Corporate gifts

Client gifts for notaries and lawyers: best practices

Notary offices and law firms maintain long-term relationships with their clients, peers, and referring professionals. Year-end gifting follows specific conventions in these professions.

Who to thank

• clients with whom an important matter was concluded during the year;
• referral partners: real estate agents, chartered accountants, bankers, wealth management advisors;
• peers with whom the office or firm worked;
• employees of the firm or office.

Each category requires a different level of gift. Referral partners, in particular, are often the most strategic relationships.

What is suitable

The profession values restraint and quality. Overly ostentatious or expensive gifts should be avoided, especially for private clients. Wine is well-suited to the occasion: a fine age-worthy wine or a grower Champagne, presented simply with a card signed by the partner, aligns with customary practices.

Wines that work well

• a Bourgogne or Bordeaux from a reputable domain, ready to drink or age for a few years;
• a grower Champagne, elegant and lesser known to the general public;
• for local firms, a wine from Bellet or Bandol, anchoring the gift in the region.

Timing

Firms and offices face heavy workloads in December, closing numerous transactions before the end of the year. Delegating selection and delivery avoids spending time on it during peak periods. Delivery in the first half of December is ideal.

Tax treatment

For entities subject to VAT, the €73 incl. VAT threshold per beneficiary per year applies. See our dedicated article on VAT on corporate gifts.

Pinot & Chardo assists notary offices and law firms in Nice, the Côte d'Azur, Var, and Monaco. Discover our gift sets.