Tomedes Translates 34 Legal Documents for Law Firm’s Belgium Filing

The client

Company name: A. B.  Lawfirm (pseudonym)
What does the company do?
A U.S.-based law firm specializing in international litigation.
Deadline set by the client: 4 days
What do they need?
Tomedes was asked to translate and proofread a 34-page set of English legal documents into Dutch for official use in Belgium. The files included things like summonses, complaints, and several amendments—some of which were nearly identical. 

To save time and cut costs, we translated the full version of the main documents and then only edited the parts that were different in the others.

The challenges

During the initial review phase, the Tomedes team identified a few key challenges that could impact both workflow efficiency and final output quality. There are some of the issues the encountered:

First, the project involved over 30 pages of legal documents, covering more than 10 different forms. These included things like summonses, lawsuit notices, damage claims, and five amendments—each related to a different company involved in the case. With more than 9,000 words of complex legal language and strict formatting rules, it was clear this task needed experienced legal translators fluent in both English and Dutch (Belgium).

Second, nearly half the content across these documents was repeated, especially in the Doe Amendments. Since much of the wording was the same, the client asked us to fully translate just one main version and then edit only the differences in the others. This smart approach saved about 30% in time and cost.

Finally, the client had a firm deadline—everything needed to be ready within four days for legal service in Belgium. That’s 25% faster than usual for a project of this size and complexity. So, we kept close communication and moved quickly to deliver high-quality work on schedule.

Why Tomedes?

Tomedes has almost 20 years of experience handling legal translations, especially for international cases, so we know how to get it right.

Our team understands the exact terminology and formatting courts expect, which was key for this cross-border project. That expertise helped us manage the complex legal content smoothly and accurately.

We also used a smart approach to avoid translating the same content over and over. By focusing only on the sections that were different, we sped up the process and saved the client money—without cutting corners on quality.

Plus, our team stayed in close contact the whole time, making sure the client had updates, answers, and support whenever needed.

The solution

Here are some of the key steps we took to ensure the project stayed efficient, accurate, and fully aligned with the client's legal requirements.

Each move was carefully planned to balance speed with precision, especially given the complexity and formality of the documents involved.

First, Tomedes created a custom workflow that saved both time and effort. By translating one main amendment—the Ghilotti version—and then using it as a base for the other four,

the team cut down on about 45% of repetitive work. This let them focus on the 1,800+ words that were actually different and needed special attention.

Second, communication with the client was key. There were more than 15 emails exchanged and a few calls along the way, helping to clarify questions quickly—most responses came within 24 hours.

This kept the project on track and ensured everything matched what the client needed.

Finally, every document went through a careful quality check before delivery. Each one was translated by a legal expert, proofread by another linguist, and then reviewed for formatting.

This three-step process helped us deliver 100% accurate, court-ready translations on time.

The result

Tomedes delivered all the translated documents right on schedule, so the client could move forward with filing everything on time.

Even with a tight deadline and complex legal content, the translations were accurate, polished, and ready for official use. Every file followed the proper legal format and language requirements needed for court.

Thanks to our approach of only translating the parts that were different across documents, the client saved both time and money. This smart, efficient method kept the quality high while cutting down on repetitive work.

The client was impressed with the team’s fast communication, attention to detail, and overall professionalism—which led to more translation projects down the line.

Conclusion

Tomedes’ legal translation services demonstrated precision, efficiency, and a client-first approach.

By understanding the legal framework and project nuances, we provided a seamless translation experience that upheld the client’s professional and procedural requirements.

Need accurate, reliable legal translations for international proceedings?

Tomedes offers expert language solutions tailored to the legal industry, ensuring precision, compliance, and on-time delivery. Contact us today to get a free quote and experience why law firms worldwide trust Tomedes.