De Cotta Law - Official Blog

RDO Conference hosted in Marbella

 

The prestigious Resort Development Organisation conference, Marbella was attended by the industry’s most important businesses.

Sandra Wrightson and Vera Liprandi attended the very successful RDO conference in October. This was the first under the re-named Resort Development Organisation (formerly OTE) and was a really lively and positive event. Discussions and workshops on all aspects of timeshare and the broader developments in tourism, fractionals and even the cruise industry were well attended. The legal boundaries in all these areas are constantly moving and the legal structure of timeshare and fractionals is something Vera specializes in for the Canary Islands where the largest number of resorts are based. Vera sums up her expertise by saying, “I have gained valuable experience through many years as an in-house lawyer with a timeshare resort developer with numerous complexes in the Canary Islands, gaining a genuine insight into local and regional laws. With De Cotta, I have continued to work on cases with developers and timeshare complexes in the Canary Islands, preparing contracts, resort

club constitutions, complex management contracts. I now find my work also includes handling consultations and reclamations from consumers of various countries in the EU and outside the EU.”

Sandra commented about her experience in the sector, “I now have more than 10 years experience with English and foreign developers & consumers, ranging from

dealing with distressed resorts; loans & credit; to consumer contracts. When Spain brought in a timeshare law I strategically advised a number of resorts and now have specialist knowledge of the modern public deed based resorts in Spain and the

Canary Islands. I also deal with trust issues arising from the traditional Club/Trust schemes and this is where my knowledge of conflict of laws is very helpful.”

 

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

ASEC - an approved De Cotta McKenna & Santafe Financial Services Partner

Please view the latest edition of ASEC Notes, featuring an article by Sandra Wrightson, by clicking below

Download ASEC NOTES JULY 2010

 

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

Sandra Wrightson, Barrister Overseas, interviewd by Sur in English

 

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

Sandra Wrightson, of De Cotta, McKenna & Santafe at TATOC

TATOC , the Timeshare Association respresenting timeshare owners and committees, held its annual conference in Nottingham at the weekend. Sandra Wrightson, Timeshare expert with De Cotta, McKenna & Santafe, attended for the 6th year and was very impressed with the number of industry professionals looking to work with the consumer group. TATOC is now seen as the authority for consumers and there is more media and industry feedback at each conference. The need to provide better information to owners to make the best use of their timeshare ownership was discussed. Two of the bigger resort developers have agreed to look at options for membership transfers or changes to help prevent the rogue resale companies from preying on those who can´t maintain their membership. Legitimate resale companies are looking to advertise the value of a realistic resale market.
The TATOC website has a lot of useful information and links for owners and those within the timeshare sector. The conference was adjudicated by Jennie Thompson and Harry Taylor.

 

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

 

The Forum, 9 - 10 Decemeber, 2009 - Sandra Wrightson of Decotta McKenna & Santafe Will Attend

We're pleased to confirm that our TimeShare and Fractional Ownership Legal Specialist, Sandra Wrightson, will be attending  The Forum,
hosted by Generator Systems & Perspective Magazine. This first of its kind event boasts more than 25 speakers from around the world, and will focus on the timeshare and fractional ownership industries and also discuss improvements by breaking the mould of traditional conventions and allow the event to be audience driven and interactive; replacing long presentations with topical “forum” styled debates between delegates and expert panelists.

For information, or to register as a delegate, visit The Perspective Magazine Website.

 

Sandra Wrightson is an English Barrister Overseas, at De Cotta McKenna y Santafé, your local law firm offering support with all aspects of Spanish Law for English speaking clients.The head office is at:

Centro Comercial Valdepinos 1 y 3ª
Urb. Calypso
29649 Mijas Costa (Málaga)

Tel.: +34 952 931 781
Fax: +34 952 933 547

 

Email sandrawrightson@decottalaw.net

 

website: www.decottalaw.com

 

 

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

De Cotta, McKenna & Santafé - experts in TimeShare Law - Consumers & Developers

 

De Cotta, McKenna & Santafé, the multi-lingual law firm of English lawyers and Spanish Abogados, based in Spain & the Canary Islands, has been at the forefront of the evolving Timeshare sector for decades.

