Jean-François Tossens

Jean-François Tossens has a long-standing combined experience in international business law, both in transactional and contentious matters, acting as counsel, litigator and arbitrator.

Over the last 20 years, Jean-François has developed an extensive and distinguished career in domestic and international arbitration, serving both as counsel and as arbitrator. He regularly handles cases under various rules and ad hoc arbitration proceedings.

His experience spans a wide array of complex commercial, corporate, and financial disputes, including partnership and shareholders’ agreements, post-acquisition disputes, construction, distribution, and sports arbitration. His practice is notably significant in the financial and industrial sectors, covering (public) investment funds, private equity, aviation, insurance, energy, and biotechnology.

Jean-François is also a respected educator, teaching national and international arbitration law at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL). He has been the President of the international arbitration association Francarbi since 2022 and serves on the board of directors of ICC Belgium. He contributes to the field through various publications and conferences on arbitration and business law and is a member of the editorial board of the Belgian Review of Arbitration, b-Arbitra.

His professional excellence is recognised in Chambers 2026 (Band 2 – Arbitration – Belgium), with sources commending his arbitration expertise in both domestic and cross-border commercial disputes. Jean-François is also listed as “Highly recommended” in Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) in arbitration. He was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Arbitration and Mediation in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in Belgium guide.

Sector Expertise

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Jean-François has significant experience in the following sectors:

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Commercial Dispute Resolution

Jean-François has a wealth of experience in matters relating to the public investment funds, distribution, private equity, aeronautics, biotechnology, and sports’ industries. He is particularly well versed in matters relating to the aeronautics’ sector (including maintenance-related issues, incidents, insurance and reinsurance, leases, distribution, handling, GSA contracts, …).

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Energy, Oil & Gas

He has dealt with disputes relating to operational and contractual issues for major mines and mining operations for a variety of metals (gold, copper and iron ore). He has also handled disputes relating to the exploration and development of oil and gas pipelines, as well as disputes relating to royalty, pricing and swap issues. His energy experience includes new wind technology developments and operations, and related power purchase agreements.  

Mergers, Acquisitions, Shareholder & Partnership Disputes

Jean-François has acted as counsel and as arbitrator in disputes relating to breaches of shareholder agreements and memorandum of articles, breach of directors’ duties, breach of Joint Venture agreements, share valuations and buy-outs as well as post-M&A disputes.

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Construction, Engineering & Infrastructure

His construction experience includes several arbitration proceedings dealing with defects, delays, cost overruns, liquidated damages, misrepresentation, negligence, payment default, breach of contract and termination, in connection with the construction of a variety of infrastructure, such as power plants, mills, harbour complex, a sport stadium, in construction sites mainly in Europe and in Africa.

Finance and Insurance

Jean-François has acted as counsel and as arbitrator in multiple cases involving the interpretation and the implementation of insurance policies. He served as counsel to the insurers of the 2006 Zaventem hangar fire from 2006 to 2011.

Jean-François also has extensive experience in finance matters. He has, in particular, been a member, from 2019 to 2023, of the Fortis Settlement Dispute Committee deciding the recourse of the Fortis shareholders against the claims administrator in the allocation of the 1,3 billion EUR compensation granted by the Fortis settlement agreement.

• Representing the Belgian Football Union in Belgian TAS (formerly known as Tribunal Arbitral du Sport, now C-SAR) arbitration proceedings.

• Representing a Belgian company active in the oil sector in CEPANI arbitration proceedings deciding a contractual dispute about the transfer of a plant.

• Representing a leading Belgian company in the energy sector in various disputes, including ICC arbitration proceedings and national court litigation, including the recovery of damage caused to a power plant facility and in a complex contractual dispute about wind turbines plants in Belgium.

• Representing a British company in ICC arbitration proceedings against an American company about the execution of a data sharing contract in the biocides industry.

• Representing a manager in CEPANI arbitration proceedings in a claim against an international group active in the energy sector following the termination of a contract.

• Representing a pool of insurance companies in all consequences (including civil and criminal court proceedings) of the fire of hangar 40 in Zaventem Airport in May 2006, for which their client, the maintenance company, was deemed to be the main responsible entity.

• Representing a leading French insurance company in various losses in the aeronautical maintenance sector.

• Representing a French group acting as general sales and services agent in a dispute against an airline company for the early termination of an agency agreement.

• Representing the Belgian Federal and Investment Holding Company in multiple investments, including investments in foreign funds, an investment in Euronext and investments in various industrial sectors, in particular the biotech sector.

