English-speaking criminal lawyers in Madrid

If you or a family member have been arrested in Madrid, the first statement is the most important moment of the whole case. Police custody may last no longer than strictly necessary and never more than 72 hours before release or appearance before a judge (Article 17 of the Spanish Constitution).

Under Article 520 of the Criminal Procedure Act (Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal) you have the right to remain silent, to a lawyer of your choice, to a free interpreter and to have your consulate informed. We go to the police station or the duty court (juzgado de guardia), review the police report and prepare your statement with you before you say anything.

Many cases in Madrid are decided within days in fast-track proceedings (juicios rápidos). Accepting a conviction at the duty court can reduce the sentence by one third (Article 801 of the Criminal Procedure Act), but it leaves a criminal record: never agree to it without independent advice.

Spanish law draws a clear line between consumption and trafficking. Possession of drugs for personal use is not a crime, although using or carrying them in public places is an administrative offence punished with a fine (Organic Law 4/2015 on public safety). Drug trafficking, by contrast, carries prison sentences under Article 368 of the Criminal Code.

We defend foreign nationals in cases ranging from possession in nightlife areas to couriers stopped at Madrid-Barajas Airport and large investigations before the Audiencia Nacional. We scrutinise the search, the chain of custody and the laboratory analysis of the substance, and we argue for personal use whenever the facts support it.

Extradition requests and European Arrest Warrants issued by other countries against people in Spain are dealt with by the Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s national high court, based in Madrid. Deadlines are short and the grounds for refusing surrender are limited, so the defence must be prepared from the moment of arrest.

We assist people detained under an international or European warrant, check the formal requirements and guarantees of the request, apply for release while the procedure is pending and coordinate with lawyers in the requesting country when needed.

A night out that ends in a fight, an incident with door staff or an altercation in the street can lead to charges of assault and bodily harm (lesiones), public disorder or resisting the police. The outcome often depends on the medical reports, the witnesses and any CCTV footage, which must be secured early.

We defend people accused of violent offences and also act for victims, claiming compensation for injuries and damage. Where appropriate, we seek agreements that avoid a trial or reduce the consequences for your record.

Allegations of domestic or gender violence are handled in Madrid by specialised courts, the Juzgados de Violencia sobre la Mujer, and move very fast: an arrest, a statement at the duty court and a protection order can all happen within a day or two.

We defend the accused from the first hour, with particular attention to protection orders and their effect on the family home and on contact with children, and we also represent victims who need protection and want to bring a private prosecution.

Madrid concentrates much of Spain’s business activity and, with it, a large share of economic crime investigations: fraud, misappropriation, money laundering, tax offences and corporate criminal liability. Many of these cases involve foreign executives, investors and companies operating in Spain.

We defend individuals and companies under investigation and represent victims of fraud, including online investment and payment scams, before the Madrid courts and the Audiencia Nacional. In complex cases we work alongside forensic accountants and coordinate with your advisers in other countries.