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The Legal 500 again ranks all our practice areas and gives us the Client Satisfaction Award
Special congratulations to our Competition & EU team for its ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ in 'Competition Belgium'. ๐
We are also proud to receive, as one of the few law firms in Belgium, theย Legal 500 ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐.
We love what we do, and we are happy that it shows!
A heartfelt thank you to our clients and peers for their trust and warm recommendations.
Do check our websitefor more on our ranking.
#contrasttalent #legal500 #thelegal500 #lawfirm #clientsatisfaction
General Court largely rejects banks' appeal against Commission's cartel decision
On 26 March 2025, the General Court confirmed the Commissionโs finding of a cartel by several banks relating to the trade in bonds issued by eurozone countries. The cartel occurred at the time of the financial crisis and subsequent euro-zone debt crisis (between 2007 and 2011) and affected both the issuance of such bonds by countries (primary market) and the subsequent trade of these bonds on the financial markets (secondary market).
The cartel involved various traders which used chat rooms to regularly exchange information, fix prices and allocate customers. After a detailed analysis of the various chatroom-entries relied on by the Commission, the General Court sided with the Commissionโs conclusion that the banks were guilty of a cartel consisting of price fixing on both the primary and the secondary market, bid rigging on the primary market, and exchanges of commercially sensitive information regarding the secondary market.
Unsurprisingly, the General Court confirmed explicitly in this respect that the banks were responsible for the conduct of their employees. According to the General Court, an undertaking โcannot reasonably rely on any malfunctioning of its internal organisationโ and cannot escape liability even if the cartel-conduct concerned โthe act of a single employee who pursued a personal course of conduct initiated before he was recruited and that that course of conduct was only marginally successful.โ
This case reconfirms the importance of having a proper compliance culture in place as each employee can trigger a companyโs liability. Please refer to our recent In The Picture on the topic in this respect: https://lnkd.in/enD2m9mm
Any questions? Please do not hesitate to get in contact.
#ECJ #GeneralCourt #eurozone #debtcrisis #cartel #compliance #competitioncompliance
In The Picture - More clarity on green claims for European consumers
๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ... ๐ญ
Your business is known for its eco-friendly products. The launch of your latest line of home appliances is imminent. Through packaging and advertising, you want to highlight that the products are sustainable, made from recycled materials and recyclable.
However, your marketing manager sends you an email expressing concern about the impact of new regulations on greenwashing on the launch. According to him, you have to take a completely new approach to the launch. You would like to know more. You call your manager and legal counsel together for a meeting.
๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐? Read our latest #inthepicture โMore clarity on green claims for European consumers' here, or contact our commercial counsel Laurence Vanhyfte or commercial associateย Emiel Weyers.
#Sustainabilityย #GreenDeal #GreenClaims #Greenwashing #EuropeanCommission #VCDO #contrastpublications
contrast attends 7th edition of Women @ Competition
Last week, our colleague Camille Verstraete attended the 7th edition of the Women AT conference on agile competition. Bringing together leading competition law practitioners, enforcers and academics, the conference presented a great opportunity to exchange insightful perspectives on the role of competition policy and enforcement in times when the only constant is change.
We are proud to support initiatives that foster thought leadership and diversity in our field. Congratulations to the organisers for yet another successful edition!
#competitionlaw #antitrust #lawconference #womeninlaw
Chambers & Partners Europe 2025 ranking
Chambers and Partners Europe again ranks all practice areas of ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ, with a top ranking in band 1 for Competition Belgium for the 13th consecutive year and this as only law firm.โจ
Congratulations to Filip Tuytschaever (competition) and Bart Bellen (corporate) for being ranked for the 13th time, a shout out to Herlinde Burez, as being one of only 5 female partners to be included in the competition ranking and this for the 6th time, and proud of Sebastien Engelen for being recognised up and coming talent for his Belgian competition work.
We are most grateful to all our clients and to our referees for their warm recommendations.๐ It is fantastic that the hard work and expertise of our teams are being recognised in this way.
Read the quotes from Chambers on our website.
#ChambersEurope #contrasttalent #contrastlaw
M&A Chronicle - Weekly case highlight #4
๐ ๐&๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ โ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ #๐
โOnly the clauses relating to the obligations of the seller resulting from the sale shall be interpreted against the latter."
In its judgement of 6 September 2018, the ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง confirmed the relationship between articles 1602 and 1162 old Civil Code in interpretation discussions, specifically in the context of the representations and warranties. Indeed, these cannot be interpreted against the seller.
๐ Want to learn more about this judgement and other key Belgian M&A cases from ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ? You can find them all here, together with our related annotations: https://lnkd.in/eAPqN3_i
๐By the way, did you know that ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐&๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ (https://lnkd.in/efJUPcN7) shows that nearly all of the examined acquisition agreements contained contractual representations and warranties? We will be organizing a ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐&๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ this year. Leave your contact details on this form below to participate and help us find out whether this trend has continued: https://lnkd.in/eQU-ksZF
Follow along with our corporate and M&A team as we highlight more interesting case law in the coming weeks!
๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ? Please contact the authors (Bart Bellen | Ine Schockaert | Kristof De Wael | Karlien De Ryck | Maarten Cnudde | Charlotte Van Weehaeghe | Ward De Byser | Marthe Wouters).
#MergersandAcquisitions #Kroniek #Chronicleย #Survey #mandasurvey #sharepurchaseagreementsย #CaseLaw #Interpretation #representations #warranties
2-day workshop on CSRD reporting (part 2)
Last Friday was the second session of our two-day crash course on CSRD reporting organised by Voka - Kamer van Koophandel Vlaams-Brabant in collaboration with Charlotte Vandierendonck of Studio D.
Karlien De Ryck and Bart Bellen gave an update of the European Commissionโs Omnibus proposal following the discussions of last week in the European Parliament and Council.ย Based on the last discussions, the European Commissionโs proposal to significantly reduce the scope of the CSRD package created controversy and may not be approved as such in the short term. However, the Commissionโs proposal to postpone the implementation of CSRD seems likely to qualify for an accelerated approval procedure.ย In addition to the status of the Omnibus proposal, we also discussed related topics including the latest developments regarding โgreenwashingโ and the proposed EU โgreen claimsโ directive.
During workshop we also reviewed in detail the specific requirements under each reporting standard (ESRS) and compared each ESRS with the corresponding voluntary reporting standard for SMEs (VSME).
๐๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐-๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐:
โข Regardless of any amendments to the regulatory framework, sustainability remains top-of-mind for companies previously in scope.
โข A continued commitment to sustainability is necessary to respond to demands of other companies in the supply chain and is expected to give compliant companies a competitive advantage.
โข Companies would however appreciate being given more time to prepare.
โข A deep-dive into the ESRS showed that a simplification and alignment with existing regulations would reduce โred tapeโ and increase efficiency.
โข Voluntary reporting standards are expected to become more important.
Thank you Voka - Kamer van Koophandel Vlaams-Brabant for the organisation and Studio D for the pleasant collaboration, and to all participants for the lively interaction.
#CSRD #CSDDD #ESG #Sustainability #CorporateReporting #contrastlaw #Voka #Workshop
M&A Chronicle - weekly case highlight #3
โA sale and purchase agreement can only be validly concluded if there is a consensus with respect to all essential and substantial elements.โ
In its judgement of 4 March 2020, the ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฉ ruled that the conclusion of a binding letter of intent (LOI) did not constitute a binding sale and purchase. The Court observed that, as an essential element of the sale, the price was not determined or determinable based on the LOI (as the price was agreed โsubject to due diligenceโ), and the parties had not referred to other substantial elements (e.g. representations and warranties of the seller).
๐ Want to learn more about this judgement and other key Belgian M&A cases from ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ? You can find them all here, together with our related annotations.
๐By the way, did you know that ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐&๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ shows that an LOI or similar precontractual document was signed in 77% of the examined transactions? We will be organizing a ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐&๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ this year. Leave your contact details on this form to participate and help us find out whether this trend has continued.
Follow along with our corporate and M&A team as we highlight more interesting case law in the coming weeks!
๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ?ย Please contact the authors - Bart Bellen | Ine Schockaert | Kristof De Wael | Karlien De Ryck | Maarten Cnudde | Charlotte Van Weehaeghe | Ward De Byser | Marthe Wouters
#MergersandAcquisitions #Kroniek #Chronicle #Survey #mandasurvey #sharepurchaseagreements #CaseLaw #LOI #PurchasePrice
Welcome to our new contraster, Winny!
As Facility and Office Assistant, she will manage our building and facilities, support our team in their day-to-day work and welcome our clients at the front desk with Ilse Van der Aa.
Good luck, Winny!
Also interested in joining our team? Discover our career opportunities here.
#lawfirm #jobs #careers #contrastcareers
Celebrating International Women's Day at contrast
Atย ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ, we are privileged to work alongside remarkable women โ our colleagues, clients, peers, students and partners โ whose dedication and expertise drive our success. Tomorrow, on International Women's Day, we celebrate their invaluable contributions to the legal profession and our communities.
Each year, we mark this day by contributing to a charity that makes a real difference for women and/or their families in general. This year, we are proud to support VZW Casa Magnolia, an amazingย organisationย that stands alongside families caring for a seriously ill child, providing essential practical and emotional support and creating often much needed space and room to breathe.
No parent or family should have to face these challenges, especially without support. Therefore, we warmly invite you to join us in supporting their mission. Learn more about VZW Casa Magnolia and how you can contribute here.
#InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025 #WomenInLaw #CasaMagnolia #lawfirm #charity #sustainability #contrastcares
