Biography
Erik Valgaeren specialises in legislation and regulations regarding IT, internet, e-commerce, e-communications, privacy, digitisation and new technologies. He also has a wealth of experience in all intellectual property aspects of the aforementioned specialisations and a thorough knowledge of the technical aspects relating to communication.
Title: Partner
Practice group: Compliance and Sanctions, Data Protection, Information Technology, Intellectual Property, Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Legal areas: E-Security, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Privacy and Information Management, Social Media, Cybercrime, E-Commerce, IT Dispute Resolution, IT Sourcing, Software Licences and Audits, Telecommunications, Arbitration, ICT Projects, Smart Contracts
In addition to providing legal advice on legislation and regulations, Erik drafts contracts and handles projects concerning web services, outsourcing, cloud services, system integration, software implementation, data management and privacy, artificial intelligence and innovation partnerships. In the field of communications law, Erik advises both traditional telecom operators and suppliers of infrastructure services and new media and social network services. He also litigates before courts and arbitral tribunals. Erik has extensive experience in arbitration and is regularly involved as an arbitrator for Cepina.
Education, career and qualifications:
> Born in 1967
> Graduated in Law, magna cum laude, from KU Leuven (1990)
> Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of Chicago, United States (1991)
> Associate in the Washington D.C. and Brussels offices of an international law firm; advised foreign
companies on US trade sanctions law; member of international trade group (1991–1992)
> Admitted to the New York Bar in 1992; admitted to the Brussels Bar in 1993; admitted to the
Luxembourg bar in 2018
> With the Brussels office of Stibbe since 1993 (Partner since 2001)
> Education in Computer Management from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2000)
> Visiting professor ICT law at Solvay Brussels School (2015–2020)
> Visiting professor internet law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
(2016–2020)
> Guest lecturer in blockchain and smart contracts at the Faculty of Law of KU Leuven (2018–2020)
> Postgraduate degree in Data Analytics from KU Leuven (2020)
