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Astrea / Posts by Gorik Orbie

Posts by Gorik Orbie

Salary discrimination: additional obligations for employers coming up

In 2022, the gender pay gap in Belgium averaged 5%. That is, women earn on average 5% less per hour than men. Belgium has already taken several legislative (with for instance the so-called ‘Gender Act’ of 2007) and policy initiatives to reduce the gender pay gap. Belgium scores better than most other European countries on […]

Oral communication of personal data can constitute “processing” within the scope of the GDPR

In a recent judgment (Case C-740/22), the European Court of Justice (“the ECJ”) has ruled for the first time that the oral transfer of personal data can – under certain circumstances – be considered as “processing of personal data” within the scope of the GDPR. In this case, the Finnish company, Endemol Shine, made an […]

European duty of care law threatens to have far-reaching consequences for large European companies

Article only available in Dutch.

Astrea is listed again in The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide for 2024

With due pride, we announce that Astrea has again earned a spot in The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide for the second consecutive year. This global list features prominent law firms that prioritise sustainability and advise clients on environmentally friendly solutions. Discover the ecological efforts through which Astrea is making a difference. Legal experts in […]

Nieuwe duiding bij de toepassing van de verscherpte natuurtoets

Article only available in Dutch.

From this year onwards, tenants in our capital will enjoy a preferential right when home owners sell their rental property

Article only available in Dutch.

Astrea is pleased to announce the promotion of Seppe Laenen to partner

Article only available in Dutch.

Astrea appoints 3 lawyers as counsel

Article only available in Dutch.

Decision of the Belgian Supreme Court on an explicit termination clause

On May 11, 2023, the Belgian Supreme Court has ruled in a matter concerning the immediate termination of a distribution agreement, based on an explicit termination clause. The case concerned the termination of a distribution agreement by Rolex. A contract clause allowed Rolex not only to terminate the agreement in case of contractual breach, but […]

Person of trust – Mandatory if at least 50 employees

Since 1 December 2023 the appointment of a person of trust is mandatory in companies with at least 50 employees. This new obligation was introduced with the Federal Action Plan “Mental well-being at work”. It aims to increase the presence of persons of trust in companies. Persons of trust have an important role in resolving […]

The “vehicle identification number” (VIN): personal data under the GDPR? The Court of Justice says yes… or not?

On 9 November 2023, the European Court of Justice ruled in case no. C-319/22 on the interpretation of article 61 of Regulation 2018/858. This article imposes an obligation on vehicle manufacturers to provide information from the on-board diagnostic system as well as vehicle repair and maintenance information to independent operators. One of the preliminary questions […]

Decision of the Belgian Supreme Court on “pre-contractual information obligations” in a franchise agreement

On June 2, 2023, the Belgian Supreme Court has ruled in a matter concerning the breach of “pre-contractual information obligations” in a franchise agreement. Pursuant to Article 3 of the Law of December 19, 2005 concerning “pre-contractual information in commercial cooperation agreements”, (as revised by article 4, 2° of the law of April 2, 2014), […]

Have you thought of implementing the new Whistleblower Act in your company yet?

As of 17 December 2023, this legislation applies to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (50 to 249 employees). It was already in effect on 15 February 2023 for large companies (more than 249 employees). What is new for SMEs? 1. A company (=legal entity) is must provide an internal reporting channel for employees, self-employed service providers, […]

Relance hours (overtime without high wage costs): extended until 30/06/2025

The system of relance hours was introduced during the corona crisis to cope with the exceptional increase of work in the crucial sectors. It was later extended to all other sectors. This system of “relance hours” was extended for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2025 (the Act of 20 July 2023 […]

AI and copyright

It is clear that the rise of artificial intelligence “AI” poses different challenges in different areas. One of these areas is copyright, and in particular the requirement of authorship, which will be discussed in more detail in this contribution. Works are protected by copyright when the work (i) is expressed in a concrete form and […]

The final blow for Binance in Belgium? FSMA bans all operations of global crypto-platform.

The Belgian financial watchdog FSMA announced in its communication last Friday that the global crypto-platform Binance should cease all its operations in Belgium, as the platform has continued to operate illegally in the country since it started offering its services. The FSMA is certainly not the first authority to act with a ban, as several […]

The new EU Regulation 2023/988 on general product safety is entering into force on 12 June 2023 and shall apply from 13 December 2024

The new EU Regulation 2023/988 on general product safety is entering into force on 12 June 2023 and shall apply from 13 December 2024. Directives 2001/95/EG and 87/357/EEG will be repealed and replaced by this Regulation. This Regulation brings the existing rules on “general product safety” in line with the recent developments in digitalization and […]

Arbitration in disputes on the termination of exclusive distributor agreements with effect in Belgium.

In a landmark decision of April 7th, 2023, the Belgian Supreme Court (C.21.0325) has ruled that such disputes can be submitted to arbitration, disregarding the fact whether the arbitrator will apply Belgian law or not. By this decision the Court distanced itself from established case law. The Court came to that decision after applying the […]

What are you (not) allowed to communicate about a former employee under the GDPR?

Recently, the Belgian Data Protection Authority (the DPA) has ruled again on a communication that an employer had put on its intranet to inform its staff of the departure of an employee. The employer had communicated that the employment contract had been terminated by the employer with immediate effect. The employee concerned took offence. She […]

MiCA will make its mark: EU Parliament votes in favour of a first comprehensive crypto-legislation

On April 20th 2023, the European Parliament took a plenary vote on the approval of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, making it the first comprehensive legal framework for crypto-assets worldwide. As part of the Digital Finance package, the now approved regulation aims to “ensure that the Union’s financial services legislation is fit for the […]

A new step towards a regulated virtual currency market? FSMA publishes new rules on the advertisement of virtual currencies.

On 17 March 2023, the Royal Decree of 5 January 2023 was published in the Belgian Official Gazette, approving the regulation of the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) on the introduction of a set of restrictive conditions on the commercialisation of virtual currencies to consumers. Some key takeaways are (i) the requirement of accurate […]

“474 companies risk a fine for having too many long-term incapacitated employees” – Insufficient prevention

Recently, a number of newspapers have reported that companies with too many long-term incapacitated employees are at risk of a fine. The National Social Security Office has sent a warning letter to 474 companies. Most of these are cleaning companies, residential care homes and hospitals. The word ‘fine’, however, is not correct. It is indeed […]

Don’t forget amending your articles of association to the new Belgian code of companies and associations timely!

Have you incorporated a Belgian company before 1 May 2019? If so, your company’s articles of association may not have been adapted to the new Belgian Code of Companies and Associations (CCA) yet. You have time until 31 December 2023 at the latest to adapt your articles of association to the CCA. Below we offer […]

Astrea x MIPIM

We will be present @ the MIPIMWorld Conference March 2023 in Cannes! Astrea will be represented by Ciska Servais, Micha Van den Abeele & Barbara Terriere. Join us!

Dieter Veestraeten contributed the Belgian chapter to the Legal 500 Country Comparative Guide on Acquisition Finance 2023

Dieter Veestraeten, Finance & Banking Partner at Astrea, contributed the Belgian chapter to the Legal 500 Country Comparative Guide on Acquisition Finance 2023 which covers recent trends and developments, regulatory and legal environment, credit support for acquisition financings, enforcement and priorities, tax and financing acquisitions of public companies. Find the chapter here.

Lawful lending of staff? Yes, during the notice period: the transition trajectory

One of the measures under the current government’s ‘labour deal’ is the introduction of the “transition trajectory”. Such transition trajectory allows the employer to lend the employee to another employer (the “employer-user”) during the notice period, in the event of redundancy by the employer. The transition trajectory can be requested either by the (original) employer […]

The reintegration trajectory 2.0

The reintegration trajectory was originally introduced by the legislator to enhance the reintegration of employees who have been incapacitated for a longer period (long-term illness). The main objective was to see if these employees could be phased back in gently, or if adjustments to their job or workstation were needed in this respect. This reintegration […]

Astrea is very proud to have advised the November Five team

Astrea is very proud to have advised the November Five team in the 6M euro Series A investment round in Gorilla – Decisions, Based On Data with transatlantic VC Beringea & PMV – and the support from VLAIO – Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship! Frédéric Verspreeuwen and Seppe Laenen assisted November Five during this transaction. Big […]

More work-life balance – Which changes will Collective Labour Agreement no. 162 bring

A new collective labour agreement no. 162 was concluded within the National Labour Council to transpose European Directive 2019/1158 of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and family carers (Work-Life Directive). What does this mean for the employer? Employees with families have the right to request flexible working arrangements within the company to […]

Juventus’ trademark rights infringed by NFT, says Rome Court!

