Christoph Hanssen

OverviewChristoph Hanssen is a partner at Elegis – Huybrechts, Engels, Craen & Partners (Elegis) and a recognised commercial lawyer in Belgium, with continuous practice at the Antwerp Bar since his admission in 1997. He combines deep transactional and dispute-resolution experience with a business-focused approach developed through a postgraduate degree at Vlerick Management School. Christoph advises family businesses, SMEs and international companies on complex commercial contracts, shareholder relations, business transfers and M&A. He brings a pragmatic, commercially aware perspective to governance, risk allocation and value protection across Belgian transactions.Experience & CredentialsChristoph joined Elegis in 1997 and has practised across the firm’s Antwerp and Brussels teams ever since, serving corporate clients on both advisory and contentious matters. His core practice areas include company law, commercial contracts, shareholder disputes, transfers of undertakings and cross‑border M&A. He is fluent in Dutch, English and French, enabling him to lead multilingual transaction and governance work in Belgium’s tri‑lingual commercial environment. His long-standing client relationships reflect a track record of delivering practical solutions under pressure across complex cross-border matters.Education & Professional QualificationsChristoph earned his Master of Laws from the Catholic University of Leuven in 1996 and completed a Master after Master programme at Vlerick Management School (Ghent University) in 1997. He was admitted to the Antwerp Bar in 1997 and has maintained an active litigation and transactional practice since that time. These credentials underpin a practice that combines legal rigour with commercial sensitivity. His combination of legal depth and business awareness informs a pragmatic approach to Belgium’s commercial transactions.Practice Focus & What Sets Him ApartAs a commercial lawyer in Belgium, Christoph focuses on drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, structuring buy‑sides and sell‑sides in M&A, advising on transfers of business and assets, and representing shareholders and boards in disputes. What distinguishes his practice is a long track record advising family‑owned enterprises and SMEs through succession and sale processes, coupled with experience on cross‑border transactions through established international networks. His combined legal and management education enables pragmatic solutions that account for commercial, governance and tax implications. Christoph routinely advises on governance frameworks and contract templates that support value preservation and deal momentum.Recent Developments & Thought Leadership (Past 12 Months)Over the past year, Christoph has reinforced his public profile as a leading Belgian commercial lawyer by joining Global Law Experts as the firm’s appointed expert for Commercial Law in Belgium. He has contributed to practical guidance for businesses on regulatory changes affecting commercial practice and has spoken at industry events. The collaboration broadens his cross‑border capabilities and supports timely, practical advisory to clients. These activities reinforce his role in translating regulatory change into concrete contractual solutions.In 2026 Christoph was prominently featured in practitioner guidance on two major developments for commercial lawyers and in‑house teams in Belgium: the mandatory B2B e‑invoicing regime that took effect on 1 January 2026, and reforms to commercial and civil law affecting M&A, business transfers and shareholder agreements. These practitioner pieces outline actionable contract drafting updates, enhanced due‑diligence checklists and transaction protections that Christoph routinely advises clients to adopt. His insights help clients translate regulatory shifts into pragmatic contractual language and governance practices. His collaboration with international networks further supports robust, cross-border deal execution in Belgium.Memberships, Networks & Cross‑Border CapabilityChristoph is an active member of TerraLex and Transeo, which provides him with access to specialist counsel and deal support in multiple jurisdictions and a platform for collaborating on European and international M&A matters. Membership of these networks supports his work on cross‑border buyouts, joint ventures and the transfer of SMEs. He regularly participates in conferences and practice‑group meetings through these networks. This active network participation enhances his capability to manage complex, multi‑jurisdictional transactions for Belgian clients.How He Advises ClientsChristoph adopts a pragmatic, risk‑calibrated approach focused on preserving commercial value. For transactional mandates he blends targeted due diligence, bespoke warranties and contract architecture aimed at protecting client value while enabling deal momentum. For governance and dispute matters he prioritises early boardroom engagement, prevention via shareholder agreements and, where necessary, decisive litigation or mediation strategies. Clients benefit from his practical contract templates and checklists aligned to Belgian law and recent regulatory changes.Sectors ServedHis client base spans family‑owned manufacturing and distribution businesses, professional and service firms, and international groups operating through Belgian subsidiaries. The combination of hands‑on transactional experience and sector knowledge makes him particularly effective in succession planning, carve‑outs, asset sales and post‑transaction integration issues. Christoph’s approach consistently aligns with client commercial objectives while managing governance and regulatory risk. He brings a detailed understanding of Belgium’s market dynamics to deliver seamless cross‑border support.Commercial Lawyer in Belgium: Context & Why Specialist Advice MattersBelgium’s commercial landscape has seen accelerated regulatory change in recent years — notably the 2026 B2B e‑invoicing mandate and amendments to the Code of Economic Law and related civil‑code provisions that affect transactional mechanics and pre‑contractual obligations. These changes alter invoicing protocols, contract performance triggers and M&A due‑diligence scopes, so commercial counterparties and deal teams must update contractual language, operational processes and transactional warranties to avoid value leakage. Engaging a specialist commercial lawyer in Belgium ensures compliance with domestic technical requirements and preserves deal certainty. Christoph Hanssen’s practical guidance helps clients navigate the evolving regulatory environment and translate changes into robust commercial contracts.ConclusionChristoph Hanssen remains a leading commercial lawyer in Belgium for clients seeking pragmatic, commercially oriented advice on corporate and contractual matters. He continues to combine hands‑on transaction and dispute experience with networked cross‑border capability and recent thought leadership addressing the major regulatory shifts reshaping Belgian commercial practice in 2026. His ongoing involvement in professional networks enhances international transaction delivery and ensures clients receive timely, practical guidance. Prospective clients benefit from his long tenure at Elegis and his proven ability to translate regulatory change into concrete contractual solutions.