Event Report

Tuesday 14 March 2023 saw The Legal 500 hold the GC Summit — Belgium in Brussels. In association with headline sponsor Loyens & Loeff, as well as sponsors Mayer Brown, White & Case, Altius and Diligent, this event included a series of panel sessions covering a variety of cutting-edge topics of interest to in-house counsel active in the wider Benelux region.

While the day began with a downpour, we were happy to see so many Benelux lawyers brave the weather to arrive moments after the front doors were opened. Attendance was so high as to necessitate bringing out extra chairs to fill the event space!

Panels included how companies can best contractually foresee sustainability targets and pass them on to the supply chain, managing international disputes, FDI and the practicalities of adapting to a new M&A landscape, the growing importance of ESG and the role that GCs play, the latest merger control updates, and overcoming regional labour and employment issues.

The event officially began with the rain finally abetting, followed by a welcome address from Nathan Oseroff-Spicer, The Legal 500’s Research Editor for Special Projects / GC Magazine.

Attendees then listened to a lively lecture from Philippe De Wulf, partner at Altius, on global supply chains and fair working conditions, as well as sustainability within the modern corporate environment.

This was followed by an interactive presentation by Thomas Lenné and Mathias Hendrickx, partner and senior associate at Loyens & Loeff, which discussed the impact of ESG on shareholder activism. Of note, through the use of the Legal 500 events app, audience members were able to participate in live audience polls and ask questions of Thomas and Mathias in real-time.

During White & Case’s panel, five White & Case experts and Caroline Kindermans, Group Head M&A Legal of Ageas Group, sat down to discuss the new Belgian screening mechanism that is expected to enter into force on 1 July 2023. Attendees then joined in an extended Q&A that lead to a spirited discussion.

Following a short coffee break, the fourth panel was Mayer Brown’s panel on planning transactions and merger control features, helmed by Sarwenaz Kiani and Andrea Pomana, counsel and partner at Mayer Brown. They interviewed Grania Holzwarth, Head of EU competition policy at Telekom and Ulla Schwager, Head of Unit D5 at DG COMP, two notable experts on merger control.

In The Legal 500’s Fireside Chat, Hajo Jansen, Diligent’s Regional Vice President, Western Europe, and Kristof Macours, Euroclear’s Company Secretary, sit down for a joint interview with The Legal 500��s Nathan Oseroff-Spicer. The extended discussion covered how to prepare for upcoming regulations and stakeholder expectations, how to keep the board informed and manage a potential crisis, and the role of the board to drive performance and keep up with stakeholder demands.

Loyens & Loeff returned for the last panel of the day for a broad-ranging discussion on how companies can best contractually foresee their sustainability targets. Partner Stéphanie De Smedt and senior associate Sarah Benzidi of Loyens & Loeff gave a brief presentation, then sat down with five experts across the spectrum of ESG and sustainability issues. Attendees were still in rapt attention long after the ‘official’ end of the panel session, since Nathan Oseroff-Spicer had to politely request the Q&A continue during the food and drinks reception outside the events space. Attendees then enjoyed an extended conversation with the Loyens & Loeff panellists, as well as drinks and canapés.

The Legal 500 team was pleased to return once more to Brussels, and we look forward to returning again next year for another GC Summit!

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