Sylvia A. Jacobs smiling in a purple suit jacket
Sylvia A. Jacob
Relevant Practices
Year of Call
Ontario, 1986; Germany, 1996; England & Wales, 1991

Sylvia A. Jacob

Counsel

Building a strong bridge between Canada and Germany

Contacts
Useful Links

Sylvia Jacob has been of counsel to GSNH for 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.

Comprehensive Solutions for Cross-border Legal Issues

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.

Smooth German Market Entry for Canadian and U.S. firms

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.

Litigation Across Jurisdictions

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.

International Estate Matters

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.

Full Service in Germany

Through her German firm, Jacob Associates, Sylvia provides a broad portfolio of services, accessible in this time zone through the offices of GSNH.

Sylvia Jacob and her German legal team at Jacob Associates offer the following services for GSNH clients 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 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.

Relevant Practices
Year of Call
Ontario, 1986; Germany, 1996; England & Wales, 1991

Representative Legal Matters

Publications, Presentation & Media Highlights

Given her legal qualifications and practice, Sylvia sees it as an important function to inform the public about cross-border and domestic legal issues involving Canada, Germany and the U.K.

Over the course of her 30-year career in Germany, she has been a presenter and panelist in numerous seminars sponsored through official government bodies such as the Canadian Consulates in various German cities, the Ontario Trade & Investment Office in Munich, the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Verein der Bayerischen Wirtschaft and other organizations that foster trade between Canada and Germany.

Sylvia Jacob is also frequently called upon to provide opinions on cross-border legal issues involving Canadian and German law to both courts, law firms and accounting firms in these jurisdictions.

Professional Associations & Memberships

Community Involvement

Education

  • 1984 – University of Toronto, Faculty of Law (LL.B.)
  • 1981 – University of Toronto (B.A. Hon.)
  • 2011 – Certified as mediator in Germany

Other

Languages

  • German
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish

 

Areas of Practice

  • Corporate & Commercial
  • Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Real Estate
  • Tax
  • Wills & Estates

Given her legal qualifications and practice, Sylvia sees it as an important function to inform the public about cross-border and domestic legal issues involving Canada, Germany and the U.K.

Over the course of her 30-year career in Germany, she has been a presenter and panelist in numerous seminars sponsored through official government bodies such as the Canadian Consulates in various German cities, the Ontario Trade & Investment Office in Munich, the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Verein der Bayerischen Wirtschaft and other organizations that foster trade between Canada and Germany.

Sylvia Jacob is also frequently called upon to provide opinions on cross-border legal issues involving Canadian and German law to both courts, law firms and accounting firms in these jurisdictions.

  • 1984 – University of Toronto, Faculty of Law (LL.B.)
  • 1981 – University of Toronto (B.A. Hon.)
  • 2011 – Certified as mediator in Germany

Languages

  • German
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish

 

Areas of Practice

  • Corporate & Commercial
  • Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Real Estate
  • Tax
  • Wills & Estates

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