PARTNERS

PREMIER PARTNER

PLATINUM SPECIAL PARTNER

PLATINUM PARTNER

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

CLOSING RECEPTION SPONSOR

Programme

Sunday 3 November

16.30-18.30 
Registration desk is open in the lobby

17.00-18.00 
UIA Database Training Session in Stoclet
invitation only

18.30-21.30 
Dinner in the restaurant
pre-registration required

Monday 4 November

7.30-9.30 
Registration desk is open in the lobby
Coffee bar is open in the ballroom

8.00-9.00 
UIA Associate Members’ Annual Meeting in Stoclet
invitation only

9.30-10.30 
OPENING PLENARY SESSION in the ballroom
Keynote by Cyril Ritchie, UIA President
"Association values versus Realpolitik: walking a fine line"
Discussion groups

10.30-12.30 
FORUM in the ballroom
10 booths and 23 topics to choose from details below
On-going refreshments

12.30-14.00 
BUFFET LUNCH in Stoclet

14.00-16.00 
FORUM in the ballroom
10 booths and 23 topics to choose from details below
On-going refreshments

16.00-17.30 
CLOSING PLENARY SESSION in the ballroom
Panel of speakers: “Where are we going? What do we take with us? – Associations in the next decade”

17.30-18.30 
"Next Destination" cocktail reception sponsored by Prague Convention Bureau

CONTACT US

Questions about the Round Table, or about joining us as a partner?

We are happy to hear from you!

Nancy Carfrae, nancy@uia.org

Ionnis Pallas and Chloé Menhinick

ESAE - European Society of Association Executives

"Networking with your peers: tips and tricks"

For most people networking doesn't come naturally. Good communicators are either professionally trained or they learn through experience which takes time, and can be awkward or even embarrassing at first. Luckily, this is the case for the most of us. We all work for organizations that require a personal engagement to spread the word for our activities. Networking is not confined in physical meetings; preparation and follow-up are vital to get the message across and perhaps even build strong and lasting professional relations that help boost careers.

This session will cover the basics from a peer-to-peer perspective on how to network more effortlessly and avoid common mistakes. Bring your notepads and prepare to exchange ideas and best practices!

Biographies

Ioannis has studied, International Political Economy and International Relations, giving him the analytical skills to find combinative solutions in perplex situations and grasp the full extent and consequences of a political or economic development. He has worked in consulting and lobbying as well as in development projects evaluation. He has a thorough knowledge of EU and country-member politics and an insatiable need to be constantly up to date on an array of topics ranging from politics to currencies and commodity prices. He speaks four languages. and is based in Brussels where he manages the secretariat of ESAE, the European Society of Association Executives.

Chloé Menhinick has 15 years' experience of working in the associations industry, providing leadership across all areas of association management and operations, membership, stakeholder engagement, communications and marketing. She has various leadership positions on boards, advisory bodies and expert committees, where she has demonstrated effective experience in strategic planning and implementation.

Chloé is Partner for Association Consulting at GainingEdge. Previously she worked at the International Water Association from 2005 to 2018 where she was responsible for developing and executing a global growth and engagement strategy for a network of +60K members including national members, corporates, universities and individuals. Her professional experience includes international management and leadership, membership management, membership retention and growth, change management, strategic planning, organisational communications, digital engagement, awards and events management, sponsorship and partnership development, committee management, programme development, internal communications and brand management.

As a globally recognised thought leader in the association sector, Chloé is a regular speaker on issues pertaining to membership, communications and digitalisation at many industry events and also regularly contributes to industry magazines on issues ranging from communicating brand value to association impact and legacy.

She is a nominated Active Member of the Union of International Associations (UIA) and a Board Member of the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) where she also chairs the Communications and Membership committee.

Béatrice Richez-Baum and Stylianos Filopoulos

EMIAM Alumni Group

"Three things I learned at EMIAM and what I'm doing with that knowledge"

Alumni of the Executive Master in Association Management (EMIAM) at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management share with us their most useful lessons from EMIAM.

