Criminal Defense and Litigation

The Louise Kontogiannis Law Firm defends your rights with attentiveness, responsiveness, and determination
whether you are a defendant or a victim.

+33 6 87 73 72 18
Criminal Defense and Litigation

The Louise Kontogiannis Law Firm defends your rights with attentiveness, responsiveness, and determination — whether you are a defendant or a victim.

+33 6 87 73 72 18

The Louise Kontogiannis Law Firm, criminal defense attorney in Paris

Graduated with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Law and Art History, and holding a Master’s degree (Master 2) in Fundamental Criminal Law from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, Maître Louise Kontogiannis has several years of experience within the Investigation Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal, where she worked as a judicial assistant. She also benefits from strong practical training gained alongside lawyers specialized in criminal defense.

She established her own practice in January 2024 and dedicates her work to the protection of rights and freedoms, defending with the same determination both defendants and victims, whether French or foreign.

Each case is built on a foundation of trust, supported by attentive listening, clarity, and responsiveness.

Alongside her legal practice, since January 2022, she has been teaching criminal law and criminal procedure at Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, and she also teaches in the Master’s program in Financial Criminal Law at Université Cergy-Pontoise, where she lectures on criminal litigation.

She is fluent in French, English, and Greek.

Areas of Practice

General Criminal Law

The Law Firm of Maître Louise Kontogiannis handles all matters relating to general criminal law, whether they involve misdemeanors or felonies.
The firm provides defense for both defendants and victims, starting from police custody and throughout the entire legal process.

Juvenile Criminal Law

The firm defends minors who are prosecuted or who are victims of offenses.
Its approach is based on education, protection, and a thorough understanding of family and developmental issues.
The firm represents minors before specialized juvenile courts at every stage of the proceedings.

Prison Law

The firm assists with detention-related matters and defends the rights of incarcerated individuals.
It handles disciplinary sanctions, prison transfers, detention conditions, and appeals before administrative courts.

Sentence Adjustment

The firm assists convicted individuals in their applications for sentence adjustments, including parole, day release, external placement, or electronic monitoring.
Its goal is to promote reintegration while ensuring full respect for the rights of the convicted person.

Administrative Appeals (Emergency Injunctions)

The Louise Kontogiannis Law Firm provides urgent legal assistance in emergency injunction proceedings (référé-liberté) when an individual’s fundamental rights and freedoms are threatened by an administrative decision.
The firm prepares and argues these appeals before administrative courts to obtain the swift suspension of the challenged measure.

Traffic Law

The firm defends drivers prosecuted for traffic offenses such as drunk driving, speeding, hit-and-run, driving without a license, or causing bodily injury.
It represents clients before local courts and criminal courts, aiming to reduce penalties and preserve their right to drive.

Home Searches, MICAS, and Asset Freezes

The firm defends individuals subject to administrative measures such as home searches, MICAS (individual administrative control and surveillance measures), or asset freezes.
It works to ensure the legality of these measures and, when necessary, files appeals before the administrative court.

Criminal Asset Seizure Litigation

The Louise Kontogiannis Law Firm has solid experience in criminal asset seizure cases, involving movable property, real estate, or bank accounts.
It assists clients in challenging such measures before the competent courts and, whenever possible, securing the return of seized assets.

Extraditions and European Arrest Warrants

The firm handles extradition proceedings and the execution of European Arrest Warrants.
Such cases require an in-depth understanding of international criminal law and the procedural safeguards guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

Fees

Transparent pricing, tailored to each situation

Each case begins with an initial consultation — in person or remotely — to fully understand the issues and specific circumstances of your situation.

This meeting helps define a clear scope of representation, tailored to your needs and objectives.

Fees are then set out in a fee agreement — or, at a minimum, confirmed in writing — to ensure complete transparency regarding the work to be carried out and the associated budget.

Depending on the nature of the case, several billing methods may be proposed:

  • Hourly billing, based on a rate agreed upon in advance;
  • Flat-rate billing, when the matter allows, offering better visibility on the overall cost;
  • Success fees, in addition to a fixed base fee, in accordance with the ethical rules governing the legal profession.

No action is ever taken without your prior consent.
This approach, grounded in trust and transparency, ensures full control over costs and provides a tailored, effective, and balanced legal representation.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions in Criminal Law

A criminal defense lawyer can assist as soon as an offense is suspected — during police custody, questioning, indictment, detention, or trial.
They can also provide preventive legal advice to help you avoid criminal risk before any proceedings begin.

As soon as you are summoned by the police, the prosecutor, or a judge, it is essential to contact a lawyer.
Early intervention allows for effective preparation of your defense and helps avoid irreversible mistakes.

A criminal lawyer is specifically trained to handle criminal, misdemeanor, and minor offense cases.
Their expertise covers criminal procedure, defense during police custody, and representation in misdemeanor and felony hearings.

No. Although based in Paris, the Louise Kontogiannis Law Firm operates throughout France and can also provide remote legal assistance, depending on the needs of the case.

Yes. The firm intervenes from the very start of police custody to attend interrogations, review the case file, and ensure that your fundamental rights are fully respected.

Being placed under formal investigation marks the opening of a judicial inquiry.
The firm assists you at every stage — from interrogations and requests for investigative measures to judicial supervision — until the final decision of referral to trial or dismissal.

A misdemeanor (such as theft, fraud, assault, or drunk driving) is tried before the criminal court (tribunal correctionnel).
A felony (such as murder, rape, or drug trafficking) is tried before the court of assizes (cour d’assises).
The firm represents clients before all criminal courts.

Yes. The firm assists victims in filing complaints, joining criminal proceedings as civil parties, and obtaining compensation for their damages before criminal courts.

The firm can file a complaint with civil-party status, which triggers the opening of a judicial investigation and allows the continuation of the inquiry.

Yes. The firm defends drivers charged with speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, hit-and-run offenses, or causing bodily injury.

Yes. The firm supports incarcerated individuals throughout their detention and assists them with sentence adjustment procedures such as parole, day release, or electronic monitoring.

Police custody is an investigative measure decided by the police.
Immediate appearance (comparution immédiate) is a fast-track trial procedure.
In both situations, the assistance of a lawyer is essential to properly prepare the defense.

Yes. The firm handles extradition proceedings, European arrest warrants, asset freezes, and home search procedures, ensuring full respect for fundamental rights throughout.

Yes. The Louise Kontogiannis Law Firm represents minors prosecuted before specialized juvenile courts, using an educational approach tailored to their specific situation.

The duration depends on the complexity of the case and the type of offense.
A proceeding may last a few weeks (in the case of an immediate appearance) or several years (during a judicial investigation).
The firm keeps you informed at every stage of your case’s progress.

Each case is thoroughly analyzed — including the criminal file, the evidence, and the client’s personal circumstances.
The firm then develops a tailor-made strategy, built on attentive listening, legal precision, and the pursuit of the most favorable outcome for each situation.