Avocat Emmanuel Emery

A lawyer focused on arrival and settlement

Me Emmanuel Emery is a lawyer (avocat) in Fribourg, a canton in central Switzerland, with an explicit specialty in "Installation en Suisse" (arrival and settlement in Switzerland). His practice areas are immigration law ("droit de l'immigration") and the legal framework governing foreign residents ("droit des étrangers"). The firm frames its core offer as guiding foreign arrivals through the legal requirements of establishing themselves in Switzerland, whether for work, entrepreneurship, or family reasons. This positioning is precise: it is not immigration law in the abstract, but immigration law for the specific moment and process of moving to Switzerland.

Unlike firms that treat immigration as one of many practice areas, this practice is centered on arrival. That matters for someone moving to Switzerland, because the legal, administrative, and procedural needs of arrival are distinct from ongoing immigration matters or from general-practice legal work.

What it offers arrivals

The firm explicitly covers the legal process of arrival at multiple levels. Someone arriving from abroad needs a work permit if they are coming to take employment; a residence permit if they are coming to establish residency; family reunification support if they are bringing dependents; and naturalization advice if they later want Swiss citizenship. These are not hypothetical scenarios; they are the standard situations that define arrival.

The site describes the practice as covering "l'ensemble des démarches liées à l'installation volontaire en Suisse" (all the procedures related to voluntary arrival in Switzerland). That includes "l'obtention de permis de séjour et de travail, le regroupement familial ainsi que les procédures de naturalisation" (getting residence and work permits, family reunification, and naturalization procedures). Those cover the main legal structures that determine whether and how you can live, work, and stay in Switzerland.

After arrival, the firm continues to support clients with subsequent changes. The site says it "assure également le suivi de votre situation en Suisse, notamment le renouvellement de vos autorisations, les changements de statut ou de permis, ainsi que l'adaptation de votre situation administrative en fonction de l'évolution de votre parcours personnel et professionnel" (it handles ongoing monitoring of your situation in Switzerland, including renewing authorizations, changing status or permits, and adapting your administrative situation as your personal and professional circumstances evolve). That matters because a permit structure that covers your first year may need changes as you gain permanent residency, change jobs, or bring a family member to join you.

Me Emery also works at the federal and cantonal level. The site says he "accompagne ses clients auprès des autorités cantonales et fédérales" (accompanies clients with cantonal and federal authorities), meaning the firm understands both the cantonal permit system (which varies significantly by region) and the federal layers that oversee it.

Languages and location

Me Emery works in three languages: French, English, and German. This is material for arrivals because many come from German-speaking countries or from English-speaking ones, and law is highly language-specific; losing nuance in translation can create problems. Multilingual legal support removes a major friction point when dealing with paperwork and official processes.

The office is in Fribourg at Route du Grand Pré 30, 1700 Fribourg. Fribourg is a mid-sized canton in the central Swiss plateau, smaller and less urban than Geneva or Zurich but with a significant immigrant population due to its manufacturing and engineering sectors. For someone arriving to work in Fribourg or the surrounding region, having a local lawyer who speaks your language and understands local permit practice is a substantial advantage. Local knowledge matters: cantonal authorities and procedures differ, and a lawyer based in the region understands the specific officials and expectations you will encounter.

The site offers to book consultations with "Prendre rendez-vous" (book an appointment) appearing multiple times. Contact is by email at contact@emerylaw.ch or by phone on +41 79 306 4893. The responsive contact methods (both email and phone) suggest availability.

Services beyond immigration

The site lists multiple practice areas beyond immigration. The firm handles contract law ("droit des contrats"), business law and corporate structures ("droit des sociétés et droit commercial"), work law ("droit du travail"), associations and foundations ("droit associatif et fondations"), and sports law ("droit du sport").

This breadth is relevant for arrivals because immigration often touches other legal needs. If you are arriving to start a business, corporate law and business setup apply. If you are relocating with a family, you may need employment contract review before signing. If you are joining a non-profit or professional association, that may have legal dimensions. The ability to connect immigration advice with these other domains in one place can simplify a complex transition.

The site also emphasizes a pragmatic approach: "solutions adaptées à leurs besoins spécifiques" (solutions adapted to specific needs) and "rigueur, professionnalisme et pragmatisme" (rigour, professionalism, and pragmatism). The language suggests the firm understands that every arrival is different and that legal advice needs to fit the individual circumstance rather than following a template.

What the site does not address

The site does not publish consultation fees or hourly rates. If you are deciding whether to hire an immigration lawyer, cost is material, and this site provides no reference for budget. You would need to contact the firm directly to learn what a first consultation or ongoing representation costs, which is a significant gap for someone trying to compare options.

The site does not specify turnaround time or timeline expectations. How long does a work permit application take from first consultation through cantonal approval? That timeline varies by canton and circumstance, but a new arrival has no sense from this site of whether to expect days, weeks, or months. Timeline expectations are material for someone planning a move.

The site does not detail what documents you should prepare before contacting the firm, or what information about your background (employment history, education, family status, intended work) is necessary for an initial assessment. A person arriving from abroad might not know what paperwork is relevant or what to prioritize.

The site mentions "Témoignages" (testimonials) but shows only placeholder text ("Ajouter un témoignage", which means add a testimonial) rather than actual client feedback. That means you have no evidence from other clients about their experience with the firm or their outcomes.

The site does not clarify whether the firm works with employers on the employer side of work permits, or whether it represents only the arriving employee. Some arrivals have employers who manage part of the permit process; this site does not explain how that coordination works.

Who it suits

This lawyer suits arrivals who speak French, English, or German; who are settling in Fribourg or the surrounding region; and who need a lawyer with explicit focus on immigration and arrival procedures. The trilingual capacity and the geographic focus on arrival-stage legal needs make this a good fit for someone moving to central Switzerland with immediate permit questions.

The firm particularly suits someone arriving to start a business or undertake entrepreneurship in Fribourg, since it explicitly lists business law and corporate structures as practice areas. It is also well-suited to someone arriving with family, since the firm handles family law alongside immigration (a useful combination when relocation involves spouses, children, or family reunification). If you are joining a non-profit or sports organization, the firm's practice in those areas may also prove relevant.

It is less suited to someone arriving in a different canton (Zurich, Geneva, Bern) who would prefer a local lawyer; someone who needs legal services at a published or fixed rate; or someone who wants to review client testimonials before engaging. A published lack of pricing information makes cost comparison difficult.

It also requires a level of comfort with the Swiss legal system and French-language law practice; the site assumes basic familiarity rather than explaining permit categories and procedures from first principles. For someone arriving from a country with a very different legal system, some foundational education may be needed alongside legal representation, and this site does not indicate whether the lawyer provides that orientation.