Biographies

Béatrice Richez-Baum followed the EMIAM programme in 2017. She is Director General of the European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDA), ESAE Board Member and instigator of the EMIAM Alumni Group.

Stylianos Filopoulos
Association Manager with over ten years of professional experience and a MSc in International Association Management (EMIAM). Stylianos have a proven track record in bringing people together, building trust and helping organisations to understand the challenges ahead and to move to the next practice platforms. He has more than 18 years of professional experience in various positions and 4 academic degrees, and he has planned and coordinated international projects and developed strategies, action plans, campaigns and events. His work is published in scientific, business and consumer magazines and presented in international conferences and universtities.

Topics of expertise: Strategy, Marketing, Partnerships, Sustainability

Nik Claesen

EARMA - European Association of Research Managers and Administrators

"Starting a small executive office for a fast growing association of volunteers: the story of EARMA"

EARMA is setting record after record after transitioning from an association run only by volunteers to a two person office which is looking to expand quickly. This testimonial will focus on the experiences from the EARMA Managing Director. Some of the items to be touched upon will be creating trust, overstretching, calculated risks, decision making, enabling your volunteers and leveraging your core strengths.

Biography

Nik Claesen has been the Managing Director of EARMA for three years, having come from the associations community as an EU project and policy expert in the academic sector. He is passionate about the people and the goals of his association and has spearheaded the growth with an amazing group of active members. EARMA is continuously improving its own previous records for membership, event attendance, finances and candidates in governance. He has many experiences to share but even more questions to ask about growing and improving associations.

Jean-Paul Meus

10 Minutes a Day

"Starting a project and telling the world"

Description forth-coming

Biography

Biography forth-coming.

Jan Lichota

visit.brussels

"Brussels: acting to develop activities among associations"

The fast changes in the current times require constant updates in the way a destination delivers its services and develops its activities. Created as a guidance and information interlocutor for international associations the visit.brussels Association Bureau fosters the learning and networking activities for associations. In this session, participants will discover the ecosystem existing in Brussels and how associations may enjoy the opportunities offered through a presence in a city promoting the assets brought by an international associations' community.

Biography

Jan is the Manager of the visit.brussels Association Bureau. This service of the Brussels Capital Region offers information and guidance to associations wishing to setup their seat in Brussels, as well as organises activities to enhance the city's lively character for international associations. Jan has a degree in Law and completed postgraduate studies in International Relations, Cultural Studies, Management, and followed the Executive Master in International Associations Management (EMIAM) at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. He is currently doing a PhD in European studies.

Tina Marolt

European Banking Federation

"Planning for the unplanned: event evacuation"

Learn about crisis management from an event organiser whose conference was disrupted by a bomb-scare, prompting the evacuation of 300 attendees. The original venue was closed by federal police and an alternative venue was required. They succeeded... but were not prepared for any of it.

Biography

Tina Marolt Stojanovic, Senior Event Coordinator at the European Banking Federation (EBF). Tina joined EBF as Senior Events Coordinator in August 2018 where she is currently in charge of creating, developing and implementing all events. She previously worked as Head of Events at SolarPower Europe, where she grew and developed multiple highly successful and globally recognised business events, webinars and projects. Her events received in 2017, 2018 an "Award for the Best Networking event" and in 2019 an "Award for the Best Conference"  at the European Association Awards. She is currently finishing her master's degree at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana. She fluently speaks Slovenian, English and Serbian.

Dragana Avramov

UIA – Union of International Associations

"EU funding: where to start"

Description forth-coming.

