Brussels Conference
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SPRING CONFERENCE BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 9-11 MAY, 2013 1 Contents 1. Conference host – Billiet & Co 3 2. About Billiet & Co 4 3. Brussels 5 4. Useful information 5 5. Accommodation – Le Meridien Brussels 7 6. How to get to the Hotel 8 7. Conference 8 8. Dinners & special events 8 8.1 Welcome dinner 8 8.2 Gala dinner & dance evening 9 8.3 Farewell dinner 9 8.4 Sightseeing 10 8.5 Spouse programme 11 8.6 Herman van Rompuy 11 9. Sport activities 12 9.1 Horseback riding 12 9.2 Tennis 12 9.3 Running tour in the city park 13 10. Agenda (provisional) & registration 14 2 1. Conference Host – Billiet & Co The conference will be hosted by Billiet & Co, one of the first members of IPG. Billiet & Co Louizalaan/Avenue Louise 146 - 1050 Brussels www.billiet-co.be tel.: +32 (0)2 643 33 01 fax: +32 (0)2 646 24 31 Contact for all Conference matters: [email protected] ING account number 630 4214613 22, BIC CODE BBRUBEBB IBAN CODE BE06630421461322 3 2. About Billiet & Co Creation of the firm In 1989, Billiet & Co was founded by Johan Billiet who brought his expertise as bankruptcy liquidator, public prosecutor, alternative judge, high school professor, lawyer and arbitrator. The fundamental aim of the firm is to ensure clients benefit from business efficiency and high quality legal services. Evolution Our firm evolved from a niche firm into a full civil and commercial services firm. Since 1989, our team has developed a very strong reputation, particularly in Litigation and Company Law, but also in niche areas such as Distribution Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Our team continued to expand, and today we can offer the full range of civil and commercial legal services, including within the realm of European Law and International Law. Today Clients look to Billiet & Co for excellence, a creative and individual approach to solving problems, and a deep understanding of Belgian and European law. Billiet & Co is a member of IPG. In this way we frequently assist clients in other jurisdictions in close collaboration with local experts. Our office hosts the secretariat of leading Belgian law journals and hosts the seat of various business associations. It also hosts the Association for International Arbitration (www.arbitration-adr.org) and the European Arbitration Chamber (http://chea-taic.be). We assist clients in Dutch, French, German, English, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Moldovan, Turkish and have in-house sworn translators. Various members of our team lecture at the Brussels VUB and HUB universities on Dispute Settlement in China, Investment Arbitration, Moot Arbitration, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Restructuring of Undertakings. As collaborator to Legal Matchmakers International (www.legal-matchmakers.com) we are also frequently involved in collective redress initiatives and major asset recoveries. More information on Billiet & Co can be found at: www.billiet-co.be. 4 3. Brussels Brussels is quickly becoming a trendy spot for weekend getaways and holidays. Apart from its famous chocolates and beers there are many attractions. It is a centre of European culture, officially nicknamed ‘the European Village’, with over 90 museums, beautiful parks, fascinating walks, trendy restaurants and bars. "Brussels is the perfect city for holidays with family and friends, or even with colleagues as a team-building event. There is a lot to learn about the history of the city, the architecture, the Belgian obsession with comic strips, and the art of chocolate and beer.”(A recent tourist). Brussels is also becoming known as a mecca of style, art, and design. While attracting more and more big names in international fashion to its growing shopping districts, home-grown Belgian designers are rapidly gaining global fame. The streets of Brussels feature art and architecture created from an unmistakably Belgian point of view that cannot be replicated. This beautiful city is a centre for fashion, art, and Belgian culture. Brussels has since World War II become the administrative centre of many international organizations. Notably the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have their headquarters in the city, along with many other international organisations such as the World Customs Organization and EUROCONTROL as well as international corporations. Brussels ranks third in the number of international conferences it holds and hosts one of the largest convention centres in the world. The presence of the EU and the other international bodies has led to more ambassadors and journalists in Brussels than in Washington D.C. International schools have also been established to serve this presence. FYI, Brussels also hosts the highest concentration of spies worldwide. 