Early interest in contracts, technology and entrepreneurship
Axel studied law at KU Leuven, with a focus on private and economic law. During his studies, he advised through Wetswinkel, tutored economic law and became involved in organisations centred on entrepreneurship and negotiation.
Alongside his studies, he gained experience at law firms, an intellectual property firm and KBC’s Legal Innovation team. Those roles introduced him to intellectual property disputes, technology regulation, legal operations and the practical effect of contracts on a business.
Legal technology and contract automation
From 2022 to 2024, Axel worked at ClauseBase, where he helped build automated contracts through clause logic and document automation.
That experience shaped the way he approaches drafting. A contract is not a collection of standard clauses. Its definitions, dependencies, procedures and exceptions must work as one coherent system.
He also worked with technology startups through ehvLINC and held legal and operational roles in entrepreneurial organisations, including NEXT Leuven and Tectonic.
Law & Technology
After completing his Belgian law degree, Axel obtained an LL.M. in Law & Technology from Tilburg University.
His academic work covered the legal questions surrounding software, data, AI, intellectual property and digital business. He later published two case notes in Computerrecht on the use of non pseudonymised judgments in proceedings and the potential abuse of GDPR based injunctions.
Cresco
Axel joined Cresco in September 2024.
He works within the firm’s innovation and commercial practices on technology, IP and commercial matters. His experience includes SaaS and software agreements, strategic partnerships, funded and joint development, licensing, business continuity and escrow, technology focused due diligence, digital regulation, trademarks and domain name disputes.
He also works with colleagues from Cresco’s corporate team on acquisitions, investments, spin offs and other transactions involving technology or IP intensive businesses.
A growing focus on technology contracting
The common thread in Axel’s work is technology contracting.
This includes the obvious software agreements, but also arrangements in which technology is only one part of a broader commercial structure. Examples include R&D collaborations, platform ecosystems, public sector contracts, transition arrangements, licensing models, strategic partnerships and transaction documentation.
The objective is not to make every agreement longer or more sophisticated. It is to identify which legal choices matter to the business and express them clearly enough to work in practice.
Beyond legal practice
Axel remains involved in entrepreneurial and non profit organisations. He is a supervisory board member at NEXT Leuven and a member of the general assembly of Pleegzorg West Vlaanderen.
Since September 2026, he has also taken on two roles at the Antwerp Bar. As Trainee Lawyer Coordinator at De Conferentie, he organises initiatives that connect and engage trainee lawyers. As Trainee Lawyer Representative on the Traineeship Committee of Balie Antwerpen, he represents and supports the next cohort of trainee lawyers.