Yelaw was formed in 2022 by Oriane Bauchau, Antoine Castadot, Morgane Merveille, and François Schapira, formerly of Claeys & Engels. It offers specialist expertise in public sector employment matters, compensation and benefits, competition and employee poaching, and transfer of undertakings.

Highly regarded for its ‘clear and pragmatic advice’ and ‘in-depth knowledge and experience’, Claeys & Engels's full-service employment law boutique has a unique array of industry expertise in pensions, tax, data protection, and global mobility, with restructuring remaining a core part of their practice. The team is comprised of specialised lawyers who plead cases before all Belgian labour courts. Managing partner Olivier Wouters and chairman Chris Engels co-head the practice, with Engels specialising in labour and employment law, with particular expertise in individual and collective dismissals, cross-border transfers of undertakings, and outsourcing arrangements, applicable law issues in an international context, and European Works Council matters, while Wouters advises companies on individual and collective dismissals, reorganisations, M&A, union negotiations, employee representation issues, and strategic change processes. Other key partners of note are Sophie Maes, who advises national and international clients on cross-border employment matters, including business immigration, individual and collective employment law, and social security issues, and Inger Verhelst, who advises clients on individual and collective labour matters, including redundancies, restructurings, acquisitions and union negotiations.

A&O Shearman’s labour and employment team is fully integrated into the firm’s multi-disciplinary, full-service offering, advising on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, pensions, and compensation issues, with a strong focus on compliance in highly-regulated environments. The team supports clients in complex HR transactions, leadership changes, collective dismissals, and collective bargaining, and represents them in complex litigation and internal investigations. Christian Bayart heads the Belgian employment and compensation group; he assists clients with strategic HR, employment and remuneration matters, with particular areas of expertise including executive employment and compensation, workforce restructuring, collective bargaining, employee benefits, and occupational pensions. Inge Vanderreken is strong in assisting clients with HR projects, including multinational contractual arrangements and executive compensation.

Noted for providing ‘practical guidance’, ALTIUS's employment team delivers a ‘one-stop’ service for clients facing complex employment law issues, ranging from cross-border employment issues, workforce restructuring to collective bargaining and migration law. The team also efficiently integrates with the firm's other highly-regarded practices, including its corporate and M&A, IP, and data protection groups, and specialises in cross-border employment, workforce restructuring, migration law, and collective bargaining. Regarded as an ‘outstanding lawyer’, litigator and team head Philippe De Wulf advises a range of clients, from Belgium-based clients to international corporations, in employment disputes and restructuring matters. He is ably supported by Emma Van Caenegem, who brings notable expertise in international labour law and social security matters.

CMS EU is a market leader for complex, cross-border employment mandates and serves a range of clients from different sectors, including technology and IT, retail and luxury goods, aviation, and energy. Team head Gaël Chuffart boasts expertise in collective labour relations, including major restructurings, reorganisations, and redundancy plans. Elke Duden, who handles sensitive employment matters related to workforce reorganisations, often advises foreign EOR companies on cybersecurity incidents and top executives on contracts, dismissals, and benefits, with a particular focus on the financial industry. Recently appointed managing partner Sophie Berg advises on complex individual and collective issues, specialising in high-stakes restructuring, compliance, and HR integration post-M&A.

Noted for its ‘strong experience and know-how in the specialised labour law’ arena, DLA Piper‘s employment practice covers the full spectrum of Belgian and international employment law, social security, health and safety, and pensions law. The team has deep experience in retail, logistics, life sciences, and technology sectors, and key focus areas include complex restructuring, pensions law, corporate investigations, contingent workforces, and pay transparency requirements, while leveraging its global network for multi-jurisdictional matters. Team head Laurent De Surgeloose ‘stands out for his pragmatic, business-focused approach’ and brings ‘deep legal expertise’ to sensitive corporate investigations, insourcing and outsourcing projects with particular involvement in labour leasing issues, GDPR queries, and issues relating to HR. Another key practitioner is Pierre Dion, and the previous co-head of the practice, Eddy Lievens, retired in May 2025.

