In the legal field, Equine Law is considered a niche. For Schelstraete Advocaten, however, this is not the case. With our team of 6 lawyers specialised in Equine Law, Schelstraete Advocaten provides equine legal advice to professionals in the equine industry. Our dedicated team of equine lawyers represent a large group of both national and international equine entrepreneurs and riders.
What is equine law?
Equine law includes all legal aspects involving horses. Often, in equine related deals or disputes, there are many sportive and financial interests which must be taken into account. Therefore it is important to have legal representation which understands the equine industry like no other.
30 years of experience in Equine Law
With over 30 years of experience, we are a trendsetting firm in the field of equine law. Mr L.M. (Luc) Schelstraete, LLM, active at the time as a rider in dressage and combined competition sports, was asked with increasing frequency to advice in equine legal issues. Eventually, this led to several employees at the firm becoming active, on a daily basis, with many topics directly related to the equine sport such as:
- drawing up contracts for the purchase and sale of horses and ponies, at a national and international level;
- providing advice and assistance to clients in litigation relating to the purchase and sale of horses and/or ponies;
- legal evaluations of veterinary reports involving the purchase and sale of horses and/or ponies;
- the drafting and assessment of contracts concerning partnerships between horse owners, equestrian sport companies, sponsors and their riders/horsewomen;
- assisting horse owners and/or riders in disciplinary proceedings at a national and on FEI level;
- assisting veterinarians with legal matters;
- advising and providing guidance to professional (equestrian) organisations in the civil law field.
Experienced Equine Lawyers with proper knowledge of, and passion for equestrian sports
We are extremely well-versed in the terminology and highly knowledgeable about the specific culture of those active in the equine sport, be it on a professional or amateur level. This familiarity with the sport, including the legal knowledge and experience of the veterinary aspects of this field are necessary in order to properly advise and guide clients involved in these activities.
We are more aware than most of the latest developments in the field of international equine law.
“ The Equine lawyers of Schelstraete Advocaten are well aware of the latest developments within the field of Equine Law. As a good Equine Attorney, it is important to follow the latest developments in the equestrian sports and to keep improving yourself.”
As a result of our prominent position, we are often asked to provide lectures and classes related to this special field. We publish articles on a regular basis in both national and international trade magazines regarding equine law advice. Under the name Legal and Business Journal, we write a regular column for the global edition of BCM’s Horse International. Besides that, we also discuss legal cases for the websites Horses International and horses.nl.
International partners
Because every country has its own specific horse laws, it’s vital to have reliable international partners with a focus on equine law. With this in mind we founded the equine lawyers association: European US-Asian Equine Lawyers. This alliance group has independent legal partners in Europe, Asia and the United States and ensures the best legal support when it comes to international horse deals or disputes.
How may we assist you?
For equine legal advice, contact our team of dedicated equine lawyers.
