Law of contracts and obligations
Commercial real estate lease:
The Commercial Lease Act is a very rigid law that has and accepts little flexibility. It is therefore extremely important that you, as a commercial tenant or commercial landlord, apply the rules correctly. We are happy to assist you in this regard both in the pre-contractual phase (negotiations, drafting) and in the contractual phase (rent review application, termination, lease renewal application, disputes). Pop-up lease (short-term commercial lease) or occupation in lieu also hold no secrets for us.
Office lease:
The lease of offices is subject to common rental law but in practice, the matter has developed its own character. We have the necessary experience to assist you in drafting/negotiating these leases. We are also happy to assist you with interpretation issues or disputes.
Residential lease (including student lease):
Are you an owner of rental properties and can no longer get to grips with the different rules that exist in Flanders, Wallonia or Brussels? We will gladly assist you. We are also happy to assist residential tenants when they are faced with a dispute with their landlord.
Read the following publications of our lawyers in this matter:
• VAN DAMME, N., “Verplichte sluiting van horecazaken in tijden van corona: toepassing van de overmachts-en risicoleer of de leer van het verval?” in B. TILLEMAN (ed.), Themis Bijzondere overeenkomsten, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 2024
• CARETTE, N. et VAN DAMME, N., “Actuele ontwikkelingen inzake woninghuur enhandelshuur (2016-2020)” in Themis. Bijzondere overeenkomsten, Brugge, die Keure,2020, pp. 137-206;
• VERBEKE, A.L., TILLEMAN, B., DEWAELE, K., THIELENS, M., VAN DAMME, N. etVAN DEN ABEELE, F., Bijzondere overeenkomsten in kort bestek, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 2020, 324 p. • VAN DAMME, N., “Toepassingsgebied” in K. DEVILLE, R. STOCKX, B. TILLEMAN et T. GLADINEZ (éds.), Verhuur aan studenten, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 2019, pp. 1-30;
• VAN DAMME, N., “Bezetting ter bede of wetsontduikende rechtshandeling?Kanttekeningen bij de ontduiking van de Handelshuurwet en de beweerde subjectieve benadering van het verbod op wetsontduiking”, (noot onder Cass. 29 februari 2016), TBH 2018, pp. 561-577;
• SWENNEN, J., TROCH, K. et VAN DAMME, N., “Le décret flamand sur le bail commercial de courte durée. Un exemple pour les législateurs wallon et bruxellois?”, J.T., 2017, pp. 249-257; • SWENNEN, J. en VAN DAMME, N., “Handelshuur van korte duur”, TBBR 2017, pp. 139-161;
Construction projects often lead to all kinds of disputes: execution deadlines are not respected, there are unforeseen additional works, material prices rise, delivery cannot be accepted, and so on. A stalled construction site leads to damages, so swift action is required. The decisive solution is sometimes sought in legal proceedings. But these are expensive, slow (even in summary proceedings) and difficult to predict, especially after an expert investigation has been launched. Thanks to its experience with private and public infrastructure and other complex construction projects, solvo.legal boasts extensive expertise in assisting in such construction disputes. Based on our affinity with mediation techniques, we look for damage-limiting solutions and only proceed to the judicial solution if an amicable settlement no longer seems possible. Once we reach the legal phase, we represent your interests convincingly, as you would expect from your lawyer.
Read the following publications of our lawyers in this matter:
• TILLEMAN, B., DE REY, S., VAN DAMME, N., DEBRUYNE, N. en GLADINEZ, T., « Overzicht van rechtspraak aanneming (2007-2021) », T.P.R., 2022, 350 p.;
• VERBEKE, A.L., TILLEMAN, B., DEWAELE, K., THIELENS, M., VAN DAMME, N. et VAN DEN ABEELE, F., Bijzondere overeenkomsten in kort bestek, Antwerpen,
Intersentia, 2020, 324 p.;
• VAN DAMME, N., “Le détournement de l’association des copropriétaires pour contourner la loi « Breyne » : fraude à la loi ou abus de droit ?” (noot onder Gent 9 november 2017), Jurim pratique, 2020/2, pp. 146-156;
• VAN DAMME, N., “L’inutilité de l’intention frauduleuse dans la théorie de la fraude à la loi. La fraude à la Loi Breyne par détournement de l’institution de l’association des copropriétaires”, R.G.D.C., 2019, pp. 3-28.