Liedekerke handles all aspects of Belgian and European labour and employment law, providing comprehensive advice, negotiation, and drafting services, alongside representation before the Labour Courts and direct communication with regulatory authorities. The team has specific expertise in areas such as international transfers of undertakings, collective dismissals, closures, and complex discrimination law cases, including its role as counsel to the Belgian Institute for Gender Equality. The practice is also active in legal audits, M&A due diligence, and supporting clients with the implementation of the whistleblowing directive. Paul Geerebaert leads the Brussels team with work spanning individual and collective dismissals, transfers of undertakings, and the drafting and negotiation of individual and collective labour agreements. Vincent Busschaert is a sought after practitioner by both Belgian and interneational clients, and described as ‘a future star’, Bruno Aguirre acts as counsel for the Employment & Benefits Practice Group with significant experience in employment advisory, transactional, and litigation work, and assists clients with the complexities of hiring, bonuses, incentives, workplace privacy, audits, and dismissals.

Linklaters’ practice advises on the full range of employment, incentives, and pensions issues, continually evolving to meet client needs across day-to-day queries, restructurings, and complex transactions. The team assists clients with navigating major crises and challenges, including bankruptcy procedures and the most complex M&A deals. The practice is noted for big-ticket employment litigation, handling reputationally sensitive contentious matters, and providing comprehensive advice on the legal and ethical implications of implementing AI in the workplace. Nele Van Kerrebroeck spearheads the practice with a client roster consisting of companies in the consumer, industrial, automotive, and banking sectors.

Lauded as ‘solution-oriented’, Loyens & Loeff‘s employment, pensions, and benefits practice provides ‘tailored’ and integrated legal and tax advice across the full spectrum of employment matters, covering transformation processes, high-profile dismissals, executive remuneration, alternative reward schemes, flexible employment, M&A, litigation, and pensions. Jointly led by Filip Saelens, Kris De Schutter, and Joris Beernaert KC, the team combines strategic insight with hands-on expertise. Saelens brings over 30 years of experience in employment law and complex cross-border transactions, De Schutter leads restructurings and downsizing operations, and Beernaert KC contributes over 18 years of pension and benefits expertise, advising employers and pension providers alike.

Spanning both Brussels and Antwerp, Lydian fields a substantial employment team, enabling it to provide comprehensive services across individual and collective employment law issues. Noted for its ‘clarity of analysis and proposed solutions’, the practice handles a wide scope of matters, including compensation and benefits, employee incentive schemes, employment litigation, health and safety, and HR data protection and privacy at work. The team is highly experienced in complex areas, such as restructurings, outsourcing projects, international mobility, and advising senior executives, as well as conducting fraud and internal investigations. The employment team is co-led by Brussels-based Alexander Vandenbergen and Jurgen De Vreese, as well as Antwerp-based Jan Hofkens and Kato Aerts.

Stibbe boasts a strong employment litigation record before Belgian courts, the European Court of Justice, civil and criminal courts, and in arbitration proceedings. The team handles complex issues across employment, public, regulatory, and criminal law, with expertise in banking, supplementary pensions, TUPE transfers, and international employment. It is co-led by Elisabeth Matthys, who focuses on complex litigation and social criminal law, and Jérôme Aubertin, who advises on corporate restructurings, collective dismissals, closures, and alternative remuneration schemes. Furthermore, the team also holds a niche focus in sports law, advising federations, teams, and athletes.

Van Olmen & Wynant provides legal advice to major international companies on restructurings, international staff management, and the social aspects of M&A deals. The firm has significant specialised expertise in EU employment law, with key members leading L&E Global’s EU Working Group and editing the European Employment Law Cases review. Chris Van Olmen, Nicolas Simon, and Vincent Vuylsteke all co-head the employment team, bringing expertise to all aspects of employment and industrial relations, including employment-related issues connected to reorganisation and restructuring processes, collective dismissals and closures, and individual and collective employment disputes, including litigation before the Belgian Labour Courts.