Biography

Dr Dragana Avramov is trained in sociology (PhD), political sciences and cultural anthropology, and journalism. She has been working as independent expert for the European Commission on evaluation and policy review since 1999. Publications include 15 books and over 70 scientific articles including the co-authored forward-looking study "Global Europe 2050" published by EC in 2012, and "Evolution Science and Ethics in the Third Millennium", Springer 2018. She is scientific coordinator of the EC Network of Experts on Social Dimension of Education and training (NESET), Vice-president of the Union of International Associations (UIA), and director of Population and Social Policy Consultants (PSPC).

Ingrid Van Wouw

Crowne Plaza – Le Palace

"What to look for when selecting a venue for your association event"

The choice of the right venue is quite often underestimated, but actually this is a very important element when organising an event. During this session, you will run through a "checklist" of the key-elements you have to consider when organising your event.

Biography

Ingrid van Wouw has worked in the hotel and tourism industry since completing her studies in hotel management in Brussels. She is currently Senior Sales Manager at the Crowne Plaza Brussels – Le Palace where she leads a team of four people. She has previously worked in Meetings & Events at Martins Hotels, as sales manager for MSC Cruises & Club Med, and as office manager in a travel agency. Why is the hotel and tourism industry her passion? In essence, her job is all about making people happy, solving their problems/challenges, making sure events run smoothly, and facilitating experiences that will help guests build memories.

Clara Fernández López

External Relations Manager of UIA

"What is a CVB and why you need to know"

UIA’s 2018 Survey on International Meeting Issues shows that 34% of international associations worldwide are not familiar with the services offered by a Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) – and only 16% have used the services of a CVB in the past 5 years.

There is a huge potential for associations finding neutral support, assistance and advice for planning their events in destinations worldwide. And at UIA we see a huge need of increased communication between the meetings industry and international associations.

• What is a CVB and why is its service free of charge for you?
• How can you approach a CVB, which information will the CVB need from you, how do CVBs and international associations cooperate?
• Why could your event be more successful with the support of a CVB?
• Where is there a potential for win-win interactions between a CVB and international associations?

Discussing and finding answers to these questions is crucial for an enhanced networking and interaction between international associations and those players in the meetings industry, who will help associations planners in the organization of their events.

The UIA focus and aim is to encourage and undertake all activity aimed at promoting the development and efficiency of non-governmental networks, as well as intercommunication between people working in the international framework and in interassociative cooperation.

One of the most important tools for associations work is their meetings and congresses, and UIA encourages the interaction between the meetings industry and associations by providing a networking space.

Biography

Clara is a skilled mediator with a training in understanding-based approach to conflict.

As an independent consultor, she supports academic and professional publishing houses, organizations and academic institutions in diverse areas of company strategy, publishing, marketing and in international relations development.

Clara joined the Union of International Associations as External Relations Manager in 2011. In her role as Publisher, Managing Director and Member of the Management Board with various international publishing and media companies such as K. G. Saur in Germany, Gale in the U.S., Thomson Learning in U.K. and De Gruyter in Germany, from 1988 to 2011 she was the Publisher of UIA’s „Yearbook of International Organizations“

Since 1998, Clara is a Lecturer in Media Sciences at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Germany and since 2017 Member of the Executive Board of the International Youth Library Foundation.

Senne Meeusen

BEST - Board of European Students of Technology

"Knowledge transfer: new officers, same expertise"

Description coming soon.

Biography coming soon.

Amelia Folkema

Communications Officer, UIA

Case study in Booth 3: 12.00-12.30 and 15.30-16.00

"The Association of What Now? Building brand recognition for associations"

The non-profit world is vast and diverse. It can be a challenge for an association to stand out and accurately and concisely convey the unique added value it brings to society. What can the non-profit sector learn from strategies more commonly employed in the commercial world? How do you build brand awareness for your organization? Which tools provide the best return on investment? How do you ensure your organization never again has to deal with the question “The association of what now?”?

Biography

Amelia Folkema has been involved with UIA for over a decade. She started out working as a student on editorial projects. It was this early exposure to the world of international associations which was a driving factor in her desire to pursue the field of communications. While obtaining her master’s in public relations at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Amelia did freelance social media and press relations work for the UIA. After completing her dissertation on cross-cultural crisis communication, she moved back to Belgium to become UIA’s Communications Officer.

