Lawyers in Marbella
for international clients
Since 1982 · Marbella · Madrid
Residency and citizenship, property purchases and sales, tax and business advice. One firm coordinates everything you need to live, invest or work in Spain.
44 years of experience · 40,000+ clients · Consultations at our office or online
A law firm in Marbella since 1982
Bocanegra Lawyers is a law firm in Marbella specialising in international clients. It was founded in 1982 by Ricardo Bocanegra, a pioneer of immigration law in Andalusia, and is now led by Cristina Bocanegra. We advise individuals, families, investors and businesses on immigration, property transactions, tax and employment law from our offices in Marbella and Madrid.
We take a 360° approach. A single team of lawyers and tax and employment advisers coordinates your residency, your property transactions, your tax obligations and your business needs, providing comprehensive, joined-up advice.
With more than four decades of experience, Bocanegra Lawyers combines the expertise of a well-established firm with specialist legal and tax advice, tailored to the needs of both Spanish and international clients.
44
Years of experience
+40.000
Clients advised
98%
Recommended by
Legal services in Marbella for foreign nationals, families and businesses
Choose the area you need, or tell us about your case and we will point you in the right direction.
Our speciality since 1982
Visas, residency, Spanish citizenship, arraigo (residence through roots), family reunification, the Digital Nomad Visa, highly qualified professionals, students, renewals and appeals.
Buy and sell property with full legal certainty
Due diligence, checks for charges and encumbrances, the deposit contract (contrato de arras), signing before the notary, registration with the Land Registry and the tax side of the transaction — whether you are buying, selling or investing on the Costa del Sol. Also throughout Spain.
Residents, non-residents and businesses
Tax for residents and non-residents, the Beckham Law, wealth planning and defence before the Spanish Tax Agency. For your business: business advisory in Marbella, covering accounts, companies and tax returns.
For businesses, the self-employed and international employers
Employment contracts, payroll, Social Security, work permits and hiring domestic staff.
Since 1982
For foreign nationals with assets in Spain
Inheritance, wills, powers of attorney, gifts and protection of family assets.
Why choose Bocanegra Lawyers as your lawyers in Marbella
44 years with international clients
We started in immigration law in 1982, before it was even a recognised speciality in Spain. Since then we have advised more than 40,000 clients.
Your whole case under one roof
Residency, property, tax and business matters are coordinated within the same team, with a single point of contact.
We speak your language
We work in Spanish, English, German and Russian, with a dedicated department for clients from Russia and Eastern Europe.
Clarity from the first consultation
Initial consultation from €45, at our office or online, which you can book on our website. We assess whether your case is viable and give you a quote before any work begins.
A reply within 24 hours
We answer every enquiry within 24 working hours.
Offices in Marbella and Madrid
Face-to-face meetings in both cities and online consultations from any country.
44 years defending the rights of foreign nationals in Spain
Ricardo Bocanegra Sánchez, a law graduate and chartered administrative agent, founded the firm in Marbella in April 1982. From the outset he specialised in immigration law and was a pioneer in Andalusia in serving foreign nationals. Today the firm is led by Cristina Bocanegra Yebra, Managing Partner, who trained at NYU Law School in New York and ICADE in Madrid and is a member of the Madrid Bar Association (Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid), no. 133,761.
Our work has left its mark on Spanish legislation:
- ‘Bocanegra Amendment’: a change to a draft bill on the taxation of tourist number plates.
- European Commission: following a formal complaint by the firm, it urged the Spanish authorities to apply EU rules on residence permits correctly.
- State of emergency: one of our proposals was included in a ministerial order so that residents whose permits had expired while outside Spain could re-enter the country.
- FAECOSOL: in 1993 Ricardo Bocanegra founded the Federation of Foreign Residents' Associations of the Costa del Sol.
- Recognition: from the British Government, for defending British residents in Spain; and Marbella Businessman of the Year 2012 (CIT Marbella).
Immigration: our speciality since 1982
Immigration law is where the firm began and the area in which we handle the most cases. Whether you need residency, need to renew your permit or want to apply for Spanish citizenship, our team of immigration lawyers in Marbella will review your case and explain which route is viable and how long it will take.
+40.000
Foreign clients
+10.000
Citizenships obtained
+30.000
Residence permits handled
How we work
Initial consultation
You tell us about your situation, at our office or online, and we assess whether it is viable.
Strategy and quote
We set out the best legal route, the timescales and the quote, in writing.
End-to-end management
We prepare the paperwork, file the applications and deal with the authorities, notaries and registries on your behalf.
With you until the end
We keep you informed of every step until the decision — and afterwards too, if a renewal or appeal is needed.
Our clients' Google reviews
Frequently asked questions about our law firm in Marbella
How much does a consultation with a lawyer at Bocanegra Lawyers cost?
It depends on the area. You can book it on our website, at our office or online:
| Consultation | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration | €45 | 30 min |
| Immigration with the Managing Partner | €100 | 60 min |
| Employment | €45 | 30 min |
| Property purchase and sale | €75 | 45 min |
| Tax | €100 | 30 min |
We review your case, explain your options and give you a fixed quote before any work begins.
Do you work with clients who don't speak Spanish?
Yes. Many of our clients are foreign nationals, and we work with them in Spanish, English, German and Russian. We also have a dedicated department for clients from Russia and Eastern Europe.
Can I have a consultation if I'm not in Marbella?
Yes. You can book an online consultation from any country, or visit our offices in Marbella or Madrid.
What legal services do you offer?
Immigration and residency, property law (purchases, sales and investment), tax advice and company tax, employment advice, and inheritance, wills and legal advice for individuals and businesses.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for residency in Spain?
For most immigration procedures, the law does not require one. Even so, a mistake in the paperwork or in the type of permit chosen can lead to a refusal and months of delay. An immigration lawyer checks that you meet the requirements before the application is submitted and responds to any requests from the authorities.
Do you help foreign nationals buy a home in Marbella?
Yes. We check the legal and planning status of the property, along with any charges and debts, draft or review the deposit contract (contrato de arras), accompany you to the notary and handle registration with the Land Registry and the taxes on the purchase.
Where is your law firm in Marbella and what are your opening hours?
Our firm is at Avenida Ricardo Soriano 65, 2º-5, 29601 Marbella, on Marbella’s Golden Mile. We are open Monday to Thursday, 9:00–18:00, and on Fridays, 9:00–15:00. We also have an office in Madrid, at Calle Lagasca 40, 1º izquierda.
Do you only work in Marbella?
No. We act for clients right across the Costa del Sol, from Sotogrande to Nerja, as well as in Madrid and the rest of Spain.
Talk to a lawyer in Marbella
Tell us about your case and we will reply within 24 working hours.
Our law firm on Marbella's Golden Mile
Our main office is on Avenida Ricardo Soriano, on Marbella’s Golden Mile.
We are open Monday to Thursday, 9:00–18:00, and on Fridays, 9:00–15:00.
Bocanegra Lawyers
in the media
We have appeared as immigration experts in media outlets such as El País, El Mundo, ABC, La Vanguardia, RTVE, Antena 3, Cadena SER, COPE, the BBC, CNN, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.
Our memberships
Madrid Bar Association (Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid) · Málaga Bar Association (Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Málaga) · Official Association of Administrative Agents of Málaga · Official Association of Graduados Sociales of Málaga and Melilla · Málaga Association of Economists · AEDAF (Spanish Association of Tax Advisers)