Representatives from all the member firms meet semi-annually to discuss matters concerning the ELG network. Recently meetings have been held in Valletta and Malmö.
Within the ELG there are also a number of specialist sub-groups, some convening regularly, others on a more ad hoc basis. Active sub-groups include Intellectual Property/E-Commerce, Mergers and Acquisitions, Taxation, Employment, and Distribution.
Every once in a while the ELG arranges seminars covering one or more current issues in the member states. Examples of such events were seminars held in Trento, Italy. Other special events include M&A workshops for younger ELG lawyers, two of which have been held in recent years, in London and Paris respectively.
On Foreign Actors’ access to Public Procurement TRADE BARRIERS BEYOND TARIFFS Trade barriers extend far beyond customs duties. They include any measure used to restrict trade between countries. Access to public procurement markets is a key component of global commerce. When countries introduce discriminatory procurement rules, they effectively limit foreign companies’ ability to compete…
Spain Introduces Mandatory Pre-Action ADR for Most Civil and Commercial Claims Since April 4th 2025, Spain joined the growing list of EU jurisdictions (including France, Italy, Belgium, amongst others) that require a genuine attempt at out-of-court resolution before filing most types of civil and commercial lawsuits. The new regime, introduced by Organic Law 1/2025, of…
Terminating a Company with an Empty Balance Sheet in the Netherlands: Turbo Liquidation as an option In the Netherlands, there are various ways to terminate a company with an empty balance sheet. The so-called “ turbo liquidation” is one of them. This involves a company ceasing to exist immediately upon dissolution when there are no…
Estudio Juridico Almagro, S.L.P. hosted the spring meeting of the European Law Group (ELG) in Madrid. Highlights included updates on external marketing support, the secondment of junior lawyers, the “Young Lawyers Group,” and training sessions for multinational clients. Members also discussed potential ELG expansion to Poland, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as website updates and…
General Context: Modernization and Harmonization By an Ordinance dated 17 July 2025, the Brussels legislator amended several provisions relating to registration duties and inheritance tax. This reform is part of a broader effort to harmonize the Brussels regime with that of the Walloon and Flemish Regions. It has two main objectives: modernizing registration rules and…
It can be done — but certain conditions must be met ________________________________________ Shareholder disputes – A common issue with serious consequences Conflicts between shareholders in private limited companies (SRLs/BVs) (and even public limited companies (SAs/NVs)) are quite common. Unfortunately, the solutions are rarely simple and almost always expensive. In many cases, these disputes threaten the…
When drafting and negotiating distribution agreements under Dutch law, a non-compete clause (or exclusivity clause) is a commonly used element. Suppliers often wish to restrict their distributors’ ability to sell competing products, both during the term of the agreement and for a certain period thereafter. But how far can you go? And when does such…
For decades, Western European – and certainly Dutch – M&A practice has been influenced by England and, in particular, the United States. One example of this influence is found in the qualification of certain obligations in predominantly English-language share purchase agreements, which are often based on the undertaking to use a certain effort rather than…
On 4 March 2024, the Court of Rome delivered a potentially groundbreaking judgment with consequences for digital marketing and the activities of influencers in the European Union, including the Netherlands. In its decision, the court held that influencers who promote products via social media can, under certain circumstances, be classified as commercial agents within the…
Van Till hosted the spring meeting of the ELG in Amsterdam. Highlights of the meeting included expansion of the ELG to several European countries, promoting contact and cooperation between member firm’s junior associates through the “Young lawyers group” and the establishment of a secondment programme. On Saturday, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy the work…