Eric Montens

Senior Counsel

Overview

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.

Career & 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., cum laude, 2001
    • 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., cum laude, 2001
    • Belgium
    • European Court
    • Belgium
    • European Court
    • Dutch
    • English
    • French
    • Dutch
    • English
    • French
Eric Montens is a sound contractual and corporate lawyer.

— Legal 500, 2024

Eric's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.17.25

The new EU Bioeconomy Strategy: a regulatory framework in transition

On 27 November 2025, the European Commission adopted the EU Bioeconomy Strategy 2025 (the Strategy), confirming the bioeconomy as a central pillar of Europe’s industrial, sustainability, and competitiveness agenda. The bioeconomy covers activities that deliver sustainable solutions based on biological resources, including biomass, residues, byproducts, and biogenic carbon, across sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, biomanufacturing, food, health, energy, materials, and construction....

Eric's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.17.25

The new EU Bioeconomy Strategy: a regulatory framework in transition

On 27 November 2025, the European Commission adopted the EU Bioeconomy Strategy 2025 (the Strategy), confirming the bioeconomy as a central pillar of Europe’s industrial, sustainability, and competitiveness agenda. The bioeconomy covers activities that deliver sustainable solutions based on biological resources, including biomass, residues, byproducts, and biogenic carbon, across sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, biomanufacturing, food, health, energy, materials, and construction....