Helga Schepers

Lewis Deep Democracy

"Deep Democracy: Wisdom on the 'NO'"

Lewis Deep Democracy is an easily learned and transferable method which ensures all voices are heard, resolves tension and conflict arising from diverse opinions, enables innovative decisions through tapping the inherent wisdom of the group, gains 'buy in' to decisions, and enhances relationships and personal growth. It provides diagnostic tools to understand resistance and a lack of buy-in to decisions, and processes that encourage transparency and connection.

Biography

Learning is change, change is learning.

Helga is fascinated by powerful learning environments and driven by the wide range of different ways of learning. That is the common theme in how she works. During her period as a student of Japanese studies she was already working as trainer in intercultural learning and team development. Later, as a teacher of Dutch as a second language, she learned especially to work together with the group, using experience-centered methods. She expanded her practical cross-border experiences by living and studying abroad.

As a facilitator she is always aiming for broadly supported agreement. During a typical decision-making process she is continuously monitoring all perspectives, ideas and opinions that live within the group, actively working with changes, searching for anchor points, and learning from positive experiences. With the process of Deep Democracy she is learning more about leveraging group potential in search of another view on decision making.

In short, it's about looking for solutions together.

Marie Dubost

Toastmasters International

"Standing on the stage: engaging and memorable public speaking"

Deliver a powerful presentation by developing your public speaking skills. Through improvisation exercises, you will learn with the TEDx coaches and communication experts of Toastmasters International, a 95 year old association with over 350,000 members worldwide.

Biography

Marie Dubost, an alumni of Solvay's Executive Master in International Association Management, is an association manager by day and Toastmaster by night. She is passionate about helping people develop their communication skills and learn how to tell their story.

Cyril Ritchie

UIA – Union of International Associations & CoNGO - Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations

"UN accreditation: what, why, how"

This Workshop will outline the structural, organizational, political and networking contexts in which NGOs/associations may apply for Consultative Status not only with UN.ECOSOC but with other entities of the United Nations System. The process is only apparently straightforward !

Biography

President of UIA – Union of International Associations (since 2017)

First Vice-President of CoNGO – Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (since 2018), formerly President (2011-2018)

Honorary President of the Council of Europe Expert Council on NGO Law (since 2018), formerly President (2008-2018)

Senior Policy Advisor of WFC – World Future Council (since 2012)

Chair of ELCI – Environment Liaison Centre International (since 2000)

Titular of the World Order of the Smile (since 1979)

President of ICSFD – International Civil Society Forum for Democracy (2006)

Chair of WOCSOC – World Conference on Civil Society (1999)

Executive Director of ICVA – International Council of Voluntary Agencies (1964-1978 and 1990-1991)

Ryan Brubaker

UIA – Union of International Associations

"UIA's tools for associations"

UIA provides tools and data to help associations with their outreach, event planning and more. Ryan will present a number of UIA's tools, including a live demo of 'Open Yearbook' and 'Open Calendar', and will answer questions about how associations can best take advantage of these free resources.

Biography

Ryan has worked as a web and database developer at UIA since 2011. He is responsible for the user interface of UIA's databases, the ongoing development of its website and the visual identity of the organization. He also provides regular training sessions on the use of UIA's Yearbook of International Organizations and International Congress Calendar digital publications. Before joining UIA, Ryan ran a communications design studio crafting online identities for associations and small businesses.

Michel Bauwens

P2P Foundation & Commmons Transition

"Living within the Donut: how to produce for human needs within planetary and resource boundaries"

Kate Raworth's Doughnut summarized the current plight of humanity within the Anthropocene, i.e. fullfilling as yet unmet needs, while staying within planetary boundaries. Emergent seedforms that originate in the creativity and innovation present in civil society, through commons-oriented practices, have shown a new logic of production and distribution  (and much else that is needed for systemic change), as well as socio-technical systems that offer new tools for shared logistics through contributive and thermo-dynamic accounting. An overview of what is possible today if we learn to converge a new infrastructural ecosystem that can be adapted and transformed to local needs.

