What we did in 2011

In 2011, contrast celebrates its first five years as an independent law firm specialized in European and business law.

In 2011, we receive two ILO Client Choice Awards. As a firm, we receive the Client Choice Award as Belgian law firm of 2011, and Frank Wijckmans receives the Client Choice Award as competition lawyer in the European Union.

In 2011, our EU and competition law practice is recognized by the “The Legal 500”, who wrote: “contrast’s Frank Wijckmans (“impressive and deep skills”) and Filip Tuytschaever (“very useful institutional network”) are praised for “excellent, clear and structured drafting” and “very good advocacy”, being a “no-nonsense office delivering good value for money” for Belgian, Asian and EU-wide clients.

In 2011, contrast’s cases, projects, publications and seminars include the following:

In 2011, Frank Wijckmans teaches “The Law and Economics of Vertical Restraints” at the Brussels School of Competition, in co-chair with Mr T Vergé (Chief Economist of the French Competition Authority), and Filip Tuytschaever continues to teach “European Competition Law” as professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Brussels (VUB).

In January 2011, Herlinde Burez publishes an article with recent competition case-law in Tijdschrift voor Belgische mededinging/Revue de concurrence belge.

On 20 January, Filip Tuytschaever lectures on the legality of non-compete obligations under competition law in a cycle of lectures on business contracts organized by the Faculty of Law of the Free University of Brussels (VUB). The lecture is published by Filip Tuytschaever and Milena Varga in R. Feltkamp, E. Janssens en J. Lemmens (ed.), Ondernemingscontracten: stap voor stap, Larcier 2011, 195-213

On 25 January, Frank Wijckmans speaks on “Distribution of spare parts and supply of components” at the IBC Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation Conference (Brussels).

On 17 February, Frank Wijckmans and Bart Bellen present the main developments in 2010 in the field of “Competition and Corporate law” at the “Knipperlichten 2011” seminar organized by contrast law seminars in collaboration with Larcier.

On 1 March, Frank Wijckmans lectures on “Information Exchange and the Object/Effect Distinction” at a Global Competition Review Conference on The New EU Regime for Horizontal Cooperation Agreements amongst Competitors (Brussels).

On 27 April, contrast organizes its first “European Day for Students” at its offices and at the European Commission. About 50 students attended. Speakers included Mr G. Spriet (Assistant Policy Officer, cabinet of Commissioner De Gucht) and Mr E De Smijter (Deputy Head of Unit, DG Competition).

On 27 April, Frank Wijckmans gives a lecture on the competition law regime applicable to online business at a seminar organized by BeCommerce (Brussels).

In April, Jeroen Stevens publishes a commentary on arbitration (articles 1676–1723 of the Belgian Judicial Code) in P Dauw, D Scheers and B Wylleman (eds.), Wet en Duiding, Burgerlijk Procesrecht, deel 1 en deel 2, Larcier 2011.

On 5 May 2011, contrast law seminars organizes a back-to-basics seminar on competition law. Speakers are Frank Wijckmans and Herlinde Burez.

On 5 and 6 May 2011, the spring meeting of the Antitrust Alliance is held in Athens (Greece). Guest speaker at the meeting is Mr D Loukas from the Greek Competition Committee.

On 11 May, Frank Wijckmans lectures on the EU competition law regime on information exchanges at a seminar organized by Global Competition Review (London).

In May, Luc Demeyere publishes an article in the Dutch-Flemish Journal for Mediation and Conflict Management on the differences between judicial proceedings and mediation.

On 18 May, Delphine Ghys joins contrast as a junior associate. Delphine Ghys graduated from the University of Ghent and previously was a lawyer at Baker McKenzie.

In June, Luc Demeyere publishes an essay on the differences in approach to procedures under common law and civil law in Ad Rem, the bi-monthly Journal of the Flemish Bar Association.

On 22 June, Frank Wijckmans lectures on “information exchanges” at a seminar organized by the Federation of Belgian Enterprises.

In July, Bart Bellen publishes an article on non-compete covenants in acquisition agreements in the Tijdschrift voor Rechtspersoon en Vennootschap.

On 23 and 25 August, Filip Tuytschaever lectures on “Horizontal and vertical agreements in EU competition law” at a seminar organized by Confocus (Gent and Hasselt).

On 23 and 25 August, Luc Demeyere give a presentation on “Do’s and don’ts in international arbitrage” at a seminar organized by Confocus (Gent and Hasselt).

On 26 August, Luc Demeyere and Maaike Visser give a presentation on “Consortium Agreements for Research Projects” at a seminar organized by the University of Leuven.

In September, Luc Demeyere publishes an article on the management of commercial conflicts in the Dutch-Flemish Journal for Mediation and Conflict Management.

In September, Petar Cimentarov joins contrast as a junior associate. Petar Cimentarov graduated from the University of Ghent and obtained a Master’s degree at the University of Nottingham (UK).

On 29 September 2011, Jochen Schraeyen and Thomas De Clerck lecture on “Terms and Conditions” at an online seminar organized by Lexalert.

On 20 October, contrast law seminars organizes a seminar in collaboration with Larcier on back-to-basics criminal law for companies. Speakers are Frank Vandewalle and Patrick Waeterinckx, both lawyers at Antaxius.

On 24 October, contrast organizes a training for the students of the University of Antwerp participating in a moot court on European law.

On 27 October, Frank Wijckmans gives a presentation on “Do’s en don’ts for M&A agreements” organized by Graydon.

On 27 October, contrast organizes the second “European Day for Students” for an attendance of more than 50 students at our offices and at the European Commission. Speakers are Mr L Peeperkorn (Principal Expert in Antitrust Policy, DG Competition) and Mr J Nuijten (Case handler - Antitrust /Cartels, DG Competition).

In September, Thomas De Clerck starts as a teaching assistant of Prof. Dr. Bernard Tilleman at the Faculty of Law of the University of Kortrijk.

On 17 November, Bart Bellen, Jeroen Stevens and Niels Watseels publish two articles in the Tijdschrift voor Rechtspersoon en Vennootschap, one on fraud and information obligations in connection with acquisition agreements and one on how to carefully draft reps and warranties.

On 18 November, Luc Demeyere gives a presentation on “Conflictmanagement from a business perspective: the Bombardier case study” (Utrecht, The Netherlands).

On 23 November 2011, Jochen Schraeyen publishes an article in the Juristenkrant on the jurisdiction rules applicable to disputes regarding international sales agreements.

On 24 November, Frank Wijckmans gives a presentation on “Legal issues of online business” at a seminar organized by BeCommerce (Brussels).

On 8 and 9 December 2011, the fall meeting of the Antitrust Alliance is held at the offices of contrast in Brussels. The fall meeting is combined with an Antitrust Alliance Training Day for partners, associates and paralegals of the members of the Alliance. The topic concerns the EU/US competition law guidelines on information exchanges. Key-note speaker is Mr L Blad (Bingham McCutchen, Washington DC (US)).

On 16 December, Frank Wijckmans lectures on “The Law and Economics of Vertical Restraints” at the Brussels School for Competition.

In December, Frank Wijckmans and Filip Tuytschaever publish the second edition of their book on Vertical Agreements in EU Competition Law at Oxford University Press. More information on the book, as well as a sample chapter, can be found in the OUP catalogue.
Copies of the book can be ordered at a discount price via our website.