Jan Peeters is a Belgium-based lawyer practicing at Peeters & Co Advocaten in Brussels. With about 17 years of experience, Jan advises Chinese companies and investors on EU commercial dispute resolution and arbitration in Belgium for Chinese parties.

Practice Focus

• ⚖️ Core work: EU commercial dispute resolution and arbitration in Belgium for Chinese parties
• 🌍 Clients: Chinese outbound groups, trading companies, and investment vehicles
• 📍 Base: Brussels, Belgium
• 🗣️ Languages: Dutch, French, English

Jan translates local procedure into phased options that Chinese headquarters can authorize in increments.

Credentials

How Engagements Run

Jan begins each dispute engagement with a thorough case assessment that evaluates the client's contractual position, the governing law, the available evidence, and the optimal forum for resolution. He analyzes whether the dispute is best addressed through litigation before Belgian courts, arbitration under CEPANI (Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation) or ICC rules, or negotiated settlement. Once the strategy is agreed, Jan manages the full procedural lifecycle: drafting and filing submissions, managing document discovery and evidence collection, preparing witness statements, attending court hearings or arbitral proceedings, and pursuing enforcement of judgments or awards. For disputes with cross-border elements, he coordinates with foreign counsel to manage service of process, jurisdiction challenges, and parallel proceedings in other jurisdictions. Jan maintains structured communication with the client throughout — providing case status reports, settlement assessments, and cost forecasts at each procedural stage.

Working Style

Jan is strategic, forum-aware, and commercially pragmatic. He invests significant time upfront understanding the client's business objectives so that the dispute strategy aligns with commercial interests rather than purely legal positions. He is fluent in EU cross-border procedure — Brussels Regulations on jurisdiction and enforcement, service of process across member states, and the interplay between Belgian national procedure and EU judicial cooperation instruments. Jan communicates clearly about prospects, timelines, and costs, avoiding false optimism while identifying realistic paths to favorable outcomes. He presents options in phased, decision-gated increments that allow overseas management to evaluate the risk-reward trade-off at each stage rather than committing to full litigation from the outset.

Professional Standards

Jan Peeters does not promise outcomes or guaranteed approvals. Advice is informational and strategic.

When to Engage

• 📋 When a cross-border commercial contract is breached and the dispute involves Belgian or EU counterparties
• 🏠 If the client receives notice of arbitration or litigation proceedings in Belgium
• ⚖️ During joint venture or partnership dissolution when exit terms are disputed
• 📦 When enforcing a foreign judgment or arbitral award against assets in Belgium
• 🧭 Before signing a contract with a Belgian party if the dispute resolution clause needs assessment

Typical Client Matters in Brussels

Jan's Brussels dispute practice handles the full range of commercial conflicts arising from international business operations in Belgium and the EU. His typical matters include:

• 📜 Commercial contract disputes — distribution agreements, supply contracts, service level agreements, and licensing arrangements
• 🏢 Shareholder and joint venture disputes — breach of shareholders' agreements, oppression remedies, and exit negotiations
• 🗂️ International arbitration seated in Brussels or elsewhere — ICC, CEPANI, and ad hoc proceedings under Belgian arbitration law
• 🔄 Enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards through Belgian civil procedure
• 📋 Pre-litigation strategy — evidence preservation, jurisdiction analysis, limitation period assessment
• 🔍 Asset tracing and freezing orders — protective measures including attachments and injunctions in Belgian courts

His clients operate across manufacturing, technology, financial services, logistics, and energy sectors.

Arbitration and Litigation Strategy in Belgium

Belgium offers a well-developed legal framework for both litigation and arbitration. Jan advises on the strategic choice of forum and procedure:

• ⚖️ Belgian Court Litigation: Belgian civil procedure is governed by the Judicial Code. Commercial disputes are heard by the Enterprise Court (Ondernemingsrechtbank). Proceedings are conducted in Dutch, French, or German depending on the court's linguistic jurisdiction. Jan handles litigation across the Brussels courts and coordinates with counsel for proceedings elsewhere in Belgium.
• 🛡️ Arbitration in Belgium: Belgium is an arbitration-friendly jurisdiction. The Belgian Judicial Code (Part VI) adopts the UNCITRAL Model Law. Brussels is a seat for both CEPANI and ICC arbitration. Jan has extensive experience with CEPANI rules and also handles ICC, ad hoc, and other institutional arbitration.
• 📜 Interim Measures: Belgian courts grant pre-judgment attachments, saisie conservatoire (protective seizure), and interim injunctions. Jan obtains and defends these measures for clients.
• 💼 EU Judicial Cooperation: The Brussels I bis Regulation governs jurisdiction, recognition, and enforcement of judgments across EU member states. Jan leverages these instruments to enforce judgments and manage cross-border multi-forum disputes.

Cross-Border Judgment Enforcement

Jan assists clients in enforcing Belgian judgments and foreign awards internationally:

• 🏠 Enforcement of Belgian Judgments Abroad: Under Brussels I bis within the EU, and under bilateral treaties or national law outside the EU.
• 📋 Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Belgium: Exequatur proceedings before the Belgian courts for judgments from non-EU jurisdictions.
• ⚖️ Arbitral Award Enforcement: Belgium is a signatory to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. Jan manages exequatur and enforcement of both Belgian and foreign awards.

Industry Sectors Served

• 🏭 Manufacturing & Industrial: Supply chain disruptions, quality disputes, and distribution terminations
• 📦 Logistics & Trade: Freight claims, warehousing disputes, and Incoterms-related conflicts
• 💻 Technology: Software licensing disputes, IP infringement claims, and technology transfer conflicts
• ⚡ Energy & Infrastructure: Construction disputes, energy trading disagreements, and project delivery conflicts