General info
Law firm
Tecola is a law firm organised in the form of a single–member company within the meaning of the Regulations of the Flemish Bar Association of 31 July 2017 with regard to single–member companies of lawyers.
Tecola is a company in the legal form of a Private Limited Liability Company under Belgian law, having its registered office at Groenstraat 61, 3020 Veltem–Beisem, Belgium and registered in the Register of legal entities at Leuven with number 0713.637.512.
E-mail: christophe.baekeland@tecola.be
Any other lawyers working within Tecola are authorised to practise the profession of lawyer in Belgium under the title of "lawyer", and practise the profession of lawyer in their own name.
Tecola is a company in the legal form of a Private Limited Liability Company under Belgian law, having its registered office at Groenstraat 61, 3020 Veltem–Beisem, Belgium and registered in the Register of legal entities at Leuven with number 0713.637.512.
- BE VAT: 0713.637.512
- Business account at BNP Paribas Fortis PLLC: BE10 0018 5082 8304
- Third-party account at BNP Paribas Fortis PLLC: BE58 0018 1180 3079
E-mail: christophe.baekeland@tecola.be
Any other lawyers working within Tecola are authorised to practise the profession of lawyer in Belgium under the title of "lawyer", and practise the profession of lawyer in their own name.
Services
Tecola provides the following services: advice, mediation in civil and commercial matters, assistance in all possible disputes before courts in Belgium, audits and services relating to data protection, general services and negotiations.
Fees and costs
Tecola seeks an optimal price/quality ratio as well as transparency about the charged fees and costs. The rates are always discussed with the client at the start of the case, and can be laid down in an agreement based on the model contract of the Flemish Bar Association, taking into account the recommendations and advice of the Belgian Unfair Terms Commission.
If a potential client wishes to obtain a noncommittal initial advice from Tecola, a rate of EUR 121.00 (including VAT) will be charged for a maximum duration of forty five minutes. Regardless of the duration of this consultation, but limited to a maximum of forty five minutes, this rate is immediately payable in cash.
Prices for services and costs may be received on first request or at the latest after the first meeting.
The fee is always calculated based on an hourly rate depending on (1) the nature and the complexity of the case, (2) the performed useful time calculated on an hourly rate, (3) the lawyer's level of specialisation and (4) the urgency of the provided advice or support.
Tecola can request one or more advances from the client before the start of the commission and during the handling of the case. As long as the client has not paid the advance in full, Tecola may refuse to start on the commission or to continue the commission. An advance is a fixed amount (inclusive of VAT) which the client pays to Tecola prior to the final and detailed statement of fees and costs. All paid advances are deducted from the total amount of fees and costs the client owes Tecola.
In addition to the fee, a sum is charged for office and secretarial expenses. As a rule, this is estimated at a fixed percentage of the fee which – depending on the case – can be between 10% and 30%. In some cases, these costs can be estimated using fixed amounts for the effective costs that can be allocated to the case (including but not limited to correspondence, copies, database consultation, SMS, telephony, mileage allowance, … etc.).
All costs related to the service of judicial decisions, experts, bailiffs, civil–law notaries, translators or other possible experts or specialists, are entirely at the client's expense.
All court fees, court registry fees and costs related to government institutions in the broadest sense or to consulting or requesting documents or information, are entirely at the client's expense.
The client pays the advances and the final and detailed statement of fees and expenses within fourteen calendar days of receipt of the invoice. If desirable to ensure a proper service, Tecola may stipulate a shorter payment term.
If the client does not agree with the advances to be paid or to the final and detailed statement of fees and costs, he must submit his protest in writing to Tecola by registered mail at its registered office within fourteen calendar days after receipt of the invoice or after the client could reasonably have received the invoice.
From the due date of the advances or the final and detailed statement of fees and costs, interest is due by operation of law and without any prior notice of default, which is calculated for companies in accordance with the Late Payment Act of 2 August 2002 and for individuals in accordance with the legal interest rate. In the event of late payment, a fixed fee amounting to 10% of the total invoice amount and with a minimum of EUR 100.00 shall always be due, without prejudice to all possible costs of (judicial) collection.
Both parties can terminate their agreement at all times by means of written notification to the other party. In that case, Tecola shall transfer a final and detailed statement of fees and costs to the client, whereby all performance and costs shall be taken into account from the start of the commission to the termination of the agreement. At the client's first written request, Tecola shall transfer the casefile either to the client or to the successive lawyer.
If a potential client wishes to obtain a noncommittal initial advice from Tecola, a rate of EUR 121.00 (including VAT) will be charged for a maximum duration of forty five minutes. Regardless of the duration of this consultation, but limited to a maximum of forty five minutes, this rate is immediately payable in cash.
Prices for services and costs may be received on first request or at the latest after the first meeting.
The fee is always calculated based on an hourly rate depending on (1) the nature and the complexity of the case, (2) the performed useful time calculated on an hourly rate, (3) the lawyer's level of specialisation and (4) the urgency of the provided advice or support.
Tecola can request one or more advances from the client before the start of the commission and during the handling of the case. As long as the client has not paid the advance in full, Tecola may refuse to start on the commission or to continue the commission. An advance is a fixed amount (inclusive of VAT) which the client pays to Tecola prior to the final and detailed statement of fees and costs. All paid advances are deducted from the total amount of fees and costs the client owes Tecola.
