We regularly assist financial intermediaries (banks, stockbrokers, asset managers, discretionary portfolio management firms, distributors of financial instruments, etc.) in obtaining the required licence(s) from the regulators, and in designing compliant organizations and procedures. We are particularly active for foreign private banks, as well as for asset managers (cf. below the description of our investment funds practice) willing to set up a presence in Belgium through a subsidiary, a branch or simply a representative office. Our mission in that regard also includes assisting our clients in structuring intra-group delegations abroad, relationships with third party portfolio managers and business developers.

The firm also often acts for foreign groups willing to sell financial products or services in Belgium without establishing a presence in the country.

The management, compliance officer, and in-house counsel of our clients also typically ask us to provide on-going legal and compliance assistance in the conduct of their business. In that context, we regularly give advice on a wide range of legal issues affecting the financial sector (money laundering regulations, rules of conduct, marketing of financial products and services, drafting contractual documentation with clients, etc.). Our services to the financial sector also include legal assistance relating to software license agreements, and more generally with respect to matters of intellectual property and information technology.