Contrast European & Business Law : What we did

What we did in 2009 (pdf), 2008 (pdf), 2007 (pdf), 2006 (pdf)

In 2009, contrast’s cases, projects, publications and seminars included the following:

In November-December 2009, contrast processed the results of the second edition of the M&A Survey. The survey focuses on recurring elements in M&A transactions and gives clear indications on the actual terms and conditions commonly used in those transactions. The second edition repeats the first survey of 2006 on the basis of a more elaborate questionnaire and broader transaction sample. The resulting M&A index is based on 150 transactions submitted by more than 34 professional investors, financial advisors and law firms active in M&A. The results will be published in 2010.
On 12 December 2009, Frank Wijckmans gives a guest lecture at the University of Antwerp (Postgraduate Program on Business Law).
On 9 December 2009, contrast is present at the campus interviews of the University of Leuven (KUL).
On 5 December 2009, the first edition of the Antitrust Alliance Training Program is held in Brussels. The event offers the partners, associates and paralegals of the members and observers of the Antitrust Alliance a unique setting for acquiring in-depth knowledge about the topic and hands-on lessons from practitioners. This year’s topic are cartels. Keynote speaker is Mr. Xavier Lewis (Director, Legal Affairs Directorate, EFTA Surveillance Authority), who shares his EU competition litigation experience with the audience.
On 3-4 December 2009, the fall meeting of the Antitrust Alliance is held in Brussels. The external speaker at this meeting is Mr. Lucas Peeperkorn, who heads the European Commission’s team responsible for the revision of Regulation 2790/99 (block exemption on vertical agreements). Mr. Peeperkorn presents the changes to the existing Regulation 2790/99 that are being considered by DG Competition. At the meeting, the Antitrust Alliance’s website is presented and a decision is taken to launch the website in the beginning of 2010.
On 27 November 2009, the 4th International Competition Law Conference is organized in Brussels by the Dutch Speaking Section of the Brussels Bar. contrast was part of the organizing committee of this Conference.
On 25 November 2009, Frank Wijckmans makes a presentation at a widely attended conference organized by IBC Legal Conferences in Brussels on the “Reform of the Regulatory Framework of Motor Vehicle Distribution”.
At the request of the Belgian Federation of Enterprises, Frank Wijckmans and Sofie De Keer publish an article on the application of competition rules to trade associations in Federations and Competition Law (Larcier 2009, p. 21-49). Maaike Visser publishes an article on trade federations and sanctions under competition rules in the same monograph (p. 135-167).
Frank Wijckmans and Sofie De Keer publish an article on “Discrimination and competition law” in Trends in Business Law (Kluwer/Bruylant 2009, p. 35-75).
On 19 November 2009, De Tijd, the leading business news paper in Flanders, published a full page interview with Frank Wijckmans on various recent developments in the field of competition law. [pdf]
Also on 19 November 2009, Frank Wijckmans speaks before the Annual Conference of the Institute of Company Lawyers on the issue of permissible and prohibited discrimination under competition law.
On 13 November 2009, contrast is present at the ELSA Law Job Days of the University of Antwerp (UA).
In its November issue, Forward, the business magazine of the Federation of Belgian Industries publishes an interview with Frank Wijckmans on the analysis of discriminatory treatment under the competition rules. [pdf]
On 1 November 2009, contrast welcomes Luc Demeyere as senior counsel. Luc has extensive experience in dispute resolution including post-acquisition disputes, company disputes, business intermediaries, construction and insurance matters, professional liability of auditors. He practices litigation, arbitration (both as counsel and as arbitrator) and mediation in domestic and cross border disputes.
On 27 October 2009, Filip Tuytschaever speaks on the competition law aspects of joint venture agreements at a full-day seminar organized by M&D Seminars devoted to commercial contracts.
On 15 October 2009, Frank Wijckmans and Sofie De Keer give a lecture on the competition rules applicable to vertical agreements at a seminar organized by Netlaw, an association of lawyers practicing in The Netherlands, in Utrecht (The Netherlands).
On 1 October 2009, Bart Bellen is the opening speaker with a presentation on the corporate and contract law aspects of temporary commercial associations (tijdelijke handelsvennootschap/société momentanée) at a full-day seminar organized by M&D Seminars devoted entirely to this company-type.
In its October 2009 issue, the magazine Me Think of the VFP (Vlaamse Federatie van Persverspreiders) publishes an interview with Frank Wijckmans and Anitka Sanders on subsidies to the Belgian Post. [PDF]
On 30 September 2009, Frank Wijckmans speaks at a conference organized by the Federation of Belgian Industries on “Vertical Restraints and Distribution Agreements”, and presents a practitioners’ perspective on the reform of Regulation (EC) nr. 2790/99.
On 28 September 2009, contrast submits comments to the European Commission on the review of the competition rules applicable to vertical agreements. [pdf]
