FinTech Legal
FinTech Guide 2025 : Belgium
Band 1
About
Provided by Simont Braun
Simont Braun is the reference Fintech law firm in Belgium. Simont Braun's Digital Finance Team combines high expertise and practical experience in financial services, tech and data protection in supporting the most innovative domestic and international projects. The team is deeply integrated into the Belgian Financial Services & FinTech ecosystems and very well connected with the regulators. They have a particular focus on assisting foreign players entering the Belgian market.
Work samples
- Handling the set-up and launch of a major challenger bank in Belgium digitally offering the full scale of financial services;
- Advising payment services & e-money providers on regulatory matters, such as licence applications, product marketing and AML/KYC client onboarding procedures;
- Setting up the first digital ID product in Belgium used as a KYC & authentication solution in the public and financial sector;
- Assisting the first Belgian bank with an innovative sustainable and ethical model in securing the first new Belgian banking licence in decades;
- Assisting companies active in the crypto-currency and innovative consumer credit space with navigating the rapidly changing regulatory environment;
- Supporting technical service providers with the roll-out of their products and contractual negotiations with financial institution clients;
- Defending our clients in complex litigation, as well as in sanction procedures initiated by supervisors and administrative authorities.
Chambers Review
Simont Braun regularly assists payment companies and e-money institutions with licence applications. Simont Braun's digital finance team includes lawyers from banking and finance, IP/IT and data protection, and assists domestic and international clients with cutting-edge legal matters.
Work Highlights
- Simont Braun advised Belgian Mobile ID on the relevant regulatory and contractual frameworksrelating to the 'itsme' digital identification app.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Simont Braun offers insights into the nuanced requirements of the regulator that you cannot learn from reading the regulations."
"Simont Braun houses in-depth knowledge of the FinTech environment and offers practical advice on how the Belgian legal framework is applicable to niche segments within the industry."
"The Simont Braun team is very commercial, quick to respond and pragmatic."
"The team has a wide range of internal competencies and skills."
"Simont Braun offers insights into the nuanced requirements of the regulator that you cannot learn from reading the regulations."
"Simont Braun houses in-depth knowledge of the FinTech environment and offers practical advice on how the Belgian legal framework is applicable to niche segments within the industry."
"The Simont Braun team is very commercial, quick to respond and pragmatic."
"The team has a wide range of internal competencies and skills."
Notable Practitioners
Philippe de Prez is a financial regulatory lawyer and a founding member of Simont Braun's digital finance team. De Prez advises foreign FinTech companies who wish to enter the Belgian market, including financial institutions, investment firms, payment service providers and e-money issuers.
"Philippe is an easygoing and a relaxing guy to work with. He stays really relaxed and his language skills are crazy. He can go from French, to English, to Dutch all in one call without a problem."
"Philippe always goes above and beyond."
"Philippe is very responsive. He has industry knowledge at his fingertips."
Joan Carette specialises in banking and finance, with a sector focus on payments, e-money and AML matters. Carette previously worked in the prudential supervision department at the CBFA.
"Joan Carette is super solution-oriented. She has this capacity to bring things to their simplest elements to make them work."
"She is a good lawyer and safe pair of hands in FinTech space."
Thomas Derval is a counsel at Simont Braun. He holds expertise on financial regulations and is often seen advising clients on their financial product roll-outs within Belgium.
"Thomas knows exactly what is happening in the market and he has very good skills in terms of communication. He makes sure everyone is on the same page."
"Thomas is really motivated and he has good interpersonal skills."
Ranked Individuals at
Simont Braun
Belgium
Members
Provided by Simont Braun
Arthur Van Den Bossche
Head of Department
Jorgen Fleussu
Laura De Vita
Head of Department
Thomas Derval
Tim Deplancke
Industries
Provided by Simont Braun
Alternative lending
Automated investment
Cloud outsourcing
Digital bank
Micro savings
Payment Services
RegTech & InsurTech
Virtual currencies