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07 Oct

Juliette, Gitte and Astrid take the oath

๐Œ๐š๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ž: ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐š๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐š๐ค๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐จ๐š๐ญ๐ก!

We are happy to share that our three new junior lawyers, Juliette Powis, Gitte Wauters and Astrid Jamaer, officially took their oath at the Brussels Bar. ๐ŸŽ‰

Juliette, Gitte and Astrid joined our firm last week, following summer internships and roles as research assistants at our firm. They will strengthen our teams, respectively in competition & EU, commercial and corporate.

We want to congratulate them on this significant milestone in their legal careers and wish them every success as they embark on this exciting new journey!

#lawstudents #lawfirm #lawyers #newhires #welcome #contrastvibes #contrasttalent

contrast update Careers
03 Oct

contrast walks for a cleaner future

Last weekend, a group of motivated colleagues at ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ took on the A.S. Adventure Walk, covering an impressive 20 kilometres through Brussels.

By participating, our team proudly contributed to River Cleanup, an organisation committed to removing plastic pollution from rivers and waterways across the globe.

A heartfelt thank you to all colleagues who took part and helped turn steps into impact.

Learn more about River Cleanup and how you can help via their website ๐Ÿ‘‰ www.river-cleanup.org

#ESG #sustainability #sustainableentrepreneurshipย #RiverCleanup #wellbeingatwork #VCDO #contrastcares

contrast update ESG
02 Oct

ECJ judgment in RFC Seraing case: why parties can't escape EU law via arbitration

As reported earlier (see our LinkedIn post: https://lnkd.in/eCe-BHqR), in a preliminary ruling of 1 August 2025, the EU Court of Justice ruled that arbitral awards, such as those issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), cannot automatically be considered binding in EU Member States when EU public policy is at stake.

In their recent contribution in De Juristenkrant of 24 september 2025, our dispute resolution counsel Benjamin Magnus and associate Marie-Julie Kormoss discuss the ECJ judgment. They explore the broader implications for (sports) arbitration and explain how the judgment confirms the role of national courts as gatekeepers of fair dispute resolution.

๐Œ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ข๐ง๐Ÿ๐จ?

๐Ÿ”— Read the full article (in Dutch) below or on our website: https://lnkd.in/ewMKMjgZ

๐Ÿ”— You can read the ECJ judgment here: https://lnkd.in/eEHgzA-i

๐๐ฎ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ? Feel free to contact Benjamin, Marie-Julie, or your usual contact person at ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ.

#ECJ #DisputeResolution #Arbitration #SportsLaw #CAS #CompetitionLaw #contrastpublications

contrast update
26 Sep

Join contrast at the following student events

๐€๐ซ๐ž ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐š ๐ฅ๐š๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐š๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐œ๐ซ๐ž๐๐ข๐›๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐š๐ฅ๐ฎ๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ž ๐š๐๐ฏ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž? ๐‹๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐ง๐จ ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ!

At ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ, we offer a variety of internships tailored for law students:
โ€ข Internships during winter, spring or summer (1 month),
โ€ข Weekly internships as research assistant (1 or 2 days per week),
โ€ข Bar internships as junior lawyer in one of our practice areas.

You can count on us for enriching internships with interesting cases, a strong team spirit, and personalised guidance and training.

๐ˆ๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐ž๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐จ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐›๐ž๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ? Mark these dates in your agenda and come meet us at the following events:
โ€ข ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ ๐Ž๐œ๐ญ๐จ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ Networking event with ELSA Gent (Cellarium - Sint-Pietersabdij)
โ€ข ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŽ ๐Ž๐œ๐ญ๐จ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ UGent Job fair with Vlaams Rechtsgenootschap Gent (VRG) (ICC)
โ€ข ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŽ ๐Ž๐œ๐ญ๐จ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ UA Jobdays with ELSA Antwerpen (Handelsbeurs)
โ€ข ๐Ÿ‘ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐Ÿ’ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ KU Leuven campus interviews
โ€ข ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ VUB Job fair with ELSA Brussel (Usquare VUB)
โ€ข ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‘ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ KU Leuven Job fair with Vlaams Rechtsgenootschap (VRG) (Brabanthal)
โ€ข ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ• ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ UA campus interviews
โ€ข ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ• ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ โ€“ Networking event with ELSA Leuven (Faculty Club Leuven)

Already interested in meeting us? Send us your CV today via our website.

Our team looks forward to meeting you!

#lawstudents #lawfirm #jobfairs #legalinternship #meetcontrast #contraststudentcorner #fitforpurpose

contrast update
18 Sep

In the Picture - Arbitration: final destination or simple stopover?

๐ˆ๐ฆ๐š๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ž ... ๐Ÿ’ญ

One of your business partners claims that your company is abusing its dominant position and threatens to go to court to stop that abuse and claim damages. An amicable solution proves impossible to reach.

