1. These general terms and conditions apply to all services performed by the law firm Scale BV, with office at Mechelsesteenweg 127A b1, 2018 Antwerp, enterprise number 0473.474.222 and with 2nd head office at Regentschapsstraat 58, box 8, 1000 Brussels ("Scale") and the lawyers, directors, employees and auxiliaries of Scale in respect of its clients. The contractual relationship exists only between the client and Scale. In the event of contradiction, these general terms and conditions will prevail over any contrary general terms and conditions of the client, unless agreed otherwise in writing by one of the partners of Schoups.
2. Depending on the nature and complexity of the matter, one or two lawyers will generally be assigned as the client’s primary contact persons. Additional lawyers from Scale may be added to the team if deemed useful by Scale to assist in the client’s requests for legal services to be met. For specific matters, Scale is entitled to call upon the services of lawyers of other law firms.
3. The client agrees to provide all relevant information and data, supported by documentation where appropriate. The client is responsible for the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information and data provided, even if they can be verified.
4. If Sale is under an obligation (by law, applicable rules of professional responsibility, or otherwise) to conduct a prior or other client investigation, in particular within the framework of the Law of 18 September 2017 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and on the restriction of the use of cash, the client will furnish all relevant information, documents and supporting evidence requested by Scale. Scale reserves the right to terminate the performance of its services in the event of non-cooperation by the client, irrespective of whether services were already furnished prior to such non-cooperation and without prejudice to the client’s obligation for payment for legal services rendered and additional charges incurred before termination.
5. Our fees for the provision of legal services are calculated on the basis of the time spent on a given file and the hourly rate of the lawyers who performed the relevant services. The hourly rates do not include office expenses. These expenses are charged at a fixed rate of 8% of the fees payable. Third-party costs (e.g. notary, bailiff, translator, publication cost for the Belgian Official Gazette, court filing costs, etc.) and international travel expenses will be invoiced directly to the client by the third party or through us (and are therefore not included in the fixed rate cost percentage). Both the hourly rates and the fixed rate cost percentage are communicated to the client at the start of the client-lawyer relationship, and will in any event be furnished to the client at first request and free of charge. The rates are revised periodically (in principle annually in September). Moreover, Scale reserves the right to ask clients for a retainer for services to be performed or costs to be incurred. Invoices are normally drawn up on a monthly basis.
Any objection must be communicated in writing within 15 days following the date of the invoice. In the absence of such communication the invoice shall be deemed to be accepted. The invoices are payable as of the 15th day after the issuance date. If Scale assists several parties in the same matter, they are jointly and severally liable for payment of the invoiced amount (plus costs and interest), regardless which party (parties) was (were) invoiced and/or in which proportion and regardless of the capacity of these parties or their mutual relationship,In the event of non-payment or late payment by a client who is not a consumer, interest in accordance with the Act on combating late payment in commercial transactions and a lump-sum indemnity of 10 % of the outstanding amount shall be due, without prior formal notice of default. The non-payment of one invoice makes all invoices immediately due and payable.In the event of non-payment or late payment by a client who is a consumer, a first free payment reminder will be sent for any invoice not paid on its due date. If the client has not paid the invoice after 14 days following the payment reminder, the outstanding amount will be increased by interest in accordance with Act on combating late payment in commercial transactions. If this outstanding balance exceeds 500 EUR, a flat-rate compensation of 65 EUR will also be due, plus 5% of the amount due on the tranche above 500 EUR with a maximum of 2,000 EUR. In case of electronic sending, the period of 14 days starts on the day following the day on which the reminder was sent. In the case of sending by post, this period starts on the third business day after the reminder was sent. In case of non-compliance with its obligations by Scale, the client-consumer has the same possibilities as Scale.
