Expropriation

Expropriation involves restricting or depriving a person of rights in real estate in the public interest, subject to the payment of fair compensation to the owner.

We represent property owners in proceedings before competent authorities and courts, with particular attention to the proper determination of the property’s market value.

When the state or a local authority claims your property for a public project, it is important to know that owners have rights, not just obligations. We help make sure those rights are exercised in full.

Areas of Practice

• Proceedings for determining the public interest
• Representation of property owners
• Determination of fair compensation
• Compensation by agreement
• Non-contentious compensation proceedings
• Compensation for land and buildings
• Protection of rights before the court

How we approach your matter

We check whether the conditions for expropriation are met, whether the public interest decision and the expropriation proposal are lawful, and whether they cover only as much property as is truly needed.

Most of the work concerns fair compensation. We engage experts, compare market prices and negotiate an agreement, and if no agreement is reached, we represent you in court proceedings to determine compensation.

How we work together

• Document review: we analyse the decision, the proposal and the property records.
• Valuation: we establish the real market value with the help of experts.
• Negotiation: we negotiate the amount and form of compensation with the beneficiary.
• Court: if there is no agreement, we ask the court to set fair compensation.

Worth knowing

Compensation is not limited to the value of land or buildings. Crops, structures, lost profit and relocation costs may also be claimed, so it is important to record everything the property includes before valuation.

The public interest must never be a reason for an owner to receive less than is due.