New Interactive Tool Helps Belgian Businesses Navigate and Comply with COVID-19 Regulations

Brussels – March 26, 2020: Crowell & Moring's Brussels office launched a new tool today to help businesses navigate the growing number of Belgian government regulations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Called the Belgian COVID-19 Legal Assistant, the virtual tool is featured on the firm's website and able to quickly answer questions about new regional and federal Belgian laws and topics such as support measures, company closures, contracts, teleworking and employment related issues arising from the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Brussels office developed the application with Lawren.io, a legal technology company, and is offering the application free of charge in order to help businesses and organizations obtain the most up-to-date information quickly and efficiently.

“COVID-19 is evolving rapidly and so are the measures taken by the government in relation to this virus,” said Emmanuel Plasschaert, a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice in Brussels. “The speed with which this is happening obliges us, as lawyers, to find a way to deliver information in a fast and thorough manner. But it is becoming increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs and organizations to determine which messages are up-to-date and which news is outdated due to the avalanche of information stemming from the coronavirus outbreak. Each new message also carries different legal implications. With the virtual assistant, companies will find timely answers to the many questions they are asking about company closures, labor and employment issues, teleworking, suspension or termination of contracts, and support measures, among other topics."

In times of crisis, applications like the Belgian COVID-19 Legal Assistant help law firms deliver fast and reliable service to clients, according to Dries Wijnen, CEO of Lawren.io.

“Legaltech is still in its infancy in Belgium, but we are seeing more and more offices embrace digital technology in order to work more efficiently,” Wijnen said. “In times of crisis, speed and reliability are crucial. Our virtual assistant is a great solution for providing reliable information quickly and efficiently.”