On 19 July 2022, Juventus Football Club s.p.a. (“Juventus”) was granted a preliminary injunction by the court of Rome against Blockeras s.r.l. (“Blockeras”) concerning the minting and marketing of NFTs. Juventus had initiated preliminary injunction proceedings against Blockeras claiming Blockeras committed trademark infringement through the unauthorized production, marketing and online promotion of digital playing cards […]

The Digital Services Act (DSA): yet another set of obligations for businesses providing services in the EU?

In 2020, the European Union introduced their strategy for Europe’s Digital Future. Since then, the Union has focused on making the transformation towards a more digital Europe ‘work for people and businesses, while helping to achieve its target of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050’. By doing so, the Commission proposed in relation to digital services […]

Sabotage at sea: how safe is the Belgian North Sea?

In the last week of September, Europe was rocked by the leaks on the Nordstream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea (De Standaard 27/09/2022 1). These pipelines (until now particularly Nordstream 1) play a vital role in the gas supply of Germany and the European economy. The serious concern all over Europe about […]

Astrea has assisted Garvis in successfully closing a capital round

Astrea has assisted Garvis, the online and real-time AI platform for demand and inventory planning, in successfully closing a capital round in which the British investment funds Superseed and Scalebridge Capital and the German group Bosch Ventures realized an investment of 3.5 million Euros. Astrea is delighted to have contributed to this. Our team was […]

Green-branding in fashion: a trending marketing strategy.

Good marketing is storytelling. It is making the consumer believe they have to be part of an experience. Today, we see a surge in fashion houses adopting marketing strategies and campaigns centered around sustainability and the environmentally-friendliness of their garments. As consumers tend to make more environmentally conscious decisions in their day-to-day lives, the fashion […]

Commuting by bicycle. How can you encourage your employees?

As traffic jams are getting longer every day, more and more employees are discovering the bicycle as a method of commuting. To encourage this movement, the federal government has presented its Federal Action Plan “BE CYCLIST” with measurable goals in September 2021. It is a three-year plan with interim evaluations every year in September. At […]

Usain Bolt trademarks his lightning bolt move

Usain Bolt, also known as the world’s fastest man, submitted a trade mark application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office ( USPTO), requesting the registration of his iconic victory pose the lightning bolt. (see also: De Standaard, The Guardian en Washington Post) According to the application, the Olympian seeks to protect a mark […]

4 NFT lawsuits to follow

In a previous article (“NFT, THE NEW HYPE. WHAT ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS?”) we took a closer look at Non Fungible Tokens or NFTs and explained what exactly these NFTs are. Even though NFTs are not completely new, the first ones appeared in 2015, we are currently entering unknown territory with this relatively new phenomenon. […]

SUMMERY IP DISCUSSIONS: SAY (GREEK) CHEESE

Whilst you may be enjoying a lunch at some sunny holiday destination, the Court of Justice of the EU has, on the 14th of July, rendered a judgment in the case of the EU Commission against Denmark (C-159/20), that concerns the very salad you may be eating for lunch. The discussion centered around the typical […]

On 1st August 2022, the Belgian law transposing the European Directive on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market n° 2019/790 was published in the Belgian Gazette.

On 1st August 2022, the Belgian law transposing the European Directive on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market n° 2019/790 was published in the Belgian Gazette. The implemented provisions entered into force on that same day. The DSM-Directive focuses on the next key points: – 4 new mandatory exceptions to copyright ad […]

Law amendment to definition of “PCP” on credit intermediation OF No more contact with public required for qualification as a person in contact with public

In the context of financial law, the current definition of a “person in contact with the public” (“PCP”) will be expanded as of August 1, 2022. It will also include persons who are not in contact with the public. This is due to the Law of 27 June 2021 containing various financial provisions that will […]

Agreement reached on European crypto-assets regulation (MiCA)

The market in crypto-assets has frequently been compared to the wild west due to its lack of regulatory framework. This is however about to change to a certain extent now the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have finally reached a provisional agreement on the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation. The proposal, dating […]

A new law on copyright and related rights in the digital market

The European Directive of 17 April 2019 on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Market (Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the digital single market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC), the so-called DSM (Digital Single Market) Directive, had […]

The possibility of the simplified application procedure for temporary unemployment due to corona is coming to an end

Shortly after the outbreak of the corona virus, in March 2020, employers were offered the possibility to place employees on temporary unemployment because of force majeure (corona) with a simplified procedure. It was decided that employers no longer needed to send notifications of temporary unemployment to the national employment office (RVA) and that it was […]

Astrea recently advised Down2Earth Capital on its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in the rapidly growing RentalTec

Astrea recently advised Down2Earth Capital on its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in the rapidly growing RentalTec, a company that specializes in the rental of electronic test and measurement equipment in the telecom sector, but also sectors such as energy, defense, aerospace and semiconductors. We congratulate all parties involved! It was a big pleasure […]

The corona crisis: end of the aftercare phase

On 11 May 2022 the Covid 19 “aftercare phase” came to an end in Belgium. This is also the end of the obligation for companies to apply the specific measures of the vigilance phase of the “Generic Guide to Working Safely in the Event of an Epidemic or Pandemic” and additional sector guides. The Generic […]

The new Flemish Shipping Decree sets the course for a uniform shipping regime for the Flemish inland waterways and ports

The Flemish Shipping Decree enters into force today. We give you a short introduction to this new Decree and an overview of the aspects that will be regulated by the Decree. As of 1 June 2022, the management and use of inland waterways and shipping in the Flemish Region will be governed by the “Scheepvaartdecreet” […]

Steven De Schrijver contributed the Belgian chapter to AI, Machine Learning & Big Data 2022

Our Corporate & Partner Steven De Schrijver contributed the Belgian chapter to AI, Machine Learning & Big Data 2022 which covers trends, ownership/protection, antitrust/competition laws, criminal issues, civil liability, implementation into business, board of directors/governance, discrimination and bias, regulations/government intervention and national security and military issues in relation to AI, Machine Learning & Big Data […]

Dieter Veestraeten contributed the Belgian chapter to the International Comparative Legal Guide to lending & secured finance 2022

Dieter Veestraeten contributed the Belgian chapter to the International Comparative Legal Guide to lending & secured finance 2022. Astrea Banking & Finance Partner Dieter Veestraeten has contributed the Belgian Chapter 27 of the International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) to Lending & Secured Finance 2022. The ICLG to Lending & Secured Finance covers common issues in […]

Astrea recently advised TVM verzekeringen with the acquisition of VD Vision BV

Astrea recently advised TVM verzekeringen, specialised in transport and shipping insurance with the acquisition of VD Vision BV, who strives for safer and more efficient traffic through training. Congratulations to all parties involved! The Astrea team was composed of Micha Van den Abeele and Emily Staels.