Younity offers an all-round service in HR law, encompassing employment, pensions, civil servant-related issues, compensation and benefits, and business immigration. The firm provides strong involvement in M&A support work, often subcontracted by major Belgian and international law firms, enabling the team to work on international matters. The team has strong pension expertise, often advising major insurance companies and banks, and it also acts as compliance officer for several large pension funds. Also of note is the group’s expanding public law, privacy, and GDPR practices. Jean-Philippe Cordier and Corinne Merla spearhead the practice; the former’s client base includes Belgian and multinational corporations, while the latter focuses on occupational pensions and state pension plans. Brecht Cops is another active member of the team and often handles the employment aspects of corproate transactions.

Baker McKenzie BV/SRL‘s employment team advises across the full spectrum of labour and pensions law, combining contentious and advisory expertise. The practice is active in restructurings, collective dismissals, corporate transactions, and outsourcing mandates, with particular experience in handling senior executive exits and industrial relations matters. It also advises on works council issues, EU employment compliance, internal investigations, and pension scheme design, acting for clients across the TMT, life sciences, retail, and industrial sectors. Dimitri Van Uytvanck, who joined the firm from Simmons & Simmons at the beginning of 2025 alongisde Ellen Herinckx and Laura Declercq, heads the practice, advising clients on the restructurings and transfers of undertakings, as well as flexible working and data privacy, executive remuneration, employee benefits, employment contracts, trade union relations, and other strategic workplace matters.

Clifford Chance advises some of the world’s most sophisticated and demanding companies on their most complex and sensitive HR issues. The practice is well-known for consistently delivering practical, business-focused advice, particularly on large-scale restructurings and downsizings, and sensitive boardroom and corporate governance matters. Key areas of focus include the appointment and termination of senior executives, industrial relations, cross-border employment work, remuneration and benefits (including pensions), and high-profile employment litigation. Gert Cuppens heads up the practice with notable strength in restructurings, collective downsizings, and outsourcing transactions.

Deloitte Legal focuses its growth strategy on six high-added value offerings aimed at the higher market segment, leveraging multidisciplinary services and internally developed technology. Its key offerings include workforce transformation, encompassing M&A, restructurings, and collective dismissals, executive-related work with a focus on the financial services, and international mobility. The team also specialises in social sustainability and social internal audits, providing HR transparency workshops and combining legal expertise with tax advisors for flexible reward systems. Stijn Demeestere leads the practice with particular expertise in complex individual and collective dismissal cases.

Liesbet Vandenplas heads the employment department at Eubelius, a leading firm in Belgium for employment, social security, and pensions law, providing comprehensive legal support across all aspects of employment and HR strategy. The firm is well-known for its pragmatic advice on complex litigation and settlements, acting as a trusted advisor to clients in both the private and (semi-)public sectors. Key areas of expertise include strategic HR legal management and restructuring, pension schemes, and legal structuring of staffing.

Stefan Corbanie and Céline Wauters jointly lead the practice at Eversheds Sutherland, which is a go-to practice for employment law in Belgium and in cross-border matters. Key types of work include day-to-day advice and representation in litigation regarding individual and collective employment law matters, such as agreements, workplace harassment, discrimination, and the termination of protected workers. The team also provides strategic assistance with restructurings, including advice on the transfer and closure of undertakings, and collective dismissals, as well as HR privacy, data protection, and outsourcing arrangements.

Littler (Belgium), an independent Belgian employment law boutique established in May 2025 following its demerger from Reliance, is co-headed by Edward Carlier and Pierre Van Achter. Carlier specialises in all aspects of HR law, particularly corporate restructurings, dismissals, TUPE, outsourcing, and non-competition issues. Achter focuses on employment litigation, advising on individual and mass redundancies, contract negotiations, and supporting foreign companies establishing operations in Belgium. Herman Craeninckx has a large focus on company restructurings, including collective dimissals and terminations.

