Our attorneys

Roeland Smits

Practice areas

Roeland Smits is a partner of Tilia Law (before VWEW Advocaten). He is active in the field of Belgian business law, with particular experience in drafting and negotiating business contracts (supply, construction, license, (equipment) purchase, development, etc.), distribution law (agency, distributorship and franchise), insolvency (bankruptcy, Act on Continuity of Enterprises), company law (M&A, restructuring, shareholders agreements, etc.) and data privacy (certified Data Protection Officer or DPO).

Roeland has also extensive experience in litigation and dispute resolution in any of the fields referred to above. He represents domestic and international companies in all stages of court proceedings and in arbitration (ICC, CEPINA).

He offers companies day-to-day legal assistance as well as advice restricted to particular projects. In the past, he has offered in-house legal support (within the client's own corporate walls), allowing him to build in-depth knowledge of the client’s businesses and needs.

Roeland graduated from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Brussels Bar. He speaks Dutch, French, English and Italian (elementary proficiency).

Publications

Roeland Smits and David Sarlette, “Distribution Agreements in Belgium”, in Comparative Law Yearbook of International Business, Volume 38, Kluwer Law International, 2016, 307-343.

Roeland Smits and Jan Vanbeckevoort, "European Union Directive 2016/943 and Trade Secrets in Belgium", in Comparative Law Yearbook of International Business, Volume 40, Kluwer Law International, 2018, 287-320.