The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘excellent’ real estate practice is led by Daniel Gillet and includes a number of specialists such as Gauthier van Thuyne, whose expertise includes planning, environmental, and administrative law. The practice covers investment, development and financing of real estate projects and recent work includes advising Bank of Ireland on the refinancing of the Ilôt Saint-Michel shopping centre in Liège.

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘exceptional’ real estate practice combines ‘excellent business acumen, industry knowledge and value for money’. Practice head Dominique Lechien is the ‘best in his market’, and Rudy Dupont is ‘one of the top lawyers in Belgium for real estate activities’. Recent work includes assisting a Belgian developer with the acquisition and partial disposal of a former industrial site to be redeveloped as a mixed-use project.

Clifford Chance’s comprehensive real estate practice integrates corporate, finance and tax expertise. Work highlights included advising Union Investment on securing an option to acquire the shares in two Belgian companies engaged in the development of the first hotel to be operated by Motel One in Brussels. Practice head Henri d’Ursel and Thierry Blockerye are recommended.

DLA Piper provides service ‘of the highest standard’ and ‘for very reasonable fees’. The team was instructed by the City of Antwerp to assist with its town planning processes, including administrative phases and any litigation. Practice head Dirk Caestecker is ‘knowledgeable, resourceful and straightforward’. François de Montpellier and regulatory expert Els Empereur are also recommended.

Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick has ‘one of the best real estate practices in Belgium’. The practice advised GDF Suez in negotiations with developer Kairos to acquire a right of usufruct in a turnkey office building to be erected in the centre of Antwerp, and the simultaneous sale of its existing office building in Antwerp to the project developer. The team is led by the ‘very pragmatic’ Yves Delacroix, who has ‘outstanding knowledge of real estate law’.

Linklaters’ three-partner team combines corporate, environment and real estate expertise, and advised Confinimmo on its acquisition of Dexia Immorent and its property portfolio. Global practice head Yves Moreau has extensive experience.

Lydian’s ‘outstanding’ team provides ‘timely assistance’ and practice head Wouter Neven is ‘one of the best in commercial real estate’. Clients of the practice include the Kinepolis Group and KBC Real Estate. Senior associate Stefanie Debeuf, who joined from Stibbe in September 2012, focuses on construction law, real estate, contract law and PPP.

NautaDutilh assisted Bank Degroof with a €40m private placement of property certificates issued by a special purpose vehicle in order to finance the construction of a residential services building. Practice head Didier De Vliegher led the advice on that matter and is recognised for his expertise in real estate financing. François Tulkens focuses on administrative law, urban planning and environmental matters, and counsel Gerald Van Walle is also recommended. The firm has significant experience in PPP mandates.

Stibbe has been involved in Belgium’s most important PPP projects. Practice head Rony Vermeersch led the advice to Antwerp Port Authority regarding the construction of the new port house, and acted for Brussels Capital Region on the PPP renovation of the Leopold II road tunnel.

‘Very good’ firm Altius (in co-operation with Tiberghien) is ‘good value for money’, and provides ‘in-depth and to-the-point advice’. It advised Blackstone on the purchase of a pan-European portfolio of 27 warehouses from Gecina Group, including associated environmental and planning issues. Lieven Peeters ‘delivers consistent quality’ and William Timmermans is also recommended.

Ambos NBGO has a substantial real estate practice, with seven partners dedicating significant time to the area. The firm advises Autogrill on all real estate matters in the Benelux region and also acts for public authorities in Council of State proceedings pertaining to administrative decisions regarding land allocation plans, building permits and environmental permits.

David Du Pont heads Ashurst LLP’s practice, which advised the Australian government on procuring new embassy premises in a prime office building. Arnaud Wtterwulghe is recommended for real estate finance and counsel Kelly Cherretté focuses on PPP matters and real estate litigation.

Bird & Bird has solid experience, particularly in the construction and operation of data centres where it is advising a leading industry player in several European jurisdictions, as well as in energy-related real estate matters. Alain Costantini and regulatory lawyer Marc Martens are the key contacts.

CMS’ ‘proactive and knowledgeable’ practice advises on real estate investment, financing, developments and litigation, as well as PPPs, environment and tax matters. Pierre-Axel Chabot has ‘excellent negotiation skills’, and practice head Bruno Duquesne and senior associate Stacey Smits are also recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer handles the entire real estate cycle, ranging from development through to sales and purchases, as well as letting. The firm advised Mitsui & Co on its concession agreement with Antwerp Port Authority to build a petrochemicals storage terminal. Vincent Macq heads the team as part of his broader capital markets and M&A practice.

Laga’s real estate team is made up of finance and corporate lawyer Werner Van Lembergen, corporate lawyer David Roelens and Kathleen De Hornois, who focuses on environmental, public and administrative matters. The team acted as borrower’s counsel to AZ Maria Middelares Ghent on the financing of a new hospital construction project in Ghent.

Loyens & Loeff provides ‘very good advice, response times and value for money’. ‘Strategic’ counsel Linda Dedrie is particularly strong in environmental law matters, as is France Vlassembrouck for public and administrative law. The team advised Foncière des Murs, a French listed real estate investment company, on the sale of a hotel portfolio to Axa Group Insurance Company and Caisse des Dépôts.

Marx, Van Ranst, Vermeersch & Partners handles advisory and contentious work pertaining to both private and public real estate development. Stefaan Verbouwe is the key contact.

Simont Braun’s ‘very good’ real estate, construction and administrative law department advises on town planning, environmental law, public procurement and the broader aspects of administrative law. Manuela von Kuegelgen is ‘inventive and knowledgeable’, and Thomas Braun is another key figure.