4. Useful information Transport: Brussels is located in the northern half of Belgium just above the main language border which separates the Flemish-speaking northern region and the French-speaking southern region of Belgium. The country is bordered by four countries: France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg and has a coast facing the North Sea across from the United Kingdom. Due to the country’s central location, Brussels transport infrastructure is highly developed and the city is easily reachable by air, train, bus, car and even ferry. 5 The Brussels International Airport is at Zaventem, 14 km from the city centre. How to reach the city-centre from Zaventem Airport: STIB Airport line, a bus between the city Centre and Brussels National Airport B 12 (express bus) Centre to Airport: rue Ducale, Luxembourg, Rond Point Schuman, Evere, Airport. First departure: 5 a.m. ; last departure: 12 p.m. ; every 30 minutes Trains also connect the city and the airport. All trains stop at the North Station, Central Station and South Station. Brussels South Airport (Charleroi), situated to the south of Brussels, approximately 60 km away. Brussels-South Charleroi airport mainly hosts low-cost airlines. How to get to the centre of Brussels: By bus, a bus links Charleroi Brussels-South and the Gare du Midi railway station in Brussels more than 20 times a day. The timetables are organised to coincide with Ryanair airline flights. Brussels to Charleroi: The shuttle departure point is situated at the junction of rue de France and rue de l'Instruction (follow "Thalys" exit at the Gare du Midi station). Charleroi to Brussels: shuttle departs 30 minutes after the Ryanair airline flight arrives at the airport. One-way ticket fare: 13.00 € (tickets are sold inside the shuttle) By train, a bus route (route A) permanently links the Charleroi Brussels-South airport with Charleroi railway station. You can then take the train very easily to Brussels. (Combined ticket 10.00 €) By taxi, the set price linking Brussels to Charleroi airport is 85.00 € By rental car (Hertz), it takes around 45 minutes to drive from the airport to the centre of Brussels by car via the A54. A high quality public transport infrastructure supports the basis of transportation in Brussels and ensures that people can travel quickly, safely and affordably all over the city without needing to drive a car or pay for expensive parking. Inner-city transport uses the same ticketing system so you can use the same ticket for bus, metro or tram or a combination. All together public transport is made up of metro lines, train lines, buses and trams. 6 Currency: the legal currency in Belgium is the Euro (international abbreviation: EUR). There is also an extensive network of cash machines or ATMs. The exchange rate will depend on the bank. Credit cards can be used for any payments practically everywhere in Belgium. Popular cards include Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, and Maestro. 5. Accommodation – Le Meridien Brussels Le Meridien Brussels is a tribute to Belgium's rich and gloried history. Located just opposite of Brussels-Central Station, a few steps away from Grand Palace and the "Square", Le Meridien Brussels is ideally situated for all kinds of travellers. Brussels-Central Station is an important point of transportation in the Brussels-Capital Region. It is the busiest railway station in Belgium and one of three principal railway stations in Brussels, but handles primarily domestic traffic. First completed in 1952 after protracted delays caused by economic difficulties and war, it is the newest of Brussels main rail hubs. Le Meridien Brussels, Carrefour de l'Europe 3, 1000, Brussels T +32 2 548 4211 www.lemeridienbrussels.com Distance from the hotel to: Brussels Airport, Zaventem - 14 km Station Brussels Central - 140 m Grand Place - 450 m Royal Palace- 800 m 7 6. How to get to the Hotel The simplest solution is to take a taxi or a train to the Brussels-Central Station (Fr. Gare de Bruxelles Central; Nl. Station Brussel-Centraal) – for details see point 4 above. 7. Conference, May 9 - 11 The conference will take place at the Hotel. 8 Dinners & special events 8.1 Informal welcome dinner (buffet), May 9, Thursday Welcome dinner will take place in L’épisserie room in the hotel. The dinner starts at 8 pm and lasts until 10 pm. 8 8.2 Gala dinner & dance evening (7 pm – 1 am), May 10, Friday The Gala dinner & dance evening will be celebrated at the elegant Vaudeville Theatre, a legendary place in Brussels life and its collective memory. It was inaugurated in 1884 and is now listed as a historic monument. A recent face-lift has returned it to its former glory. This theatre is a very flexible venue combining elegant 19th century style with all the advantages of modern technology. A system allowing the seats to be stored under the stage makes it possible to take full advantage of the theatre stalls for a seated dinner. During the Gala dinner & dance evening a music band will entertain the guests.