The European Directive on better enforcement and modernisation of Union consumer protection rules (“The Omnibus Directive”) is transposed into Belgian Law

On 25 April 2022, the Belgian project of law, transposing Directive 2019/2161 on better enforcement and modernisation of Union consumer protection rules, was approved in the Belgian Chamber. This law brings several changes to Books I, VI, XV of the Belgian Economic Code. The most important changes are summarized below. Several strict rules are introduced […]

Astrea advised Plantyn with the acquisition of uitgeverij Averbode and Editions Erasme

Astrea recently advised the educational publisher Plantyn, part of Infinitas Learning and in control of NPM Capital, with the acquisition of Uitgeverij Averbode and Editions Erasme known from the educational magazines “DOREMI”, “ZONNEKIND”, “ZONNELAND” and “VLAAMSE FILMPJES” – all iconic titles that will further grow, also through digitalization, under the wings of its new shareholder. […]

Block Exemption Regulation on Vertical Agreements 2022

Block Exemption Regulation on Vertical Agreements 2022 Olivier Van Fraeyenhoven will be participating to the discussion panel on “Protecting distributors against parallel sales” at the Annual Conference of International Distribution Institute in Madrid, 10-11 June https://www.idiproject.com. This conference comes at the right time after the adoption of the new VBER by the European Commission on […]

Block Exemption Regulation on Vertical Agreements 2022

Block Exemption Regulation on Vertical Agreements 2022 Barbara Terriere will be moderating a discussion panel on “True and untrue agents in the new Guidelines” at the Annual Conference of International Distribution Institute in Madrid, 10-11 June https://www.idiproject.com. This conference comes at the right time after the adoption of the new VBER by the European Commission […]

Update on the New Belgian Maritime Security Act

The Belgian federal council of ministers on Friday, 22th of April approved a bill that updates marine and maritime security law in the Belgian ports and marine areas under Belgian jurisdiction. The new act will, in the first place, focus on port and port facility security, which is a core policy objective of Vice-Premier and […]

Astrea advised Emi Equipement Maintenance Industrie with the acquisition of Decran

Astrea recently advised Emi Equipement Maintenance Industrie, a company where amongst others Vybros Invest has invested in, with the acquisition of Decran, active in the production, supply and installation of steel doors and joinery. With this transaction, Emi Equipement Maintenance Industrie expands its expertise in industrial doors and gates and creates several synergies between its […]

Astrea advised Vybros Invest with the acquisition of E-POWER

Astrea recently advised Vybros Invest, a family owned investment fund, with the acquisition of E-POWER, a manufacturer of generators in the Benelux. We congratulate all parties involved! The Astrea team was composed of Micha Van den Abeele, partner and Annalyne Van De Steene, associate.

The European Directives on Digital Content and Consumer Sales are transposed into Belgian law

On 17 March 2022, the Belgian project of law, transposing Directive 2019/770 on Digital Content and Services and Directive 2019/771 on Consumer Sales has been approved in the Belgian Chamber. These Directives, adopted on 20 May 2019, relate to consumer protection and are part of a broader effort to create a digital single market. Although […]

The first conservatory seizure on an NFT

Following the seizure by the British tax authorities of three NFTs, the Dutch court in Leeuwarden, has also seized an NFT. The dispute concerns an NFT from Ozzy Osbourne’s “Cryptobatz” collection. On 20 January 2022, the parties, concluded an agreement whereby the ‘buyer’, instructed the ‘seller’, to buy an NFT from the “Cryptobatz Collection” for […]

Barbara Terriere appointed as Country Expert Distribution Law for Belgium

Our counsel Barbara Terriere has been appointed as a Country Expert Distribution Law for Belgium by the International Distribution Institute (IDI). Barbara is an expert in distribution law. She assists clients in all legal matters regarding their distribution networks (choice of network, choice of selection criteria, drafting of distribution agreements, bonus programs etc.) and supports […]

Thaïssa Nuyens participated in a panel discussion and spoke about “Fashion & Law : protection creativity”

Yesterday, our associate IP law & commercial law, Thaïssa Nuyens, participated as a speaker in a panel discussion organized by Andrea Cammarosano at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp (Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen) alongside other guest speakers Julian Klausner, Lea Capisano, Kate Mayne and Prof. Annick Schramme who moderated the discussion. The […]

The labour deal: towards a better work-life balance. But what does it mean for the employer?

The government has recently taken decisions on a bill containing a number of labour measures, also known as the “labour deal.” The labour deal should increase the employment rate in Belgium from 71% to 80%. This bill has currently been submitted to the social partners, so the terms of these measures may still change. In […]

The French Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the car supplier refusing the re-appointment of his former network member

Over the last twenty years, several European courts have judged on the question whether a selective distribution system implies that a supplier is obliged (or not) to appoint a candidate meeting all selection criteria. On February 16th 2022, the French Supreme Court has rendered a milestone decision in three cases with respect to a selective […]

Copyrights compensation, a popular tool for salary optimisation

Over the past ten years, personal income tax returns including income from the transfer of copyrights have increased tenfold. More and more employers are optimizing their employees’ salary package converting a reasonable portion of the gross monthly salary into copyright compensation. Beneficial tax treatment Compensation for the transfer of copyrights is taxed a lot more […]

The European Commission eases its position on « dual distribution »

Dual distribution refers to the situation whereby a supplier sells goods, not only to its independent distributors, but also (at a downstream-level) directly to end customers (by its own store or online), thereby competing with its independent distributors (who are not active on an upstream-level). A new “Block Exemption Regulation on Vertical Restraints” will enter […]

Adapting the EU liability regime to the digital age and artificial intelligence

Our partner Steven De Schrijver wrote an article about adapting the EU liability regime to the digital age and artificial intelligence (AI). AI is a game changing technology that provides economic and societal benefits, but may also pose certain risks to its users and affected individuals. The European Union has put forward a proposal for […]

NFT, the new hype. What about intellectual property rights?

NFT, the hype of the moment. However, NFTs are not that new. Already in 2015, the first tradable NFT was developed as part of the so-called Etheria project. The Etheria project proposed an artwork of 33 by 33 tiles, with each tile sold separately. The world was clearly not ready for NFTs at that moment […]

Standard work published on the new Belgian legislation surrounding pre-pack reorganizations and pre-insolvency

A standard work has been published on the new Belgian legislation surrounding “pre-pack” reorganizations and “pre-insolvency”. The book is published in French and contains an important comparative law chapter analyzing the situation in other European countries. Astrea partner Louis Verstraeten, together with two Dutch correspondents Sergei Parijs and Henk Ligtenbarg, provided the section on the […]

Belgium further regulates crypto exchanges and wallet providers, while banning non-EEA ones

Very quietly and relatively rapidly a new set of legislation amending the Belgian anti-money laundering act of 18 September 2017 was introduced and voted in Belgian Parliament in the course of January 2022, expanding the regulation of virtual currencies. Although the Belgian AML Act already included certain provisions and obligations in this respect (based on […]

Belgian DPA determines serious GDPR breaches in IAB Europe’s Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF)

The TCF framework is widely used across Europe for online advertising to manage the preferences of users, including pop-ups asking for consent to use cookies for data tracking in online advertising (Consent Management Platform (CMP)), as well as real-time bidding in programmatic advertising though the OpenRTB protocol. The consent popup system can be found on […]

Transfers of personal data under scrutiny: can we still transfer data outside of the EU?

Every year on the 28th of January we celebrate Data Protection Day, but for many companies there was not much cause for celebration last week, as several rulings have been published in this first month of 2022 putting transfers of personal data to the US further into question. Ever since the European Court of Justice […]

Astrea advised Gerantis with the acquisition of several property management companies

Astrea recently advised Gerantis, the Belgian expert in property management services, with the acquisition of several property management companies, enabling them to substantially boost their assets under management portfolio. We congratulate all parties involved! The multidisciplinary Astrea team was composed of Frederic Verspreeuwen, Micha Van den Abeele, Wendy Denoodt, Matthias Helsen, Julie Wouters, Yuki Choy, […]

Astrea advised Gerantis with the acquisition of Zeron

Astrea advised Gerantis, the Belgian expert in property management services, with the acquisition of Zeron, a leading provider of customized software for property management. The multidisciplinary Astrea team was composed of Frederic Verspreeuwen, Seppe Laenen, Steve Tronckoe, Julie Wouters, Jonas Jespers, Toon Vangrunderbeek and Yuki Choy.

