Education

  • Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), J.D. (2005) cum laude
  • Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Expert Class in Professional Sports Management (2008)

Admissions

  • Belgium

Languages

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

Stefanie Tack

Counsel
stack@crowell.com
+32.2.282.1848

Stefanie Tack is a counsel at Crowell & Moring’s Brussels Office. She is a member of the Labor & Employment Group and advises clients on all aspects of individual and collective labor law. With more than 12 years’ experience, Stefanie has obtained significant labor and employment law experience in various sectors and industries, such as the retail, automotive, chemical, construction, hospitality, technology, and food industries.

Stefanie is known for her hands-on and practical approach. She is experienced in providing tailor-made advice to her clients, and, more specifically, she advises clients on the general employment policy of their company, the hiring of personnel and the termination of employment contracts (including the implementation of individual dismissals and career-end scenarios), the drafting of employment-related documents and specific clauses, compensation and (extralegal) benefits, employees’ representative bodies within the company, the social elections and protected employees, health and safety at work, the restructuring of the company (collective dismissals and closures), and the labor and employment law aspects of M&A transactions.

She has also developed experience in assisting companies across industries in expressing the importance, managing the challenges, and enjoying the benefits of an effective whistleblower program. Stefanie advises her clients on their legal obligations, proactive approaches to compliance, the implementation of internal whistleblower processes and procedures, internal investigations, GDPR compliance, and whistleblower litigation. She also assists companies with the drafting of whistleblower policies and provides trainings.

Stefanie also has experience in negotiating with counterparties and trade unions, assisting clients within the framework of social inspections, performing internal HR audits, and litigating before the Belgian courts on behalf of her clients.

Representative Matters

  • Represented a multinational technology company within the framework of and following a social inspection in Belgium.
  • Represented a multinational automotive company (and its financial branch) during its restructuring process in Belgium.
  • Assisted a multinational company active in the food industry (processed and canned vegetables) with various dismissal cases.
  • Represented a multinational oil and gas company during its incorporation procedure in Belgium.
  • Assisted a logistic company / container carrier with a global business network with various dismissal cases (such as the dismissal of the internal prevention advisor and the end-of-career scenarios of various employees).
  • Represented several municipalities in a case initiated by a number of fire fighters against their employer due to insufficient payment of working hours and overtime (especially with regard to hours performed during waiting shifts in the fire station).
  • Represented a retail company during the collective dismissal procedure and the closure of various retail shops in Belgium.
  • Represented a Belgian company in legal proceedings initiated by the company against a protected employee in a matter relating to dismissal for serious cause.
  • Advised an international market leader in the manufacture of compressor systems, power tools and lifting and handling equipment on the compliance of its whistleblower policy and code of conduct with the EU Whistleblower Directive (including GDPR aspects).
  • Advised a global vehicle manufacturer on the compliance of its whistleblower policy with the EU Whistleblower Directive (including GDPR aspects).
  • Advised a global company (headquartered in Belgium) active in the development, manufacturing and selling of firearms and associated ammunition on the applicability of the EU Whistleblower Directive and its impact on the company and its affiliates. 

Stefanie frequently authors legal articles and is often invited to speak at conferences and seminars. She is the president of the Social Law Department of the Brussels Bar. Stefanie is also a member of the Education Board and a voluntary academic assistant of the Social Law Practice of the Free University of Brussels (VUB), the second vice president of the Vlaams Pleitgenootschap (VPG) of the Brussels bar, and an active member of various national and international associations.


