Practice Groups

The Practice Group CLO is dedicated to Chief Legal Officers who holds final for their company in (at least) Belgium and are head of a legal department employing at least 1 company lawyer.  

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Exploring the Evolving Role of Chief Legal Officers in Changing Times

As CLO (Chief Legal Officer), you have ultimate legal responsibility for (at least) Belgium and head a legal team with at least 1 in-house lawyer.

The Practice Group Corporate Law & Governance focuses on corporate law and governance, providing insights into new legislation through expert explanations and opinions. It also addresses the practical aspects of key topics, such as organizing within the legal department and sharing best practices, existing case law, and strategies for dealing with implementation challenges.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Conflicts of interest – personal and intra-group
• Corporate decision making and representation – do’s and dont’s
• When can legal entities be held liable under criminal law? 

The Practice Group Competition Law is about providing a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework and economic principles that govern competition in the marketplace and gives insights into how businesses interact within competitive markets, the legal boundaries that govern their behaviour, and strategies to ensure fair competition.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Antitrust compliance programs – what – how –when?
• The Belgian foreign direct investment regime
• Merger control - obligations, risks and practical tips for companies 

The Practice Group Compliance is about sharing knowledge, experience and ideas, networking and learning from each other in the field of compliance; it gives the participants insights in laws relating to compliance (such as anti-corruption and whistleblowing laws). It also deals with related aspects, such as training, investigations, the use of technology, documentation, conflict of interest etc.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Antitrust compliance programs – what – how –when?
• Ethics and organizational change management
• Ethical due diligence of a third party company

This PG is about criminal law and law enforcement, including forthcoming legislation and gives you insights in operational risks in the vertical relationship with judicial and administrative authorities. The PG focuses on new or recurring problems that arise in sanctions law in an enterprise context with the associated litigation issues. Criminal law has become increasingly broad and far-reaching; regulatory sanction proceedings are also becoming increasingly threatening in corporate life. 

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• ESG seen from a criminal justice perspective: what are the challenges and how to
• Criminal risks and concerns in insolvency law
• Criminal liability of legal entities from a corporate law perspective

The Practice Group Effective Dispute Resolution focuses on effective and appropriate dispute resolution of conflicts and gives you insights on how to prevent, manage and resolve dispute cases.

We cover various topics relating to new legislations, legal proceedings, alternative dispute prevention & resolution methods (arbitration, mediation, conciliation,…) as well as negotiation skills.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Pratiques et nouveautés des tribunaux néerlandophone et francophone de l’entreprise de Bruxelles
• Mediation and negotiation skills
• Planned early dispute resolution

The Practice Group ESG provides insights into environmental, social, and governance considerations, offering company lawyers a comprehensive understanding of sustainable business practices. This includes guidance on integrating ESG principles into legal strategies, navigating regulatory frameworks, and sharing experiences on how organizations effectively implement and manage ESG initiatives for long-term value creation and risk mitigation.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Kick-off
• …

The Practice Group Health is about addressing legal matters specific to the healthcare sector (in the broadest sense, being healthcare institutions, industry, mutual insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, research, etc.) and providing a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory, ethical, and operational complexities within this sector. It offers insights into the legal framework that governs healthcare organizations, medical professionals, patient rights, and the delivery of healthcare services.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Stakeholders et jeux de pouvoir
• Legal and Ethical challenges of using AI for secondary use of patient data

The Practice Group Intellectual Property & Information Technology delves into the fascinating world of Intellectual Property (IP) and Information Technology (IT) law. Intellectual property encompasses intangible creations of the human intellect, such as trademark law, copyright, design, and models, while Information Technology law governs all legal aspects of technology use and data management and new critical trends as AI. The primary objective of this PG is to shed light, discuss and share experiences in all confidentiality on recent legal developments, emerging trends, and essential principles, equipping participants with specific tips to enhance their effectiveness and relevance to stakeholders.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Cloud contracting: tips and pitfalls
• Cybersecurity legal trends within the EU 
• Importance and concerns of R&D and the protection by Intellectual Property 

Feel free to share the topic of interest you would like us to tackle in the future ! 

The Practice Group International Company Lawyers is about sharing practical experience between international company lawyers and gives you insights in various topics ranging from commercial agreements to corporate matters and compliance, always with an international or cross-border point of view.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Demystifying contract management: practical insights from company lawyers
• EU public affairs : What every legal counsel should know
• Tips & tricks on ESG for legal counsels (corporate, commercial or compliance)

The Practice Group Legal Tech is about modernizing legal departments through the adoption of Legal Technology (aka LegalTech) but also, more broadly speaking, the implementation of Legal Operations (aka LegalOps). This Practice Group gives you insights in the recent trends and developments but also creates a space where you can exchange with your peers who are trying to implement or already advanced LegalTech and LegalOps in their legal departments.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• LegalOps – From the shadows to the light, how to bring a LegalOps function to live
• Sharing LegalTech experiences
• Current state of maturity for LegalOps & Your first implementation steps

Paralegals play a valuable role in easing the workload of legal professionals and contribute to the smooth running of legal processes. The specialisation of the Practice Group Paralegal enables paralegals to develop in-depth knowledge of specific areas. This allows paralegals to contribute more effectively to service delivery within their firms and play an important role in the smooth running of legal processes.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Legal design - 1st step towards lean legal
• The paralegal as contract manager
• Law and Compliance - How a corporate paralegal can make the difference?

The Practice Group Privacy is about understanding and managing the intricate landscape of data protection, privacy laws, and information security. It provides insights into implementing effective strategies and measures to protect and safeguard personal data in various contexts and complying with Belgian and European privacy and data protection regulations.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Le droit d’accès et ses corollaires dont la portabilité des données
• Les derniers développement en matière de cookies
• Overview of the Data Act (currently in negotiations) and the DGA

The Practice Group Public Procurement is a forum for in-house lawyers involved in public procurement. The practice group is made up of lawyers, some of whom work for contracting authorities and others for contracting companies. The sessions take the form of exchanges of thoughts and experience or presentations by qualified speakers, guided by current events.

Since its inception, the PG has addressed the following topics, among others:

• Update on legislative changes
• Overview of recent case law
• Direct actions by subcontractors

The Practice Group Social Law is about understanding the legal framework that governs the relationship between employers and employees, and it provides insights into the rights, obligations, and regulations that shape the modern workplace.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• Nieuwe wetgeving in het Arbeidsrecht 
• …
• …

The Practice Group Solo & Small Legal Department is for company lawyers working solo or in a small legal department and it gives you insights into managing legal functions efficiently and effectively within resource-constrained environments. It addresses the unique challenges and opportunities faced by legal professionals who operate with limited staff and resources.

The last subjects which have been covered are: 

• The role of the company lawyer in relation to corporate policies, from design to implementation
• Exploring the Diverse Roles of a Solo Company Lawyer: Navigating Potential Conflicts of Interest 
• The solo company lawyer: a smart career choice?