Business Law and Corporate Law

De Ondernemingsrechtbank Antwerpen bevestigt dat arbitragebedingen in internationale franchiseovereenkomsten ook geschillen over de Belgische Wet Precontractuele Informatie kunnen omvatten. Deze uitspraak volgt de lijn van het Hof van Cassatie en markeert een belangrijke verschuiving in hoe Belgische beschermingswetten worden toegepast in een internationale context.

A Belgian court has ruled that arbitration clauses in international franchise agreements can override local franchisee protections, even when disputes involve Belgium's Pre-Contractual Information Act. This landmark decision extends earlier Supreme Court precedent and fundamentally shifts how protective legislation interacts with contractual dispute resolution mechanisms in cross-border franchise relationships.

Dutch tax authorities have issued new guidance clarifying the comparability criteria for foreign pension funds seeking exemptions from Dutch corporate income tax and dividend withholding tax. The guidance addresses whether minimum age and income thresholds, as well as voluntary additional contributions, prevent foreign pension schemes from qualifying for Dutch tax relief.

Une société mère française a consenti des abandons de créances à ses filiales allemande et turque, mais l'administration fiscale a remis en cause leur déductibilité. La cour administrative d'appel de Bordeaux examine si ces abandons constituent des aides commerciales déductibles ou des libéralités non déductibles, en analysant les relations commerciales effectives et les perspectives de développement invoquées.

The Netherlands is poised to grant its competition authority unprecedented power to scrutinize mergers that fall below traditional notification thresholds, targeting potentially harmful transactions such as roll-up strategies and killer acquisitions. While the Dutch House of Representatives has approved the bill despite criticism from the Council of State, the legislation introduces an asymmetric threshold system and raises standard notification requirements, fundamentally reshaping the country's merger con

Private equity sponsors acquiring EU investment firms through third-country holding structures face complex regulatory architecture decisions under the Investment Firms Regulation and Directive. While there is no automatic EU intermediate holding company requirement, national competent authorities possess discretionary powers to mandate one where effective group-level supervision is absent, creating potential 'regulatory architecture debt' that accumulates with each successive acquisition.

A licence defence under Art. 25 UPCA must be substantiated within the UPC proceedings themselves; mere references to submissions in parallel national proceedings are insufficient (Art. 25 UPCA, R. 24 RoP)

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled on the extent to which personal data of minority shareholders in public companies can be disclosed to the general public without conditions. This judgment addresses the tension between business transparency objectives and fundamental rights to privacy and data protection under EU law. The decision examines whether making shareholder information unconditionally available online complies with GDPR requirements and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that Latvian legislation requiring unrestricted public access to shareholder information violates fundamental rights protections under the EU Charter. While the Court acknowledges the legitimacy of anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism, and sanctions objectives, it finds that these goals can be achieved through less intrusive measures that restrict access to competent authorities, obliged entities, and persons with legitimate interests. The judgment le

Arthur Cox unveils its refreshed 2026-2028 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, building on established foundations through four key pillars focused on gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, and disability and neurodiversity. The firm emphasizes practical approaches to recognizing and supporting difference while maintaining transparency and accountability in delivering on its inclusion ambitions.

Arthur Cox's sixth annual Sustainable Business Impact Report details the firm's progress across Community, Workplace, Environment and Marketplace initiatives during the 2025/26 financial year. The report reveals increased volunteering hours, substantial pro bono contributions, new charity partnerships, and mixed results in carbon reduction efforts as the firm expands its environmental measurement scope.

Two young women launched an Instagram account to foster inclusion and understanding of marginalized groups in German society, quickly attracting corporate attention for diversity workshops. As their platform grew to over 75,000 followers, they sought to transform their social media presence into an official nonprofit organization. McDermott's legal team provided pro bono counsel to guide them through the complex startup formation process in Germany.