With great respect and gratitude, we bid farewell to two colleagues who have helped shape the identity and direction of our firm for many years. After long and distinguished careers, Leo Peeters and Ann Vranken are retiring, entrusting the future of the firm to the next generation. Their departure marks the end of an important chapter in our firm’s history.

Leo Peeters has built an exceptional career as a lawyer specializing in corporate, financial, and economic law, gaining extensive experience in areas such as M&A, reorganizations, and financial law. He began his career as a legal counsel at several companies, including PwC and EY, where he served as a Partner for many years. In 1998, he founded Peeters Advocaten-Avocats in collaboration with EY.
In 2009, driven by a clear vision and entrepreneurial spirit, he established Peeters Law. In 2019, together with Koen De Puydt and through their continued dedication, the firm evolved into Seeds of Law, which later became the foundation for what is now Andersen in Belgium.
Leo has always combined legal acumen with strategic insight, advising numerous clients in complex national and international matters.
After a professional career spanning more than forty years, Leo has decided to take a step back. However, he will continue to support our firm for at least two more years in his role as Of Counsel. We are deeply grateful that Leo will continue to share his expertise with us.
Ann Vranken has been responsible for the firm’s internal operations and communications since 2009. With her legal background and many years of experience as an advisor and advocate in the automotive sector, she has contributed significantly to developing clear external communication, efficient internal processes, and knowledge sharing within Peeters Law, Seeds of Law, and now Andersen.
She played a key role in expanding our know-how management and has greatly contributed to the firm’s professional image. Her pragmatic approach, loyal commitment, and clear writing style will be long remembered and appreciated.
We sincerely thank Leo and Ann for their many years of dedication and contribution, and we wish them both every success and fulfillment in this new chapter of their lives.
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28.07.2026
•Commercial and Economic Law, Andersen in Belgium
Since 1 July 2026, low-value imports from third countries have been subject to a new customs regime. Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382 of 11 February 2026, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 as regards the removal of the customs duty relief based on a value threshold, abolishes the customs duty exemption that previously applied to consignments with an intrinsic value of less than €150. At the same time, it introduces, on a transitional basis, a flat-rate customs duty of €3 per item in certain situations. This reform constitutes one of the first components of the comprehensive overhaul of the EU Customs Union launched by the European Commission to adapt customs rules to the rapid expansion of global e-commerce.

10.07.2026
•Tax Law, Andersen in Belgium
The Programme Law of 30 May 2026 has introduced - with retroactive effect from 1 January 2026 - a new condition for applying the flat-rate deduction of expenses from the gross income derived from copyright and related rights.

08.07.2026
•Real Estate, Renting and Co-ownership, Andersen in Belgium
Can a landlord refuse a prospective tenant because their income is less than three times the rent? This question has been central to the debate on discrimination in the rental market for several years. In a judgment of 30 March 2026, the Council of State expressly addressed this so-called “three-times-rent rule” for the first time. The judgment provides important clarification for landlords, real estate investors and real estate agents. The Council of State does not hold that the three-times-rent rule is automatically permissible in all circumstances. It does, however, consider that an income requirement equal to three times the rent and charges is not, in itself, disproportionate and therefore cannot, without more, be regarded as prohibited discrimination on the basis of wealth.

08.07.2026
•Commercial and Economic Law, Andersen in Belgium
On 20 May 2026, the Belgian Council of State delivered three landmark judgments (Nos. 266.735, 266.736 and 266.737) holding that the Belgian prohibition on using the terms soldes, solden, sales, Schlussverkauf outside the statutory winter and summer sales periods is incompatible with European Union law and can no longer be enforced.