Brussels: the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the new Belgian regulations mean tied firms may have to significantly restructureEven in the context of European markets that have become less hospitable places for accountancy-tied law firms in the wake of Enron’s collapse, in Belgium a growing number of pundits are seriously asking whether such firms can remain a force in what had been one of their most successful markets.

Concerns are focused on legislation from the Belgian parliament this August, designed to safeguard auditor independence through key modifications to the Belgian company code.