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Claeys & Engels is proud to remain the top ranked Band 1 firm for Employment Law in Belgium. Also congratulations to our four ranked partners Chris Engels, Bart Adriaens, Bart Vanschoebeke and Sophie Maes!

Chambers Review:

What the team is known for: 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.

Strengths: One client simply states: "For HR matters we work with Claeys & Engels, who are very good, the best at this here."

Another client stresses that the lawyers "help us to achieve our different tasks, every time with a lot of empathy and determination just to be sure that we will reach our targets."

A third client underlines that the lawyers at Claeys & Engels are "leaders in the field."

Notable practitioners:

Bart Adriaens is particularly strong on social security law matters and represents clients in investigations and employment audits.

An interviewee describes Bart Vanschoebeke as an "excellent lawyer who is very logical." He advises clients on a range of employment mandates, including dismissals, contracts and works council matters.

Regarded as one of the leading employment law specialists in Belgium, Chris Engels has notable experience advising employers on collective dismissals and the transfer of employees to offices in other jurisdictions. He also represents clients in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and voluntary separation plans. One client enthuses that Chris Engels is "in my view, one of the best lawyers I know," and particularly highlights that "his technical knowledge is enormous."

Sophie Maes advises clients on compliance with Belgian legislation regarding working conditions and remuneration. She also assists employers with transfers of employees and with collective dismissals, including representing the client in discussions with the works council.

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