In The Picture - More clarity on green claims for European consumers

𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 ... 💭

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.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞? Read our latest #inthepicture ‘More clarity on green claims for European consumers' here, or contact our commercial counsel Laurence Vanhyfte or commercial associate Emiel Weyers.

#Sustainability #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 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭, with a top ranking in band 1 for Competition Belgium for the 13th consecutive year and this as only law firm.✨

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.🙌 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

🏛 𝐌&𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 – 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 #𝟒

“Only 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 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 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.

👉 Want to learn more about this judgement and other key Belgian M&A cases from 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬? You can find them all here, together with our related annotations: https://lnkd.in/eAPqN3_i

📊By the way, did you know that 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌&𝐀 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 (https://lnkd.in/efJUPcN7) shows that nearly all of the examined acquisition agreements contained contractual representations and warranties? We will be organizing a 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌&𝐀 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 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!

𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 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 #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 Commission’s Omnibus proposal following the discussions of last week in the European Parliament and Council. Based on the last discussions, the European Commission’s 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 Commission’s proposal to postpone the implementation of CSRD seems likely to qualify for an accelerated approval procedure. In addition to the status of the Omnibus proposal, we also discussed related topics including the latest developments regarding “greenwashing” and the proposed EU “green claims” 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).

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞:
• Regardless of any amendments to the regulatory framework, sustainability remains top-of-mind for companies previously in scope.
• 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.
• Companies would however appreciate being given more time to prepare.
• A deep-dive into the ESRS showed that a simplification and alignment with existing regulations would reduce “red tape” and increase efficiency.
• 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

“A sale and purchase agreement can only be validly concluded if there is a consensus with respect to all essential and substantial elements.”

In its judgement of 4 March 2020, the 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐩 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 “subject to due diligence”), and the parties had not referred to other substantial elements (e.g. representations and warranties of the seller).

👉 Want to learn more about this judgement and other key Belgian M&A cases from 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬? You can find them all here, together with our related annotations.

📊By the way, did you know that 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌&𝐀 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 shows that an LOI or similar precontractual document was signed in 77% of the examined transactions? We will be organizing a 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌&𝐀 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 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!

𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 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

At 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭, we are privileged to work alongside remarkable women — our colleagues, clients, peers, students and partners — 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 amazing organisation 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

Welcome to our spring interns!

A warm and sunny welcome to our new spring interns: Yana, Laura, and Febe. 🌸

All three are Law Practice students at UC Leuven-Limburg and have joined 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭 as paralegals for the next few months. Yana will strengthen our Commercial team, Laura will contribute to our Corporate team, and Febe will support our Competition team.

We wish them an exciting traineeship and the very best of luck!

Check out their photo on our LinkedIn.

#internship #traineeship #legalinternship #paralegal #careergrowth #learningopportunities #contraststudentcorner

Mastering the art of contract drafting: a hands-on workshop for law students

Do you know the theory, but would like to learn from practice?

In collaboration with ELSA Leuven, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭 organises an interactive workshop on contract drafting. From drafting a contract to negotiating and signing it, these practical skills will teach you valuable knowledge to master the craft.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧?
📅 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 27 March from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: KUL

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩:
• How to structure a contract,
• Which clauses deserve your attention,
• How to best formulate articles, and
• How to adjust them according to your negotiating position

We will end the workshop with a networking drink.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝? Register here

#contractdrafting #commerciallaw #lawstudents #workshop #KUL #meetcontrast #contraststudentcorner