About the office
About us
2025 is the year in which our practice intends to add a new chapter to our success story, operating as Cygnus Advocaten.
Cygnus Advocaten is the new name for the law firm previously known as Crivits & Persyn, which was founded in 1988.
Our new name further emphasises our desire to spread our wings in order to dynamically take on new challenges. Cygnus refers to the constellation of the Swan and represents orientation, control and direction. It substantiates our role as an experienced legal guide through a myriad of complex regulations. The swan is also a symbol of Bruges, the city where our roots lie.
Working with our complementary team, our firm acts as a benchmark within the Bruges legal profession and far beyond - and we intend to maintain this ethos. Over the past decades we have established an enviable reputation in social, corporate and administrative law as well as property and liability law. We also ventured into new areas of expertise in recent years, including civil service and disciplinary law. We maintain a high quality, no-nonsense approach, always ready to listen to our clients. Focusing on results is what we stand for.
About us
Cygnus Advocaten is more than merely a legal partner. We act as a steady beacon to guide you through a myriad of complex regulations.
Relying on years of expertise and maintaining a focus on quality, we will assist you with constructive and inventive legal advice. We will defend your interests. On a personal level and based on trust. Transparent and focused on results. We will listen to you and proceed in line with your thinking. This will tell us exactly which direction you want to take and how we can achieve this objective together.
In short, with the law as our compass, we will shed light on your case and guide you efficiently, without deviation and with actual results, to the right solution and just outcome.
Cygnus Advocaten. Focusing on results..
Cygnus Advocaten values transparency, which also applies to what you will have to pay.
Fees
The services of the lawyers or attorneys who deal with your case are charged at an hourly rate. Depending on the lawyer’s experience and expertise, this will be between 100 and 250 euros (excl. 21% VAT). When initiating your dossier specific agreements will be made regarding the applicable hourly rate.
If you have any questions about our fees or would like to make an appointment specifically related to this topic, please feel free to contact us. In some cases we may charge a fixed fee or a fee based on a particular result.
Charges
Charges include general administrative and office expenses, payments due to third parties and travel expenses. Cygnus Advocaten decided to apply a fixed rate of 17% on fees rather than invoice general administrative and office costs separately, to ensure that the charges on your bill are crystal clear and do not present you with any surprises.
Travel costs outside of Bruges (by car or public transport) will be charged separately. Travel by car is charged at 0.60 euro/km.
Fees for services or interventions by third parties and other expenses in connection with an assignment shall also be charged separately. These may include bailiff fees, translation costs, the cost of consulting specialist databases.
Our values
Involvement
We focus primarily on your concerns. We listen intently and strive for understanding and connection.
Respectful
Respect is a basic principle in everything we do and vis-a-vis everyone we deal with.
Joint effort
We utilise the extensive and diverse expertise available within the firm to maximum effect. We maintain a continual focus on additional training, share our knowledge and complement each other’s areas of expertise. We collaborate in a confident and driven manner, amongst ourselves and in conjunction with you. We aim to reinforce each other’s strengths.
Clarity
We communicate with purpose, clarity and structure. We maintain a transparent and unequivocal approach in terms of perspective, cost and timing.
Focus on solutions
We always focus on results tailored to the case in question. We are inventive and pragmatic, offering real solutions rather than technical memos or advice. We avoid unnecessary procedures.