New (fifth) edition of the Dutch book “Vastgoed & de complexe papierwinkel: wat u zeker niet mag vergeten!” available

The new (fifth) edition of the Dutch book “Vastgoed & de complexe papierwinkel: wat u zeker niet mag vergeten!” is available. The book is written by Ciska Servais, Merel Huybrechts, Yannick Ballon, Matthias Helsen, Benoit Forêt & Jonas Deckers and gives an overview of the certificates that are needed for the sale and rental of […]

Astrea proudly assisted the acquisition of all shares in Trouilliez BV, a Belgian interior company

Astrea proudly assisted the acquisition of all shares in Trouilliez BV, a Belgian interior company specialized in kitchens and custom-made furniture (www.trouilliez.be). Congratulations to all parties involved and wishing Trouilliez BV all the best in the further roll-out of their growth strategy. The transaction team was composed of Micha van den Abeele, Toon Vangrunderbeek, Merel […]

Steven de Schrijver participated as an expert in CorporateLiveWire’s Mergers & Acquisitions 2021 Virtual Round Table

Our partner Steven de Schrijver participated as an expert in CorporateLiveWire’s Mergers & Acquisitions 2021 Virtual Round Table detailing the latest regulatory changes and developments in Belgium. Topics discussed were among others the impact and shift in strategy for deal makers since the emergence of COVID-19; key trends expected to see over the coming year; […]

Astrea Law Attorneys assisted the shareholders of Verachtert nv and its Tunisian group companies with the sale of their shares

Astrea assisted the shareholders of Verachtert nv and its Tunisian group companies with the sale of their shares, in cooperation with corporate finance specialists, SDM-Valorum Corporate Finance Group. The transaction consists of a smart deal, whereby the sellers reinvested together with the new management and private equity. Verachtert NV is a wholesale business for needlework, […]

The Province of Antwerp decided to grant the environmental permit for construction and operation of Project ONE

Ciska Servais, Ilse Cuypers, Jonas Deckers and Benoit Forêt from the environmental law department assisted Ineos Olefins Beglium in drawing up the environmental permit application and during the entire further permit procedure for the construction and operation of Project ONE in the port of Antwerp. In the meantime, the Province of Antwerp decided to grant […]

Guidance and support from our experienced, flexible and creative employment law team

Businesses are forever changing. Employees are more and more protected by laws and regulations, on a regional, national, but also European level. Belgium historically also has a strong trade union movement looking out for the workers’ best interests. Employers have to adapt to fast-changing circumstances constantly, especially in challenging times such as today, post-Brexit and […]

Our partner Steven De Schrijver contributed the Digital Transformation 2021 – Belgian chapter to Lexology GTDT: Market Intelligence.

Lexology GTDT: Market Intelligence provides a unique perspective on evolving legal and regulatory landscapes in major jurisdictions around the world. Through engaging, easily comparable interviews, the series provides the legal profession’s thought leaders with a platform for sharing their views on current market conditions and developments in the law. Market Intelligence offers readers a highly […]

A new central register for business loans has arrived in Belgium

By Act of 28 November 2021 a new legal framework for a central register of loans to companies has been created. The new register must aid the Belgian National Bank to fulfil its duty to centralize all information on loans, which it currently does through its Central Corporate Credit Register (CCCR) (Centrale voor kredieten aan […]

Astrea successfully defends the marine spatial plan 2020-2026 for the Belgian marine areas

The marine spatial plan covers an area of approximately 3,500 km² and provides the legal basis for the pursuit of various activities in the Belgian part of the North Sea, such as port development, sea defences, energy, sea fishing, scientific research, etc. Astrea assisted the Belgian State on two actions for annulment directed against the […]

Our partners Steven De Schrijver and Olivier Van Fraeyenhoven contributed the Belgian chapter to the 8th edition of The Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity Law Review , published by The Law Reviews

The contribution sets out the most important Belgian laws relating to privacy and data protection. It looks into the Belgian implementation of the GDPR and its results, including some of the most important fines delivered by the DPA as of May 2019 (when it became fully operational) until August 2021. Read the entire chapter here: […]

Astrea is at your disposal to advise you on the electronic incorporation of your company

These days, society digitizes continuously and in all areas. Company law is following the same trend. Since August 1, it is possible to set up a company electronically. Principles: Already in 2019, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union stated in their directive of 20 June 2019, that it was necessary to […]

The period for obtaining the M or N residence card for beneficiaries of the Brexit withdrawal agreement is coming to an end

United Kingdom nationals who exercised their right to reside in an EU member state in accordance with Union law before the end of the Brexit transition period can continue to reside there thereafter and vice versa. They are beneficiaries of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. According to the Brexit withdrawal agreement host states may require these […]

Astrea has advised ArchiMed on its investment in Xpress Biologics

Astrea has advised ArchiMed, a leading investment firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industries, on backing Xpress Biologics, a leading developer of systems and manufacturing processes for the production of plasmid DNA and protein therapeutics. With the support of ArchiMed, Xpress Biologics will be able to take a bigger step in the expansion of its […]

SAVE THE DATE! This Friday 5 November, Astrea Law Attorneys will again be present this year at the ELSA Antwerp Law Job Days

Our lawyers Filip. Desmedt, Julie Wouters, Levi Van Dijck, Kim De Wilde will be happy to meet and chat with students who are interested in our firm and answer their questions. We are looking forward to meeting talented new associates in all areas of business law. To learn more about our expertise ? https://lnkd.in/dgcnHZaE The […]

Astrea advised the management on the acquisition of Plastiflex Group NV from 3d investors by the IK Small Cap III Fund

Plastiflex is a market-leading global supplier of high-end customised tube system solutions for the healthcare, industrial and appliances markets. Under the ownership of 3d investors, the company has been able to acquire significant market share in the healthcare and industrial markets. Its acquisition by IK Small Cap III Fund will allow Plastiflex to further their […]

Christine de Keersmaeker, speaker to University of Antwerp’s Responsible Fashion Series

Our Senior IP Counsel Christine de Keersmaeker participated as speaker to University of Antwerp’s Responsible Fashion Series – Panel : what about the notion of “authenticity/originality” alongside other preeminent guest speakers Samuel De Goede, Marie de Bellefroit and Barbara Gessler, and Prof. Annick Schramme who moderated the panel. The Responsible Fashion Series originated as part […]

”What To Expect From An Investigation By The Belgian DPA?” published in Mondaq

”What To Expect From An Investigation By The Belgian DPA?”, article of our partner Steven De Schrijver and associate Jan van Loon. The article explains the purpose of the charter with respect to the Inspection Service, published by The Belgian Data Protection Authority in August 2021. Click here to read the full article.

Flemish Municipal Roads decree largely passes Constitutional Court’s test

On October 7, the Constitutional Court ruled partially in favor of the Flemish Region’s May 3, 2019 decree on Municipal Roads. The Court dismissed almost all appeals against the decree, with the exception of the appeal against the provision dealing with the relocation of municipal roads. The Municipal Roads decree introduces a uniform legal status […]

Astrea signs up for the study and networking mission Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Ciska Servais, partner and head of Astrea’s Real Estate & Environmental Law team, will represent Astrea on the exclusive business networking mission in Dubai and Abu Dhabi led by business organisation VOKA, of which she has been an enthusiastic member for several years. Ciska will visit the first world exhibition to take place in the […]

Covid vaccination and the GDPR

A recent survey in Belgium has revealed that the majority of employers is in favour of a compulsory vaccination of their employees. Can employees be required to be vaccinated and can employers ask for proof of vaccination? The answer to both questions at the moment is: no. The processing of data concerning health is generally […]

Stricter port security measures in the Belgian seaports announced

The Belgian Shipping Code, applicable since September 2020, regulates under its chapter 2.5.2 which requirements ports and port facilities (such as commercially operated port terminals) must comply with in terms of maritime security. Each port facility must, among other things, appoint a security officer and draw up a security plan, which must be submitted for […]

Recovery package for capital markets

The COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to its impact on people, businesses and healthcare systems, also has an impact on the economies and financial systems of the European Member States. According to the European Commission, liquidity and access to finance will remain bottlenecks in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recovery from the severe economic […]

Steven De Schrijver and Rudi Desmet contributed the belgian chapter to Lexology GTDT : Technology M&A 2022

Our partners and leading experts Steven De Schrijver and Rudi Desmet contributed the Belgian Chapter to Lexology GTDT : Technology M&A, published by Law Business Research in September 2021. The article is divided into Question and Answer Chapters and covers different topics including structuring and legal considerations, due diligince and purchase agreement in a technology […]

De gerechtelijke reorganisatie procedure met collectief akkoord van ASIT BIOTECH is in overeenstemming met het staatssteunrecht

In een principearrest van 14 september 2021 heeft het Hof van beroep van Luik zich uitgesproken over de verhouding tussen het insolventierecht en het staatssteunrecht. Het Waals Gewest, dat steun voor onderzoek had verleend aan ASIT BIOTECH in de vorm van terugbetaalbare voorschotten, verzette zich tegen de homologatie van een reorganisatieplan dat voor haar in […]