The firm is a proud member of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) and regular contributors to TATOC, (The Association of Timeshare Owners Committees).

Over the past 25 years, De Cotta, McKenna & Santafé has built a strong track record working with Timeshare developers, owners and credit suppliers, within the world’s most developed timeshare markets. 

The firm advises on all legal and financial issues for both the industry and consumers across the key sectors of Timeshare, Fractional Ownership & Overseas Private Residence Clubs.

Specific expertise also encompasses distressed resorts; consumer loans & credit; as well as adaptation of trusts & contracts to- and compliance with- national, regional and local Spanish laws.

De Cotta, McKenna & Santafé has offices across Southern Andalucia, including Mijas Costa, Coin & Nerja, as well as on Tenerife.

The firm’s integrated team also work in areas such as Property; Tax Planning; Litigation; Company & Commercial law.

For more information contact the firm’s most respected Timeshare experts; Sandra Wrightson, Overseas Barrister and lawyer; and Vera Liprandi, Abogado:

De Cotta, McKenna & Santafé

www.decottalaw.com

Sandra Wrightson

sandrawrightson@decottalaw.net

T: (+34) 952 931781

Vera Liprandi

veraliprandi@decottalaw.net

T: (+34) 922 719 520

 

  

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

DeCotta, McKenna & Santafé The independent legal property experts for the Costa del Sol & Inland

 

Distressed property sales, discounted homes and greater transparency and compliance to planning issues in town halls are combining to breathe some life back into the Spanish property market. Never before has Southern Spain been such good value. It’s a destination that will always be desirable to Europeans and those living further a field, and now the investors and holiday home buyers that turned their backs on Spain for the past year or so are coming back.

 

Yet something remains the same now as it did a few years back; the absolute essential requirement for all investors and buyers to seek genuinely independent legal advice before embarking on any type of property or land investment.

Take a moment to contact a truly independent law firm, such as DeCotta, McKenna & Santafé to make sure you are fully protected.

 

Founded in 1983, the firm combines genuine local & international knowledge and experience with a highly skilled team of multi-lingual lawyers. Over the past 25 years, DMS has built a strong track in the Spanish property sector, including Timeshare, Fractionals and private client property sales and purchases.

 

 Its property division is headed by Conveyancing Partner of the firm Gisele van Meer who has over 12 years experience working in southern Spain. She is acknowledged as one of the leading specialists in this field, with a highly respected reputation in Southern Spain. She is an accomplished linguist, fluent in English, Spanish, French, Dutch and German.

Her team has extensive knowledge of property matters such as contracts of purchase with staged payments, inland and rural properties, municipal licensing for building projects, planning issues and compliance, legalisation of existing properties, taxation for non-resident property owners and general fiscal issues for property buyers in Spain.

 DeCotta, McKenna & Santafé has offices across Southern Andalucia, including Mijas Costa, Coin & Nerja, as well as on Tenerife.

 

The firms integrated team of Spanish qualified Abogados and English qualified Solicitors & Barristers makes them amongst the region’s most experienced law firms in Property Law, as well as Family Law; Inheritance & Tax Planning; Timeshare; Litigation & Commercial Law.

 

Gisele van Meer is Conveyancing Partner at De Cotta McKenna y Santafé, a law firm offering support with all aspects of Spanish Law for English speaking clients. The head office is at:

Centro Comercial Valdepinos 1 y 3ª
Urb. Calypso
29649 Mijas Costa (Málaga)

Tel.: +34 952 931 781
Fax: +34 952 933 547

 

Email giselevanmeer@decottalaw.net

 

website: www.decottalaw.com

 

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

 

Fractional Ownership in Europe Increasing

 

Despite the slowdown in whole ownership property sales in Europe, market commentators are claiming that sales of Fractional Properties are gaining momentum.