Biography

Michel Bauwens ​is the founder and director of the P2P Foundation and works in collaboration with a global group of researchers in the exploration of peer production, governance, and property. Michel is also research director of CommonsTransition.org. a platform for policy development aimed toward a society of the Commons and a founding member of the Commons Strategies Group, with Silke Helfrich and David Bollier, organizers of major global conferences on the commons and economics. He has (co-)published various books and reports in English, Dutch and French, such as (with Vasilis Kostakis), 'Network Society and Future Scenarios for a Collaborative Economy'. Michel currently lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand and Brussels, Belgium. In the spring of 2017, Michel crafted a Commons Transition Plan for the city of Ghent in Belgium, after a similar project for Ecuador in 2014. For the next three years, he is also advizer to SMart, a fast growing European labour mutual for autonomous workers, seeking welfare reform (commonfare), while presently looking into biocapacity-based, contributive accounting mechanisms.

Mélanie Delaplanche

Sustainability Addict

"Build your sustainability approach to inspire, engage and win over your audience"

In this interactive session, we will discuss and exchange examples of inspiring sustainability initiatives. You will have the opportunity to come up with your own plan to make your association stand out and address a strategic topic that cannot be ignored any longer.

Biography

"I believe sustainability should be integrated in our business practices & daily lives. We all have a responsibility to initiate change if we want to address the immense challenge of climate change related risks."

Mélanie is a sustainability expert in the events industry and is supporting organisations integrate sustainability to their strategy through a collaborative approach and measurable objectives. After having worked for renowned agencies in Paris, London and Brussels on international events and led the Global Destination Sustainability Index, she has now set-up her own consultancy: Sustainability Addict.

Daniel Laqua

Northumbria University

"Confronting the Challenges for International Non-Governmental Organisations: A Historical Perspective"

This workshop presents you with historical case studies in order to promote reflection and dialogue on the challenges faced by non-governmental organisations today. We will investigate a series of interrelated questions: what were the challenges for organisations in which the founding figures exercised a dominant role – and what factors helped ensure the longevity beyond the first generation of leaders? What strategies did activists develop to attract publicity and external funding? How did voluntary associations gain recognition from national or international authorities? This workshop shows how different groups of people answered these questions, and it will encourage you to set these examples in relation to your own association's experience.

Biography

Dr Daniel Laqua is Associate Professor of European History at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He has worked extensively on the history of international causes, movements and organisations, covering the work of humanitarians, pacifists and revolutionaries. He is the author of The Age of Internationalism and Belgium, 1880–1930: Peace, Progress and Prestige (Manchester University Press, 2013), the editor of Internationalism Reconfigured: Transnational Ideas and Movements between the World Wars (I.B. Tauris, 2011) and the co-editor of International Organizations and Global Civil Society: Histories of the Union of International Associations (Bloomsbury, 2019).

Philippe Noirhomme

European VAT Desk

"VAT and related issues concerning International Associations"

Focus will be given to the major VAT rules relevant for international associations. Sometimes underestimated by international associations the VAT taxation is likely to represent a significant cost….or a valuable opportunity for them. We will deal with the EU VAT system and, where appropriate, with certain rules in other countries applicable to the most common activities carried out by international associations.

Biography

Philippe Noirhomme has been a tax adviser working with European VAT Desk since 2011. He previously spent 11 years with Ernst & Young Tax Consultants in the Indirect Tax department, and has been a Lecturer at the Tax Institute of the University of Liège (Law College) since 2009. He is a speaker at various seminars and conferences concerning VAT in the EU.

