ELL

ELL. – Boutique Employment Law Firm

ELL. is a boutique law firm specialising in all aspects of Belgian corporate employment and labour law. Founded in 2024 by former partners of a leading global business law firm’s Brussels office, the firm provides top-tier legal services with a focus on efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and client-centric solutions. Within its first year, the firm has already been recognised in the Chambers Europe rankings for 2025.

A Strategic, Cost-Effective Alternative

The combination of on the one hand several decades of international law firm corporate employment expertise as international well-known employment partners and on the other hand the more flexible, more cost effective and hence more value for money structure of a local boutique firm, sets ELL. apart on the local Brussels market.

ELL. is committed to long-term client relationships based on trust, transparency, and business-focused solutions. By anticipating legal challenges and providing proactive advice, the firm helps clients stay ahead in an evolving employment landscape.

Clear & Practical Expertise

ELL. assists employers with all aspects of employment law, from hiring to termination, restructuring, compliance, and litigation. The firm’s approach is pragmatic and business-oriented, ensuring legal solutions that are both practical and strategic.

By maintaining a streamlined structure, the firm provides cost-effective legal support without compromising on quality or expertise.

Key Areas of Practice

1. Hiring & Workforce Onboarding

• Employment contracts & executive hiring
• Terms & conditions of employment
• Background screening & recruitment policies
• Workplace regulations & employee manuals
• Leave policies & reintegration of long-term ill employees

2. Termination & Dismissal

• Individual and collective lay-offs
• Post-termination obligations
• Unfair and discriminatory dismissal claims
• Protected employees & medical force majeure

3. Compensation & Benefits

• Remuneration structures
• Bonus and variable pay schemes
• Executive compensation & deferred benefits
• Social security and tax aspects

4. Flexible & Modern Workforce

• Working time regulations
• Self-employment and consultancy agreements
• Employee classification & agency work
• Employer of record arrangements

5. Restructuring & Business Transformation

• Collective redundancies & closures
• TUPE & outsourcing
• Industrial relations & social plan negotiations

6. HR Aspects of Corporate Transactions

• Due diligence & workforce integration
• Harmonisation of employment terms
• Post-merger restructuring & workforce reductions

7. Litigation & Mediation

• Employment dispute resolution
• Court litigation & certified mediation
• Unfair competition disputes

8. Compliance & Risk Management

• Internal compliance audits
• Workplace investigations & disciplinary actions
• Whistleblowing

9. Executive & Management Services

• C-level employment agreements
• Corporate governance matters
• Executive termination & severance negotiations

10. Business Protection

• Non-compete &agreements
• Confidentiality agreements
• Employee trade secret & IP protection matters
• Non-solicitation & non-disparagement provisions

11. International Employment & Mobility

• Salary split arrangements
• Secondment and expatriation agreements
• Tax and social security implications of international mobility

12. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Anti-discrimination policies
• Gender pay gap reporting
• Harassment prevention & workplace equality

13. Labour Relations & Industrial Relations

• Works council and trade union negotiations
• Collective bargaining agreements
• Industrial disputes and strike management

14. Employee Well-being & Workplace Safety

• Well-being policies & accident prevention
• Internal and external prevention services
• Health and safety compliance

15. Privacy & Data Protection

• GDPR compliance & workplace privacy
• Employee monitoring & cyber security
• Social media and email policies

16. Social Elections

• Planning & structuring of employee representation bodies
• Assistance during social election procedures & related disputes