 Timeshare and Seasonable ownership are well established with clients in Europe, but Fractional ownership is less understood.  The concept comes from the USA and was first used by businesses to share the ownership of high cost assets such as corporate aircraft. Now the system has been developed for the residential market with properties in Europe and Spain in particular available for fractional purchase.

The English Lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers and Spanish Abogados at De Cotta McKenna & Santafé are experts in the field of timeshare, fractionals, holiday ownership and property purchase and sale.

So before you sign on the dotted line, get a perspective from the experts at De Cotta, McKenna & Santafé.

The firm is multi-lingual, based in Spain & the Canary Islands and has been at the forefront of the evolving Timeshare sector for decades. Working in one of the world’s most developed timeshare markets, the firm advises on legal and financial issues for both the industry and consumers. To find out more ask to speak with two of the firm’s most respected Timeshare experts; Sandra Wrightson, Overseas Barrister; (based in Mijas Costa) and Vera Liprandi, Abogado (based on Tenerife).

For more information on Timeshare, take a moment to read this interview:Download Decotta interview with Sandra Wrightson & Vera Liprandi Timeshare legal experts De Cotta Law

 

 

De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, English solicitors, and lawyers, and Spanish Abogados, in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain

 

 

Selling A Timeshare - Be Cautious. If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is.

They were desperate to sell their timeshare. The management fee had increased over the years, they had not visited the resort for years, they were older and less anxious to jet off abroad so when the call came, they jumped. The polite, enthusiastic lady said her company could take the timeshare off their hands and maybe even make them a profit or at the very least recover their initial capital expenditure. They had a buyer ready and waiting to pay £15,000. In fact the purchase monies had already been paid into an independents party’s bank account. The elderly couple were over the moon! A windfall and the timeshare off their hands for good, or so it seemed. The still polite lady would send them the contract documentation for them to review and consider. However the buyer was not willing to wait forever so could they move quickly? Yes was the reply. Even better, the timeshare would be off their hands before Xmas with some extra spending money. Things were definitely looking up. “Did they have a fax?” “No” but they knew someone who did. After they asked for permission to use the fax the contract arrived. Still, £15,000 for their timeshare; this was for real! On closer inspection of the contract came the catch. They had to send 2,540 euros (approximately £1,600) by bank transfer in settlement of Spanish Capital Gains Tax, Notary, Legal and Administrative Fees. A call back to the polite lady. “Could the fees be deducted from the £15,000?” “No”. “Why?” “Because these fees, which were required to be paid to the Spanish Government and Tax Authorities, had to be paid up front”. No fees no £15,000! “The Buyer is going back to his home country and we need the fees as soon as possible so that we can complete the deal for you and send you the money”. “Don’t you want to sell your timeshare?” “Where would you like the cheque sent? Or perhaps you would prefer a bank transfer?” After much deliberation, out came the Xmas money. After all £1,600 for £15,000 was quite a good deal. Wasn’t it? A trip to the bank later the £1,600 was sent by bank transfer. A call to the lady to see if the monies have arrived. “No, not yet?” “When did you send them?” “We’ll check our bank account and call you when we receive them.” A few days later still no news. After more deliberation and with the alarm bells ringing, they made a call to the polite lady. “Yes the monies had arrived but there was a problem.” “The Company has to pay Transfer tax and need a further £600.” The elderly couple refused to pay the additional amount and sought advice. The advice was to call the Company, ask for the £15,000 and not to pay anymore money. However the calls to the Company went unanswered and the horror and embarrassment set in. Unfortunately there are still quite a few fraudulent and bogus timeshare traders out there. So when receiving unsolicited calls to buy your timeshare, if the price sounds too good to be true it usually is! Be careful and do not be rushed. If in doubt seek professional advice.

For more information on this subject, or to make an appointment for a private consultation, please contact us at De Cotta Law, De Cotta McKenna & Santafé on:

Tel.: +34 952 931 781
Fax: +34 952 933 547