COTTYN Network
The COTTYN Network began with its head office in Belgium, launched in 1978. Poland joined us first, in 2006, and since then we have expanded to the network we can offer you today. As well as our offices in Belgium and Poland, we now operate in Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, the Netherlands and France.
With that collection of branches in Eastern and Central Europe, we can provide an international team of lawyers in just about any area of law. In addition to our permanent branches, we have also built up numerous international relationships, further benefitting our network. Not only to assist you in these countries themselves, but also for cross-border projects and cases, where we have acquired a great deal of experience in recent years.
Our mission
COTTYN stands for quality legal services with satisfied clients as the ultimate goal.
The interdisciplinary teams in our offices engage in a good deal of mutual consultation across different areas, greatly expanding the knowledge of the COTTYN Network. This knowledge is then put into practice with a focus on results- We strive for transparent communication with the client about each step in the case as well as the financial implications.
Not only should communication be transparent, it should also be quick. More than ever, this is expected in this digital age. In addition to the standard means of communication (phone, email, post, etc.), we also provide e-consultations via Microsoft Teams or other platforms if desired.
To achieve all this, our lawyers also depend on their office administrative staff on a daily basis. In order for partners, lawyers and administrative staff alike to be motivated and enthusiastic members of the network, COTTYN strives to allow and to encourage each individual to develop in their own way.
Our vision
Looking to the future, COTTYN wants to be able to continue to guarantee its existing clientele these high-quality legal services.
In addition, we are also always on the lookout for interesting business relationships to expand our network so as to provide added value to our current partners as well as to our existing and new clients.
In order to offer you the most comprehensive service, we aim to be accessible through as many channels as possible. That is why we continue to innovate in the field of digitisation and constantly explore options that are beneficial to our offices and clients.
Legal services
COTTYN provides legal services to individuals, businesses and governments alike. High-quality customisation within a short timeframe at competitive rates: this is our commitment to every client.
Documents, agreements, lawsuits, family problems, legal aid… Often, there is just too much and too legally complex information suddenly coming your way. You can’t see the forest for the trees. At COTTYN, our primary objective is to inform and advise you.
Advice is the first option in legal services and is provided throughout the entire duration of your case. What is more, our offices also offer advice without setting up a case file. During a consultation lasting between half an hour and an hour, depending on the subject matter, we will take you through all the issues, problems and any documents. Only then can you decide whether you can proceed with this yourself or whether you wish to open a case file.
COTTYN provides advice on all private, commercial and corporate matters. Make sure you have all the information you need before taking any important and irreversible steps.
Out-of-court dispute resolution is gaining in importance. Proceedings in court cost a lot of money and take a long time; nor is there any guarantee that you as a party will be satisfied with the outcome. More and more courts are even requiring that disputes be submitted to a mediator first.
In negotiation and mediation, the focus is not on winning and losing but on seeking common ground and creating alternative solutions that ensure that everyone can agree with the outcome.
Research shows that negotiation and mediation is more advantageous and leads to better long-term solutions than a court judgment.
Our firm has numerous recognised negotiators and mediators in specialist fields who can represent your case
Negotiation
Everyone can negotiate: at school, you probably traded soccer stickers or marbles, at the local flea market you may have haggled over the price of a vase…
In a negotiation, self-interest will still take precedence; by sitting around the table together and listening to each other’s ideas, an agreement can be reached. You can do this with just the parties involved or in the presence of lawyers, experts and consultants. A lawyer can give you good advice on what can and cannot be written into a legally valid agreement.
Collaborative negotiation
Collaborative negotiation is a specific form of negotiation. The parties and their lawyers engage in dialogue, but the lawyers have been instructed to obtain an agreement.
Lawyers must undergo special training for this purpose and do not act in their traditional role. The lawyer will work with his opposite number to try to come up with solutions and persuade the parties to reach an agreement. There is no neutral outside party involved. However, an expert may be involved to provide advice.
Mediation
In mediation, a neutral, impartial and independent outside party joins the table. The parties will still be able to present their story and try to persuade each other, but the neutral mediator will manage the talks and address sensitive issues in such a way that a resolution is possible.
The mediator can draft an agreement at the request of the parties, which can then be confirmed by the court.
Before parties decide to initiate proceedings, they can always request a conciliation procedure first. In a conciliation procedure, the parties settle their differences without going to court or suspending ongoing legal proceedings. As lawyers, we can assist you in this.
Is the other party still being difficult and are you unable to see eye to eye? Despite proper advice, thorough negotiations or mediation, it can still come to litigation.
Our lawyers will always seek common ground between the parties so that an agreement can be reached. Even if proceedings have already been started, an agreement can be reached. If necessary, the judge will ratify the agreement and issue terms of agreement that are binding on the parties.
COTTYN can assist you in any court of law and in every national language.
Our network of offices also puts us in a unique position to act as your point of contact for problems across national borders. Over the years, we have built a wide network abroad that we can rely on.
Need legal support within your company? Hiring a corporate lawyer is too costly for a lot of companies. COTTYN offers several solutions tailored to your business.
We offer both in-house legal management where one or more of our lawyers comes to your firm for an agreed period of time and remote legal management.
Together with the responsible person within your organisation, we will assess the needs, the subject matter and the scope of the situation. Based on this, we suggest one or more in-house lawyers. Interested? Don’t hesitate to contact one of our offices.