La procédure de réorganisation judiciaire par accord collectif d’ASIT BIOTECH conforme au droit des aides d’état

Dans un arrêt de principe du 14 septembre 2021, la Cour d’appel de Liège s’est exprimée sur la relation entre le droit de l’insolvabilité et le droit des aides d’état. La Région wallonne, qui avait octroyé une aide à la recherche à la société ASIT BIOTECH sous forme d’avances récupérables, s’opposait à l’homologation d’un plan […]

Nicolas Michiels levert bijdrage aan het boek “Kredieten voor consumenten”

Astrea’s banking & finance associate Nicolas Michiels heeft een bijdrage geleverd aan het boek “Kredieten voor consumenten” (Intersentia), dat op 30 oktober 2021 zal worden gepubliceerd. Dit boek zet alle juridische regels rond kredieten op een verstaanbare en eenvoudige manier uiteen zodat het ook toegankelijk is voor niet- professionelen. Het omvat een praktijkgerichte benadering op […]

Nicolas Michiels contributes to the book “Kredieten voor Consumenten”

Astrea’s banking & finance associate Nicolas Michiels has made a contribution to the book “Kredieten voor consumenten” (Intersentia), which will be published on 30 October 2021. This book sets out all the legal rules concerning credit in an easy-to-understand and straightforward manner making it also accessible to non-professionals. It includes a practice-oriented approach to the […]

Astrea has assisted Freestone Advisory with the reorganization of the company

Micha Van den Abeele and her team have assisted Freestone Advisory with the reorganization of the company. Freestone, one of our clients with whom we have built an outstanding long-term relationship, comments : ’Astrea is the all-around legal partner with the right expertise when it comes to Real Estate and corporate law. It is the […]

“Belgium: driving innovation from within the heart of Europe” published in IR Global

“Belgium: driving innovation from within the heart of Europe”, article of our tech M&A partner SDS, published in IR Global – Meet the members – Benelux edition of September 2021 : the article focuses on several specific legal considerations that must be considered in a technology M&A process in Belgium. Click here access to the […]

Vernietiging van het gewestelijk ruimtelijk uitvoeringsplan ‘Openruimtegebieden Beneden-Nete’ én omgevingsvergunning Sigmawerken

Ciska Servais en Benoit Forêt van het omgevingsrecht-team van Astrea vertegenwoordigden de eigenaar van het beschermde kasteel Ringenhof in Lier in een procedure bij de Raad van State tegen het gewestelijk ruimtelijk uitvoeringsplan ‘Openruimtegebieden Beneden-Nete’, dat opgemaakt werd in uitvoering van het geactualiseerde Sigmaplan en als doel heeft om het nabijgelegen, bestaande overstromingsgebied om te […]

Modification décrétale renforce l’intérêt au moyen devant les tribunaux administratifs

Le 21 mai 2021, le Parlement flamand a approuvé un décret modifiant le décret DBRC du 4 avril 2014, qui modifie les procédures d’appel devant les tribunaux administratifs en Flandre, comme le Conseil pour les Contestations des Permis. Cette modification décrétale vise à simplifier, accélérer et finalement rendre plus efficace la procédure d’appel, mais menace […]

Astrea advised GERANTIS and its shareholders with the investment of M80

Frederic Verspreeuwen and his team composed of Seppe Laenen, Annalyne Van den Steen and Toon Van Grunderbeek, advised GERANTIS and its shareholders with the investment of M80 in GERANTIS. GERANTIS, the Belgian expert in residential housing management, joins foces with investment company M80 to further realise its strategic growth plans, strengthen its position in the […]

Astrea advised the founders of GeoSQUARE on the sale of the group to BENCIS CAPITAL

Frederic Verspreeuwen and his team composed of Seppe Laenen, Annalyne Van den Steen and Barbara Terriere, advised the founders of the GeoSQUARE group with the sale of the group to BENCIS CAPITAL and their subsequent reinvestment. GeoSQUARE, the Belgian expert in geoinformation services, joins forces with investment company Bencis to further realise its strategic […]

Het einde van de London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

De LIBOR en soortgelijke rentes zullen vanaf 1 januari 2022 uit beeld verdwijnen en door risicovrije rentetarieven (RFR’s) worden vervangen. De LIBOR is verweven met de interbancaire geldmarkt, dit is de markt waarop banken aan elkaar lenen, maar ook met financiële transacties die een onderliggende waarde van meer dan 300 biljoen dollar hebben. Deze rentevoet […]

The end of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

Following the widely known LIBOR-scandal, the LIBOR and similar interest rates will disappear from the scene as of 1 January 2022, and will be replaced by risk-free interest rates (RFR’s). The LIBOR is intertwined with the interbank money market, i.e. the market on which banks lend money to one another, but also with financial transactions […]

Stikstofarrest herbevestigd

De Raad voor Vergunningsbetwistingen heeft in een schorsingsarrest van 12 augustus 2021 (RvVb-S-2021-1254) een omgevingsvergunning voor de bouw en uitbating van een tomatenkwekerij in Hoogstraten geschorst, en heeft haar eerdere rechtspraak uit het zgn. “stikstofarrest” herbevestigd. Dit arrest heeft betrekking op een omgevingsvergunning die op 5 december 2020 door de bevoegde Vlaamse minister verleend werd […]

Astrea’s Real Estate and Environmental law team is delighted to assist Project ONE with the permit application

Our Real Estate & Environmental team assists Ineos Olefins Belgium with the permit application for Project ONE. Project ONE will be the most eco-friendly ethane cracker in Europe, with 2⁄3 less carbon emissions than the average European steam cracker. Moreover, Project ONE targets moving the facility to carbon neutrality within 10 years from the start-up […]

Lening op interest of kredietopening?

In een arrest van 14 juni 2021 heeft het Hof van Cassatie zich opnieuw uitgesproken over de kwalificatie van een overeenkomst als kredietopening dan wel een lening op interest. De kwalificatie is onder meer van belang voor de bepaling van de omvang van de wederbeleggingsvergoeding. Een wederbeleggingsvergoeding is de vergoeding die verschuldigd is bij vervroegde […]

The Upcoming Changes To The EU’s Cybersecurity Framework, published in Mondaq

Our partner Steven De Schrijver and associate Jan van Loon’s article “European Union : The Upcoming Changes To The EU’s Cybersecurity Framework, published in Mondaq on 22 June 2021. The contribution explains the current cybersecurity policy of the EU, and the proposals included in the European Commission’s new EU Cybersecurity Strategy proposal : Security and […]

Our partners Steven De Schrijver and Rudi Desmet contributed the Belgian chapter to International Comparative Legal Guides – Technology Sourcing 2021, 1st edition

The guide ICLG – Technology Sourcing Laws and Regulations, which is divided into Question and Answer Chapters by country, covers common issues in technology sourcing, including issues relating to procurement processes, dispute resolution procedures, intellectual property rights, data protection and employment law in 18 jurisdictions. All chapters are written by leading experts in this particular […]

Interview of our partners Steven de Schrijver and Olivier Van Fraeyenhoven with Leaders League

Our partners, IT, media and telecoms expert Steven de Schrijver and GDPR expert Olivier Van Fraeyenhoven spoke to Leaders League about the challenges faced and overcome during one of the firm’s recent high-profile cases, explained the impact of digitalization in the automotive industry, and assessed the exponential growth of AI systems in the legal industry. […]

Headscarf ban at work: neutrality or discrimination …?

A recent judgment in Brussels on the headscarf ban has created quite a stir in the press and has led to a number of political discussions. For many companies, the question will now arise again whether a policy of neutrality is still permitted? In the judgement of 3 May 2021 by the French-speaking labour court […]

Hoofddoekenverbod op het werk: neutraliteit of discriminatie …?

Een recent Brussels vonnis over het hoofddoekenverbod heeft heel wat weerklank gekregen in de pers en heeft geleid tot aan aantal politieke discussies. Voor heel wat ondernemingen zal nu opnieuw de vraag rijzen of een neutraliteitsbeleid voortaan nog toegelaten is? In het vonnis van 3 mei 2021 van de Franstalige arbeidsrechtbank te Brussel werd de […]

Astrea advised GEOxyz in their investment in Vansteelandt bv.

