Impact lawyers > LEUVEN, Belgium > Firm Profile
Impact lawyers Offices
MC-Square Leuven Philipssite 5, bus 1
3000 Leuven
3000
Belgium
Impact lawyers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Belgium > Not-for-profit Tier 1
Impact lawyers is a niche law firm for not-for-profits and social enterprises. The specialised team stands out for representing clients in mediation and litigation, providing practical advice across the sector, often acting for clients in the healthcare space. Notably, Marleen Denef
co-founded the firm and has almost 30 years of experience in the sector, focusing on advising clients on organisational questions, as well as representing clients in precedent-setting litigation. Fellow co-founder Coralie Mattelaer specialises in all types of technical transactional and advisory work relating to non-profit matters, and stands out for her conflict management skills. Benoit Spitaels, the firm’s third co-founder, is widely recognised for his expertise in transactional work, organisational issues and tax matters relating to the charity sector. Practice head(s):
Marleen Denef; Coralie Mattelaer; Benoit Spitaels
Other key lawyers:
Xanne Holvoet
Testimonials
‘Impact Advocaten has established a unique and solid practice of assisting nonprofit associations with solid and pragmatic advice in governance and strategy. ’
‘Marleen Denef is not only a top legal expert for assisting nonprofit associations, she also has an empathic, forward-thinking and hands-on approach that makes her stand out from any of her many peers I have ever worked with. Xenne Vermeir is intelligent and creative in providing governance solutions and legal advice.’
‘Very personal approach. Very good knowledge of our sector.’
‘Friendly and attentive. Correct budgeting. Knowledgeable. Clear communication. ’
‘Impact Lawyers is one of the most specialized firms in the field of social profit and good governance. ’
‘We have worked with Marleen Denef several times over the past few years. Marleen combines excellent knowledge with a big heart for the healthcare and welfare sector.’
‘Impact Lawyers stands out in every way. Their innovative HR policy, coupled with a clear focus on impact-driven clients, sets them apart. They possess unique expertise in areas such as social licensing, ensuring they can offer tailored legal advice that goes beyond traditional practices.’
‘Marleen Denef and Xanne Holvoet have exceptional expertise in advising impact-driven organizations. For us, they are a true beacon of knowledge, and we have complete confidence that we will always be fully understood and supported by them. While we believe the other colleagues also possess significant expertise, our experience has primarily been with Marleen and Xanne, whose insights and guidance have consistently been invaluable to us.’
Key clients
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB)
Work highlights
Impact lawyers > Firm Profile
Impact lawyers was founded in February 2019 by five co-founders as the very first niche law firm in Belgium, focusing on tailor-made legal services to not-for-profit associations, social businesses and “impact entrepreneurs”.
Impact lawyers is not a traditional law firm: our lawyers are not only excellent legal advisors but also trained in (litigation) support of large complex projects and transdisciplinary knowledge development. Co-creation, knowledge sharing and innovation are part of our DNA.
Impact lawyers supports all sorts of clients from hospitals, schools and public entities to social impact investors, social economy companies and sector federations. They come in the most divers legal forms such as (international) associations, foundations, cooperatives and other companies, often with a special status (social enterprise) or label (BCorp). Our clients rarely work on a stand-alone basis but usually in groups and increasingly in hybrid structures.
Our lawyers assist them in every possible way from start-up to dissolution and in all trajectories of cooperation such as networking, mergers, restructuring, etc. And if the occasion calls for it, we go to court.
Impact lawyers can count on a large network of national and international partners. Our firm is, amongst others, a strategic partner of GAIL and participates to many types of multi-disciplinary networks, such as Be-impact (the Belgian network for and about social entrepreneurship) and B-Corporation Europe (a network promoting the development of certified B-Corporations in Belgium).
Our impact lawyers frequently host and participate in Webinars, workshops and round table discussions with regard to association law, company governance, network organisations, etc.
Impact lawyers handles matters in English, Dutch and French and has offices in Leuven and Brussels.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not-for-profit, social profit and impact economy | Marleen Denef | [email protected] | |
| Not-for-profit, social profit and impact economy | Coralie Mattelaer | [email protected] | |
| Not-for-profit, social profit and impact economy | Benoit Spitaels | [email protected] |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Marleen Denef | founding partner strategic advisor and change-architect for all types of collaborations, change… | View Profile |
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Xanne Holvoet | founding partner transactional, advisory work and litigation with an emphasis on: company… | View Profile |
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Coralie Mattelaer | founding partner expert in company and non/social profit law, with an emphasis… | View Profile |
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Benoit Spitaels | founding partner company and associations law (M&A, establishment, restructuring, transformation of companies,… | View Profile |
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Bram Van Baelen | founding partner company law with a specific focus on cooperatives (incorporation, transformations,… | View Profile |
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Marlies Van de Poel | lawyer advisory and transactional work in the field of company law and… | View Profile |
Languages
Dutch French English GermanMemberships
Brussels Bar The Legal 500 Leuven Bar The Shift GAIL - Global Alliance of Impact LawyersClient Testimonials
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TESTIMONIAL: ‘Benoit Spitaels and Marleen Denef are always available, even late at night, for urgent occasions that require an instant solution. I also like out of the box thinking and that’s how they really make a difference.’
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TESTIMONIAL: ‘I think they have a unique mission to make a meaningful contribution to the development of a social impact economy, with sustainability and positive impact at its core. Their legal services are also tailored to the needs of not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises as clients. The name of the firm is very well-aligned with their mission of making a positive impact on society and fostering a paradigm shift in traditional legal thinking.’
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TESTIMONIAL: ‘Marleen Denef is head and shoulders above her closest peers in terms of ideas, creativity, energy, commitment and connections. She has everything you could want. Bram van Baelen is extremely bright and knowledgeable and going places. Benoit Spitaels is also a mature and senior lawyer and a trusted pair of hands.’
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TESTIMONIAL: ‘The lawyers at Impact advocaten work in a personable manner, developing an understanding of the mission that each client has for their company. The team is driven to work with clients who align with their values, to create a positive impact on society through the profit-with-purpose sector, and venture philanthropy.’
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TESTIMONIAL: ‘Marleen Denef is committed and present in her interactions, combining an always honest appraisal of the matter with diplomacy and integrity. Bram Van Baelen is a dedicated lawyer to work with, who approaches problems with the right blend of academic analysis and pragmatic problem-solving. You are in very safe hands with the members of the Impact advocaten team.’
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TESTIMONIAL: ‘Impact Advocaten has the best Belgian legal experts in the field of not-for-profit, but in addition to technical knowledge, they also show creativity and problem-solving capacity adapted to the client’s profile and have a proactive attitude.’
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TESTIMONIAL: ‘Both Marleen Denef and Benoit Spitaels show tremendous expertise in their field, are particularly punctual and at the same time creative in proposing solutions for the client. An additional asset is their professional attitude which, in addition to the technical elements, also shows a social commitment and is value-driven.’
- Not-for-profit