The Legal 500

Readers should cross-refer with the EU regulatory section later in the chapter, for firms with expertise in EU environmental law, including the WEEE and RoHS Directives.

Allen & Overy LLP’s recent instructions include dealing with contaminated soil management, as well as remaining busy on climate change and green energy issues. The ‘business focused, knowledgeable and very responsive’ Gauthier van Thuyne is recommended for ‘real strength in this area’. The practice acts for Eurofer (on waste and climate change queries), Temco (on groundwater issues), Exide (a recycling company) and SPE.

Pascal Mallien’s experience at Baker & McKenzie is mentioned by clients, but he is also ‘very up-to-date on environmental issues’, and a ‘strong and committed’ lawyer. The team, considered ‘our internal partner’ for team working, also has a ‘vast knowledge of environmental policy, and relevant EU directives’, especially with energy businesses. Clients include Procter & Gamble.

DLA Piper handled numerous cases ranging from brownfield covenants to environmental permits, with real assets in the combination of managing partner Bob Martens and Dominique Devos. Martens is seen as a public lawyer ‘par excellence’, and Devos is hailed for ‘his knowledge, empathy and understanding’. Clients include Hostmann Steinberg and Eurowaste, and the Flemish Government.

NautaDutilh’s two leading lights are Patrick Peeters and François Tulkens; they are ‘very businesslike and practically oriented’. The practice focuses high quality, complex environmental enforcement litigation for public bodies and large corporates, with developer clients benefiting from planning advice. Recent instructions include those for the Brussels region on noise pollution in the courts; plus appellate litigation on behalf of Fluxys. Vincent Ost was promoted counsel, as the team continues to grow.

Stibbe’s Jan Bouckaert and team have been busy advising clients who value the firm’s ‘great stability’ and ‘good human qualities and professional skill’. Clients also praise the fact that ‘response times are respected, and its analysis is well balanced’. The team assisted in planning matters for Besix and PMV as developers and PPP investors respectively, as well as Leaseinvest on soil contamination issues. Monique Kestemont is recommended for development-led planning law.

LDR Milieuadvocaten’s Ghent-based team is specialised in environmental and planning law, acting for claimants and defendants alike, considered ‘very good for environmental law’, and is seen as ‘a practical choice’ for national Belgian companies and Flemish clients. Its key figure, Isabelle Larmeseau comes highly recommended. The team is familiar with pollution issues.

Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick’s duo of Frank Judo and Bernard Deltour (‘delivers profound legal advice’) are recommended for ‘outstanding experience and performance’. They have experience on soil contamination and waste legislation as well as sectoral know-how in the chemical, metal and logistic service industries. Clients include Veolia and GSK Biologicals.

The ‘very knowledgeable’ Lieve Swartenbroux heads the practice at Linklaters, which acts in a support role to the corporate and real estate teams; standalone work included assisting Electrabel in a €250m environmental tax case before the Supreme Court and various contamination/soil pollution instructions. The team has a good public law focus, on litigation against administrative actions, for corporates.

Lydian offers a foundation for Wouter Neven’s work across a variety of fields, ranging from soil pollution, to advice and litigation in support of green electricity; his real estate experience is valued on planning matters. Clients say ‘his availability is high and his knowledge is remarkable’. Equally, David Haverbeke is seen as ‘proactive’, and praised for energy sector experience. Clients include StoraEnso and DSV Road.

Altius (in co-operation with Tiberghien) is experienced in environmental public law and litigation; it also has good links to real estate, with the arrival of Lieven Peeters from Linklaters. Clients praise William Timmermans’s work as ‘precise and thorough, based on critical insights and very practical’. Clients include OVAM and Rail Benelux.

Haumont Scholasse & Partners is a specialist planning, property and environmental law boutique, covering off public law, environmental advisory, and both criminal and civil litigation services. Urban development, land remediation and commercial planning law applications are handled by Francis Haumont and Michel Scholasse.

Hunton & Williams LLP’s Lucas Bergkamp is recommended for his work, whether on contaminated industrial sites or the recycling and disposal of electrical goods. Work for the Electrical Industries Alliance, as well as for Baxter and Koch, shows a supply of relevant environmental advice, over a significant geographical spread of sites, with differing and complex industry circumstances.

Monard – D’Hulst’s key figure, name partner Xavier D’Hulst, handles a considerable amount of litigation defending public authorities and companies before the courts. Noise pollution litigation against Brussels Airport was a 2010 highlight.

Publius has continued to grow; now housing a nine-lawyer team, although Tim Vermeir left in September 2010. It has advised on the drafting of new Flemish legislation for pet cemeteries, and the opening of a new crematorium in Kortrijk. It also handles public sector environmental litigation for regional and local councils.