Tensions in Brussels as Brexit negotiations commence The first round of talks on the future relationship between the UK and the EU began formally in Brussels this week, with UK chief Brexit negotiator David Frost meeting with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier on Monday. The European Commission and the UK government have agreed on a relatively intensive calendar of negotiations over the coming months, with talks taking place every two to three weeks, alternating the location between Brussels and London....

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RPJ Associate Elizabeth V. Stork practices in the fields of employment and labor, litigation, arbitration, mediation and dispute resolution. Ms. Stork has represented clients in matters involving employment counseling, labor issues, misclassification and other wage and hour claims, with particular expertise in class actions. She is a member of the firm's best practices training team, assisting our clients in matters involving employment discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and providing advice to companies and individuals concerning employment and separation agreements, handbooks and other employment materials. We...

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The Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal (CBb) has held that a parent company may have an interest in bringing proceedings against a decision by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) even if the company is not a direct addressee of that decision (decision of 18 February 2020 in case ECLI:NL:CBB:2020:91). The CBb confirmed its earlier case law that, even if the ACM does not impose a fine, a party may still have an interest in appealing this decision...

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The Withdrawal Agreement Bill has progressed through the UK Parliament legislative process, resulting in the UK leaving the EU as of January 31, 2020 and entering the Transition Period. During the Transition Period, the UK will continue to follow EU rules, which effectively means that the UK remains within the Single Market and Customs Union until December 31, 2020. Businesses can, therefore, expect no immediate changes to occur to their VAT and customs processes when trading in and with the...

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Vanessa Marquette has joined Loyens & Loeff in Belgium since 2 March 2020 as new partner. She is appointed as third partner of the Banking & Finance practice group of the Brussels office, next to Marc Vermylen and Koen Panis, where she will further develop our Financial Regulatory footprint in Belgium. Vanessa is recognized for her expertise in Banking & Finance with a focus on international finance law, regulated financial services, banking litigation and sustainable finance. She assists regulated entities such as financial institutions, payment services...

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2020 marks the beginning of a new era for the container shipping industry. January 1 brought with it the implementation of a regulation issued by the International Maritime Organization known as IMO 2020, which requires carriers to limit the sulfur content of the fuel they burn to 0.5%—a drastic reduction from the previous cap of 3.5%. The aim of the mandate, one of the most substantial and far-reaching regulatory changes in the marine shipping industry’s history, is to sharply reduce...

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 Li Xu was appointed as Vice Secretary of the Overseas United Working Committee (OUWC) of the China Association for Promoting International Economic & Technical Cooperation, a subcommittee of the China Association for Science and Technology which is registered in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.   In her new role, Ms. Xu is organizing a global think-tank forum to address the post coronavirus rebuilding effort.  The OUWC is responding to the demands “facing the world frontier of science and technology, economic key...

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