Astrea Law Attorneys is delighted to have assisted GEOxyz again in their investment in Vansteelandt bv. By joining forces with Vansteelandt, GEOxyz increases its service portfolio and is able to offer detailed inspection and accurate 3D measurements collected through sophisticated arial platforms, adding 2 twin-engine survey aircrafts to their fleet ! The Astrea team was […]

ASTREA ranked Excellent in Leaders League Belgium ‘s 2021 edition of “Best Law Firms for IT, Data Protection & Telecoms”

Our IT, IP and Privacy team has been recognized in the 2021 edition of Leaders League rankings amongst the Best Law Firms for IT, Data Protection & Telecoms as Excellent. Congratulations to our teams headed by Steven De Schrijver ,Olivier Van Fraeyenhoven, Pieter Paepe and Christine De Keersmaeker. To learn more about all our rankings […]

Environment : Article of our Partner Ilse Cuypers on the recent decision of the Belgian Constitutional Court

Grondwettelijk Hof stelt schending vast van het gelijkheidsbeginsel in de toepassing van een verlaagd heffingstarief op een nieuw productieprocédé Naar aanleiding van een prejudiciële vraag gesteld door de rechter in eerste aanleg werd nagegaan of de verschillende behandeling van heffingsplichtigen naargelang zij calciumchloride afvalstoffen storten die afkomstig zijn van een calciumchlorideproces dan wel van de […]

Louis Verstraeten, speaker at the 10th European Insolvency & Restructuring Congress

Our partner Louis Verstraeten participated as speaker to the 10th European Insolvency & Restructuring Congress (EIRC) organized by the German Bar Association (Deutscher Anwaltverein, ARGE Insolvenzrecht). Numerous international experts from the legal profession, politics and academia discussed, among other things, the implementation of the Directive on preventive restructuring framework and the current plans for further […]

Christine De Keersmaeker is once again recognized as IP STAR

Astrea is delighted to announce that our IP specialist Christine De Keersmaeker is once again recognized in Managing IP 2021 ranking as one of the IP STARS in Belgium. Congratulations to our IP team that assembles committed, solutions-oriented and technically skilled lawyers guiding and counseling our clients to make them create and increase business value […]

Legislative changes in Belgian Insolvency Law : a modernization

Belgian insolvency law was freshly codified in 2018 but will undergo several changes in 2020-2021. Our partner Louis Verstraeten provides an update on these legislative changes recently adopted and those yet to become law later this year in his article published in Eurofenix, INSOL Europe’s quarterly journal (Spring 2021 edition). Read the full article here.

Our partner Rudi Desmet has defended the team Sniper Cycling against Wout van Aert, condemned to pay compensation to his former team

Our Employment Law partner, Rudi Desmet, has defended the team Sniper Cycling, former employer of Wout van Aert, before the Labour Court of Antwerp. The court has ordered Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) to pay a compensation of 662,000 euros to his former employer the Sniper Cycling, the team of manager Nick Nuyens. The Belgian […]

Last day for EU Member States to transpose the Digital Single Market directive of 2019

Today, 7 June 2021, is the deadline for EU Member States to transpose the Digital Single Market directive of 2019 (EU 2019/790 of the European Parliament and the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending the directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC). The Commission has unveiled its […]

IFLR1000 2021 – Banking & Finance

Astrea is delighted to announce that our Banking & Finance practice and our lead partner Dieter Veestraeten are once again recognized in this year’s IFLR1000 rankings as Tier 4 firm and as Highly regarded individual. Congratulations to our Banking & Finance team : Dieter Veestraeten, lead partner & Jan van Loon, associate. Special thanks to […]

The Belgian chapter to Global Legal Insights – AI, Machine Learning & Big Data 2021

“It is difficult to find an area in daily life which has not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology is no exception here; but with great crisis comes great innovation. While it is too early to fully comprehend the technical advances that the current pandemic has brought and is still bringing, it is beyond […]

Your own name as a brand : smart or not ?

In the fashion industry, and sometimes in the design industry, it is common to use your own name as the name of your company or brand. But, is that a good choice? Our intellectual property specialists, Christine De Keersmaeker and Thaissa Nuyens, summarize the pros and cons in their article published in Flanders DC Magazine.

A PROPOSAL FOR BELGIAN ‘PRIVACY RULINGS’: TOWARDS MORE APPOACHABLE DPAs?

A recent legislative proposal to amend the act governing the Belgian DPA seeks to create a system for obtaining advance rulings for envisaged data processing situations. This system, if it makes it into Belgian law, could provide an interesting addition to the GDPR’s framework which would allow the DPA to assist organizations more proactively to […]

Astrea provides pro bono legal support to promising start-ups and entrepreneurs within the framework of IUSSTART (KU Leuven)

Astrea, in cooperation with IUSSTART (KU Leuven), assists promising start-ups and young entrepreneurs advising them on potential legal obstacles in the field of business law (mainly company law, contract law, ICT law, IP law and Data Protection Law). Our commercial law department (CMO) acts as mentor to final-year law students who choose to advise the […]

Dieter Veestraeten en Jan Van Loon contributed the Belgian Chapter to the Legal 500 : Lending and Secured Finance Country Comparative Guide 2021

Astrea Banking & Finance Partner Dieter Veestraeten and Associate Jan Van Loon have contributed the Belgian Chapter to The Legal 500: Lending & Secured Finance Country Comparative Guide 2021 (3rd Edition). The Legal 500’s Country Comparative Guides give a practical overview of the laws and regulations across a variety of jurisdictions, for specific practice areas. […]

ASTREA ADVISED CRONIMET ON THE SALE OF THE BELGIAN GROUP COMPANY TO APERAM

ASTREA acted as the lead counsel to the German holding company CRONIMET HOLDING GMBH in the sale of the Belgian group company (engaged in the processing and sale of steel scrap metals in Europe) to APERAM. Cronimet and Aperam are two important, global players in the stainless, electrical and specialty steel markets. The transaction was […]

E-Privacy Regulation: can we already see the finish line?

In the course of February 2021 finally an agreement was found amongst the EU Member States within the European Council regarding a draft text for the E-Privacy regulation which should repeal the Directive 2002/58/EC and also our national legislation concerning a.o. cookies. Following this agreement, the next fase in the European Parliament can start. This […]

Misbruik van machtspositie door Peugeot Oostenrijk

Op 17 februari 2021 heeft het Oostenrijkse Hooggerechtshof een uitspraak gedaan in een zaak die opgestart was door een Oostenrijkse dealer “Buechl” tegen de Oostenrijkse invoerder Peugeot. Deze dealer had in 2018 een procedure gestart wegens het commercieel beleid van Peugeot, dat op vele punten “abusief” zou zijn t.a.v. de dealers, die economisch afhankelijk zouden […]

Steven De Schrijver and Rudi Desmet publish Belgian chapter in Lexology GTDT – Technology M&A 2021

Astrea partners Steven De Schrijver and Rudi Desmet have contributed the Belgian chapter to the 2021 edition of “Lexology Getting the Deal Through – Technology”, which is published by Law Business Research. GTDT works with many of the best lawyers and law firms in the world to bring together a unique legal information resource, written […]

Insolventierecht hervormd: drempel gerechtelijke reorganisatie verlaagd!