On 25 September 2009, contrast submits comments to the European Commission on the future competition law framework applicable to the motor vehicle sector. [pdf]
On 24 September 2009, Frank Wijckmans and Sofie De Keer speak at a seminar organized by M&D Seminars on “Recent Competition Law Developments”.
On 23 September 2009, contrast (in cooperation with VOKA) organizes a seminar on intellectual property law and SMEs. Jochen Schraeyen and Ellen Enkels give a practical and case-based overview of the key intellectual property rights. Other speakers at the seminar include officials of the European Commission, KPMG, the Belgian Federal Public Service of Economy, GreenPan and the Flemish Innovation Centre.
On 18 September 2009, Frank Wijckmans and Sofie De Keer host a round table in the new seminars’ room of contrast. Around the table are stakeholders of the motor vehicle sector, who participate in a lively debate regarding the proposed changes to Regulation (EC) nr. 1400/2002 (the block exemption regulation applicable to motor vehicle distribution).
On 17 September 2009, Frank Wijckmans speaks at a Global Competition Review Conference organized in Brussels on the “Review of the Vertical Restraints Regime”.
On 11 September 2009, Frank Wijckmans speaks at a seminar on pricing and competition law organized by the Belgian Federation of Distribution (Fedis).
On 10 September 2009, Frank Wijckmans and Filip Tuytschaever represent the European Commission before the General Court against a number of appeals introduced against the decision adopted and the fines imposed by the European Commission in the Elevators and Escalators cartel.
Eva Alboort joins contrast as an associate in September 2009. Eva Alboort graduated from the University of Ghent and obtained an additional Master’s degree at the University of Lyon II (France) and the University of Montréal (Canada).
On 30 August 2009, Jeroen Stevens obtains his Master in Corporate Law at the University of Brussels (KUB).
In February and September 2009, Katrien Leijnen and Irina Majumdar work at contrast within the framework of their studies at the Law Faculty of the University of Antwerp and Ghent.
In July-September 2009, Jennifer Dubrulle, Annick Schaeken, Jenna Auwerx, Tom Hansen, Laura Casagrande and Hans Fivez are summer trainees at contrast. In addition to assisting on cases, they do research for ongoing publication projects, including a new monograph the competition law team is preparing on horizontal cartels under EC competition law and an update of the M&A Survey.
On 28 May 2009, Bart Bellen and Frank Wijckmans speak at a lunch seminar organized by Graydon on the new corporate governance code for listed companies.
In May 2009, Filip Tuytschaever is one of the tutors for the Case Study on European Competition Law organized by the LL.M. in International and European Law of the University of Brussels (VUB).
On 29 April 2009, Jochen Schraeyen publishes an article in the Juristenkrant on the impact of a landmark judgment of the European Court of Justice on the Belgian unfair trade practices rules in general and the prohibition on joint offers in particular. [pdf]
On 22 April 2009, Filip Tuytschaever lectures on competition law at a Business School Program organized by Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel (HUBrussel).
On 1 April 2009, Frank Wijckmans gives a lecture on competition law at a Postgraduate Program for Bankruptcy Trustees in Antwerp.
On 26-27 March 2009, the spring meeting of the Antitrust Alliance is held in Frankfurt. The Antitrust Alliance pools the expertise of specialized competition law teams in the majority of EU Member States, thereby addressing the implications of the EU’s policy to decentralize the application of the competition rules. External speaker at this meeting is Mr. Eberhard Temme (Head, First Decision Division, German Federal Cartel Office), who discusses the application of the German Leniency notice.
On 13 March 2009, Frank Wijckmans gives a presentation regarding the application of competition law rules to trade associations at a Conference organized by the Federation of Belgian Industries.
On 4 March 2009, Anitka Sanders is second in the yearly moot court competition at the Brussels Bar (Dutch Speaking Section).
On 18 February 2009, Frank Wijckmans gives a lecture on competition law at a Postgraduate Program for Bankruptcy Trustees in Bruges.
In February 2009, Caroline Van Daele starts a secondment as a cabinet advisor to the Belgian Minister of Justice responsible in particular for corporate law matters.
In 2009, Ellen Enkels and Jeroen Stevens successfully pass their bar exams.
In 2009, Herlinde Burez continues her contributions to the recent case law section of the Tijdschrift voor Belgische Mededinging/Revue de concurrence belge.
During the academic year 2008-2009, Filip Tuytschaever continues to lecture EU competition law at the University of Brussels (VUB), where he is appointed as part-time professor.
During the academic year 2008-2009, Thomas De Clerck is a teaching assistant at the Law Faculty of the University of Leuven (KUL) teaching the course “Introduction to legal sciences”.
contrast continues to expand the circulation of the Antitrust Alert, compiled by Maaike Visser. The contrast Antitrust Alert provides a daily overview of the most important competition law developments in the EU and the EU member states. Should you wish to receive the Antitrust Alert, please let us know by sending a mail to info@contrast-law.be.