• Representing the Belgian Federal and Investment Company in contentious matters related to current or former investments, in particular an investment in SABENA (the former - now wound-up Belgian airline company).

• Representing a leading European industrial group in a dispute against a Belgian public entity in the implementation of a public procurement contract for a software managing an electricity distribution network.

• Representing the Belgian Federal Investment Company in the structuring of several partnerships in the biotech sector.

• Advising a European fund on a shareholder dispute between its holding company and a Belgian energy company in relation to a large-scale CCGT power plant.

• Advising an Argentinian company in the context of an action in warranty for latent defects brought against a European ship engine manufacturer.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ICC proceedings deciding a dispute between a Moroccan company and a Qatari company about the termination of a construction contract for a holiday resort in Morocco.

• Sole arbitrator in CEPANI proceedings deciding a dispute between a Swiss company and a Hong Kong company about the manufacture and sale of infant food products for the Chinese market.

• Party-appointed arbitrator in a Chambre de Commerce du Luxembourg proceeding deciding a dispute between former partners in international real estate operations.

• Party-appointed arbitrator in CEPANI proceedings deciding a dispute between two leading entities of the steel industry about the maintenance of a factory in Belgium.

• Party-appointed arbitrator in CEPANI proceedings deciding a post-acquisition dispute in the food sector.

• Sole arbitrator in ICC proceedings deciding a dispute between a French industrial actor and an African State entity about the construction and renovation of an industrial facility in West-Africa.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ad hoc proceedings deciding a dispute about the scope of an insurance policy covering the loss of receivables.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ad hoc proceedings deciding a claim for rescission of the sale of the shares of an industrial company for fraud.

• Sole arbitrator in ICC proceedings deciding a contractual dispute between a service provider and the manufacturer and seller of a helicopter.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ICC proceedings opposing insurance companies to the manufacturer of a helicopter for the recovery of the damages resulting from its crash.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ICC proceedings opposing French industrial companies in a warranty claim about asbestos-related diseases and their financial consequences.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a CEPANI sports arbitration deciding a claim of a football club against a decision of the Belgian Football Federation.

• Emergency arbitrator in an ICC construction dispute opposing a Canadian group and an African State.

• Party-appointed arbitrator in DIAC proceedings deciding the claim of the lessor of an aircraft against the lessee for breach of the lease agreement.

• Party-appointed arbitrator in OHADA proceedings in a post-acquisition dispute.

• Chairman of an ad hoc arbitral tribunal deciding a claim of a policy holder against its insurance company for indemnification of a major loss in an industrial building resulting from a water leakage.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ICC proceedings deciding a claim in a construction dispute about a construction project in Algeria.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in CEPANI arbitration proceedings between a German distribution company that focuses on supplying innovative medical supply products and a manufacturer of innovative breast health and wellness solutions and products.

• Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ICC proceedings relating to a dispute between French companies about the construction of an offshore wind farm.
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Third party binding advisor

• Member of the Fortis Settlement Dispute Committee from 2019 to 2023 (more than 150 cases).

• 1988, Master of Laws (Licencié en droit) of the University of Louvain-La-Neuve – Magna cum laude
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• 1989-1995, Assistant Lecturer at the University of Louvain-La-Neuve

• Since 2005, Guest lecturer (Maître de Conférences invité) at the University of Louvain-La-Neuve

• Since 1992, Member of the Brussels Bar

Chambers Europe 2026 

Band 2 – Arbitration – Belgium

“I was very impressed by his responsiveness, knowledge and wisdom while handling a very difficult arbitration case.”

Chambers Europe 2025 

Band 2 – Dispute Resolution – Belgium

“Jean-François Tossens did an excellent job of resolving the matter and he kept us informed.” 

“He handled the case very well. He was always available and communicated very well.” 

