Criminal defence, white-collar crime, regulatory investigations and extradition matters for foreigners.
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Use the Lawyer Wizard → Suggest a FirmRanked Band 1 Chambers Europe for Banking & Finance and Real Estate. ~100 lawyers. Full-service international firm present in Hungary since 1989.
Band 1 Chambers Europe for Employment. Market leader in M&A, real estate and competition. Full English-language service.
Band 1 Chambers Europe for Dispute Resolution. Strong construction litigation, product liability and international arbitration practice.
Band 1 Chambers Europe for Corporate/M&A. Senior team from former Linklaters Budapest office. Strong on foreign investor acquisitions.
Absorbed former White & Case Budapest team (Réczicza) in 2015. Highly regarded real estate and corporate practice.
Operates as A&O Shearman Kádár Ügyvédi Iroda. English and Hungarian-law qualified attorneys. Corporate/M&A and finance focus.
Yes — in all EU countries you have the right to legal representation from the moment of arrest. You also have the right to an interpreter if you do not speak the local language.
Contact an English-speaking criminal defence lawyer immediately. Do not answer police questions without a lawyer present.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Hungary's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsCriminal defence fees under the Hungarian Code of Criminal Procedure (Act XC of 2017 — Be.). Court-appointed lawyers (kirendelt védő) are available for those without means but provide limited representation compared to retained counsel.
| Matter | Court-appointed / Solo | Retained mid-firm | Senior criminal specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police interview / első kihallgatás | HUF 0 (kirendelt) | HUF 80,000–200,000 | HUF 200,000–500,000 |
| Misdemeanour / petty offence (szabálysértés) | HUF 0–50,000 | HUF 100,000–300,000 | HUF 250,000–600,000 |
| Felony (bűntett) — first instance trial | HUF 0 (kirendelt) | HUF 600,000–2,000,000 | HUF 2,000,000–7,000,000 |
| Economic crime / fraud defence | Inadequate | HUF 2,000,000–6,000,000 | HUF 5,000,000–20,000,000+ |
| Pre-trial detention (előzetes letartóztatás) hearing | HUF 0–80,000 | HUF 200,000–500,000 | HUF 500,000–1,500,000 |
| Appeal (másodfokú bíróság) | HUF 0 (kirendelt) | HUF 500,000–2,000,000 | HUF 2,000,000–7,000,000 |
| Extradition / EAW proceedings | Specialist required | HUF 2,000,000–5,000,000 | HUF 5,000,000–15,000,000 |
⚠ Under Act XC of 2017 § 45, every suspect has the right to a lawyer from the moment of first questioning (első kihallgatás). Court-appointed lawyers (kirendelt védő) are assigned within 24 hours but may be unavailable for the first interview. Retaining your own lawyer before arrest is significantly preferable.
If arrested in Hungary, you have the right to remain silent and request a lawyer immediately. Police must pause questioning until your lawyer arrives. For foreign nationals, you have the right to an interpreter under Act XC of 2017 § 78 — this right is frequently not proactively offered and must be asserted.
Scenario: UK national arrested in Budapest city centre following altercation. Charged with testi sértés (assault causing bodily harm) — a misdemeanour under Act C of 2012 (Btk.) § 164(1).
Key issue: Police initially failed to provide an English interpreter. Defendant signed a statement he did not understand. Under Be. § 78 and EU Directive 2010/64/EU, this statement was subsequently challenged and excluded.
Outcome: Charges dropped after interpreter issue raised. Defendant released after 48 hours. Passport returned.
Lawyer cost (retained within 2 hours via embassy referral): HUF 450,000 (urgent weekend rate)
Embassy contact: British Embassy Budapest +36 1 266 2888 (24-hour consular line)
Legal basis: Act XC of 2017 (Be.) §§ 45, 78, 170; Act C of 2012 (Btk.) § 164; EU Directive 2010/64/EU (right to interpretation); EU Directive 2012/13/EU (right to information).
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