Legal translation beyond
reasonable doubt

Legal translation leaves no margin for mistake ─ it’s about conveying meaning and intent with absolute precision across languages, legal frameworks, and cultural expectations. A mistranslated clause or an inaccurately adapted legal term doesn’t just risk confusion; it can cause delays, compliance breaches, or even derail major business deals.

To avoid such pitfalls, you need an expert legal translator who understands the legal landscape on both sides, combining their legal knowledge with linguistic skills.

What is a specialised legal translation?

A specialised legal translation is the precise transfer of legal content from one language to another ─ with full consideration of the linguistic accuracy and the legal systems involved.

Legal systems differ widely across jurisdictions. In common law countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, legal structures and terminology often contrast sharply with those in civil law countries such as Switzerland, France, and Germany. As such, legal translators must understand the legal context to preserve the document’s full intent.

Why does specialised legal translation matter?

Legal documents carry weight. They create obligations, define rights, and enforce regulations. Getting the language right isn’t enough; you need to get the law right, too.

Misinterpret a clause in a commercial contract, and you could open the door to disputes. Mistranslate a due diligence report or regulatory filing, and you risk delays, non-compliance, or even financial penalties.

Specialised legal translation ensures that every document adheres to the source and target texts’ legal systems.

Translating legal documents in Switzerland and beyond

Legal documents play a pivotal role in business. As such, making sure they’re translated in accordance with the relevant legal systems are vital. Frequently translated document types include:

• Business contracts and commercial agreements
• Articles of association and shareholder agreements
• Powers of attorney and mandates
• Patents and intellectual property filings
• Court rulings and litigation documents
• Compliance and regulatory submissions
• Commercial register extracts and corporate records
• M&A documentation (due diligence reports and non-disclosure agreements)

When business crosses borders, so do legal frameworks. Here’s a short overview of international legal systems:

• Civil law systems ─ a codified legal system where written statutes and legal codes serve as the primary source of law. Countries with civil law systems include:
  
  
  •  Switzerland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Brazil
• Common law systems ─ based on judicial precedent, where past court decisions play a key role in interpreting laws. Countries using common law include:
  
  
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Ireland
• Mixed legal systems ─ a combination of elements from common and civil law traditions, with legal decisions drawing from multiple sources of law. Countries with a mixed legal system include:
  
  
  • South Africa
  • Scotland

These differences in legal systems worldwide affect how laws are written, interpreted, and enforced, which means they also affect how documents must be translated.

In practice, the concept of “usufruct” in French property law has no direct equivalent in Switzerland, requiring the translator to find a functional equivalent that conveys the same legal rights and obligations.

Similarly, the United Kingdom’s trust law doesn’t have an equivalent in the Swiss civil code, which presents a challenge when translating documents that involve common law principles.

Legalese it!

Legal language, often referred to as “legalese”, can be dense and intimidating, but it’s essential for maintaining the integrity of legal documents.

At SwissGlobal, we understand the importance of accurate legal translation. That’s why all translations are carried out in accordance with ISO 17100, which requires every translation to be reviewed by a second specialised translator working in their mother tongue ─ what’s known as the ‘four-eyes principle’.

Legal documents are usually highly confidential, too, besides their complexity. Our Swiss IT infrastructure is ISO 27001-certified for Information Security Management, so your data is stored on encrypted Swiss servers, ensuring it remains fully yours every step of the way.

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Whether you need to translate business contracts, litigation documents, or M&A paperwork, accuracy and legal compliance are non-negotiable. Our team of experts understands the stakes and the law behind the language. Get in touch with us today.