Mario Di Stefano (DSM Avocats à la Cour): Recruit to Support Legal Market Trends
“The firm's consistent focus on excellence and responsiveness has earned DSM Avocats à la Cour an international reputation as a ‘domestic firm offering top quality work’ and ‘a mid-sized firm that can boast significant capability in acting on high-end transactions,’” says Mario Di Stefano, Partner, Avocat à la Cour at DSM Avocats à la Cour.
Can you describe your company in a few words?
I founded DSM Avocats à la Cour in 2004. Since then, the firm has continued to grow both in terms of its reputation and size. Today, we have over 35 lawyers, jurists and staff. The arrival of professionals with varied competencies progressively expanded the range of services that we offer to our clients, making us a full-service business law firm. We are also proud to note that, apart from the trust our clients have placed in us for several years, the firm is recognized by the main legal directories such as Chambers, Legal500 and LeadersLeague as one of the most reputable law firms in Luxembourg. Our main areas of expertise are commercial and business law, particularly in M&A and all aspects of real estate law, banking and finance law, direct and indirect taxation, health and life sciences, labor and employment law, as well as new technologies and digital law and data protection. We offer these in an advisory capacity and, where we cannot always avoid it, representation in dispute resolution. Beyond our legal capabilities, inherent to the legal profession, we rely heavily on the relationship and communication with our clients. DSM Avocats à la Cour is also a member of several independent, international legal networks in Luxembourg.
"Beyond our legal capabilities, inherent to the legal profession, we rely heavily on the relationship and communication with our clients." - Mario Di Stefano
Which risks and challenges do you identify for your company and the in competitiveness of Luxembourg?
The influx of international firms has significantly increased local competition, in particular for international clients. Additionally, the skill pool is limited and it can be difficult for certain businesses to recruit the people that fit your requirements, but that is the same challenge for all law firms. That is also why we invest in our brand as an employer. The well-being of the firm’s members was attested by our obtaining the “Best Workplace” Luxembourg certification in 2021. With respect to the Grand Duchy, the GAFI’s visit will certainly have an impact on 2022, but also on the outcome as a result of its publications. Finally, housing prices are becoming problematic for people seeking employment and living in Luxembourg. A solution must be found and construction must be increased.
Which legal trends do you identify and how are you adapting to them?
Well, and I’m sure we are not the only ones to get the message - ESG factors, particularly as related to the financial sectors and IT/cybersecurity are very hot topics to be addressed. The development of hybrid work is and will increasingly be a reality. With its share of legal issues such as the right to disconnection. We also understand that businesses have to process an increasingly large volume of data and that requires attention to certain issues such as those associated with the GDPR and AML. It goes without saying that such an effort requires an increasingly intense concentration of lawyers specialized in that practice area. To adapt to these changes, we organize internal knowledge training sessions for our lawyers. We also write articles and organize training sessions on hot topics for our clients to stay on the cutting edge of legal developments and to keep them up to date with the evolution of the legal framework. At the same time, our expertise attracts talent that is keen to work in what they recognize as a high-potential environment.