Belgium

About

At the heart of Europe, our Belgian office offers global clients quality advice and an in-depth understanding of multiple markets and sectors. Clients say that we are "a firm of deal makers" (Chambers Europe).

 

European Union (EU) law

Our multinational European Union Law team provides comprehensive, no-nonsense advice on all substantive areas of EU law and on the process by which law and policy are made. We offer sound judgment and tailored advice on competition law and state aid, international trade, customs, environmental law, energy, transportation and telecommunications. We have defended clients in antitrust investigations before the European Commission and in multijurisdictional merger filings, and offer unparalleled experience in litigation before the European Courts. We are particularly experienced in anticipating, monitoring and analysing developments regarding specific regulations that can affect our clients. We do not just apply the law, we help to shape it through the lasting impact of the many cases we bring before the courts and authorities.

 

Domestic and international law

Our Belgian Transactional team advises businesses and financial institutions both in and outside Belgium on a wide range of legal matters. Clients rely on our team to resolve their most important business objectives, including cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions, private equity deals, public and private offerings of securities, restructurings, IPOs, receivables finance, factoring, international arbitration, bank advisory, acquisition finance, securitisation and privatisation.

 

The Belgian Dispute Resolution team

Our Belgian Dispute Resolution team covers all areas of banking and business law, including domestic and cross-border litigation, white collar crime, regulatory investigations, international arbitration and dispute avoidance.

 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Very sophisticated, pleasant to work with. Unique mix of knowledge of European private credit experience and profound knowledge of local Benelux markets.'
Legal 500 2022

'Broad based and highly commercial EU law practice with extremely professional and expert advisors.'
Legal 500 2023 Competition EU and Global
 
Tier 1 in Insolvency and Restructuring
"strong reputation for high-value, complex, cross-border work."
Legal 500 2023
 
"The lawyers are always quick and on the ball to get back to us with practical advice."
Chambers 2023 Corporate M&A
 
"One of the very few practices able to combine top-tier experience in European space with local knowledge."
Legal 500 2023 Banking, Finance and Capital Markets

Experience

EU General Court annuls abuse of dominance findings
Representing Servier in its challenge of a European Commission decision on patent settlement agreements in pharmaceutical markets. The EU General Court partially annulled the decision, overturning all findings of abuse of dominance, the first time that a Commission decision on this issue has been fully overturned since the 1970s.

Successful 4-to-3 merger on the Dutch telecoms market 
Representing Deutsche Telekom on its successful merger in the Dutch mobile telecoms sector between Tele2 Netherlands (Tele2 NL) and T-Mobile Netherlands, approved unconditionally after a Phase II investigation by the European Commission.

International dispute resolved in the Netherlands
Representing Bank Indonesia in a major dispute with the trustees of its former Dutch subsidiary. The District Court of Amsterdam rejected all claims brought against our client (amounting to €250 million) and validated BI's €43 million claim against the bankruptcy estate.

EU sanctions and Blocking Regulation
Representing multiple clients needing urgent, critical advice regarding the impact of the EU sanctions on their business, in Russia, Iran and around the world. Clients include major Russian and European banks and major players in the oil & gas sector.

Zetes Industries sale to Panasonic
Representing Zetes Industries SA on the sale by its key shareholders of a controlling participation to Panasonic Group.  Panasonic became the majority shareholder upon closing and launched a mandatory tender offer on all remaining Zetes shares.

Ogeda €800 million sale and purchase
Representing all sellers in relation to the sale and purchase of 100% of the share capital of Ogeda, a Belgian clinical-stage drug discovery company, by Astellas Pharma Inc., upon occurrence of specific development milestones and FDA approval.