An commercial concession is a contract whereby the grantor grants the concessionaire the exclusive right to sell products manufactured or distributed by the grantor, and to do so in its own name and for its own account. solvo.legal assists clients both in drafting exclusive distribution agreements and in the context of (abusive) terminations of exclusive distribution agreements. The matter is strictly regulated but abuses are not rare.
Solvo.Legal assists clients in the sale/purchase of real estate. We guide both large projects and smaller ones to a successful conclusion. The subject matter is increasingly complex. More and more (administrative) rules must be complied with in order to conclude a valid sale-purchase agreement. solvo.legal assists clients in the conclusion of the agreement (drafting, negotiation, information guarantee/provision) but also in its execution (purchase price, delivery, hidden defects, enforcement). Buying and selling movable goods (consumer sales, Vienna Sales Convention) also holds no secrets for our lawyers.
Read the following publications of our lawyers in this matter:
• VAN DAMME, N., “Wilsautonomie: in-en uitsluiting van het verdrag” in B. DEVOLDER & B. TILLEMAN (eds.), Weens Koopverdrag, Bruges, die Keure, 2022, pp. 144-159;
• VAN DAMME, N. en VAN DEN ABEELE, F., “Een toekomst voor het subjectief plechtig contract? Het “model De Decker” getoetst aan het verbod op wetsontduiking”, T.P.R., 2021, pp. 681-725; Commented [WV1]: Eventueel keuze maken rond hanteren term concessie Commented [NVD2R1]: Exclusion distribution agreement
• VERBEKE, A.L., TILLEMAN, B., DEWAELE, K., THIELENS, M., VAN DAMME, N. et VAN DEN ABEELE, F., Bijzondere overeenkomsten in kort bestek, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 2020, 324 p.;
• TILLEMAN, B., DE REY, S., VAN DAMME, N. et VAN DEN ABEELE, F., « Overzicht van rechtspraak koop (2007-2020) », T.P.R., 2020, 680 p. ;
• VAN DAMME, N., “1+2 gratis: verkoop met verlies of geoorloofde wetsontduiking?”, Juristenkrant 2019, afl. 384, p. 16;
It is impossible to imagine our daily lives without insurance. solvo.legal assists insured parties who wish to rely on their liability insurance (e.g. motor vehicles, professional liability, family insurance), their fire insurance (damage to the home due to water infiltration, fire, etc.) or other property insurance (e.g. comprehensive insurance) as well as travel insurance (e.g. cancellation insurance with a travel organiser or airline company). solvo.legal will gladly assist you when reporting the claim, but also afterwards if the insurance company requires unreasonable evidence or unreasonably refuses cover. On the other hand, solvo.legal also assists insurers, both in disputes with their policyholders and insured parties and in the drafting of general policy conditions.
Read the following publications of our lawyers in this matter:
• VAN DAMME, N., “Le preneur d’assurance qui comme tune omission intentionnelle peut-il invoquer la faute intentionnelle de l’intermédiaire d’assurance pour rejeter ou limiter sa propre responsabilité” (note sous Cass., 30 septembre 2021), For.ass., 2021, pp. 204-207 ;
• VAN DAMME, N., “Le point sur le sort de l’assurance se rapportant à une activité ou une situation illicite”, For.ass., 2022, n° 228, pp. 176-182;
• VAN DAMME, N., “La diligence de l’assureur dans le cadre de la gestion d’un sinistre” in I. LUTTE (dir.), Etats généraux du droit médical et du dommage corporel, Tome 2, Limal, Anthémis, 2023, pp. 279-314 ;
• VAN DAMME, N., “La fraude à l’assurance et l’application subsidiaire du principe fraus omnia corrumpit”, R.G.A.R., 2024 ;
• VAN DAMME, N., “Le sinistre intentionnel” in P. COLSON (éd.), Les grands arrêts en droit des assurances, Bruxelles, Larcier, 2024, à paraitre;
• VAN DAMME, N., “Le risque illicite” in P. COLSON (éd.), Les grands arrêts en droit des assurances, Bruxelles, Larcier, 2024, à paraitre;
Consumer law has become a separate branch of private law, subject to its own consumer-friendly ground rules. We assist both consumers and entrepreneurs in asserting their rights in the B2C context (screening and drafting general terms and conditions, disputes, unfair market practices, etc.).
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solvo.legal offers excellent assistance in all areas of private contract and liability law at competitive rates. The lawyers at solvo.legal are client-focused, empathetic, dedicated and astute
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- info@solvo.legal
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