Lexology Index 2026 (Formerly Who’s Who Legal) 

Highly recommended – Arbitration – Belgium

The Best Lawyers in Belgium 

Listed in International arbitration and Arbitration & Mediation since 2014

Named “Lawyer of the year” for Arbitration and Mediation in the 2023 edition

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Leaders League 2026

Excellent – Arbitrators – Arbitration – Belgium

• French
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• English
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• Dutch

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• Belgian

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• Since 2012, Teaching domestic and international arbitration law at the University of Louvain-La-Neuve (Master Program)
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• 2021, Lecturer at the International Academy for Arbitration Law (Paris)
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• Since 2023, Lecturer at the CEPANI Arbitration Academy

• 2016, Co-founder of the Brussels Pre-Moot for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot

• Since 2022, Chairman of Francarbi
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• 2013-2020, Co-editor in chief of b-arbitra, the Belgian Review of Arbitration
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• Since 2020, Member of the editorial board of b-Arbitra
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• Since 2009, Member of the board of ICC Belgium
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• Member of ICC, IBA and CEPANI

Arbitration Law
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• Note on arbitral award No 1046, Recueil de sentences arbitrales du CEPANI (1985-1995), Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2005, pp. 103-118.

• Note on arbitral award No 1088, Recueil de sentences arbitrales du CEPANI (1985-1995), Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2005, pp. 323-335.

• Note on arbitral award No 2120, Recueil de sentences arbitrales du CEPANI (1986-2011), Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2008, pp. 316-343.

• « La preuve dans l’acte de mission et l’instance » (Evidence in the terms of reference and arbitral proceedings), in L'administration de la preuve en matière d'arbitrage, Bruylant, 2009.

• « L’instance arbitrale » (Arbitral proceedings), in Arbitral proceedings: a practical and comparative approach, Seminar organised by the Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve, 8 March 2012.

• « Juge étatique et arbitre : collaboration ou confrontation ? Questions choisies » (State courts and arbitrators: cooperation or confrontation? Selected issues), in Hommage à Guy Keutgen, CEPANI, Bruylant, 2013, p. 769.

• Note on the Brussels Court of Appeal decision of 3 December 2012 (with S. Goldman), b-Arbitra, Bruylant, 2013/2, p. 433.

• « Le nouveau règlement d’arbitrage du Centre belge d’Arbitrage et de Médiation (CEPANI) » (The new arbitration rules of the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI), in Revue de l’arbitrage, Paris, 2013/4, p. 1089.

• “Annulment of awards”, note on the Cour de Cassation decision of 7 November 2013 and the Brussels Court of Appeal decision of 6 December 2011 (with S. Goldman), b- Arbitra, 2014/1, p. 221.

• « La confidentialité de l’arbitrage : valeur cardinale ou poncif ? » (Confidentiality in arbitration: fundamental principle or mere cliché?), in Arbitrage et Confidentialité, CEPANI/Bruylant, 2014, p. 23.

• « L’autonomie de la volonté, le droit applicable et l’arbitrage international » (Party autonomy, applicable law and international arbitration) (with J. Kleinheisterkamp), in Contrats internationaux et Arbitrage, Larcier, Bruxelles, 2014, p. 135.

• « L’usage des langues en arbitrage » (The use of languages in arbitration) (with P. Tercier and P.M. Patocchi), in Revue de l’Arbitrage, 2016/3, p. 749.

• « L’exécution des sentences arbitrales en Belgique » (The enforcement of arbitral awards in Belgium), in Le Règlement des Différends relatifs aux investissements dans l’espace OHADA, APAA conference, Douala, Cameroon, 16-17 January 2020.

• « Le conflit étudié sous le prisme de l’arbitrage » (Conflict through the lens of arbitration) (with M. Berlingin), in Le conflit : quelles approches ?, Anthemis, 2020, pp. 159-174.

• « La libre appréciation par le Tribunal arbitral de l’admissibilité des moyens de preuve et de leur force probante : quelle portée et quelles limites en droit belge ? » (The arbitral tribunal’s discretion in assessing the admissibility and evidential weight of evidence: scope and limits under Belgian law), in Liber Amicorum Xavier Dieux, Larcier, 2022.

• « Libres propos sur l’ex aequo et bono dans la détermination du dommage en matière commerciale » (Reflections on ex aequo et bono in the assessment of damages in commercial matters), in Liber Amicorum Didier Willermain, Larcier, 2023.

• « Les différences culturelles dans l’arbitrage international » (Cultural differences in international arbitration), in Les Journées Africaines de l’Arbitrage et de la Médiation, Libreville, Gabon, July 2024.

• « Les aspects financiers de l’arbitrage » (The financial aspects of arbitration) (with T. Giovannini), in Revue de l’Arbitrage, 2024/3.

• “Ten years after the Belgian Law of 24 June 2013 on arbitration, Landmark Cases and highlights“ (with L. Kengen),  b-Arbitra, 2024/2, p. 307.

