A&O Shearman Belgium

As we come to the end of 2024, we share a heartfelt thank you to all our colleagues for their hard work and contributions this year. You each have a lot to be proud of.    Your work has been essential and transformative in supporting us to achieve significant milestones leading up to and following our merger to become A&O Shearman.   None of what this firm has achieved would have been possible were it not for your energy, determination, and commitment to the firm and to each other.    Once again, thank you for your contribution to our firm’s success this year. We look forward to achieving more success, together, in 2025.   #AOShearman #BelongExcel

The federal investment company SFPIM’s EUR 50 million investment into Energy Solutions Group, a leading green energy producer in the Benelux, is a testament to the increasing prioritization of renewable energy in Belgium.   Our team, led by partner Frederiek Adams and associates Michiel Fraussen and Dries Remeysen, is proud to have advised ESG on this transaction. All this in close cooperation with Advocom | Advocaten & Bemiddelaars’s Peter Vlietinck. This investment will enhance ESG's capacity to innovate and expand, contributing to a greener future for all.   Congratulations to everyone involved!   #GreenEnergy #SustainableDevelopment #RenewableEnergy #Belgium

Last week, we had our second session of our 2024 Corporate Finance University, this time with a focus on M&A Financing and Joint Ventures at TheMerode.   In the first half of the session, Financing expert Matthias Purnal took the attendees through the process of funding an M&A deal and the points of attention to secure a fully committed financing. Following this topic, our M&A experts Esther Remy and Dimas Coetsier took us through the life cycle of a joint venture from an M&A perspective, with practical deal experiences from Wouter Van de Voorde. Our Antitrust expert Eliana Paredis provided insights from a competition perspective.   Thanks again to everyone who joined, we hope it was insightful and we look forward to the third and final session!    #CorporateUniversity #MergersAndAcquisitions #JointVentures #FinancingMAndA #Antritrust #Competition

In situations of financial distress, directors face enhanced liabilities and responsibilities. They should take into account creditors’ interests and take appropriate steps to either avoid or file for insolvency.   In this insightful piece from GUBERNA - Instituut voor Bestuurders/Institut des Administrateurs, our experts Bart De Bock and Stéphanie Nachsem examine the present Belgian restructuring framework and emphasize the best practices that directors should adhere to. Stay ahead of the curve and ensure your business is well-prepared!   Read the full article here: https://bitly.cx/7vO0   #BelgianLaw #Restructuring #InsolvencyLaw #LegalInsights #BusinessLaw

A key element of the NIS2 Law, which came into effect on October 18, 2024, is management liability: leaders within organisations are now held to higher standards of accountability to ensure compliance and manage cyber risks effectively. The NIS2 Law transposes the EU's updated NIS2 Directive into Belgian legislation. This establishes a robust framework aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity of critical networks and information systems essential for public safety. In this inspiring article from GUBERNA - Instituut voor Bestuurders/Institut des Administrateurs, our experts Peter Van Dyck, Sarah De Wulf, and Sofia Devroe delve into the implications of this law and what it means for organisations across Belgium. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dz3wnTDV #Cybersecurity #NIS2 #Governance

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the world and the EU is leading the way with its groundbreaking AI Act, the first-ever comprehensive legal framework on AI globally. But what does this mean for businesses that use or develop AI systems? How can they ensure compliance with the new rules and avoid sanctions? And how does the EU's approach compare with other jurisdictions? These were some of the questions that we explored during our annual client dinner, held in the context of the IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress in Brussels. We were honored to have MEP Brando Benifei, co-rapporteur of the AI Act, as our keynote speaker. Providing perspectives on the current and future state of AI regulation in the EU and beyond and shared insightful thoughts on the interpretation of GDPR for AI and expressed optimism about the U.K.'s adequacy status. Introduced by our senior associate Piermaurizio Tafuni, LL.M., followed by a lively and engaging discussion with our partners Peter Van Dyck and Jane. Finlayson-Brown, who have extensive experience in advising clients on data protection and AI matters. We would like to thank all of our guests who joined us for this stimulating and informative evening and contributed to the debate with their questions and comments. #DPC2024 #AI #AOShearman

This week, we kicked off our 2024 Corporate Finance University with an engaging session on Private M&A in TheMerode.   Our series starting point took attendees through the key milestones in a private M&A process by sharing practical deal experiences, brought by our experienced senior M&A experts Alexandre Holvoet, Bert Verhoeven and Wouter Van de Voorde. Our litigation expert Esther Maes provided insights from a litigation perspective.   We reflect on a fantastic start with outstanding attendees – thank you to everyone who joined, we hope you enjoyed it and we are looking forward to the next session!   #CorporateUniversity #MergersAndAcquisitions #SPA #NegotiationTactics #LitigationRisk

New legislation NIS2 puts directors' cybersecurity liability at the top of the agenda. A strategic approach across the whole organisation should be a key priority for every business leader and board member.   During an inspiring event organised by GUBERNA - Instituut voor Bestuurders/Institut des Administrateurs and VBO FEB, our experts Peter Van Dyck and Sarah De Wulf took a closer look at how companies can take the lead in their legal approach to cybersecurity.   Would you like to get tailored advice for your organisation? Don't hesitate to contact our team of experts.   #Cybersecurity #Governance #NIS2

To celebrate the relaunch of A&O Shearman’s Restructuring Across Borders Toolkit, colleagues from across our European network have sat down with Christopher Poel to discuss what pre-insolvency rescue and compromise proceedings are available to debtors in those jurisdictions, whether there have been any novel or exciting uses and deployments of those processes, and if there’s anything interesting coming down the line.   The latest podcast in the series takes a look at the restructuring landscape in Belgium with Bart De Bock, Julien Hislaire and Esther Maes from our Belgian Restructuring team.   Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eHHhHhg7   #Restructuring #AOShearmanRestructuring #AOShearman

With the help of AI, phishing remains a widely used and effective way to infiltrate a company. But at the same time new technologies such as AI can also protect businesses and organisations from cyber threats. In our latest video below, expert Geoff White shares his insights on the ever-changing world of cybersecurity.    To discuss further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Belgian experts Sarah De Wulf, Peter Van Dyck and Thomas Declerck.   #SecureOurWorld #Cybersecurity