Perhaps the solution to your case cannot be found in today’s law, but in tomorrow’s law. And that is not achieved by walking within the existing lines, but under the impulse of a knowledge-based creative approach. Finally, tactical ingenuity is also required.

An analysis of your file based on knowledge, creativity and tactical insight does not yet bring us to the finish line. After all, we also promise you a highly professional service. This means, among other things, that our office is tightly organised, so that your file receives all the attention it deserves. And that your defence is presented to the courts in a professional manner, in beautiful language and professional lay-out.

Super tight communication

Your business is vital to you. So also for us. If you have a question, you want it answered quickly. After all, you do not want to stay in uncertainty for longer than necessary. That is why we guarantee direct communication within 48 hours, even if you have questions during the weekend or holiday periods. This means that we will answer your question by e-mail within 48 hours or that we will contact you by telephone within the same period. You can also request a first contact by phone on this site. We will also call you within 48 hours. Guaranteed.

Usually it will be faster. 48 hours is the maximum period within which a suspect can be arrested without a court order. We do better in 90% of the cases, namely within 24 hours. This is also guaranteed.

Would you like an appointment? Then it is just as quickly recorded. We are even happy to visit your company or your home.

Personal handling of your entire case

When you choose us and we accept your file, your file will be handled by Joachim Meese. We therefore do not outsource to third persons who you do not know or who you have not spoken to yourself, unless you would request a specific collaboration or outsourcing yourself or unless your case requires a multidisciplinary approach, in which case we will work with the best and most suitable specialist(s) in consultation with you. Every step is important and that certainly applies to writing advice, conclusions and pleading your case. In this way, you can also avoid double preparation costs due to the fact that two or more lawyers have to study your file.

Tansparent and fair rates

We strive for maximum transparency in our invoicing. You will therefore always be able to check how our fees have been calculated and how much time we have spent on your file. We do not charge a fixed percentage on our fee for costs. So in addition to the fees, you only pay the costs that were actually incurred in your file. All this in accordance with the clearly agreed rates in advance, so that you will not be faced with any surprises.

Just like you, we strive for efficiency, also in terms of the cost you will face. Usually our fee is calculated on the basis of an hourly rate, but we are open to alternative fee arrangements when this is more appropriate. Sometimes it is difficult to predict how much time a case will take, but there is still a demand for more certainty about the cost. Our fees can then, for example, be calculated on the basis of a fixed amount linked to a bonus fee when a certain result is achieved. All this of course in accordance with clear and pre-arranged agreements.

For cassation proceedings, we propose a competitive flat-rate, which is always to your advantage. In this way, you know in advance perfectly what our intervention will cost you.

We also ensure that you are always kept informed of the progress of your case and the costs associated with it. Interim invoices are sent to you on time (in principle monthly), so that you are spared painful surprises after the end of our intervention, even when we are working on an hourly basis. If you also want to be informed of the current cost between invoices, or if you want even faster consecutive invoicing, we will take care of this at your first request. Simple.

Our Approach

Superior and professional services

Today’s law is so complex that only far-reaching specialisation can guarantee excellent defence or assistance. The basis is therefore in-depth knowledge of legislation as well as national and international case law. However, knowledge alone is not enough. Finding a solution to your problem often also requires a creative mind. Law and jurisprudence are evolving all the time. Perhaps the solution to your case cannot be found in today’s law, but in tomorrow’s law. And that is not achieved by walking within the existing lines, but under the impulse of a knowledge-based creative approach. Finally, tactical ingenuity is also required.

An analysis of your file based on knowledge, creativity and tactical insight does not yet bring us to the finish line. After all, we also promise you a highly professional service. This means, among other things, that our office is tightly organised, so that your file receives all the attention it deserves. And that your defence is presented to the courts in a professional manner, in beautiful language and professional lay-out.

Super tight communication

Your business is vital to you. So also for us. If you have a question, you want it answered quickly. After all, you do not want to stay in uncertainty for longer than necessary. That is why we guarantee direct communication within 48 hours, even if you have questions during the weekend or holiday periods. This means that we will answer your question by e-mail within 48 hours or that we will contact you by telephone within the same period. You can also request a first contact by phone on this site. We will also call you within 48 hours. Guaranteed.

Usually it will be faster. 48 hours is the maximum period within which a suspect can be arrested without a court order. We do better in 90% of the cases, namely within 24 hours. This is also guaranteed.

Would you like an appointment? Then it is just as quickly recorded. We are even happy to visit your company or your home.

Personal handling of your entire case

When you choose us and we accept your file, your file will be handled by Joachim Meese. We therefore do not outsource to third persons who you do not know or who you have not spoken to yourself, unless you would request a specific collaboration or outsourcing yourself or unless your case requires a multidisciplinary approach, in which case we will work with the best and most suitable specialist(s) in consultation with you. Every step is important and that certainly applies to writing advice, conclusions and pleading your case. In this way, you can also avoid double preparation costs due to the fact that two or more lawyers have to study your file.

Transparent and fair rates

We strive for maximum transparency in our invoicing. You will therefore always be able to check how our fees have been calculated and how much time we have spent on your file. We do not charge a fixed percentage on our fee for costs. So in addition to the fees, you only pay the costs that were actually incurred in your file. All this in accordance with the clearly agreed rates in advance, so that you will not be faced with any surprises.

Just like you, we strive for efficiency, also in terms of the cost you will face. Usually our fee is calculated on the basis of an hourly rate, but we are open to alternative fee arrangements when this is more appropriate. Sometimes it is difficult to predict how much time a case will take, but there is still a demand for more certainty about the cost. Our fees can then, for example, be calculated on the basis of a fixed amount linked to a bonus fee when a certain result is achieved. All this of course in accordance with clear and pre-arranged agreements.

For cassation proceedings, we propose a competitive flat-rate, which is always to your advantage. In this way, you know in advance perfectly what our intervention will cost you.

We also ensure that you are always kept informed of the progress of your case and the costs associated with it. Interim invoices are sent to you on time (in principle monthly), so that you are spared painful surprises after the end of our intervention, even when we are working on an hourly basis. If you also want to be informed of the current cost between invoices, or if you want even faster consecutive invoicing, we will take care of this at your first request. Simple.

More Questions?

Still have questions? Do not hesitate to contact us, we insist on informing you well before starting!

Are you already sufficiently informed? Fine, we would like to hear from you via the contact details below. You will then very quickly hear from us whether we can accept your case. If you send us an email about a new case, do not give us too confidential or sensitive information in your first message. It is possible that we already represent a party with conflicting interests.

Call us: +32 (0)475 39 54 10 or ask for a free telephone consultation (we will call you).

E-mail us (advocaat@jmeese.be) or use the contact form below.

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