Sylvia A. Jacob

Sylvia Jacob has been practicing in cross-border legal matters involving Germany and Canada since she moved to Germany and became qualified as a lawyer in the jurisdiction in 1996. She now has decades of experience advising corporate clients with business start-ups in both countries, ranging from structuring complex commercial agreements to basic employment issues. She is also experienced in handling cross-border legal disputes and regularly appears before courts in Germany and Canada. Sylvia advises private clients in cross-border estate planning and tax matters.

As a Canadian-German, her signature characteristic is to build a bridge between the German and Canadian legal system with offices in Munich and Toronto.

Many North American companies experience challenges in doing business in Germany given the differences between the two legal systems. Sylvia is able to identify relevant issues at the outset of a project. Clients profit from Sylvia’s innovative thinking to solve their business problems. She provides pragmatic advice on day-to-day challenges faced in this international environment to provide security and avoid legal surprises.

Due to her considerable experience in the German business environment Sylvia quickly identifies appropriate business and tax structures for market entry, often capitalizing on local economic programs. She is creative and goal-oriented, focusing on client needs and strategic considerations.

Having litigated successfully in various Canadian provinces and several German states over the course of her career, Sylvia is an effective advocate who knows how to use the different legal systems to the advantage of clients and to avoid the pitfalls of court proceedings in a foreign jurisdiction. She has successfully enforced contractual claims and warded off improper proceedings involving multi-national and local players to protect businesses and private clients.

Sylvia also represents nationals from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. in estate matters pertaining to Germany. She and her team provide comprehensive services ranging from opening probate, obtaining certificates of inheritance, ensuring the effective transfer of real estate, stocks and bonds, money in German banks and pension entitlements and advising on required tax filings in Germany.

Through her German firm, Jacob Associates, Sylvia provides a broad portfolio of services, accessible in Canadian time zones with her office in Toronto.

Sylvia Jacob and her German legal team at Jacob Associates offer the following services in Germany:

• Corporate/Commercial Law
• Tax Law
• Real Estate – acquisitions and sales
• Dispute resolution services incl. litigation and mediation in Germany
• Cross-border Estate Law
• One-stop management services for mid-sized enterprises, and
• Tri-lingual services in English, French and German

Sylvia Jacob also represents German firms and private investors with legal matters in Canada. During her many years of practice, she has successfully launched the Canadian operations of a number of German multi-national firms in the manufacturing and technology sector, including green energy in form of subsidiaries and joint venture firms in all major Canadian provinces. By having an office in Canada, she is able to consult with her Canadian partners in order to provide tailor-made solutions for the varied legal issues faced by her clients based on a quick turnaround and a results-oriented perspective. Due to her presence in both legal jurisdictions she is able to meet with clients both in Germany and in North America and give on-site advice.

Private German investors consult Sylvia in estate matters pertaining to Canada, real estate matters as well as Canadian tax law issues.

Sylvia also teaches two cross-border courses to law students at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, “Introduction to Cross-Border Transactions” and “Introduction to Transnational Dispute Resolution”, to pass on her experience.