• “Ex aequo et bono in damage quantification “, b-Arbitra, 2026/1 (Forthcoming).
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Corporate and Financial Law
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• « La réforme de la Commission bancaire » (The reform of the Banking Commission), in AEDBF, Yearbook 1992, Mys & Breesch, 1992, p. 187.

• « Réflexions sur la nature et le régime juridiques des valeurs mobilières et des autres instruments financiers » (Reflections on the legal nature and regulatory framework of securities and other financial instrument) (with G. Horsmans), in Le nouveau droit des marchés financiers, Larcier, 1992, p. 151.

• « Plaidoyer pour l’autonomie du droit financier » (In defence of the autonomy of financial law), in Principes et exigences du droit des sociétés en Europe, Actes des XIVème Journées Juridiques Jean Dabin, Louvain-La-Neuve, 19-20 November 1992.

• « La situation des actionnaires et leurs recours » (Shareholders’ rights and remedies) (with G. Keutgen), in Le nouveau droit des fusions et des scissions de sociétés, Bruylant, 1994, p. 119.

• “Agreement on the autonomy of bank management”, in New Belgian Banking Law, Wiley Chancery, AEDBF-Belgium, Yearbook 1994, p. 51.

• « La société ayant fait ou faisant publiquement appel à l’épargne : le concept et ses enjeux à l’aube d’une nouvelle réforme des lois coordonnées sur les sociétés commerciales » (Companies making or having made a public offering of securities: the concept and its challenges in light of a new reform of Belgian company law), R.P.S. 1994, p. 341.

• « Les situations de blocage au sein du conseil d’administration de la société anonyme à la suite de l’application de l’article 60 L.C.S.C. relatif à la dualité d’intérêts » (Deadlock situations within the board of directors of a public limited company following the application of Article 60 of the Company Code on conflicts of interest) (with C. Bertsch), R.P.S. 1995, p. 32.

• « Le secret bancaire et le contrôle de l’État sur les opérations de change et sur leurs effets délictuels en Belgique » (Banking secrecy and state control over foreign exchange transactions and their tortious consequences in Belgium) (with Ph. Lambrecht), in Blanchiment d’argent et secret bancaire, ed. P. Bernasconi, Kluwer Law International, 1996, p. 49.

• « Liberté d’établissement et libre prestation de services en matière de services financiers » (Freedom of establishment and freedom to provide financial services), in La nouvelle bourse de Bruxelles après le Big Bang bis,  Sky Room Conference, 14 February 1996.

• « Le nouveau régime des activités transfrontalières des entreprises d’investissement » (The new regulatory framework for cross-border activities of investment firms), in Marchés financiers : nouvelle organisation, Development Institute International Conference, Paris, 29-30 May 1996.

• « Le sort des contrats commerciaux en cas de cession d’entreprise » (The fate of commercial contracts in corporate transfers), in Les cessions d’entreprises, Van Ham & Van Ham Conference, 14 November 1996.

• « Les clauses et techniques limitatives de la responsabilité des dirigeants d’entreprises » (Limitation of liability clauses and techniques for company directors), in La responsabilité des dirigeants d’entreprises,  Infotopics Conference, 27 February 1997 and 6 May 1998.

• « Les conflits d’intérêts » (Conflicts of interest) and « Les délits d’initiés » (Insider trading), Lectures given in November 1999 as part of the master programme of the Solvay Business School.

• « Le régime juridique du rachat d’actions propres » (The legal framework governing share buybacks) (with T. Partsch), in Rachat d’actions propres : aspects juridiques et financiers, EFE Conference, 19 November 1998.

• « Les obligations d’information et de conseil de l’émetteur et de l’intermédiaire financier en matière de services d’investissement » (Disclosure and advisory obligations of issuers and financial intermediaries in investment services), in La protection de l’investisseur et de l’e-investisseur, AEDBF-Belgium Conference, 27 April 2001.

• « La réforme de la surveillance du secteur financier par les lois du 2 août 2002 – Article de synthèse sur la loi du 2 août 2002 » (The reform of financial sector supervision under the laws of 2 August 2002) (with Ph. Lambrecht), R.P.S., 2002.

• « Le cadre institutionnel (des marchés financiers) » (The institutional framework of financial markets) (with H. Culot), in Traité pratique de droit commercial, Kluwer, 2007, Title 1 of Tome V (Financial Law).

• « Les voies de recours » (Remedies and appeals), in La réforme de la réglementation sur les offres publiques d’acquisition, Kluwer, 2007.