Antoine Druetz and Alix Degrez

KOAN Law Firm

"Companies and Associations Code: a new world since May 2019"

On May 1st, 2019 the companies and associations Code (hereafter: "New Code") has entered into force. As from this date, the New Code will apply to new associations and foundations, i.e. those incorporated on and after May 1st, 2019. However, as from January 1st, 2020, the New Code will apply to all associations and foundations and these definitively need to prepare. Indeed, the New Code will impact the Belgian non-profit sector in various ways (e.g. performance of commercial activities, new liability regime for officers, new governance rules, restructuration and transformation procedures, etc.). This is why Antoine Druetz, Partner and Alix Degrez, Senior Associate will be present at UIA Round Table in order to exchange and answer any questions you may have on the New Code and how it will impact your non-profit organisation.

Biographies

Antoine Druetz, Partner at KOAN Law Firm, has been practicing not-for-profit law for more than 14 years. He is a partner in KOAN's corporate law department. Based on his in-depth experience with Belgian and European (international) associations and foundations, he created the Non-Profit and Trade Associations team which he has headed for 5 years.

Antoine has developed a broad expertise in dealing with non-profit associations, charities, societies and trade organisations. He has developed a specific expertise in (i) structuring and restructuring (with cross-border aspects) legal entities, and (ii) designing complex governance systems for (groups of) not-for-profit legal entities. He is the author of several publications in the field of non-profit law.

Antoine Druetz studied in the Executive Master in International Association Management programme, at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management (January 2018 – June 2018). He is also an associate member of the FAIB and a member of the Charity Law Association.

Alix Degrez, Senior Associate at KOAN Law Firm, has been a lawyer and associate in KOAN's corporate law department for five years, chiefly with the Non-Profit and Trade Associations team. Alix advises numerous well-known Belgian and European (international) associations and foundations and has developed a broad expertise in dealing with non-profit associations, charities and trade organisations. KOAN's non-profit clients appreciate her pragmatism, responsiveness and flexibility.

Alix Degrez is a key member of the Non-Profit & Trade Associations team. She is actively involved in developing the team's know-how and organising seminars and trainings aimed to the non-profit sector. Together with Antoine Druetz, she maintains a permanent reflection on how to offer new and always more accurate services to KOAN's non-profit clients.

Marijke Roelants

BoldLAW

"Getting in legal shape by 2020"

The workshop will cover:

• How to protect the board members of an international association against liability in light of the new director liability rules?
• How to organize daily management in an international association?
• How to find the UBO of an international association?
• How to manage the personal data in an international association?

Each topic will be introduced in a concrete manner with examples in order to encourage the participants to ask their questions. As the workshop has an open concept, participants are also welcome to ask with legal questions that they have on their mind and that are not specifically mentioned.

Biography

Marijke is Managing Partner at BoldLAW and an experienced lawyer with extensive experience in the assistance of both international and Belgian firms and associations.

In addition to being a lawyer, Marijke is also academically active. She has written a number of valued publications in her fields of law, she is a member of the editorial board of the most distinguished corporate and association law review in Belgium, TRV-RPS ('Tijdschrift voor Rechtspersoon en Vennootschapsrecht- Revue pratique des sociétés'), and she publishes about Belgian company and association law reform in Balans-Bilan, an accountancy newsletter.

Sarah Verschaeve

Curia Lawyers

"Impact of the new Belgian Code of Companies and Associations on international associations"

The aim of the session is to give an introduction to the main changes brought along by the new Code of Companies and Associations for international associations. These topics will be covered:

• Context in which the Code of Companies and Associations has arisen
• Place of (international) associations in the new Code
• Impact of the new Code on the fundamental characteristics of (international) associations
• Changes brought to the regime of directors' liability
• Changes on the composition and functioning of the governing bodies of (international) associations
• Impact on possible methods of restructuring (mergers, demergers, cross-border conversions, etc.)
• (Phased) entry into force and transitional provisions of the new Code.

