1. The remuneration of our services constitutes the recognition of quality by our clients. What’s most essential is that, while ensuring compensation for our work and the originality of the proposed solutions, our clients leave satisfied and eager to work together with us on even more of their future projects.

2. The services are provided by highly specialised lawyers, thanks to their academic background and their experience of the subjects addressed. The Association’s lawyers ensure that they’re always up to date on the complex and technical matters that are dealt with. As a result, they dedicate a considerable amount of their time lecturing at conferences, writing articles, and teaching about the topics covered.

3. Our fees are calculated on the basis of an hourly rate, meaning that they depend on the time we spend on the matter at hand. Hourly rates for members of the firm range from € 120 to 400. These fees are increased by an additional 22.5%; this corresponds to the average costs associated with managing the law firm’s cases (subscriptions to numerous databases, typing, telephone, travel within Belgium, administrative work, etc.); any additional disbursements are counted separately (notary fees, possible travel abroad and related costs, etc.). VAT of 21% is applicable to fees and expenses.

By prior agreement between the client and the firm, the rates are increased for services rendered with urgency, in the case of sensitive files, or in cases requiring a particular responsibility.

4. Instead of hourly rates, we regularly agree with clients on a fixed fee, determined on the basis of the complexity and/or the stakes involved. This is possible when the issue to be addressed is well defined. In the absence of a written exchange with the client detailing a fixed fee, an hourly rate is applied.

When our advice brings a particular added value to the person or family we assist, the firm sometimes proposes an outcome-based fee (success-fee), for example for the implementation of an original and attractive tax mechanism.

5. The first meeting is always billable (except when it is agreed with the client that the first meeting will be brief and intended only to get to know the lawyer). This is indicated during the client’s first call to the office.

The retainer requested for the first meeting constitutes a lump sum if it’s not followed by other services. Most often, the meeting preludes other services and is thus charged later as a paid advance on the fees due as a result of the time spent on the dossier (or on the flat rate referred to in point 4, above).

6. The predictability of the fees is recognized by the client through the existence of the above-mentioned scales or by the written exchange regarding the agreed fixed amount. The Association may inform the client, upon request, the total amount due at any stage in the case.

2. The lawyer’s mission consists of advising, assisting or representing the client. This includes all the services performed for this purpose.

The Association’s lawyer in charge of the dossier reserves the right, during the execution of this mission, to call upon the assistance of one or several other partners and associates of the Association

3. Requests for fees, advances on fees, costs and/or disbursements incurred by the Association are payable upon receipt. In the event of non-payment one month after the date of sending, interest amounting to 0.5% per month is due automatically and without formal notice from the date of the payment request. In the event of a registered formal notice or judicial recovery, the amount due and the interest will be inflated by 10%, on the understanding that the additional fee will be at least €500 and at most €5000, without prejudice to pay the legal court indemnities.

4. If payment is not made on time, the Firm reserves the right to suspend the execution of a mission or to withdraw completely, after having informed the client. The Firm cannot be held responsible for any possible damage that would result from this. In the event of non-payment of the full fees requested, any liability with regard to the advice provided is definitely excluded.

5. Any comments regarding the payment request must be made in writing within 15 days of receipt in order to be admissible. Payment implies final acceptance of the request for payment and the services concerned.

6. The firm’s civil liability is limited to the amounts to which the firm’s professional liability insurance entitles it. The amounts insured, the conditions of implementation of insurance policies, the possible accumulation of claims for different disputes during the same period or for related events, and all other terms and conditions can be communicated to customers on request.

The above limitations of liability shall apply not only to Dekeyser & Associés, but also to their partners, managers, lawyers, and associates.

Dekeyser & Associés is insured by the Brussels Bar with Ethias for an amount of €1,250,000 (policy no. 45,118,401). On the drafting date of these Conditions, the firm is also insured (additional guarantee) with AIG Europe for an amount of €2,000,000 (policy no. 4519 1234 174) and is insured (additional guarantee of Rank 3) with Gerling Konzern Allgemeine Versicherung AG for an amount of 7,500,000 € (policy no. 60/72035/23/053). The company guarantees first rank insurance; if the client wishes to know if the second and third rank guarantees are in effect when he or she contacts the firm, he or she is invited to make a request to the company after which the required information will be sent immediately.

7. If the client has been informed of the use of third parties by the Association (such as a notary, an auditor, an external lawyer, an accountant, etc.) and a notice from them has been given to the client (whether it is worded to the Association or to the client), the Firm is not liable to the clients for any errors made by these third parties, even if these persons have been informed or questioned and paid by the Firm.

8. Documents, notices, and data of any nature whatsoever transmitted by the Firm to the client by electronic mail will not be encrypted and the responsibility of the Firm may not be invoked by the client in the event that a third party becomes aware of the information and notices contained in the mail, unless the client expressly requests that the data is encrypted.

The Association will make reasonable efforts to protect e-mails and their attachments from viruses and other failures that could damage a computer or computer system. The Association shall not be liable for any consequences to clients resulting from IT issues or similar problems generated by the Association’s documents, files, and communications.

9. General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR): Dekeyser & Associés protects its clients’ data according to the standards and limits set by the GDPR.

10. Belgian law is applicable to the legal relationship between the Association and the clients. Any possible litigation will be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of Brussels, in the French language, regardless of the location of residence or registered company address of the client.

11. The Association, its partners and managers and all persons called upon for the performance of a mission may avail themselves of the present general conditions, even if they have left the Association in the meantime.