Karolien Francken

Competition / Compliance

Karolien is partner within Faros, where she is the driving force behind Faros’ innovative compliance practice. Karolien assists Belgian and international clients with various compliance matters. She has extensive practical experience in developing tailor-made compliance programs and providing hands-on trainings to legal teams and sales teams throughout Europe.

In addition to her compliance law practice, Karolien has broad experience in competition law, including private damages litigation. She was involved in – among others – investigations on the EU level in respect of Article 101 TFEU and follow-on private litigation (including Trucks). Karolien was involved in EU and Belgian merger control proceedings and provided high-level strategic advice on complex matters such as comprehensive joint purchasing arrangements, collaboration projects with competitors & information exchanges and the set-up and roll-out of European selective distribution systems. She has extensive sector expertise in the retail sector, FMCG sector and the automotive sector.

Karolien regularly publishes in the field of competition law. In 2022, she pulished a practical toolbook in response to the publication of Regulation 2022/720 and the 2022 Vertical Guidelines, which she wrote together with Faros partner Frank Wijckmans. Her most recent publication is "Horizontal Agreements - Block Exemptions & Horizontal Guidelines - Toolbook for Practitioners" (LeA Publishers) on the revised Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations on R&D and Specialisation agreements (‘HBERs') and the revised 2023 Horizontal Guidelines. She wrote this book together with Faros partners Emmelie Wijckmans, Frank Wijckmans and Maaike Visser and with Faros Associate Annemie Van de Vliet and Faros consultant Morgane Smets. This book contains the new legislation with indications of key words in bold, as well as a practical Q&A.

Masters Applied Economic Sciences – University of Antwerp (2005-2009)

Master of Laws – University of Antwerp (2009-2013)

Master Competition law – University of Toulouse Capitole I (2012-2013)