6. In deviation from articles 6.3, §1 and 6.3, §2 of the Belgian Civil Code, the client cannot bring an extra-contractual claim against Scale or (an auxiliary person of) an auxiliary person of Scale, including but not limited to its lawyers, directors, employees, independent workers, and subcontractors. The client may only bring a contractual claim against Scale. The liability of Scale and its lawyers towards its clients and any third parties for any damage, loss or cost relating directly or indirectly to any service, action or non-action by Scale and/or any of its auxiliaries is in any event limited to the amount of indemnification actually paid to Scale under its professional liability insurance, save in the event of willful misconduct or fraud by Scale. If and to the extent that, for whatever reason, no payment is made under the said insurance, any liability shall be limited to the amount paid by the client in the year preceding such action or non-action. The amount of coverage under the professional liability policy taken out by Scale exceeds the thresholds and requirements imposed by the applicable rules and is valid worldwide, with the exception of claims brought before a court in the United States of America or Canada or under the laws or jurisdiction of those countries. A copy of the terms and conditions of such professional liability insurance concluded through Vanbreda Risk & Benefits (Plantin en Moretuslei 297, 2140 Antwerpen) and with Marsh (Avenue Hermann Debroux 2, 1160 Bruxelles) will be provided to the client free of charge and on first request. To the extent necessary, the same limitation of liability also applies to Scale's auxiliaries, who can always invoke it against any party that would claim them on any grounds.
7. Scale may terminate its representation of the client for any reason consistent with the applicable rules of professional responsibility and/or if unpredictable or unforeseen circumstances occur following the engagement of Scale which render the performance of services by Scale difficult or impossible. The client may terminate the representation by Scale at any time in writing. Termination of the services of Scale will not affect the client’s responsibility for payment for legal services rendered and additional charges incurred before termination and relating to a proper transition of the client’s matters.
8. While Scale undertakes reasonable attempts to exclude from its e-mails and their attachments any virus or other defect that might affect any computer or IT system, it remains the client’s responsibility to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect the client’s computer and IT system against any such virus or defect. Scale does not accept any liability for any loss or damage that may arise from the receipt or use of electronic communications from Scale.
9. Scale collects and processes personal data of clients within the framework of its services, customer management, bookkeeping and direct marketing (legal bases: execution of agreement, statutory obligation and/or legitimate interest). Personal data are only transferred and kept in so far and as long as necessary for these purposes. The client has the right to inspection, correction, erasure and objection, as well as the right to file a complaint with the Data Protection Authority. The client bears responsibility for the accuracy of the personal data that he provides, and undertakes to comply with the GDPR vis-à-vis the persons whose personal data he transfers, as well as with regard to personal data that he should receive from Schoups and its employees.
For more information you can consult our Data Protection Policy on the website or contact us via communication@scale-law.be - tel. +32 3.260.98.60.10.
10. Belgian law is applicable exclusively to the relations between Scale and the client. In case of dispute, the courts and tribunals of Antwerp (Belgium) have sole and exclusive competence.
Scale remains however entitled to file a claim with the courts and tribunals of the residence or of the office of the client.
(version of March 2026)
2. Depending on the nature and complexity of the matter, one or two lawyers will generally be assigned as the client’s primary contact persons. Additional lawyers from Scale may be added to the team if deemed useful by Scale to assist in the client’s requests for legal services to be met. For specific matters, Scale is entitled to call upon the services of lawyers of other law firms.
3. The client agrees to provide all relevant information and data, supported by documentation where appropriate. The client is responsible for the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information and data provided, even if they can be verified.
4. If Sale is under an obligation (by law, applicable rules of professional responsibility, or otherwise) to conduct a prior or other client investigation, in particular within the framework of the Law of 18 September 2017 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and on the restriction of the use of cash, the client will furnish all relevant information, documents and supporting evidence requested by Scale. Scale reserves the right to terminate the performance of its services in the event of non-cooperation by the client, irrespective of whether services were already furnished prior to such non-cooperation and without prejudice to the client’s obligation for payment for legal services rendered and additional charges incurred before termination.
5. Our fees for the provision of legal services are calculated on the basis of the time spent on a given file and the hourly rate of the lawyers who performed the relevant services. The hourly rates do not include office expenses. These expenses are charged at a fixed rate of 8% of the fees payable. Third-party costs (e.g. notary, bailiff, translator, publication cost for the Belgian Official Gazette, court filing costs, etc.) and international travel expenses will be invoiced directly to the client by the third party or through us (and are therefore not included in the fixed rate cost percentage). Both the hourly rates and the fixed rate cost percentage are communicated to the client at the start of the client-lawyer relationship, and will in any event be furnished to the client at first request and free of charge. The rates are revised periodically (in principle annually in September). Moreover, Scale reserves the right to ask clients for a retainer for services to be performed or costs to be incurred. Invoices are normally drawn up on a monthly basis.
