Criminal Lawyers in Málaga — English-Speaking Defence

Reviewed by Javier Rincón Bernal and Manuel Rincón Bernal, members of the Málaga Bar (ICAMálaga) since 1999. Last updated 19 April 2026.

Criminal Defence Lawyers in Málaga

RINBER Abogados represents English-speaking clients facing criminal charges in Málaga and throughout Andalusia. Founded in 1999 by brothers Javier and Manuel Rincón Bernal, we have spent over 25 years practising exclusively in criminal law from our offices at C/ Salvago 4, in the heart of Málaga city centre. Our firm knows the local courts, the local prosecution service, and the local judges.

Málaga is home to one of Spain’s largest expatriate communities. Hundreds of thousands of British, Irish, American, German and other foreign nationals live on the Costa del Sol, and millions more visit each year. When foreign nationals face criminal proceedings in Spain — whether following an arrest at Málaga Airport, a police investigation, or an accusation arising from a civil dispute — they need a criminal defence lawyer who speaks their language and understands both the Spanish legal system and the particular pressures of facing prosecution in a foreign country.

The Málaga Court System

Criminal proceedings in Málaga are heard before several different courts depending on the seriousness of the charge:

• Juzgados de Instrucción (Investigating Courts) — handle the investigation and preliminary hearings for all criminal matters. There are 14 in Málaga city.
• Juzgados de lo Penal (Criminal Courts) — try offences carrying sentences of up to 5 years. Málaga has 10 such courts.
• Audiencia Provincial de Málaga — the provincial court, which tries serious offences including homicide, major drug trafficking, sexual offences and organised crime. This is the court that handles the most significant criminal cases in the province.
• Juzgado de Violencia sobre la Mujer — specialised courts for domestic violence cases, with accelerated procedures and immediate protective orders.

RINBER Abogados appear regularly before all of these courts. Our familiarity with local judicial procedures, the prosecuting attorneys (Fiscal), and the court administration means we can act quickly and strategically at every stage of your case.

If You Are Arrested in Málaga

If you or a family member is arrested anywhere in the Málaga province — including at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, in the city centre, in Marbella, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Nerja or anywhere on the Costa del Sol — you should call our 24-hour emergency line immediately: +34 627 467 042.

You have the right under Spanish law to remain silent, to choose your own lawyer, and to have an interpreter. Do not make any statement to the Guardia Civil, Policía Nacional or Policía Local until your defence lawyer is present. Statements made without legal representation — even informal ones — can be used against you in court.

Spanish police may hold you for up to 72 hours without charge. During that time, RINBER can attend the police station in Málaga, review the grounds for your detention, and advise you on whether to provide a statement or exercise your right to silence.

Practice Areas in Málaga

RINBER Abogados handle all serious criminal matters for English-speaking clients in Málaga and the Costa del Sol:

• Drug Trafficking Defence — Málaga Airport is one of the principal entry points for drug importation in Spain. We regularly defend clients arrested at the airport or port, including in large-scale Guardia Civil operations.
• Homicide & Murder Defence — Cases before the Audiencia Provincial de Málaga. Javier Rincón Bernal has extensive experience defending homicide charges including before the Tribunal del Jurado.
• Sexual Offences Defence — Including cases involving tourists and expats, with representation from the investigative stage through to trial.
• Fraud & Economic Crime — Investment fraud, tax evasion and financial offences, including cases involving property transactions on the Costa del Sol.
• Money Laundering Defence — Including cases with international dimensions and asset confiscation proceedings.
• Domestic Violence Defence — Málaga’s Juzgado de Violencia sobre la Mujer processes cases rapidly. Early specialist intervention is critical.
• DUI & Road Traffic Offences — Including cases involving accidents, injuries and foreign licence holders.
• Cybercrime Defence — Online fraud, hacking and digital crime investigations.

Why Choose RINBER Abogados in Málaga?

We are not a general practice firm that handles criminal law occasionally. RINBER Abogados practises exclusively in criminal defence — every case we handle, every hearing we attend, is a criminal matter. This depth of focus means our knowledge of Spanish criminal law, criminal procedure, and courtroom strategy is unmatched by generalist firms.

Javier Rincón Bernal is recognised by Best Lawyers España in the field of criminal law and has appeared before the Spanish Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) and the National Court (Audiencia Nacional) in addition to the Audiencia Provincial de Málaga. Manuel Rincón Bernal specialises in economic crime, representing clients in high-profile fraud, money laundering and corruption cases at the national level.

Our offices are located at C/ Salvago 4, Málaga — a five-minute walk from the Audiencia Provincial, the main Juzgados, and the central police station. When you call us, you reach a specialist criminal lawyer directly.

RELATED RESOURCES

→ Versión en español: Abogados Penalistas Málaga on rinberabogados.com
→ Best Criminal Lawyers Málaga 2026 on InformacionLegal.es

English-speaking defence from the first minute of arrest

Arrest does not wait. Do not make any statement to the police without your lawyer. Call us first.

01

Call us

Call +34 627 467 042. Available 24 hours, English-speaking. We answer immediately.

02

We arrive

We attend the police station or court of instruction before any statement is taken.

03

We defend

We activate the defence strategy from the first second of the detention.