Eric Montens is a senior counsel in the Brussels office of Crowell & Moring. His practice focuses mainly on general commercial & corporate, competition and product risk management matters.
He assists national and international clients on a variety of issues concerning commercial distribution and related matters, such as franchise, selective distribution, agency, competition, licensing, and consumer protection. He regularly litigates distribution matters before national courts and arbitration panels.
As part of Eric's product risk management practice, he advises corporations on the legislation applicable to their products when put on the EU market. He has represented manufacturers, suppliers and importers in product safety (including product recall) matters with the national (consumer) safety authorities of the EU member states involving, among others, tires, toys, children's products and other (consumer) goods. On international product risk management issues, he often works closely with the firm's U.S. offices, as well as lawyers in other parts of the world.
Eric has also been seconded to companies in the IT/Telecommunications sectors, where he has worked with clients both as part of their legal team and as standalone legal counsel in their day-to-day business, including software license review, general commercial contract review, distribution network development, litigation monitoring, and corporate matters.
Eric studied at the law faculties of the Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix in Namur (1997, jur. cand.) and of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (2000, jur. lic.). He also spent a year at the University of Uppsala, Sweden (1999). In 2001, he obtained a master's degree in EU Law at the Institute for European Studies of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (LLM, cum laude).
Eric was admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2001. Before joining Crowell & Moring he was an associate in a leading franchise and distribution law firm in Brussels.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: in Belgium and before the European Court
Highlights, News & Knowledge
Speeches & Presentations
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"Selected Topics for Non-profit Associations," Crowell & Moring Open Table, Brussels, Belgium
(November 26, 2019).
Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Frederik Van Remoortel, and Eric Montens.
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"Internet of Things – Legal and IT Risks & Challenges," IJE/IBJ Open Table, Brussels, Belgium
(April 4, 2019).
Presenters: Tom Pace (Cylance), Maarten Stassen, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Eric Montens and Heidi Waem.
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"General Product Safety and Recall," IJE/IBJ Deep Dive - Product Liability & Security in the EU and Belgium: Handling the Risks Associated with Defective or Non-Compliant Products, Brussels
(December 6, 2018).
Presenter: Eric Montens.
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"Product Liability in Belgium," IJE/IBJ Deep Dive - Product Liability & Security in the EU and Belgium: Handling the Risks Associated with Defective or Non-Compliant Products, Brussels
(December 6, 2018).
Presenter: Eric Montens.
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"Product Liability and the Impact of the New Law," Crowell & Moring Product Liability and the Impact of the New Belgian Law on Collective Redress Seminar, Brussels
(June 20, 2014).
Speaker: Eric Montens.
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"Développements récents en matière de distribution, Le Livre X du Code de droit économique," Colloque de la Conférence du jeune barreau de Bruxelles
(April 29, 2014).
Speaker: Eric Montens.
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"Product Safety, Recalls and Liability," Product Liability, Recalls and Crisis Communication Seminar with Belgian Legal Counsel Institute, Brussels, Belgium
(September 20, 2012).
Speaker: Eric Montens.
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"Directors' and Managers' Liability: A Hands-on Approach," IJE / IBJ Deep Dive, Brussels, Belgium
Presenters: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Frederik Van Remoortel, Eric Montens, and Margaux van Steenbergh.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"Brexit and U.K. Consumer Product Safety Laws,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(August 23, 2016).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"European Commission Releases 2015 RAPEX Report,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(June 1, 2016).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"The European Commission Is Not Bound by EFSA’s Approval of Food Health Claims,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(June 1, 2016).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"EU Launches Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Portal for Consumers,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(April 4, 2016).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"An EU Logo for Safer Online Shopping for Medicines,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(August 2015).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"EU Court Finds That Food Label May Be Misleading Even If List of Ingredients Is Not ,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(June 2015).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"European Court Expands Product Liability Exposure for Medical Device Producers,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(May 2015).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"EU Publishes 2014 RAPEX Report,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(April 2015).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"New EU Food Labeling Rules Effective December 13, 2014,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(December 19, 2014).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"Belgium Introduces A Collective Redress Mechanism For Product Safety and Product Liability Claims,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(September 18, 2014).
Contacts: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Eric Montens
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"New European Commission Medical Device Safety Initiatives Aimed at Notified Bodies Will Impact Device Manufacturers As Well,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(October 24, 2013).
Contact: Eric Montens
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"Belgian Competition Council shows its teeth and levies a 66,3 million Euro fine,"
Antitrust Law Alert
(May 29, 2009).
Contacts: Thomas De Meese, Eric Montens
Media Mentions
Firm News & Announcements