Automotive

Crowell & Moring Brussel’s cross-disciplinary automotive group brings together professionals from different legal disciplines so as to assist domestic and international clients from the automotive industry in relation to a broad spectrum of sector-related issues. Our group integrates members active in the following areas: corporate and commercial, antitrust, intellectual property, international trade, labor and employment, and product risk management.

Key Members of C&M’s Brussels Automotive Group

Geert Bogaert is well known and highly reputed in this field. With more than 30 years’ experience working in the automotive sector, he has particular knowledge of dealership agreements and the restructuring of (after)sales networks.

Emmanuel Plasschaert has significant experience in the restructuring of undertakings, both from a corporate and a labor and employment perspective. He is also a skilled litigator with more than 25 years’ commercial litigation experience before the Belgian courts.

In addition to his corporate capabilities, Frederik Van Remoortel brings to the team an enviable ability to negotiate and draft complex contracts. He has in-depth knowledge of EU data protection/cybersecurity regulation.

Eric Montens has extensive experience with distribution agreements and product liability issues and is equally at home advising clients and representing them as counsel in litigious matters.

These key group members are assisted by lawyers from our antitrust, IP, and international trade practice groups.

Worldwide Reach

We work in close collaboration with C&M colleagues in the U.S. so as to provide international clients with a one-stop shop. Our U.S. colleagues represent clients in state and federal courts across the U.S. and before agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the International Trade Commission (ITC). Our strong presence in Washington, D.C., along with our international capabilities and regulatory and litigation prowess, makes us a go-to team for bet-the-company matters.

Brussels Automotive Group Capabilities

• Distribution and Networks
  • Contracts
  • Antitrust aspects
• Corporate (M&A)
• Compliance: Sector-related EU Regulation
• Commercial Litigation
• E-Commerce
• Intellectual Property
• Privacy and Data Protection

Representative Clients in the U.S. and Europe

• Bridgestone
• BMW AG
• Daimler AG
• Dana Holding Corporation
• D’Ieteren
• Enkei
• Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
• General Motors
• Greyhound
• Robert Bosch LLC
• Valeo

Notable Rankings

“The ‘strong commercial and corporate team’ at Crowell & Moring regularly handles a range of M&A transactions, corporate structuring and commercial instructions. […] Emmanuel Plasschaert is recommended particularly for commercial and employment advice and heads the practice alongside ‘corporate law and data protection law specialist’ Frederik Van Remoortel, who attracts praise for providing ‘timely and good quality advice.’” Legal 500 EMEA, 2019

“Geert Bogaert of Crowell & Moring LLP is recognised by market commentators as an expert in trade practices and IP. His practice particularly focuses on the automotive sector.” Chambers Europe, 2016