Tax & Employment for a new CSO in Belgium

Pro Publico received itself legal advice from the top-tier international law firm Freshfields, whose Brussels office provided comprehensive pro bono support on tax and employment matters. This collaboration is a great example of the type of pro bono legal assistance that can be offered to nonprofit organisations seeking to navigate the legal framework while focusing on their mission of societal impact.

Addressing the Legal Needs of a Growing Nonprofit

As Pro Publico continues to expand, its operational needs have become more complex. After establishing itself as an independent ASBL in Belgium, Pro Publico identified essential compliance areas to ensure its alignment with key Belgian tax and employment requirements. The organisation needed expert guidance to fulfil tax obligations, understand VAT requirements and ensure compliant hiring practices.

Pro Publico: Empowering Civil Society with Pro Bono

Pro Publico is a Brussels-based clearinghouse that connects civil society actors with top legal and public affairs professionals offering their expertise pro bono publico. By matching lawyers and public affairs consultants with organisations advancing social change, Pro Publico empowers civil society actors with the free & high-quality professional advice they need to make a positive impact. This Paneuropean clearinghouse has grown significantly, having supported hundreds of nonprofits across Europe, and now seeks to strengthen its own structure to continue delivering on its mission.

Freshfields: Expert Support from a Leading Firm

Freshfields’ Pro Bono Manager, Karina Fletcher, spearheaded the formation of a dedicated group of Brussels-based professionals, led by Partner Satya Staes Polet. The tax team, including Nikolaas Van Robbroeck and Maxim Wuyts, guided Pro Publico on Belgian tax compliance aspects and VAT considerations. Meanwhile, employment law experts Brunhilde Van den Haute and Raphael Narinx provided crucial insights into the legal frameworks for nonprofit hiring, helping Pro Publico understand options for staff growth in a compliant way.

Outcome of the Pro Bono Engagement

Throughout this collaboration, Freshfields’ teams offered in-depth insights tailored to Pro Publico’s specific needs, ensuring compliance with Belgian legal law. Their guidance has enabled Pro Publico to make informed decisions regarding tax obligations and employment practices, allowing the organisation to expand its operations and hire staff.

Francesco Zatelli, Pro Publico’s co-founder, shared: “This was the first time I was experiencing firsthand the matchmaking service I have been providing for the last three years, and my expectations have been exceeded: the outcome of the collaboration has not only been timely and comprehensive, but most crucially it is of outstanding quality.”

Strengthening Pro Publico’s Mission

With this legal foundation in place, Pro Publico can continue to connect civil society actors with expert pro bono support, amplifying its impact across Europe. This collaboration exemplifies the transformative potential of pro bono support for nonprofits, demonstrating how targeted legal guidance can empower organisations to grow sustainably and fulfil their missions: “if it wasn’t for this pro bono advice, we would have needed to invest our limited resources possibly on a much smaller and less comprehensive advice,“ explained Francesco, “instead the high quality guidance provided by Freshfields’ experts made us feel fully in control of our tax and employment options.”

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Thanks to @Satya Staes Polet @Nikolaas Van Robbroeck @Maxim Wuyts @Brunhilde Van den Haute @Raphael Narinx @Karina Fletcher @ Freshfields 

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