When I was in Germany many years ago, I remember being struck by the efficiency and promptness that was prevalent throughout the country. This was not the case anywhere else we went in Europe. Between strikes and that certain je ne sais quoi, trains and buses outside Deutschland had their own timetables that were not made available to the public. The Germans were by far the leaders in reliability!
This punctuality should be kept in mind when scheduling depositions in Frankfurt, home to the U.S. Consulate in Germany, where all depositions by U.S. attorneys must be conducted. Take careful note of both deadlines and the Consulate’s hours (listed here on page 3). You can be sure doors will open and close promptly at the listed times, so plan accordingly when determining how many days will be needed for your depositions. Also keep in mind that if the witness will require an interpreter, more time will be needed for the deposition.
Permission must first be granted by the German Ministry of Justice; depositions taken without said permission and/or without the U.S. Consulate’s involvement can lead to criminal charges against participants. The U.S. Consulate will request permission upon receipt of the notice, requested dates, and credit card authorization form for the scheduling fee. That fee is $1,283, and it is non-refundable once dates are approved. (Additional fees are listed on the website of the Consulate.) All required documents must be received by the Consulate at least 6 weeks before the proposed deposition dates.
To match German efficiency, when scheduling depositions in Frankfurt, partner with a court reporting firm with years of experience covering depositions there, as well as reporters and videographers throughout Europe (reduced travel fees!). The firm will keep the scheduling process moving expeditiously, with expert guidance encompassing all details. They can check your list of participants and equipment list before you send them to the Consulate to ensure they comply with the guidelines, preventing delays or, more importantly, a person or a piece of equipment being denied entry at the Consulate. They can also remind you when these lists are due!
In the vein of efficiency, you should expect to receive a copy of the rough draft within hours of the conclusion of the day’s proceedings, a great preparation aid if the deposition will continue into the next day. Realtime to your laptop during the proceedings is also a tremendous aid to keeping the deposition on pace. If you need one, the reporter can lend you a laptop for realtime viewing purposes.
Frankfurt is not only an efficient city, it is the largest financial center in continental Europe, the city of Goethe, and home to Palmengarten (botanical gardens), as well as Alt Sachsenhausen. Alt Sachsenhausen is a cobblestone district lined with Frankfurt’s oldest taverns serving apple cider (apfelwein or ebbelwoi to Frankfurters). Ask the reporter or videographer which tavern they recommend.
