A&O Shearman Belgium

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

We are delighted to see Vendis Capital's impressive fundraising for Vendis IV surge past 500 million euros in commitments from existing and new investors among entrepreneurs, family offices, blue-chip wealth advisors, pension funds, and other institutional investors.    With this new fund, Vendis Capital once again reaffirms itself as an active and important player in the European consumer brand space, and our A&O Shearman Belgium team, led by Isabelle Panis, is very proud to have advised the fund on legal and tax matters during the raising of this new fund.    Congratulations to Vendis Capital and our dedicated teams!    Klaas Backaert │ Rik Baete │ Niels De Waele │ Sarah Michot │ Sophie Rutten │ Louise Holmens │ Ellen Soenen │ Caroline Lapidus │ Andrew Meiser │ Hilary Sunghee Seo │ Joshua Kim │ Susan Gault-Brown.   #PrivateCapital #Funds

Are you planning to work remotely in more sunny weather during the winter months? Both employees and employers should be aware of the implications on taxation and companies need clear arrangements that are in line with legal obligations.   Listen to our global podcast with insightful tips and tricks from our Belgian experts Rik Baete and Sara Husain.    #RemoteWork #InternationalTax #AOShearmanGlobalTax

𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁: 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠&𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 We are excited to announce our upcoming webinar 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠&𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀, taking place on 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟰. This session will provide a deep dive into the strategic considerations of AI in mergers, acquisitions, and contracts. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜: key areas when drafting and negotiating AI-related contracts (licensing AI systems) • 𝗠&𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗜 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀: specific points of attention when acquiring an AI-driven business and contractual nuances in the SPA or APA • 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗤&𝗔: Engage with our panelists Sarah De Wulf, Peter Van Dyck, Wouter Van de Voorde and Bert Verhoeven and get your questions answered in real-time. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: • 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Thursday 24 October 2024 • 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 11:00am-12:00pm (CET) • 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: Don't miss out on this opportunity! Send an email to sarah.dewulf@aoshearman.com to secure your spot. We look forward to seeing you there! #Webinar #AI #M&A #Contracts #Licensing #ArtificialIntelligence

Do you want to benefit from the latest insights on a complex and fast evolving topic as cybersecurity? Please reach to our Belgian specialists Thomas Declerck, Sarah De Wulf, Filip Van Elsen and Peter Van Dyck if you have any questions.   #SecureOurWorld

Ready to Elevate Your Real Estate Game?   Rudy Dupont and Jeff Hermans, leaders in Belgium's real estate, are making their way to EXPO REAL (Messe München) from October 7th to 9th. 🏢✨   Curious about the Belgian market? Hunting for the next big investment? Catch-up with Rudy and Jeff for exclusive insights and expert advice.    Don't miss out!   #RealEstate #EXPOREAL #Networking #InvestmentOpportunities #BelgiumRealEstate  

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗗𝗜 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 We attended the Belgian Screening Commission's event marking the first anniversary of FDI screening in Belgium. Here are some highlights: - 𝟲𝟴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Only 5 led to phase 2 screenings, showing a smooth process for most. - 𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Only 2 notifications were out of scope, despite guidance to notify in case of doubt. - 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿: More detailed sector information in the guidance or annual report would be helpful. - 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀: Unsurprisingly, predominantly US (43%) and UK (29%) investors. - 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: The Commission is also looking forward to the upcoming EU FDI Regulation. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀. #FDI #InvestmentScreening #Belgium #EU   Gauthier van Thuyne Frederiek Adams Fee Goossens Alexander Pirard

The bathroom specialist X2O Badkamers is set for significant growth with Waterland Private Equity becoming the new majority shareholder, joining forces with existing shareholders Vendis Capital and Jan Ollevier.    We are delighted to have advised the existing sellers on their sale and subsequent reinvestment in this transaction. The deal team was led by Frederiek Adams, with support from Kaat Vervenne, Dimas Coetsier, and Alexandre Coulon. Charles Pommiès assisted on the competition aspects of the deal.   This strategic partnership aims to bolster X²O's market position and drive expansion. The move highlights the increasing importance of strategic alliances in driving growth and market consolidation within the home improvement sector.   Thank you to all parties for a great collaboration!   #PrivateEquity #StrategicGrowth #MandA