Hugo Keulers

Practice Areas

Hugo Keulers is a partner in the Commercial and Dispute Resolution practices and heads the Insurance and Reinsurance team.

Hugo has a particular focus on large, complex liability and insurance claims, commercial law & commercial litigation / arbitration.

Hugo is the trusted adviser of a large number of international and Belgian insurers and reinsurers, brokers and specialist firms and has been involved in most of the largest and high-value insurance disputes in Belgium in the last 15 years. With over 25 years of experience in commercial law and commercial litigation, he regularly advises on liability and insurance claims in such areas as all risk property, construction all risk insurance, ALOP Insurance, D&O, professional indemnity and product liability insurance.

He is one of the few Belgian lawyers with experience in handling complex insurance and reinsurance disputes, in all lines of insurance, before Belgian courts and arbitration panels. As he often represents international clients, he is very well aware of the cultural and legal differences in commercial contracts between Belgian and non-Belgian companies. Who’s Who Legal has recognised him as only one of 10 Thought Leaders in Litigation in Belgium, reflecting his unique blend of expertise and experience.

Professional Memberships

He is a member of the insurance committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), of the Belgian Risk Management Association (BELRIM) and of the Belgian Association of Insurance Lawyers (AJA).

Publications

Among Hugo Keulers' most important publications, we can cite:

- KEULERS, H., and MAES, T. “The (r)evolution of salvage costs since the 25 June 1992 Statute on non-marine insurance contracts?”, T. Verz., 2014/1, afl. 386, 23-31 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS, H., “The opposability of court expertise versus the protection of trade secrets and know-how: can we mix water and fire?”, in X., Permanent handbook for expertise, Kluwer, Mechelen, 2012 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS, H., “Insurance law”, in X., Serie Law & Interpretation, Serie Economic law, nr. 3, Larcier, Ghent, 2012 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS, H., LODEWIJCKX, S., and VANDENBERGEN, A., “Does any crisis represent an opportunity?”, De verzekeringswereld, 2011, nr. 2011.10, 14-15 (originally in Dutch and in French).

- KEULERS, H., MOTTET HAUGAARD, A., CATTEAU, A., DEKONINCK, C., DIERCKX, L., and SANTANTONIO, O., Insurance and market practices, Kluwer, Mechelen/Waterloo, 2011 (originally in Dutch and in French).

- KEULERS, H., CATTEAU, A., and FOSTIER, H., “Product liability insurance”, in VERDURE, C., Corporate liability insurances. Various questions, , Anthemis, Louvain-la-Neuve, 2010, 101-128 (originally in French).

- KEULERS, H., and LODEWIJCKX, S.,, “Restructuring and take-overs of insurance portfolio from insurance companies”, in STERCKX., A., De verzekeringswereld, 2010, nr. 2010.03, 21-24 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS, H., MOTTET HAUGAARD, A., CATTEAU, A., DEKONINCK, C., DIERCKX, L., and SANTANTONIO, O., Insurance and commercial practices, Kluwer, Mechelen/Waterloo, 2009 (originally in Dutch and in French).

- KEULERS, H., LODEWIJCKX, S., and CATTEAU, A., “Industrial risks. The pitfalls in insurance policies”, Le monde de l’assurance, 2008, 36-39 (originally in French).

- KEULERS, H., LODEWIJCKX, S., and DECONINCK, C., “New Act on market practices. What does the insurer expect?”, De verzekeringswereld, 2007, 30-32 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS, H., and LODEWIJCKX, S., “The new Royal Decree on life insurance: What’s new?”, De verzekeringswereld, 2004, 29-31 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS, H., and LODEWIJCKX, S., “Ten year Non-marine insurance Statute. An uncomplete piece of work”, De verzekeringswereld, 2003, 29-32 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS, H., “The impact of corporate deals on the company’s insurance portfolio”, V & F 1998, 31-35 (originally in Dutch).

- KEULERS H., WILLEMS J. and VAN MIERLO P.-J., “Directors’ Liability and Indemnification”, Globe Law and Business, Third edition, Belgian Chapter, 2016.

Languages Spoken

Dutch, English and French