Belgium: Corporate/Commercial Law

Goodwin Procter LLP submits detailed observations on the European Commission's draft merger control guidelines, identifying four critical areas where current drafting risks undermining legal certainty: the innovation shield's failure to operate as a genuine safe harbour, insufficient evidentiary boundaries for reverse killer acquisition theories, lack of limiting principles in entrenchment and ecosystem theories, and unworkable compliance obligations regarding common ownership by institutional investors.

McDermott Will & Schulte and Brunswick Group examine the European Commission's most significant reassessment of EU merger control in over two decades, exploring how the draft guidelines aim to modernise enforcement for digital markets, innovation and competitiveness. The discussion reveals key procedural shifts including the introduction of a "theory of benefit" framework and what businesses should prepare for as the final guidelines approach publication.

European M&A activity in the first half of 2026 presents a paradox: deal values reached their highest levels since late 2021 at USD661.5 billion, yet transaction volumes dropped sharply by 17.8%. Strategic acquirors are pushing forward with deals despite geopolitical uncertainty, with defense, renewable energy, and electric vehicles emerging as key sectors driven by supply-chain concerns and evolving EU regulatory dynamics that favor domestic consolidation while scrutinizing foreign investment.

The European Commission has unveiled its most comprehensive EU direct tax framework review to date, shifting policy focus from anti-avoidance measures toward competitiveness and simplification. The Tax Simplification Package promises EUR8 billion in annual savings through sweeping changes to withholding taxes, dividend taxation, interest limitation rules, and cross-border structures. These reforms will fundamentally reshape how businesses structure their European operations, requiring careful analysis of ex

Goodwin Procter LLP submits detailed observations on the European Commission's draft merger control guidelines, identifying four critical areas where current drafting risks undermining legal certainty: the innovation shield's failure to operate as a genuine safe harbour, insufficient evidentiary boundaries for reverse killer acquisition theories, lack of limiting principles in entrenchment and ecosystem theories, and unworkable compliance obligations regarding common ownership by institutional investors.

McDermott Will & Schulte and Brunswick Group examine the European Commission's most significant reassessment of EU merger control in over two decades, exploring how the draft guidelines aim to modernise enforcement for digital markets, innovation and competitiveness. The discussion reveals key procedural shifts including the introduction of a "theory of benefit" framework and what businesses should prepare for as the final guidelines approach publication.

The European Commission's proposal for an EU Inc. promises faster, digital incorporation and more harmonised corporate structures across Member States. But can this new framework genuinely reduce legal fragmentation and strengthen Europe's competitive position, or does it simply add another layer to an already complex corporate landscape?

On the 18 March 2026, the European Commission (‘the Commission’) announced a new and harmonised corporate legal regime, ‘EU Inc.’ touted as the ‘28th regime’. It is the European Union’s (‘EU’) response to fragmentation faced...

The European Commission has published draft merger guidelines that consolidate and significantly update its analytical framework for assessing mergers, introducing new considerations for innovation, privacy, sustainability, resilience, and labor markets.

The Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI) has introduced revised Arbitration Rules effective June 1, 2026, designed to modernize dispute resolution through enhanced digital capabilities, clearer multiparty procedures, and integrated mediation processes.

Boards in the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union face increasing pressure to oversee cybersecurity risks amid evolving regulatory expectations.

The new Book 6 of the Belgian Civil Code brought about the abolition of the "quasi-immunity" from direct liability for auxiliaries (such as directors and subcontractors).