Any objection must be communicated in writing within 15 days following the date of the invoice. In the absence of such communication the invoice shall be deemed to be accepted. The invoices are payable as of the 15th day after the issuance date. If Scale assists several parties in the same matter, they are jointly and severally liable for payment of the invoiced amount (plus costs and interest), regardless which party (parties) was (were) invoiced and/or in which proportion and regardless of the capacity of these parties or their mutual relationship,In the event of non-payment or late payment by a client who is not a consumer, interest in accordance with the Act on combating late payment in commercial transactions and a lump-sum indemnity of 10 % of the outstanding amount shall be due, without prior formal notice of default. The non-payment of one invoice makes all invoices immediately due and payable.In the event of non-payment or late payment by a client who is a consumer, a first free payment reminder will be sent for any invoice not paid on its due date. If the client has not paid the invoice after 14 days following the payment reminder, the outstanding amount will be increased by interest in accordance with Act on combating late payment in commercial transactions. If this outstanding balance exceeds 500 EUR, a flat-rate compensation of 65 EUR will also be due, plus 5% of the amount due on the tranche above 500 EUR with a maximum of 2,000 EUR. In case of electronic sending, the period of 14 days starts on the day following the day on which the reminder was sent. In the case of sending by post, this period starts on the third business day after the reminder was sent. In case of non-compliance with its obligations by Scale, the client-consumer has the same possibilities as Scale.
6. In deviation from articles 6.3, §1 and 6.3, §2 of the Belgian Civil Code, the client cannot bring an extra-contractual claim against Scale or (an auxiliary person of) an auxiliary person of Scale, including but not limited to its lawyers, directors, employees, independent workers, and subcontractors. The client may only bring a contractual claim against Scale. The liability of Scale and its lawyers towards its clients and any third parties for any damage, loss or cost relating directly or indirectly to any service, action or non-action by Scale and/or any of its auxiliaries is in any event limited to the amount of indemnification actually paid to Scale under its professional liability insurance, save in the event of willful misconduct or fraud by Scale. If and to the extent that, for whatever reason, no payment is made under the said insurance, any liability shall be limited to the amount paid by the client in the year preceding such action or non-action. The amount of coverage under the professional liability policy taken out by Scale exceeds the thresholds and requirements imposed by the applicable rules and is valid worldwide, with the exception of claims brought before a court in the United States of America or Canada or under the laws or jurisdiction of those countries. A copy of the terms and conditions of such professional liability insurance concluded through Vanbreda Risk & Benefits (Plantin en Moretuslei 297, 2140 Antwerpen) and with Marsh (Avenue Hermann Debroux 2, 1160 Bruxelles) will be provided to the client free of charge and on first request. To the extent necessary, the same limitation of liability also applies to Scale's auxiliaries, who can always invoke it against any party that would claim them on any grounds.
7. Scale may terminate its representation of the client for any reason consistent with the applicable rules of professional responsibility and/or if unpredictable or unforeseen circumstances occur following the engagement of Scale which render the performance of services by Scale difficult or impossible. The client may terminate the representation by Scale at any time in writing. Termination of the services of Scale will not affect the client’s responsibility for payment for legal services rendered and additional charges incurred before termination and relating to a proper transition of the client’s matters.
8. While Scale undertakes reasonable attempts to exclude from its e-mails and their attachments any virus or other defect that might affect any computer or IT system, it remains the client’s responsibility to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect the client’s computer and IT system against any such virus or defect. Scale does not accept any liability for any loss or damage that may arise from the receipt or use of electronic communications from Scale.
9. Scale collects and processes personal data of clients within the framework of its services, customer management, bookkeeping and direct marketing (legal bases: execution of agreement, statutory obligation and/or legitimate interest). Personal data are only transferred and kept in so far and as long as necessary for these purposes. The client has the right to inspection, correction, erasure and objection, as well as the right to file a complaint with the Data Protection Authority. The client bears responsibility for the accuracy of the personal data that he provides, and undertakes to comply with the GDPR vis-à-vis the persons whose personal data he transfers, as well as with regard to personal data that he should receive from Schoups and its employees.
For more information you can consult our Data Protection Policy on the website or contact us via communication@scale-law.be - tel. +32 3.260.98.60.10.
10. Belgian law is applicable exclusively to the relations between Scale and the client. In case of dispute, the courts and tribunals of Antwerp (Belgium) have sole and exclusive competence.
Scale remains however entitled to file a claim with the courts and tribunals of the residence or of the office of the client.
(version of March 2026)