Affiliations

Admitted to practice: in Belgium and before the European Court


Speeches & Presentations

  • "HR Privacy – Case Law Developments of the Labor Courts and the Belgian DPA (2018-2021)," Webinar in collaboration with IBJ/IJE (October 26, 2021). Speakers: Maarten Stassen, Emmanuel Plasschaert, and Stefanie Tack.
  • "The EU Whistleblower Directive," Legal Council of The Conference Board presentation (October 8, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert and Stefanie Tack.
  • "The EU Whistleblower Directive," Legal Subcommittee of AmCham Belgium presentation, Brussels, Belgium (September 20, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert and Stefanie Tack.
  • "Collective Dismissal: The Current Rules and Upcoming Changes," Webinar in Collaboration with IJE/IBJ (May 10, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels, and Stefanie Tack.
  • “Questions et réponses sur la motivation de licenciement,” Webinar NCOI Learning, Brussels, Belgium (May 6, 2021). Speaker: Stefanie Tack.
  • “Collective Dismissal: A Practical Overview of the Current Situation and Upcoming Changes,” Webinar AmCham Belgium (Tax & Legal Committee), Brussels, Belgium. (April 23, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels and Stefanie Tack
  • "The Protection of Whistleblowers - Upcoming Legal Changes: Risks, Obligations and Opportunities," Webinar in Collaboration with IJE/IBJ and Square Circle Management Consultancy (March 22, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert and Stefanie Tack.
  • "The EU Whistleblower Directive: A Burden or an Opportunity?" Webinar in collaboration with ACC Europe (January 26, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert and Stefanie Tack.
  • "Collective Dismissal: A Practical Overview of the Current Situation and Upcoming Changes," Webinar AmCham Belgium (Human Capital and Talent Committee), Brussels, Belgium (January 21, 2021). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels, and Stefanie Tack.
  • "Ensuring effective whistleblowing: How board members are dealing with this new topic?" Webinar in collaboration with ecoDa and PWC, Brussels, Belgium (October 15, 2020). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert and Stefanie Tack.
  • "Return Ready Virtual Summit: Data Protection in the Covid-19 era," Proxyclick Webinar, Brussels, Belgium (September 29, 2020). Speakers: Frederik Van Remoortel, Jarno Vanto, and Stefanie Tack.
  • "COVID-19 and its HR Impact: Social and fiscal support measures and/or restructuring?” Webinar in collaboration with IJE/IBJ, Mythra Advocaten and FINN, Brussels, Belgium (September 10, 2020). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels and Stefanie Tack.
  • "What After the Lockdown," Webinar in collaboration with IJE/IBJ, Brussels, Belgium (April 30, 2020). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels and Stefanie Tack.
  • "Covid-19 en de heropstart na de lockdown," Webinar in collaboration with Robert Half, Brussels, Belgium (April 28, 2020). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels and Stefanie Tack.
  • "Arbeidsrecht in tijden van het coronavirus," Vlaams Pleitgenootschap – Permanente Vorming, Brussels, Belgium (April 14, 2020). Speakers: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels and Stefanie Tack.
  • Annual Congress of the Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (AIJA), Tokyo (August 2017). Work Coordinator: Stefanie Tack.
  • L&E Law Commission, Annual Congress of AIJA, Munich (August 2016). General Reporter: Stefanie Tack.
  • L&E Law and Sports Law Commission Session, Annual Congress of AIJA, London (August 2015). Speaker: Stefanie Tack.
  • Half-Year Conference of AIJA, Antwerp (May 2015). Member of the Organizing Committee: Stefanie Tack.
  • L&E Law and Sports Law Commission Session, Annual Congress of AIJA, Prague (August 2014). Speaker: Stefanie Tack.
  • L&E Law and Sports Law Commission Session, Annual Congress of AIJA, Buenos Aires (September 2013). Speaker: Stefanie Tack.

Publications

  • "How Can Companies Prepare For The Upcoming Wave Of ESG Whistleblowers In Europe?" Chief Executive (May 3, 2022). Authors: Preston L. Pugh, Stefanie, Stefanie Tack, Jessica S. Nam.
  • "Zorgt corona voor een – tijdelijke – ommekeer in het collectief ontslagrecht? De impact van de COVID-19-pandemie op het collectief ontslagrecht in België?" Liber Amicorum Wilfried Rauws – Werk opgedragen aan een onvolprezen jurist, Intersentia (2021). Authors: Evelien Jamaels and Stefanie Tack.
  • Sustainable Development – How Can the Legal Profession Contribute? (November 20, 2020).
  • "Belgian Labor Law," World Bank – Women, Business & the Law (Report 2020). Contributor: Stefanie Tack.
  • "'Welke rol heeft de bedrijfsjurist in de duurzame ontwikkeling?' in Tendensen in het bedrijfsrecht – De rol van de bedrijfsjurist in de duurzame ontwikkeling van de onderneming," IBJ/IJE, Larcier-Intersentia (2020). Authors: Emmanuel Plasschaert and Stefanie Tack.
  • "Chapter IX. Social Concerns," Bloomberg BNA - Tax Management Portfolios, Business Operations in the European Union (2017). Contributor: Stefanie Tack.
  • "Zaak c-81/12, Associatia ACCEPT/Consiliulis National pentru Combaterea Discriminarii," SEW (January 2014). Authors: Stefanie Tack and Catherine Van de Heyning.
  • "Met ‘t kopke of de benen? De sociaalrechtelijke bescherming van wielrenners in het licht van de statuten arbeiders, bedienden en zelfstandigen," Oriëntatie, Kluwer (May 2013). Authors: Stefanie Tack and Catherine Van de Heyning.
  • "Annotated Code Wet & Duiding Sport," Larcier (2013). Co-Author: Stefanie Tack.

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