The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP’s fraud and white-collar crime group continued to defend Citibank over the sale of structured notes issued by Lehman Brothers, which lost their value when the issuer collapsed. Recent cases include representing SAirGroup, and the SAirLines liquidator, in claims following the Sabena bankruptcy. Joost Everaert is ‘very good’ and highly respected.

DLA Piper provides ‘a good-quality service’. It is representing Sabena in its €2bn director’s liability litigation. Clients recommend Joris De Vos and practice head Christian Van Buggenhout, both of whom are representing 13,000 Deminor clients in the Lernout & Hauspie case, the biggest financial fraud litigation in Belgian legal history. For some, Pierre Van Ommeslaghe is ‘the god of fraud and white-collar crime’.

Eubelius’ talented white-collar crime group represents clients as defendants and injured parties in all matters involving corporate and financial criminal law. The scope of the practice encompasses tax fraud, customs offences, insider trading, financial and accounting fraud, money laundering and misuse of corporate assets. Raf Verstraeten heads the practice.

Linklaters is representing a defendant in a white-collar crime case arising from the bankruptcy of Sabena, for alleged complex tax fraud committed by Belgian citizens. Johan Verbist, head of the firm-wide white-collar crime team, and litigation partner Françoise Lefèvre are recommended.

Christiaan Barbier is the key name in Monard – D’Hulst’s six-partner fraud and white-collar crime group, which has expertise in money laundering and tax fraud cases and compliance matters. The team recently represented a director of a transport company in €50m criminal and tax proceedings relating to alleged fictitious invoicing. Frédéric Lettany is also well regarded.

Stibbe’s six-strong team handles all aspects of fraud and criminal law for top corporates, and recently acted for Verizon before the Antwerp Criminal Court in a case of alleged VAT fraud. With almost 20 years’ experience, Hans Van Bavel has ‘excellent knowledge of the internal criminal judicial system and its impact on businesses’.

Field Fisher Waterhouse’s growing fraud and white-collar crime team provides a ‘high-quality service’. Practice head Emmanuel Roger France has extensive experience in this area, and also assists clients with compliance and fraud prevention.

Dispute resolution boutique Hanotiau & van den Berg had a strong year for Supreme Court cases through Paul Lefebvre. He and Bernard Hanotiau are very highly regarded.

Laga’s fraud and white-collar crime team recruited criminal law litigator Willem Henckens from Allen & Overy LLP in 2010, and another significant boost came when Luc De Broe and Annick Visschers and their tax team joined from Stibbe). Recent highlights include advising a former Fortis board member in administrative proceedings.

Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick is recommended for its tax fraud and anti-money-laundering expertise. The firm is also strong in criminal labour and employment cases, where Vincent Busschaert recently advised a client in proceedings involving the alleged loan of staff and security fraud. Busschaert and Jacques Malherbe are recommended.

Lydian reports an increase in serious employee fraud cases, for which Jan Hofkens is recommended, and recently assisted Tower Automotive Belgium in a number of employment matters including a fraud case against a former executive. Hugo Keulers and Yves Lenders are also noteworthy practitioners.

Simont Braun advises clients in money laundering, insider trading, market abuse and tax or labour offences. Jean-François Terlinden is recommended.

Verhaegen Walravens has assisted clients involved in headline cases including the Lernout & Hauspie litigation and the Tractebel/Kazakhstan fraud. Philip Walravens and Jean Pierre Renard are recommended.