The session will be interactive and participants are encouraged to raise questions or concerns during the presentation.

Biography

Sarah is partner in the not-for-profit team at Curia. She advises not-for-profit associations and social profit companies on a wide variety of association law, corporate law and contract law matters. Besides domestic not-for-profit associations, she also advises and assists international not-for-profit associations, foundations, trade associations and companies with a social purpose.

Her expertise encompasses the most diverse aspects of the law applicable to associations and foundations. This includes the establishment of (international) associations and foundations, the drafting of and modification to bylaws, the preparation of delegations of powers, advising on the spinning off of activities, D&O liability, good, governance, volunteers, donations, etc.

In addition, Sarah can draw on an extensive experience in all types of transactional work including mergers and demergers between not-for-profit entities, transfers of assets, (cross-border) transfers of legal set and restructurings of real estate. Process management (e.g. in the framework of governance tracks), acting alone or together with other experts, is also part of her advisory practice. Sarah's practice also includes advising less classical company forms at the boundaries of the social and regular economy. The company with a social purpose, or social company, is a typical example thereof. On a regular basis she give lectures and workshops on these topics.

In the 2019, 2018 and 2017 editions of the Legal 500 Curia was ranked as a "Tier 1" firm in the category "not-for-profit Belgium". In the 2019 and 2018 editions of the Legal 500 Sarah was noted as Next Generation Lawyer in the same category.

Marleen Denef and Benoît Spitaels

Impact Lawyers

"Good governance in international associations: dos and don’ts"

International associations come in all sizes, shapes and styles. This has an impact on the way they are governed. In this booth Marleen & Benoit share 5 dos and 5 don’ts, based on their joint expertise of more than 30 years advising and supporting not-for-profits and international associations. This will be the starting point of an interactive session where participants can share their own experience, doubts and fire away their questions.

After a long career in other law firms, Marleen & Benoit founded impact lawyers beginning of 2019 together with 3 other founding partners. It is the first Belgian niche law firm specialized in not-for-profits, international associations and social business.

Impact lawyers is not a traditional law firm: their work does not only involve technical advice, but also guiding change and transformation of organisations. The entire team (of 7 lawyers) is involved on a daily basis in all aspects of governance of (international) associations, foundations and social enterprise, choice of legal form, good governance, internal interaction between governing bodies, change of bylaws, internal rules, delegation matrix. All aspects of contractual and institutional collaboration as well as all types of reorganisations (mergers, splits, dissolutions, hybrid structures, organisational networks…) are transactions regularly dealt with by the team. All team-members are regularly invited as speakers at seminars and trainings.

Biographies

Marleen Denef is founder of impact lawyers. She is also Professor at KU Leuven-campus Brussels and member of the board of Esela, the legal network for social impact. The past 13 years, Marleen created and headed the department “not-for-profit” in a general practice law firm, and lead it to a Tier 1-number 1 selection for Belgium by Legal 500 in 2017 & 2018 in the category “not-for-profit”. This has encouraged her to start impact lawyers in 2019 as a niche-firm focussed on not-for-profits and social enterprise together with other believers. Marleen is ranked Leading individual by Legal 500 for Belgium, category not-for-profit (2017-2019).

Benoit Spitaels is co-founder of impact lawyers. Benoit was previously senior member of the “not-for-profit” department in a general practice law firm, which was ranked in Tier 1 for Belgium by Legal 500 in 2017 & 2018 in the category “not-for-profit”. Benoit is ranked individually “next generation lawyer” by Legal 500 for Belgium, category not-for-profit (2018-2019).

PREMIER PARTNER

PLATINUM SPECIAL PARTNER

PLATINUM PARTNER

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

CLOSING RECEPTION SPONSOR

PREMIER PARTNER

PLATINUM SPECIAL PARTNER

PLATINUM PARTNER

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

CLOSING RECEPTION SPONSOR