Europe Belgium Employment

Claeys & Engels is a market-leading employment law boutique boasting a highly regarded team spread over six offices across Belgium. The firm has particular experience handling all aspects of large collective dismissals and restructuring processes, including representing companies in consultations with trade unions, the transfer of employees to other countries and in the negotiation of social plans, voluntary separation plans and collective bargaining agreements. Team members also have notable experience handling high-profile discrimination disputes concerning age and religion. Claeys & Engels additionally advises clients on compliance with Belgian legislation regarding working conditions and remuneration.

ALTIUS has a broad employment law practice, advising employers on both collective dismissals and contentious individual terminations. The firm is active in a number of contentious matters, including harassment cases, as well as social security and payroll disputes. On the non-contentious side, the team advises clients on contract negotiations and bonus scheme agreements. It also assists clients with on-site social inspections. ALTIUS has a number of clients from the sports sector, representing both individuals and clubs.

Loyens & Loeff is a highly regarded employment practice offering an integrated network across the Benelux region that enables the law firm to advise clients on regional reorganisations. The team assists clients with collective dismissals as part of restructurings and with the dismissal of protected employees. It represents clients in social security disputes and social inspections. Loyens & Loeff additionally acts for clients on matters concerning employee benefits and flexible reward schemes.

Lydian offers clients a broad range of assistance with employment law matters, including advising on compliance with remuneration legislation and pensions regulations. The law firm advises on collective dismissals and individual terminations, as well as the transfer of employees between jurisdictions. The team has notable experience representing clients in discrimination complaints and in social plan disputes. Additionally, team members represent clients in negotiations around collective bargaining agreements.

Stibbe is a high-quality full-service law firm with an accomplished employment team acting on a range of matters. The team has a strong focus on contentious employment law matters, defending employers in disputes around working time schedules, litigation about employment status, social security disputes and concealed employment investigations. In addition, the firm handles complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying. Stibbe advises on restructuring processes and collective dismissals. Team members have experience dealing with strikes and advising on the transfer of employees from different jurisdictions.

CMS collaborates with the firm's offices across Europe to advise on global reorganisations and the cross-border transfer of employees. The law firm also advises on flexible working hours, social elections, collective bargaining agreements and social security mandates. It assists with collective dismissals and claims for unreasonable dismissal, as well as acting on contentious matters concerning the employment status of individuals in the gig economy. Team members offer experience in pensions law matters.

Eubelius has a strong focus on pensions and benefits matters, representing clients in pensions disputes and advising on compliance with the current regulations. The law firm also acts on discrimination cases, particularly on the grounds of religion or gender. The team advises on collective and individual dismissals and social security disputes. It has additional experience in contract negotiations, organising social elections and advising on changes to employment status. Eubelius is particularly popular with clients from the public sector.

Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick is particularly active in dismissal cases, advising on collective dismissals and the dismissal of protected employees, as well as representing both employers and employees in disputes around individual terminations. The law firm also represents the victims of discrimination and harassment in employment disputes. Additionally, the team advises clients on disputes around the employment status of individuals in the gig economy and on damages claims following workplace accidents.

Van Olmen & Wynant often assists public sector clients with employment law matters. The law firm advises on a number of multi-jurisdictional employment matters, such as the transfer of employees, the lending out of personnel and the hiring of foreign nationals. The team also acts on termination mandates, acting for employers and employees, and also represents clients in disputes concerning whether the company made sufficient effort to find reasonable alternative work for an employee before dismissal. Van Olmen & Wynant additionally acts on privacy issues, discrimination cases and social security disputes. Team members often assist with negotiating employment contracts.

DLA Piper handles both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. The firm represents clients in collective and individual dismissals, including for serious cause, as well as in social inspections and social security disputes. The team also has experience in working time audits and workplace accidents. It additionally acts on the transfer of employees, the establishment of works councils and the negotiation of collective labour agreements.

Fieldfisher assists clients with harassment and discrimination claims, as well as advising on restructuring matters that lead to terminations. The law firm advises clients on flexible working and whistle-blowing policies. It represents clients in social investigations and assists with issues around self-employment status. The team acts on the employment aspects of M&A transactions.

The employment law team at Linklaters supports the firm's well-regarded corporate department and the firm's offices across Europe to advise on the employment aspects of multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions. Additionally, it advises clients on incentive plans and working time regulations, as well as on contractual issues and self-employment status matters. The team represents clients in social inspections and employee dismissals.