There is no point in having a good product or a good service if it is poorly distributed. And good distribution depends in particular on a good contract, whether it is an agency, concession or franchise agreement.
In this respect, there is no doubt that the future belongs to so-called “selective” distribution, where the supplier chooses to work with a limited number of approved distributors based on qualitative or quantitative criteria.
Working at the crossroads of law and marketing, distribution and competition, our Distribution Department offers you exceptional experience and know-how in all these matters.
Practice contacts
Laurent du Jardin
l.dujardin@janson.be
Hans Dhondt
h.dhondt@janson.be
Team
Partner
Counsel
Associates
Lauren Malbrain
Gregor Milos
Services
Drafting agreements and, where applicable, the criteria governing selective distribution networks ;
Preparing for the conclusion of such agreements, in particular by ensuring compliance with pre-contractual information requirements ;
Anticipating or resolving disputes in order to restore the proper performance of partnerships or agreements or, conversely, to expedite their termination ;
Assisting with contract termination, in particular through the drafting of “exit agreements” governing the termination process and providing for a full and final settlement ;
Providing strategic support in the event of disputes and defending clients’ interests in court proceedings and expert proceedings.
The Distribution Department has developed extensive expertise across a wide range of sectors, including automotive, motorcycles, watches, jewellery, retail, beer, spirits and textiles.
Track record
Advising Belgian and international companies on the drafting, negotiation, performance and termination of distribution, commercial agency, franchise and other commercial agreements
Assisting several car importers in setting up their distribution networks in compliance with the European regulations
Assisting numerous dealers or agents in the soft landing (and with indemnity) of their terminated contracts
Negotiating the transfer of a business (asset deals), often in order to terminate a concession or franchise agreement whose termination is notified or envisaged
Representing and advising a major automotive manufacturer in connection with the termination of its dealership agreement with one of its largest dealers
Academic & Scientific work
Laurent du Jardin is a professor at the Catholic University of Louvain where he has been teaching distribution law and credit law for the past 15 years
Margaux Clumeck spent five years as a teaching and research assistant at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
The team has published numerous books and articles over the past few years, including the following :
L. du Jardin, En droit, quelle place encore au non-écrit ?, Bruxelles, ANTHEMIS, 2026, à paraître
L. du Jardin « Interdiction du prix de vente minimal : fin du dogme ? », Journal des Tribunaux, 2025, pp. 209–218.
D. Coigniez and M. Clumeck, “Délais de prescription en matière d’agence commerciale : la Cour de cassation clarifie leur application mais certaines questions demeurent”, case note on the judgment of the Belgian Supreme Court of 25 October 2024, TBH/RDC 2025/8, 1058–1061
L. du Jardin, « L’empire du silence : le contrat de distribution non-écrit (constatation, exécution, résiliation) », Revue de Droit commercial, 2024/9, pp. 1143–1160.
L. du Jardin, « L’agent commercial et le commerce électronique », Revue de Droit commercial, 2023/3, pp. 376–391.
L. du Jardin, « La rémunération de l’agent commercial, son indemnité d’éviction et son indemnité réparatrice », note sous Cass. 11 juin 2021, Revue de Droit commercial, 2022, pp. 376–379.
L. du Jardin, « Commerce électronique : la nouvelle donne », Journal des Tribunaux, 2020, pp. 601–609.
L. du Jardin, « En attendant Godot – Le droit belge de la distribution tel qu’il devrait être », Revue de Droit commercial, 2020/4, pp. 446–465.
L. du Jardin, « Distribution sélective et Internet : nouveau western ? », Journal de droit européen, 2018, pp. 126–130.
L. du Jardin, Les contrats de distribution sélective, Bruylant, Bruxelles, 2014, 232 p.
