Brexit deal & data transfers: a temporary relief
Amongst the (many) uncertainties linked to Brexit, its potential restrictive impact on data transfers between the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK was an important one for all businesses with cross-border activities. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the Brexit deal) adopted last December has brought a temporary answer to it. It allows EEA […]
Simont Braun authors ICLG Belgian Chapter on Designs
What are the key principles of Benelux Design law? Fernand de Visscher and Julie Kever authored the Belgian chapter on Designs in the International Comparative Legal Guide 2021 (ICLG): a pragmatic and comprehensive overview for all IP practitioners. The guide is available here. Should you have any question, please contact Fernand de Visscher: fernand.devisscher@simontbraun.eu +32 […]
Amendments to Belgian corporate law to facilitate remote shareholders’ meetings
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the provisions of the Companies and Associations Code (the “CAC”) on the functioning of corporate bodies have proved to be too restrictive, particularly with regard to the remote organisation of shareholders’ meetings for listed companies or companies having many shareholders. Facilitating remote shareholders’ meetings Following the Royal Decree […]
Flash News | New moratorium for enterprises in difficulty
Belgium has recently adopted extra measures to combat the negative economic impact of Covid-19. The Law of 20 December 2020, which entered into force on 24 December 2020, provides for a second moratorium for companies in difficulty up until 31 January 2021 (included). The scope of application of these measures is, however, more restrictive than […]
Renaud van Melsen interviewed in Le Soir Immo
A good read to start the year? We are happy to share Renaud van Melsen’s interview in Le Soir Immo. What is our role as lawyers in real estate and public law? What are today’s major questions in town planning and environmental law? To read the article “Les avocats ne sont pas des penseurs en […]
Highlights 2020 and upcoming events in 2021
What happened in 2020, and what is to expect in 2021? Every day in December, Simont Braun shared legal highlights of 2020 and upcoming events for 2021 in its End-of-Year Countdown. Here is a recap of each highlight by area of practice: 1. Corporate law 2. Intellectual property 3. Digital finance & Financial services 3. […]
(R)évolution du droit des biens : 10 points clés pour le droit immobilier
La loi du 4 février 2020 a réformé et modernisé en profondeur le droit des biens. Cette loi introduit un nouveau Livre 3 dans le nouveau Code civil. La réforme entre en vigueur le 1er septembre 2021. Les dispositions du livre 3 sont supplétives sauf les définitions et les dispositions qualifiées d’impératives. Voici dix points […]
The strengthening of public cooperation
Non-institutionalised cooperation between contracting authorities (pouvoir adjudicateur /aanbestedende overheid) allows them to resort to mechanisms for pooling one or more of their missions freely, without going through public procurement procedures. In 2020, the CJEU has clarified one of the conditions allowing contracting authorities to use this legal exception and avoid public procurement rules. Version française […]
Judicial reorganisation procedure: two draft bills pending under the benefit of urgency
The legislator has tabled two draft bills, respectively on 10 June 2020 and 21 October 2020, to amend a.o. the provisions relating to the judicial reorganisation procedure (PRJ/WCO) governed by Book XX of the Code of Economic Law (CEL). The review of these draft bills is being carried out under the emergency procedure notably because […]
Simont Braun secures the admissibility of Test Achats’ class action against Ryanair before Belgian Courts
Simont Braun represents Test Achats in a major class action against Ryanair, which aims at obtaining indemnification for passengers who were victims of cancellations and delays of flights in summer 2018. The total compensation is estimated at €16 million. On 7 December 2020, the Brussels Business Court declared this very large class action admissible. This […]
Nieuw regelgevend kader voor octrooigemachtigden
Op 1 december 2020 is het eerste deel van de wet van 8 juli 2018 die het beroep van octrooigemachtigde hervormt en een Belgisch Instituut voor Octrooigemachtigden opricht, in werking getreden. Deze wet is een aanvulling op de bestaande regelgeving inzake het beroep van octrooigemachtigde. Het tweede deel van de wet zal in werking treden […]
Unfair terms in B2B relations – What you should know from now on.
Are you a small, medium or big company? As a builder, banker, retailer, seller or any other business, do you enter into B2B agreements that usually provide for some penalties, limitation of liability, specific duration or transfer of risks? Would you mind if a judge strikes down these clauses or reviews the price agreed to […]