In addition to the fee, a sum is charged for office and secretarial expenses. As a rule, this is estimated at a fixed percentage of the fee which – depending on the case – can be between 10% and 30%. In some cases, these costs can be estimated using fixed amounts for the effective costs that can be allocated to the case (including but not limited to correspondence, copies, database consultation, SMS, telephony, mileage allowance, … etc.).
All costs related to the service of judicial decisions, experts, bailiffs, civil–law notaries, translators or other possible experts or specialists, are entirely at the client's expense.
All court fees, court registry fees and costs related to government institutions in the broadest sense or to consulting or requesting documents or information, are entirely at the client's expense.
The client pays the advances and the final and detailed statement of fees and expenses within fourteen calendar days of receipt of the invoice. If desirable to ensure a proper service, Tecola may stipulate a shorter payment term.
If the client does not agree with the advances to be paid or to the final and detailed statement of fees and costs, he must submit his protest in writing to Tecola by registered mail at its registered office within fourteen calendar days after receipt of the invoice or after the client could reasonably have received the invoice.
From the due date of the advances or the final and detailed statement of fees and costs, interest is due by operation of law and without any prior notice of default, which is calculated for companies in accordance with the Late Payment Act of 2 August 2002 and for individuals in accordance with the legal interest rate. In the event of late payment, a fixed fee amounting to 10% of the total invoice amount and with a minimum of EUR 100.00 shall always be due, without prejudice to all possible costs of (judicial) collection.
Both parties can terminate their agreement at all times by means of written notification to the other party. In that case, Tecola shall transfer a final and detailed statement of fees and costs to the client, whereby all performance and costs shall be taken into account from the start of the commission to the termination of the agreement. At the client's first written request, Tecola shall transfer the casefile either to the client or to the successive lawyer.
Professional rules and codes of conduct
Tecola's lawyers are subject to the regulations of the Flemish Bar Association and the regulations of the National Bar Association. Both regulations can be consulted on www.advocaat.be . Tecola's lawyers are also connected to the Bar of Leuven and are therefore subject to the regulations of the Bar of Leuven, which can be consulted on www.balieleuven.be.
Insurance
Tecola's lawyers have a professional liability insurance through the Flemish Bar Association and the Bar of Leuven with PLLC Amlin Europe (as main insurer (70%) and with the address of the branch office at Koning Albert II 9, 1210 Brussels, Belgium) and with the co–Insurers PLLC Zurich Insurance (25%) with address of the branch office at Avenue Lloyd Georgelaan 7, 1000 Brussels, Belgium and PLLC KBC Insurance (5%) with address of the branch office at Professor Roger Van Overstraetenplein 2, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. The insured capital amounts to EUR 2,500,000.00 per claim (with a deductible to maximum EUR 2,500.00 per claim per lawyer).
An insolvency insurance with PLLC Amlin Europe (as main insurer) with a maximum coverage of EUR 125,000.00 per claim.
The third–party liability operation guarantee (extra–contractual liability) is covered to a sum to the amount of EUR 6,200,000.00 for bodily injury and to EUR 620,000.00 for material and non–material damage per claim.
The insurance relates to the activities practised by the lawyers from an office established in Belgium and provides worldwide coverage subject to possible clarifications and exceptions specified in the third–party liability for lawyers’ policy.
Unless otherwise specified, Tecola shall not be liable in any way whatsoever at any time for services provided by third parties it contracts.
The liability of Tecola's lawyers is at all times restricted to the amounts paid out by the third–party liability insurance.
The other information and accompanying provisions are available on the website of the Association of Lawyers at the Bar of Leuven (www.balieleuven.be).
An insolvency insurance with PLLC Amlin Europe (as main insurer) with a maximum coverage of EUR 125,000.00 per claim.
The third–party liability operation guarantee (extra–contractual liability) is covered to a sum to the amount of EUR 6,200,000.00 for bodily injury and to EUR 620,000.00 for material and non–material damage per claim.
The insurance relates to the activities practised by the lawyers from an office established in Belgium and provides worldwide coverage subject to possible clarifications and exceptions specified in the third–party liability for lawyers’ policy.
Unless otherwise specified, Tecola shall not be liable in any way whatsoever at any time for services provided by third parties it contracts.
The liability of Tecola's lawyers is at all times restricted to the amounts paid out by the third–party liability insurance.
The other information and accompanying provisions are available on the website of the Association of Lawyers at the Bar of Leuven (www.balieleuven.be).
For more information or in case of complaints
If you want more information or you have a complaint, you can always reach Tecola:
- By correspondence to the address: Groenstraat 61, 3020 Veltem–Beisem.
- By phone to number: +32.485.48.35.45.
- By e-mail to the following address: info@tecola.be
Settlement of disputes
This contract is governed by Belgian law.
All disputes between Tecola and other lawyers are subjected to extra–judicial dispute settlement, as intended within the meaning of the Rules and regulations of the Flemish Bar Association of 31 July 2017.
All possible disputes between Tecola and the client fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of justice of the judicial district of Leuven.
All disputes between Tecola and other lawyers are subjected to extra–judicial dispute settlement, as intended within the meaning of the Rules and regulations of the Flemish Bar Association of 31 July 2017.
All possible disputes between Tecola and the client fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of justice of the judicial district of Leuven.