Biography
Sébastien Engelen is partner at contrast. He specialises in EU and Belgian competition law. He handles antitrust, merger control and State aid cases, as well as general EU law matters (EU freedoms, Structural Funds...). He also practices general commercial law, including distribution law.
As head of contrast’s state aid practice, Sébastien advises clients on the qualification of a measure from a state aid law perspective and the manners to ensure the compatibility of an aid measure with EU rules.
Sébastien assists both private and public clients in non-contentious and contentious matters. He conducts litigation before National Competition Authorities as well as national and European courts. He strongly believes that it is better to be safe than sorry, therefore he regularly gives competition law compliance trainings.
In addition, Sébastien regularly contributes to publications on European and Belgian competition law in several leading legal journals.
Experience
contrast (2016 - present)
CMS DeBacker (2007 - 2015)
Education
LL.M. in European Law at Institution of European Studies (2007)
Erasmus Programme at Università degli studi di Pisa (2006)
Master in Law at Université Saint-Louis and Université Catholique de Louvain (2006)
Memberships
Brussels Bar
Languages
French
Dutch
English
Italian
Expertise
Our expertise at a glance
At the heart of our practice lies a commitment to quality of work, integrity, team spirit, ambition and personal commitment. With experience across five domains of law, we are ready to offer you tailored advice.
Competition & EU
EU and competition law may turn into a labyrinth, so it is best to fall back on broad expertise. Our team advises and supports you before national and EU authorities and courts, combining strategy with a pragmatic focus on your business.
Corporate & M&A
In the face of intricate M&A transactions, you need 360° legal advice. From acquisitions and joint ventures to restructurings and shareholder agreements, we ensure that whatever you build stands on solid ground.
Commercial
Day-to-day advice or full support, domestic or international, B2B or B2C: our experienced commercial team has represented both private companies and public bodies in a wide range of industries.
Dispute resolution
You never aim for things to escalate, but sometimes they do just that. Count on us to take your side in settlement negotiations, mediation, litigation and arbitration. Your commercial objectives and your reputation will stand firmly protected.
Compliance
Compliance is not a standalone discipline - it runs through every legal domain. From drafting codes of conduct to full-scale implementation and training, we guide companies and trade associations along the way.
