Hoffmann & Partners
Belgian and European law specialist. We speak English, French, German and Dutch
Practice Areas
Commercial distribution, agency agreements
Exclusive distributorship agreements: drafting and/or termination, redundancy allowances; Commercial representation, agency agreements, franchise agreements: drafting, termination, assessment of indemnities; institute proceedings, representation at court.
Labour law
Labour agreements: drafting, termination, remedies un case of dismissal, trial periods, holidays and vacations; institute proceedings, representation at court.
Intellectual property rights
Trade marks, business names, patents, drawing and models, copyright. License agreements, cancellation of rights, remedies against violation of intellectual property rights; institute proceedings, representation at court.
Business and Company Law
Formation of private limited companies, corporations, cooperative companies and partnerships; issues linked to liability and limitation of liability, steps and formalities with the register of commerce (Crossroad Bank for Enterprises), shareholders/partners agreements; institute proceedings, representation at court.
Arbitration
International commercial arbitration; representation in arbitral proceedings and party-appointed arbitrator; drafting of arbitral agreements and arbitral missions
European law
Competition, state aids, free movement of workers and services; institute proceedings and representation at court.
About the Firm
Business Law in the heart of Europe
HOFFMANN is an International Business Law Firm based in the heart of Europe.
Since 1974, the firm has provided advice and court representation on Belgian, German and European legal affairs.
Our lawyers have different international backgrounds and citizenships. We operate in several languages including English, French, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.
Belgium is a multicultural country. Our lawyers are able to defend our clients’ interests in Flemish, French, German and English.
Tailor made legal services
Our efficient, thorough and creative work, the flexibility and the professional awareness have assured our clients’ confidence since many years. The constitution of goal-oriented teams under an experienced management allow us to have rewarding discussions with our clients allowing us to find the most appropriate solutions answers to the legal issues related to their business…
Firm Partners and assistants
Elisabeth Hoffmann
Education:
Dr. Hoffmann studied at the universities of Freiburg i.Br. (Germany), Saarbrücken (Germany), Paris (Sorbonne), and finished its Law course at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), where she obtained the title of Doctor of Laws . Due to her scientific knowledge, she then worked as research delegate at the Centre of Private law (“Centre de Droit Privé”) of the University of Brussels from 1974 to 1978.
Marc Maes
Marc Maes has been a lawyer at the Bar of Brussels since November 2005. He graduated in law from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in 2005, after spending his final year studying at the University of Lyon (France).
Mr Maes previously worked in two reputed law firms in Brussels, before joining the law firm Hoffmann & Partners in 2016.
Mr Maes is bilingual (in Dutch and French), fluent in English and has a very good passive knowledge of German. He practises commercial and civil law. Mr Maes has extensive experience of complex commercial matters.
For Mr Maes, the key qualities of a lawyer are a client focused approach, in depth knowledge of the case and identifying pragmatic solutions for each client. At court, Mr Maes presents each client’s case with vigour and strives to secure a just and fair result for each client
Christian Schillings
Mr. Christian Schillings is the firm’s legal assistant with over 40 years of experience.
He graduated at Law from the University of Louvain in 1974 and obtained a degree of specialized studies in European Law from the University of Brussels in 1976.
Mr. Schillings joined the law firm Hoffmann and partners jn 1993 and has been since then in charge of the scientific research and assistance for the other firm’s members.
His main centers of interests focuse on International Business law , Commercial distribution law, Intellectual property rights and European law.
Mr. Schillings is fluent in French and English and has a very good passive knowledge in Dutch and German
He has contributed to the preparation of several articles and conferences on various legal subjects.
He is co-author of a book concerning the issue of ‘Parallel imports in European Union’ (Ed. Anthemis, Belgium, March 2012).