To avoid a protracted legal battle before the courts, you propose that the dispute be settled through arbitration. The other party agrees, the arbitration proceedings run smoothly and the outcome is positive: the arbitrators reject the alleged abuse of a dominant position.

You are relieved until you receive a message from your solicitor a few weeks later. Apparently, the other party does not accept the ruling and is still going to court. You frown. Is this possible? Wasn't arbitration final?

๐–๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž? Read our latest #inthepicture โ€˜Arbitration: final destination or simple stopover? โ€™ here, or contact our dispute resolution counsel Benjamin Magnus or associate Marie-Julie Kormoss.

#disputeresolution #arbitration #competitionlaw #sportslaw #CourtOfJusticeEU #CASArbitration #FIFARegulation

contrast update
16 Sep

World Cleanup Day at contrast

In honour ofย World Cleanup Dayย on 20 September, our team contributed to a cleaner and greener neighbourhood by collecting litterย in the streets surrounding our office. Equipped with litter pickers and bin bags, we removed bottles, plastic wrappers, and other waste from public spaces.

Atย ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ, we believe that small actions can lead to meaningful change. This initiative is one of the ways we aim to support a more sustainable and responsible environment.

A big thank you to everyone who took part, and to theย City of Zaventemย for kindly providing the materials that made this possible.

Want to know how you can make an impact in your own neighbourhood? Visit the website ofย Mooimakersย ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://lnkd.in/gUJQ-eqw

#sustainability #VCDO #ESG #worldcleanupday #communityimpact #duurzaamondernemen #contrastcares

ESG
12 Sep

Team spirit, sea breeze, and a whole lot of laughter

Last Friday, we swapped our desks for the Belgian coast and headed to De Haan for our annual team building weekend.

We kicked off the day with a guided go-car tour, discovering the rich history and hidden gems of the coastal town. The afternoon brought out our competitive side with fun team games on the beach, followed by an adrenaline-filled rafting session. We ended the evening with a beachside barbecue, enjoying a stunning sunset to end the day.

We at ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ are grateful for moments like these to bring us closer together, recharge our spirits, and remind us why teamwork matters.

A big thank you to the ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ vibes team for organising this weekend getaway!

#Team #TeamBuilding #LawFirm #TeamSpirit #FunAtWork #LawFirmLife #thecontrastisclear #contrastvibes

contrast vibes
08 Sep

Paralegal Day 2025

Our colleagues Ine Schockaert, corporate counsel, and Marthe Wouters, corporate paralegal, will be speaking again at this yearโ€™s Paralegal Day on ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ž๐œ๐ญ๐จ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“. The Paralegal Day is an annual, full-day congress designed specifically for paralegals and legal support professionals with the possibility to follow inspiring keynotes and network with other professionals in the field. We have been a returning speaker at the event for a number of years now, and are always proud to contribute!

In their session, Ine and Marthe will guide participants through the complexities of corporate housekeeping, offering useful and practical tools to manage company administration more efficiently.

Sounds interesting? Check out the website of NCOI Learning for more information.

See you there!

#paralegal #corporatelaw #continuouslearning #keynote #corporatehousekeeping #meetcontrast

Seminar
05 Sep

Smashing health goals @ contrast!

At ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ, wellbeing isnโ€™t just a buzzword. Weโ€™re committed to fostering a healthy and active workplace.

One way we do that? Our monthly summer ping pong tournaments!

Augustโ€™s edition brought together associates, interns, employees, and partners for some friendly competition and a whole lot of fun. Beyond the rallies and smashes, itโ€™s about movement, connection, and creating space for wellbeing at work.

Our winners of last month areโ€ฆ
๐Ÿฅ‡ ๐’๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Hendrik Verbruggen
๐Ÿฅ‡๐Ÿฅ‡ ๐ƒ๐จ๐ฎ๐›๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: Hendrik Verbruggen & Daniel Murray

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped keep our office energy high. One more tournament to go in September. Letโ€™s keep the momentum going!

#wellbeingatwork #lawfirmlife #sport #VCDO #thecontrastisclear #contrastcares

contrast vibes
01 Sep

A warm welcome to our September interns!

September 1st marks a fresh start for many! Today, weโ€™re glad to welcome four talented students to the ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ team.

Robine, Matthias, Amelie and Rodrigue will be joining our competition, corporate and commercial teams as summer interns. They will dive into interesting legal work, experience exciting projects and learn from our lawyers.

We wish them a great start and lots of good luck!

Also interested in experiencing a legal internship at ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ? Visit our website to learn more about student internships and career opportunities in 2026.

#internship #legalinternship #lawstudent #careergrowth #learningopportunities #studentcorner #contrastlaw #thecontrastisclear

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