Donald Manasse Law Offices

The firm: Donald Manasse is the founding partner and principal of Donald Manasse Law Offices. For more than 30 years Donald has advised local and international client bases on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious personal and business matters. Donald has successfully executed high-profile, large-scale international asset tracing and recovery programs for civil fraud victims and court-appointed bankruptcy and insolvency officers. Donald’s clients include local and multinational companies, families, local and international banks, asset managers and financial service providers. He regularly assists private clients in all aspects of private wealth management and is a published authority on trusts, taxation, wealth management and international real estate transactions.

The firm’s growth has largely been determined by its highly personalised, long-term client relationships and the desire to fully meet clients’ needs. The firm’s associated office in Nice opened in 1986, when Donald was admitted to practice. The Monaco office opened in 1989 when Donald was granted authorisation to practice as a counsellor at law in international commercial fiscal and juridical matters.

Areas of practice
Litigation and dispute resolution: the firm regularly leads on multi-jurisdictional commercial and civil litigation including wealth-management centres. The firm’s litigation and dispute resolution expertise is diverse and covers matrimonial law, intellectual property (including trade mark and copyright infringements), real estate (including construction), employment law and taxation. The firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice is ranked Band 1 by Chambers & Partners 2017.

International bankruptcy, corruption, fraud and asset recovery: the firm has significant experience in complex cross-border bankruptcy, corruption, and fraud and asset recovery and is the sole Monaco member of TRACE and the International Chamber of Commerce’s FraudNet. Donald Manasse is a renowned expert in this field and has a wealth of experience representing civil fraud victims and court-appointed bankruptcy and insolvency officers in large-scale international asset recoveries.

Corporate, commercial and M&A: the firm advises on a range of corporate matters, including incorporations and establishing a presence in Monaco, mergers and acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, business and asset transfers, company liquidations and voluntary winding-ups, and taxation. It advises on a range of commercial issues, including in relation to marketing, sponsorship, outsourcing, and agency and distribution arrangements. The firm is ranked Band 1 in the area of corporate/commercial by Chambers & Partners 2017 and is ranked as a Top Tier (Band 1) firm by The Legal 500 EMEA 2017 for commercial, corporate and M&A.

Real estate: the firm advises on all aspects of residential and commercial real estate transactions in Monaco and France, including advising on pre-acquisition structuring and planning. The firm offers a “life of asset” service in relation to its client’s real estate assets, from negotiating the purchase, dealing with permitting and completion formalities, and negotiating contracts with builders, contractors and other professionals, to leasing and sales.

Intellectual property: with more than 30 years of experience in this area, Donald Manasse Law Offices regularly advises clients on managing and protecting their intellectual property in Monaco and internationally. Manasse Law acts for clients in a number of industry sectors including entertainment and media, technology, communications, hospitality and leisure, and retail and consumer.

Private client, wealth management and taxation: the firm assists clients on a wide range of issues, including matrimonial law, domicile and residence issues, the drafting and variation of wills, and succession and estate planning. The firm’s client base includes a number of high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic and charitable organisations.

Relocation services and residence issues: the firm’s dedicated relocation team advises clients on all aspects of relocation to Monaco and on obtaining resident status in the principality.