NautaDutilh’s employment and pensions team sets itself apart with in-depth knowledge and vast experience in assisting clients with employment and pension issues in complex and international M&A transactions and restructurings. The team handles all labour aspects of transactions, from due diligence and negotiation of collective bargaining agreements to post-transaction litigation. The practice also provides comprehensive day-to-day HR support, with specific industry expertise in logistics and warehousing, retail, and life sciences. Practice head Philippe François operates at the intersection between employment and corporate law.

Described as ‘a trusted partner’, Osborne Clarke specialises in the TMC, life sciences, biotech, and retail sectors, advising both national and cross-border clients on a range of contentious and non-contentious employment and HR issues. Practice head Thierry Viérin specialises in various aspects of employment law, including restructurings, contingent workforces, the termination and hiring of high-profile senior employees, negotiations with trade union representatives, and the transfer of undertakings.

Headed by managing partner Marian Dewaersegger, Sotra's employment practice is lauded for ‘going the extra mile’ and advises a wide range of clients, including mid-size to large multinational and public sector corporations. The team boasts specific sector knowledge in logistics, airlines, and retail, and the group's offering encompasses support with both individual and collective employment law, restructurings, including transfers of undertakings and collective redundancies, and compensation and benefits, as well as cross-border transactions, social security law, public sector law, and HR-related GDPR questions.

AKD's employment practice addresses a range of issues for its clients, including restructuring in the context of collective dismissals and business closures, international mobility, and M&A employment issues, including TUPE. Practice head, Julien Hick, specialises in Belgian and EU labour law, and he regularly assists clients with cross-border businesses, transfers of undertakings, compensation and benefits, and related litigation and settlement negotiations.

Bird & Bird's employment practice serves as a strategic advisor to cross-border clients on standalone employment and benefits matters, encompassing compliance, data privacy, international mobility, and collective dismissals, as well as discrimination and harassment claims. Co-head Pieter De Koster focuses on work councils and industrial relations, while Anton Aerts specialises in the life sciences and technology sectors. The group's varied client base ranges from start-ups to multinationals.

As the largest employment team in the Antwerp region, BV Stappers Advocaten stands out through its pragmatic, solution-oriented approach, and deep understanding of both legal frameworks and operational realities. Co-headed by Sara Cockx, Stephanie Raets, and Pierrick De Deken, the team advises on individual and collective employment law, social security, and international employment matters, with particular strength in privacy and data protection, including GDPR compliance and proceedings before the Belgian Data Protection Authority.

Crowell & Moring advises on all aspects of individual and collective employment law, both in Belgium and overseas. The practice, which is co-led by Emmanuel Plasschaert and Evelien Jamaels, assists clients with complex situations, such as collective dismissals, restructurings, social elections, and the drafting of stock option plans. The team also advises on employment contracts, independent cooperation agreements, work rules and policies, GDPR, and privacy matters, and also manages social dialogue with trade unions and workers’ representatives.

Lauded as a ‘seasoned team of specialists in employment law’, ELL.Law BV‘s workload spans both individual and collective employment matters, including contracts, executive compensation, terminations, collective layoffs, M&A, restructurings, union negotiations, and employment litigation. It advises multinational and local companies and represents clients before Belgian courts. Founding partners and co-heads Nancy Luyten and Sebastian Burg bring over 25 years of experience to their employment practice and are noted for their ‘high-quality work and practical advice’.

EY Law is deeply involved in M&A and restructuring projects, providing both vendor and buy-side due diligence and support throughout the entire transaction lifecycle, from deal negotiation to post-deal integration. The practice offers advice across a diverse range of topics, including working time, compensation, termination processes, health and safety, and pay transparency matters. The team also advises on the set-up of employee representative bodies and handles employment litigation. Practice head Barbara François is ably supported by Marie-Emilie Truyens and Sophie Nys.

Fieldfisher demonstrates extensive expertise in international employment, social security, and business migration. The group provides highly pragmatic advice and is well-known for defending high-profile cases involving international employment structuring and complex dismissal claims. The team focuses on projects involving pragmatic restructurings, creating flexible workspaces, salary and benefits structuring, and handling disputes arising from transfers of undertakings and M&A deals. Tim Perdieus is a key contact. Stefan Nerinckx left the firm.

