We are pleased to announce that Karen De Braekeleer has joined our firm as partner in administrative and public Law.

Karen De Braekeleer is an attorney and specializes in administrative and public law, more specifically in the field of public procurement, public-private partnerships and public infrastructure.
She has more than 20 years of experience as a lawyer in the public sector (in the broad sense) and is known within this sector as a go-to legal expert for advisory files and assistance in legal proceedings. She acts as legal adviser to public and private authorities such as Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Bpost, STIB, various hospitals (including ZAS) and various federal regional and local governments.
Karen has broad expertise in government contracts, from contract awards to disputes during performance.
She also has extensive experience in concessions, public real estate law and construction law, and regularly assists clients in these areas with advice and litigation.
Finally, Karen is also active as an author and speaker: she regularly publishes on public procurement law and provides lectures and in-house training.
Karen is crucial in the continued development of the Department of Administrative Law and Public Law. With her in-depth expertise and commitment to quality and rigor, she contributes significantly to strengthening our services.
We look forward to continuing to provide the best services with Karen on board.
However, this is only possible because of our clients’ continued trust in our firm, and for that we are very grateful.
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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.