In de nacht van donderdag 11 op vrijdag 12 maart 2021 stemde de Kamer een hervorming van het insolventierecht goed. Deze hervorming komt er naar aanleiding van de Coronapandemie en heeft als doel de gevreesde faillissementengolf te vermijden. Tot nu konden ondernemingen genieten van twee tijdelijke moratoria en een terughoudende overheid die niet dagvaardde in […]

STEVEN DE SCHRIJVER RECOGNISED IN WHO’S WHO LEGAL’S “THOUGHT LEADERS GLOBAL ELITE – DATA 2021”

Our Technology and M&A partner Steven De Schrijver is again recognised by Who’s Who Legal in the “Thought Leaders Global Elite – Data 2021” ranking in four different categories: Data Privacy & Protection WWL says : Steven De Schrijver is recognisedfor his “outstanding work on the privacy and protection of personal information” and comes highly […]

Competition Law Update 2020 and 2021 – Pharma and Health Care

In his latest article our partner Pieter Paepe gives an overview of and comments on some competition law developments in the Pharma and Health Care sector in 2020 and 2021. This overview does not only concern Belgium, but also the European Union and several other EU jurisdictions. To read the full article: Competition Law in […]

Steven De Schrijver and Jan van Loon contributed the Belgian chapter to the Mondaq Comparative Guide to Cybersecurity

Does Belgian law distinguish between ‘cybersecurity’, ‘data protection’ and ‘cybercrime’ ? What are the key statutory and regulatory provisions that address cyber in Belgium ? Do any cyber statutes or regulations have extraterritorial reach? Steven De Schrijver and Jan van Loon answered the questions of The Mondaq Comparative Guide to Cybersecurity which provides an overview […]

Steven De Schrijver contributed the Belgian chapter to Lexology GTDT : Market Intelligence – Digital Transformation volume

Our Corporate & Technology partner Steven De Schrijver contributed the Belgian chapter to Lexology GTDT : Market Intelligence – Digital Transformation volume, published by Law Business Research in December 2020. Lexology GTDT – Market Intelligence provides a unique perspective on evolving legal and regulatory landscapes in major jurisdictions around the world. Using a concise and […]

Steven De Schrijver contributed “Ethical Purpose and Societal Benefit” chapter to the 2021 Update to Responsible AI: A Global Policy Framework

Steven De Schrijver contributed “Ethical Purpose and Societal Benefit” chapter to the 2021 Update to Responsible AI: A Global Policy Framework published by ItechLaw Association. The update continues to fulfill the promise and potential of ITechLaw as a global association promoting networking and thought-leadership amongst leading technology lawyers worldwide. Read here the complete chapter.

Astrea provided legal assistance to Simac Techniek NV

Astrea provided legal assistance to Simac Techniek NV on its acquisition of a majority interest of 70% in PHI DATA NV. Simac is a technology company which is active as network and system integrator in the Benelux and Middle Europe. PHI DATA is engaged in digitization solutions (so-called “smart edge” solutions) that are close to […]

A second “moratorium” to shield Belgian business undertakings from bankruptcy as from 24 December 2020

Due to a second “moratorium” Belgian business undertakings will be protected from bankruptcy for a limited period from 24 December 2020 till 31 January 2021. This has been decided by the Belgian legislator in a law of 20 December 2020, published today on 24 December 2020. In the spring of 2020 a first moratorium was […]

Een tweede moratorium op faillissementen vanaf 24 December 2020

Bij Wet* wordt een tweede moratorium op het uitspreken van faillissementen van kracht vanaf 24 December 2020 tot en met 31 Januari 2021, zij het met beperkingen en voorwaarden. In het voorjaar werd een eerste moratorium afgekondigd om een faillissementsgolf te vermijden, wat vooral door de flankerende maatregelen met betrekking tot de schuldvorderingen van […]

ASTREA ADVISED INDU-TOOLS GROUP B.V. ON THE PURCHASE OF 100% OF THE SHARES OF I-HOLDING AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES I-RENTAL NV AND I-RENTAL SAS

ASTREA advised INDU-TOOLS GROUP B.V. on the purchase of 100% of the shares of I-HOLDING and its Belgian and French subsidiaries I-RENTAL NV and I-RENTAL SAS. I-Rental is a company specialized in industrial rental of machinery and tools. This is a very important purchase for the Indu-Tools Group to further expand its business. The transaction […]

ASTREA PUBLISHED IN THE BELGIAN CHAPTER IN “THE PRIVACY, DATA PROTECTION AND CYBERSECURITY LAW REVIEW

Astrea’s corporate and technology partner Steven De Schrijver and commercial law partner Olivier Van Fraeyenhoven have contributed the Belgian chapter in “The Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity Law Review” (Seventh Edition, Ed. Alan Charles Raul), which has been published by Law Business Research in its “Law Reviews”-series. The Law Reviews give readers a business-focused insight […]

Basis banking service now also available for enterprises

On 23 October 2020, the Belgian Parliament has approved a law which makes a basic banking service available for enterprises (including self-employed persons, companies and non-profit associations), something which private persons have enjoyed for 15 years. In multiple sectors (especially the diamond, gaming, restaurant, and football sectors) entrepreneurs frequently have difficulties to find a financial […]

Assistance with structuring initial seed funding GIMBER

Astrea has advised the founders of the start-up GIMBER (gimber.com) a rapidly growing ginger drink manufacturer, with their first external funding round with the Luxembourg VC, DLF Venture and the Austrian VC, Square One Foods. The transaction was managed by Frédéric Verspreeuwen and Philippe Willemsens.

Will the repairing law “insolvency” make an end to the “empty box” bankruptcies in Belgium?

On 21 October 2020, a Legislative Proposal was submitted with the title “Legislative proposal containing several amendments on the insolvency of companies”. Also for the bankruptcy practice, this proposal contains an important change. Most of the bankruptcies are an “empty box”, for instance because the company was neglected for years and there are no assets […]

Astrea advised Continuum Sports (CCC Team) on the sale of its WorldTour License to ProTeam Circus-Wanty Gobert-Tormans (CWG)

Astrea advised long-standing client Continuum Sports (CCC Team, formerly BMC Racing Team), with the Belgian aspects of the sale of its WorldTour License to Belgian ProTeam Circus Wanty Gobert (CWG) and this together with lead US Counsel Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren (Brian G. Carroll and Adam R. Konrad). The Astrea team was lead by partner […]

Astrea advised DPG Media on the set-up of a Joint Venture with Telenet

ASTREA acted as lead counsel to the largest media concern in Belgium, DPG Media (owning a.o. the largest broadcasting company in Belgium) in the set-up of an ambitious Joint Venture with Telenet, a listed company (telecom operator, owning, TV platform, affiliate of the Liberty Group). The purpose of this JV between both champions in their […]

We advised Horizon Ventures with a multi series investment in Ghent based scale-up Cloudalize

Steven De Schrijver and Dieter Veestraeten were advising Horizon Ventures, one of the largest venture capital funds of Hong Kong, on several rounds of investment in Cloudalize, a Belgian technology company. The Ghent based company Cloudalize offers a full-range of GPU-powered Cloud solutions for businesses. This is the first investment of Horizon Ventures in Belgium.

Astrea advised DoubleVerify on the acquisition of Digital Video Technology Company, Zentrick

Astrea has assisted US-based company DoubleVerify Inc. (the leading independent platform for digital media measurement and analytics), which is backed by Providence, one of the largest sector-focused PE’s with a portfolio of 60 bn USD, with the acquisition of Zentrick, a Belgian company building technology that empowers ad tech companies to deliver effective video advertising […]

Astrea has assisted NYSE-listed HubSpot with the acquisition of PieSync

Astrea (with lead partner Steven De Schrijver) assisted NYSE-listed HubSpot (which offers a full platform of marketing, sales, customer service, and CRM software — plus the methodology, resources, and support — to help businesses) with the acquisition of PieSync, a Belgian company providing a solution to synchronize customer data between different business apps. Astrea was […]

Acquisition of Objective by Alpina

Astrea assisted Alpina Capital Partners, a European technology growth investment firm, with respect to the acquisition of the majority of the shares of Objective, a software company based in Wichelen, Belgium.

ASTREA ADVISED ON BELGIAN LAW ASPECTS OF UNITANK SALE TO DIF AND ASI

Astrea partners Dieter Veestraeten and Steven De Schrijver have advised the sellers on the Belgian law aspects of a transaction involving the signing of an agreement on the sale of 100% of the shares in UNITANK to DIF’s Core Infrastructure Fund I and Aberdeen Standard Investments’ SL Capital Infrastructure II SCSp.

Astrea assisted Efico with respect to an amendment of its multicurrency facility agreement

Dieter Veestraeten and his team assisted Efico, a company trading in green coffee and cocoa since 1926 with headquarters in Antwerp with respect to an amendment of its multicurrency facility agreement with a consortium of Belgian banks.

