Congratulations, Sarah Souza Kückelhaus, on your admission to the German Bar!
- Martin Kanopka
- May 23
- 2 min read
Or: What’s behind the various titles such as "WTO lawyer", "European lawyer", and "Rechtsanwalt" (German lawyer)?
Our colleague Sarah Souza Kückelhaus is now one of the few lawyers fully admitted to the bar and entitled to use professional titles in three jurisdictions: her home country Brazil, Portugal, and Germany.
Sarah studied law in Brazil and was admitted to the Brazilian Bar in 2013 as an Advogada. She then practiced there for several years, representing clients primarily in labor law, general civil law, and as a criminal defense attorney.
After moving to Germany, Sarah was registered in 2020 with the Frankfurt Bar Association under §§ 206 et seq. of the Federal Lawyers' Act (BRAO) as an Advogada (Brasilien). According to this regulation, lawyers from WTO (World Trade Organization) member states – which includes Brazil – are permitted, upon registration with a German bar association, to provide legal services under the professional title of their home country in the law of their home country and in international law.
Sarah then acquired the right to be admitted to the Portuguese Bar and, in 2021, was additionally registered with the Frankfurt Bar Association as an Advogada (Portugal), in addition to her existing status as Advogada (Brasilien), as a so-called "established European lawyer." Since then, and in accordance with the provisions of the Act on the Activities of European Lawyers in Germany (EuRAG), she has also been authorized to advise and represent clients in German law.
After demonstrating—through extensive documentation—at least three years of effective and regular practice as an “established European lawyer” in Germany in the field of German law, including EU law, Sarah was admitted to the German Bar in May 2025 under §§ 6 to 36 BRAO. She is now officially entitled to use the professional title Rechtsanwältin.
She is now a Rechtsanwältin, Advogada (Portugal), and Advogada (Brasilien): An outstanding achievement—congratulations!
