Education

  • Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix in Namur, J.D. (1997)
  • Catholic University of Leuven, J.D. (2000)
  • Free University of Brussels (Université Libre de Bruxelles), LL.M. (2001) cum laude

Admissions

  • Belgium and before the European Court

Languages

  • Dutch (Fluent)
  • English
  • French (Fluent)

Eric Montens

Senior Counsel
emontens@crowell.com
+32.2.282.1846

Eric Montens focuses his practice mainly on general commercial and corporate, competition, and product risk management matters.

Eric assists national and international clients on a variety of issues concerning commercial distribution and related matters, such as franchising, 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 other things, tires, toys, children’s products, and other consumer goods. On international product risk management issues, Eric often works closely with Crowell & Moring’s U.S. offices as well as with lawyers in other parts of the world.

Eric has also been seconded to companies in the information technology/telecommunications sectors, where he has worked with clients both as part of their legal team and as stand-alone 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 is a senior counsel in the firm’s Brussels office. He was admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2001. Before joining Crowell, he was an associate at a leading franchise and distribution law firm in Brussels.



Insights

Speeches & Presentations

  • “Protecting a selective distribution network that covers only part of the EU against sales by unauthorized distributors”, International Distribution Institute, Seminar (June 11, 2022). Co-speaker: Eric Montens.
  • “Productveiligheid in de EU en België: een algemene inleiding,” Vlaams Pleitgenootschap bij de balie Brussel, Webinar (May 31, 2022). Speaker: Eric Montens.
  • "Product Safety – Managing the Risks," Crowell & Moring, Webinar. (November 25, 2021). Speakers: Eric Montens and Jurgen Figys.
  • "Liability of Directors and Management," Webinar in Collaboration with IJE/IBJ (April 27, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Frederik Van Remoortel, Eric Montens, and Margaux van Steenbergh.
  • "Covid-19 et la reprise après le confinement," Webinar in collaboration with Robert Half, Brussels, Belgium (April 29, 2020). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert and Eric Montens.
  • "Selected Topics for Non-profit Associations," Crowell & Moring Open Table, Brussels, Belgium (November 26, 2019). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Frederik Van Remoortel, and Eric Montens.
  • "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.
  • "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.
  • "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.
  • "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.
  • "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.
  • "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.
  • "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.

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Firm News & Announcements

January 2, 2020 Crowell & Moring Elects Eight New Partners and Promotes Seven to Senior Counsel and 26 to Counsel Positions
January 17, 2013 Crowell & Moring Elects Seven New Partners and Promotes Twelve Attorneys to Senior Counsel and Counsel Positions