Assistance with respect to the refinancing of the real estate portfolio of Group Bernaerts

Dieter Veestraeten and his team assisted Group Bernaerts, a family owned real estate group based in Antwerp, with respect to the refinancing of its real estate portfolio in Antwerp, Mechelen and Willebroek. The portfolio consists of office buildings, semi industrial buildings and logistic warehouses. Berry Westhoff, CFO of Group Bernaerts: “We have a longstanding strong […]

Assistance of Castelmore Group with acquisitions in property management industry

Astrea has advised Castelmore Group with the roll out of their buy and build strategy in de property management industry, acquiring amongst others JALO BEHEER and BEHEER. The transaction was managed by Frédéric Verspreeuwen and Philippe Willemsens, assisted by a multidisciplinary team at Astrea involved in the different aspects of the deal including on all […]

Assistance of Contraload founder and management with the sale to and reinvestment in Tosca

Astrea advised the founder and management of Contraload, a Belgian leading load carrier pooling company, active in almost all countries in Europe, with the sale of their shares to and reinvestment in Tosca, an American supplier of reusable packaging and supply chain solutions, controlled by Apax Funds. The transaction was managed by Frédéric Verspreeuwen, Dieter […]

Assistance of Alcopa with the set-up of a joint-venture structure with the Bergé group

ASTREA advised Alcopa with the sale of 60% of its shareholding in Alcomotive, a car distributor selling 30.000 vehicles per year in 6 European countries, to Bergé Auto, which sells 150.000 cars per year in 9 markets in Europe and Latin America. ). The transaction was managed by Frédéric Verspreeuwen, Philippe Willemsens and Seppe Laenen, […]

Assistance of DPG Media with the launch of streaming platform STREAMZ and the set-up, in this respect, of their joint-venture with TELENET

Astrea advised DPG Media (www.dpgmedia.be), the largest commercial broadcaster in Belgium, with the negotiation of a joint-venture with TELENET (www.telenet.be), a listed mobility services provider, to launch and commercialize a brand-new local streaming platform called STREAMZ (www.streamz.be). The transaction was managed by Frédéric Verspreeuwen and Seppe Laenen, assisted by a multidisciplinary team at Astrea involved […]

Damages during construction works

We assist clients regarding problems and damages during the construction process. We also prepare all contracts relating to the construction process and liabilities.

Regional and local taxes

We assist clients and handle procedures regarding regional and local taxes, regarding property, permits, empty and abandoned locations, etc.

Permits for windturbines

We assist clients regarding the procedures for permits for windturbines.

Sale of the last plot of land in Genk to the Flemish Region

We assisted FORD in the past and this year again for the last plot in the sale of the land of Ford Motor Company in Genk to the Flemish Region.

Large residential projects

Clients request assistance in completing their requests for permits for large, medium and/or small construction permits. We assist them during the procedure, often after objections from neighbours or when the city council does not grant the permit.

Assistance of VYBROS in a new partnership with INTOCON

ASTREA advised VYBROS INVEST with the acquisition of 70% in VYCOM, a new holding company with the founders of INTOCON, a company specialized in machine construction for the food industry.

Assistance of POC Partners with its shareholding restructuring

ASTREA advised project developer POC Partners with the negotiations and drafting of all documentation in connection with the restructuring of its shareholding and in particular the exit of one of its founding fathers. The transaction involved different aspects including court procedures and was managed by Marc Van Looveren – commercial litigation partner, Micha Van den […]

Assistance with the sale of GANDS to TRIPLE LIVING

ASTREA advised the shareholders of the Antwerp project developer GANDS with the sale of their shares to one of their main competitors TRIPLE LIVING. This transaction was managed by our corporate real estate specialist Micha Van den Abeele.

Assistance of VYBROS INVEST in buy and build in hydraulic drive engineering business

Astrea advised VYBROS INVEST with the acquisition of VAPO HYDRAULICS and the setup of a buy and build platform by VYBROS and the founding fathers of VAPO HYDRAULICS to roll out in 2019 and 2020 several acquisitions in the Benelux in the field of hydraulic drive engineering for press construction, infrastructure works, offshore and the […]

Assistance of MEDIPARTNER and its management with the investment by WE ARE JANE

Astrea assisted Medipartner and its CEO Sophie Mestré in the transaction with the new private equity firm WE ARE JANE, investing in MEDIPARTNER. Medipartner is the first investment of the We Are Jane fund that focuses on female entrepreneurs and is led by Conny Vandendriessche (Accent Jobs, House of HR and Stella P), Eline Talboom […]

Assistance with international employment to a UK construction company

Astrea assisted a UK based construction company that will build a data center in Belgium about the mandatory social security and employment requirements when managing construction projects and construction sites. The client was advised on LIMOSA, A1 documents, work permits and residence permits, well-being at the work place, social security and tax debts, withholding obligations, […]

Assisted a Finnish company with individual termination negotiations

A Belgian employee of a Finnish company was made redundant in compliance with the terms and conditions of his employment contract which was drawn up under Finnish law. However, based on mandatory Belgian employment law the employee claimed a higher termination indemnity. Astrea has lead the negotiations resulting in a favorable settlement agreement.

Successful appeal in a Belgian court applying Dutch employment law – Joint pleadings with a Dutch law firm

Together with the Dutch law firm, Astrea represented a Belgian employee who had left the company to settle in the US and start a competing business. The employer claimed an indemnification of 1,000,000 EUR under Dutch employment law for breach of his non-compete clause and his relation clause. Astrea prepared and pleaded the case jointly […]

COVID-19 preventive measures in the automotive industry

Astrea advised its client in respect with the COVID-19prevention measures to be taken. A number of legal issues needed to be solved: how to introduce tracking devices, temperature control at the entrance, GDPR-compliance when it is forbidden to store medical devices.

Assistance with collective bargaining agreements re. TUPE

Astrea assisted the seller in the collective negotiations with its trade unions to conclude a collective bargaining agreement when it transferred part of its employees to its subcontractor. After the transfer, Astrea assisted the buyer in the collective negotiations with its trade unions to conclude a collective bargaining agreement to harmonize the working conditions of […]

Astrea advised on belgian law aspects of Unitank sale to DIF and ASI

Astrea partners Dieter Veestraeten and Steven De Schrijver have advised on the Belgian law aspects of a transaction involving the signing of an agreement on the sale of 100% of the shares in UNITANK to DIF’s Core Infrastructure Fund I and Aberdeen Standard Investments’ SL Capital Infrastructure II SCSp. You can read the full article […]

Steven De Schrijver recognised in Who’s Who Legal’s “Thought Leaders Global Elite – Data 2021”

Our Technology and M&A partner Steven De Schrijver is again recognised by Who’s Who Legal in the “Thought Leaders Global Elite – Data 2021” ranking in four different categories: Data Privacy & Protection WWL says : Steven De Schrijver is recognisedfor his “outstanding work on the privacy and protection of personal information” and comes highly […]

The impact of COVID-19 on IT contracts

The outbreak of COVID-19 and the measures taken by many governments have a significant impact on society as well as on the ability of contracting parties to perform their obligations under their commercial contracts, including IT related contracts. There are not only many uncertainties and questions about the fulfilment of running IT contracts but it […]

Dieter Veestraeten contributed the belgian chapter to the Legal 500: Lending & Secured Finance Country Comparative Guide

Astrea Banking & Finance Partner Dieter Veestraeten has contributed the Belgian Chapter to The Legal 500: Lending & Secured Finance Country Comparative Guide (2nd Edition). The Legal 500’s Country Comparative Guides give a practical overview of the laws and regulations across a variety of jurisdictions, for specific practice areas. The Lending & Secured Finance Country […]

Dieter Veestraeten contributed the belgian chapter to the International Comparative Legal Guide to Lending & Secured Finance 2020

Astrea Banking & Finance Partner Dieter Veestraeten has contributed the Belgian Chapter 30 of the International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) to Lending & Secured Finance 2020 (8th edition). The ICLG to Lending & Secured Finance covers common issues in lending and secured finance laws and regulations – including guarantees, collateral security, financial assistance, syndicated lending/ […]

Steven De Schrijver and Rudi Desmet contributed the Belgian chapter to the International Comparative Legal Guide to Outsourcing 2020

Astrea’s Corporate & Technology partner Steven De Schrijver and Astrea’s Employment partner Rudi Desmet contributed the Belgian Chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guide to Outsourcing 2020 (5th edition). This guide, which is divided into Country Question and Answer Chapters, covers common issues in outsourcing laws and regulations in a number of jurisdictions – including […]