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White-Collar Crime Examples in Belgium: A Growing Concern for Companies and Executives
Belgium, like many other countries, has seen a significant increase in white-collar crime cases over the years. These crimes, which include:
- Insider trading
- Market abuse
- Corporate fraud
- Anti-money laundering
- Public and private corruption
- Breach of environmental regulations
- Improper accounting practices
can have severe consequences for companies and executives involved.
Risks of Criminal Liability in Belgium
In Belgium, the risks of criminal liability are particularly high due to the complexity and ambiguity of many industry-specific legal regulations. As a result, it is essential for companies and executives to be aware of potential areas of vulnerability and to have a trusted adviser and partner to anticipate risks and avoid them or resolve issues when necessary.
Our White-Collar Crime Practice
At [Law Firm], our White-Collar Crime practice advises clients on how to prevent or resolve issues related to criminal liability before they occur. We represent both alleged offenders and victims of criminal offenses during all phases of investigations and enforcement proceedings, working closely with other specialized areas within the firm such as:
- Finance
- Tax
- Environment
- Labour Law
Our Expertise
Our team has extensive experience in handling high-profile cases involving white-collar crime, including:
- Insider trading
- Market abuse
- Corporate fraud
- Anti-money laundering
- Public and private corruption
- Breach of environmental regulations
- Improper accounting practices
We have successfully represented clients before the Belgian courts and negotiated with the tax authorities to resolve issues related to allegedly fraudulent tax-optimization structures.
Notable Cases
One notable case involved a multinational company that was investigated for alleged infringements of waste legislation. Our team assisted the client in preparing for inquiries from the authorities and helped them navigate the complex legal landscape.
In another case, we represented a slaughterhouse and meat processing company that was suspected of violating laws related to hygiene, labelling, and animal welfare. We worked closely with the client to gather evidence and present their case before the criminal court.
Additional Expertise
Our expertise also includes assisting financial institutions in cases involving infringement of Belgian criminal law when offering financial products or services in Belgium. We have successfully represented clients before both criminal and labour courts in cases involving fraud by employees and industrial accidents.
Compliance Matters
In addition, we advise companies on compliance matters, including:
- Risk management
- Internal audits
- Investigations
Our team is experienced in conducting internal investigations and providing guidance on how to respond to unexpected legal occurrences such as dawn raids.
Our Clients
Our clients include major Belgian and multinational companies across various industries, as well as SMEs, high-profile individuals, non-profit entities, and public bodies. We understand the importance of keeping our clients informed of key legal developments and regularly publish newsletters and Legal Insights on topics related to white-collar crime and compliance.