Jones Day's labour and employment group ‘navigates complex employment issues with a combination of technical acumen and pragmatism’. Chantal Biernaux spearehads the department and is lauded for her ‘incredible experience, strategic thinking, and leadership’. Biernaux’s strengths include advising on corproate restruturings and susbequent layoffs, collective bargaining agreements, and employment litigaiton. Pensions and social secutiry law are key areas of expertise for Sara Vanderstraeten, another notable memebr of the practice.

Laurius is a boutique law firm lauded as ‘consistently delivering well-considered, tailored advice’. The employment practice, led by Damien Stas de Richelle, advises on a range of employment and HR issues, complex restructurings, collective negotiations, and employment aspects of M&A, as well as contentious matters.

Monard law's employment offering encompasses advice on a wide range of labour and security law issues, including individual and collective employment law, as well as contentious and non-contentious matters. These issues span restructuring, transfers and undertakings, collective dismissals, and equity-based incentives. Tom Messiaen and Bert Theeuwes co-head the team; Theeuwes has a unique practice representing international organisations and high-ranking staff officials before administrative tribunals. Peter Dufaux left the firm in 2025.

PwC Legal‘s employment team covers the full spectrum of national and international individual and collective labour law, including M&A, restructuring, HR transformation, compensation and benefits, and ESG-related matters. Practice head Pascale Moreau brings over 25 years of experience and specialises in restructuring, collective dismissal, transfers of undertakings, and post-deal harmonisation for diverse large and medium-sized companies.

Reliance, a Belgian firm focusing exclusively on labour and employment law, was established in May 2025 following a demerger from Littler (Belgium). Operating across Brussels, Mechelen, and Hasselt, the team is co-headed by Koen De Bisschop, Stefaan Diels, Anne-Valérie Michaux, Stéphanie De Ridder, Fabienne Raepsaet, and Yne Machiels. The team advises both private and public sector organisations, drawing on collective expertise that spans the full spectrum of individual and collective employment law at national and international levels. The team specialises in corporate restructurings, international mobility, and GDPR compliance, as well as remuneration, individual and mass terminations, and conflict management for private and public sector clients and executives. Machiels was made a partner in 2025, while Peter Dufaux joined from Monard Law.

Schoups' team advises on all aspects of Belgian and cross-border employment law, covering contracts, terminations, reorganisations, social inspections, policies, GDPR, and collective labour matters. The practice handles complex restructurings, stock option plans, and union negotiations, with cross-border work in France and the Netherlands. Lauded as ‘truly outstanding’, practice head Sofie Bontinck, with 30 years’ experience, leads the team from Antwerp and Brussels and advises clients on both individual and collective employment law, with a clear focus on business transformation, including TUPE, mergers, M&A, mass redundancies, multiple redundancies, harmonisation of working and salary conditions, and social inspections.

Strelia’s practice covers the full spectrum of employment and benefits law. The firm is specialised in corporate restructuring, HR transformation, and change management, including collective dismissals and site closures. The team is noted for its employment litigation expertise across all court levels, as well as its work on compliance and investigations, including whistleblowing and HR audits. Labour law in M&A transactions is another core area of strength for the practice, and it benefits from the experience of the firm’s corporate and M&A department. Stefanie Tack spearheads the practice with notable expertise in whistleblowing investigations, restructurings, and labour inspections.

Tetra Law’s labour practice maintains a crucial synergy with its corporate and tax departments, particularly for M&A operations involving employee transfers and restructurings. The labour team, led by founding partner Sylvie Lacombe, offers specific and advanced expertise in hiring questions, international mobility, including posting and relocation, and company reorganisations. Other core areas of activity include individual and collective dismissals, harassment, and discrimination issues.

Van Bael & Bellis's employment team handles a wide range of matters, including restructurings, collective dismissals, redundancies, and other contentious matters, such as workplace discrimination and harassment claims. Team head Sara Beutels was promoted to the partnership in February 2025 and specialises in pensions and labour law litigation, while also advising on cross-border employment and social security law.