The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘high-quality and dynamic’ team handles litigation, M&A, corporate and commercial, public law, and banking and finance issues pertaining to the shipping and wider transport sectors. ‘Smart litigator’ Werner Eyskens, who is ‘open-minded and client-empathetic’, recently acted for Dredging International, a leader in dredging and land reclamation, in claims relating to defective and delayed construction of a vessel. Finance partner Filip Tanghe is also well respected.

Ambos NBGO’s transport group ‘keeps its clients informed throughout and ensures that all procedures are made clear’. It acts for the Port Authority of Ghent on all maritime matters including recently advising on the sinking of a ship in the port. Ingrid Van Clemen is ‘certainly one of the most respected lawyers in Belgian maritime law’. Peter Van de Vijver is also highly regarded.

Fransen Luyten – formerly known as Fransen Advocaten – mainly acts for shipowners in cargo claims, but also handles significant numbers of collision cases, ship arrests and ship finance mandates. It was recently responsible for the arrest of the Atlantic Galaxy oil tanker. Vincent Fransen and Tom Luyten are recommended.

Kegels & Co Advocaten’s recent caseload includes numerous ship arrests and disputes. The firm, which comprehensively covers shipping and transport law, represents a mix of insurers, P&I clubs, shipping agents, shipowners, freight forwarders and carriers. André Kegels and Tony Kegels are recommended.

Antwerp-based shipping firm Roosendaal Keyzer has broad expertise including insurance and liability, corporate and commercial law including contracts, as well as environment and customs regulations. Frank Roosendaal and Luc Keyzer are noteworthy individuals.

DLA Piper recently advised the European Commission on a study of regulatory framework relating to the public sector and, in particular, the client’s approach towards public transport. Other clients include SNCB and SNCB Holding. Bob Martens is the firm’s key transport lawyer in Belgium.

Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick’s Marc Godfroid specialises in transport law and related civil liability and insurance matters. His team acts for clients in the shipping, rail and road-haulage sectors, as well as for insurers, and advises on contracts, litigation, administration and regulations.

Lydian recently advised BASF on employing harbour workers in the ports of Antwerp and Ghent, and assisted Nafta Belgium with several aspects of port concessions and port projects. Yves Lenders and John Stoop are recommended.

Verhaegen Walravens is primarily recommended for shipping disputes, but also advises on road haulage, intermodal and leisure and tourism-related matters. Philip Walravens is the main contact.

A-Law International Law Firm’s logistics and transport team handles cases concerning shipping, rail transport, inland navigation, aviation and courier services. The firm also has a niche practice in traffic violations. Dirk De Beule and Patricia Leers are the key contacts.

Working closely with the firm’s Netherlands offices, NautaDutilh’s Brussels partners Yvette Verleisdonk and Didier De Vliegher handle shipping and rail mandates, and are recommended for financing and other non-contentious work.

Stibbe’s shipping and transport group is led by Frederik Vandendriessche, who advises national railway operator NMB on various matters including the recent acquisition of 200 trains to improve commuter traffic in Brussels. Antwerp Port Authority and UPS are also clients.

Van Aerde & Partners’ maritime and transport group has a substantial workload including ship arrests, cargo claims and other litigation, and insurance matters. Clive Van Aerde is a noteworthy practitioner.

Luc Wijffels is the key contact at Wijffels De Paep, which deals with wet and dry shipping work, as well as general transport and insurance-related matters.