In the intricate landscape of international business, navigating foreign legal systems can be a daunting challenge. This is where Susanne Leone, a German-speaking lawyer based in Miami, Florida, and co-founder of Leone Zhgun, P.A., stands out. With over a decade of experience in the legal field, Susanne has carved a unique niche, specializing as a corporate and business lawyer for German-speaking clients in the United States. Licensed in Germany since 2014 and Florida since 2017, her dual qualification and deep cultural understanding provide an invaluable resource for companies and high-net-worth individuals from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) seeking to establish or expand their presence in the U.S. market. Discover more about her practice here.
Susanne’s journey began with a vision to streamline the often-complex process of international market entry. Her philosophy is built on the premise that legal counsel should not only be expert but also culturally astute and delivered in a client’s native language. This holistic approach ensures that German-speaking clients receive precise U.S. legal advice while feeling fully understood and supported. Her firm offers a comprehensive suite of services, including U.S. corporate formation and structuring, corporate governance and compliance, contract drafting and negotiation, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic business expansions. She also provides ongoing corporate legal counsel for U.S.-based operations, with U.S. immigration and real estate matters handled through her team at Leone Zhgun, P.A.
What truly distinguishes Susanne and Leone Zhgun, P.A. is her unique background as a native German and a dual-licensed attorney. This allows her to offer an understanding that extends beyond mere legal codes, encompassing the business mindset, expectations, and inherent risks European companies often face in the U.S. Her practice is exclusively built around German-American clients, giving her a significant advantage over general practice law firms. Susanne prioritizes fast, transparent communication and is dedicated to building trusted, long-term relationships, often communicating in German to ensure maximum client comfort and clarity.
A significant highlight of Susanne’s career has been the successful establishment of her international legal practice from the ground up after relocating to the United States. She transformed from a German-trained attorney into one of the few lawyers fully qualified in both German and U.S. law, achieving an additional J.D. degree in the U.S. She has since guided dozens of German companies and entrepreneurs through the complexities of U.S. market entry, corporate structuring, and long-term expansion. Many of her clients launched their first American operations under her guidance and continue to thrive today. Susanne’s expertise is recognized within the legal and business communities; she has been elected to leadership roles within German-American business organizations in South Florida, including serving on the Board of the German-American Business Chamber of South Florida as Europe Committee Co-Chair for the Florida Bar ILS. She is also a published author, regularly updating the legal community on relevant law updates from Western Europe in the Florida Bar ILS International Law Quarterly. She has also authored a contribution to the International Law Deskbook 2026, a leading reference for international practitioners and lawyers pursuing board certification in International Law with The Florida Bar.
Susanne’s human-centered approach is best illustrated by a client success story involving a German family-owned medium-sized company. This company, despite successful expansions in other regions, felt overwhelmed by the language barrier and the legal complexities of entering the U.S. market. Susanne and her team guided them meticulously through every step, creating a robust U.S. corporate structure tailored to their international strategy, assisting with visas for key executives, and connecting them with a trusted U.S. network to build their American team. With this strong foundation, the company successfully launched in the U.S., secured major clients, and scaled its U.S. business to multi-million dollars in revenue within just a few years. Today, the U.S. market is a central pillar of their global operations, and they remain a loyal client of Leone Zhgun, P.A. for all their U.S. legal needs.
Susanne Leone’s dedication to her clients and her unique blend of legal expertise and cultural fluency make her an invaluable asset for German-speaking businesses aiming for success in the U.S. market. Her firm not only provides legal solutions but also acts as a cultural bridge, fostering confidence and enabling growth for international ventures. For insights into her daily practice and professional network, connect with Susanne on LinkedIn or follow her professional updates on Instagram.
