The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP advises on a range of transport-related litigation, M&A, corporate, public and finance issues, and the firm’s extensive geographical reach is of particular benefit to its shipping clients. Werner Eyskens has wide experience in the sector. Projects practice co-head Filip Tanghe recently advised the lenders on an ECA-backed loan package to part-finance a public transportation system in Dubai.

Ambos NBGO provides ‘excellent service and accurate and appropriate advice’. The firm acts for a number of longstanding clients, including the Port Authority of Ghent, handling litigation, contractual matters and general advisory work across all transport sectors with particular strength in shipping. David Dessers and Jens Van Hecke are ‘very good’ and combine ‘in-depth legal experience with good business acumen’. The ‘efficient and reliable Ingrid Van Clemen has broad expertise and ‘a high level of legal knowledge’ in maritime law.

Niche firm Fransen Luyten advises on transport law with a particular focus on contentious and non-contentious maritime matters. The key contacts are Wim Fransen, who is a former president of the Belgian Maritime Law Association, Tom Luyten and Vincent Fransen.

Kegels & Co Advocaten handles commercial law matters pertaining to the shipping and other transport sectors, and regularly represents clients in court. André Kegels and Tony Kegels are recommended.

Antwerp-based boutique Roosendaal Keyzer mainly advises on shipping law as well as handling some broader transport matters. Its expertise includes insurance and liability, corporate and commercial law, as well as environment and customs issues. Franks Roosendaal and Luc Keyzer are recommended.

DLA Piper’s shipping practice advises several major shipping lines on ship agency contracts across European jurisdictions, among other matters. The firm also handles issues in the broader transport sector and was involved in defining the new law relating to tonnage tax in Belgium as well as in the strategic review of international and national regulations affecting air traffic control.

Marc Godfroid heads Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick’s transport and aviation practice, which covers related insurance and regulatory matters. The transport work covers contractual, litigious, administrative and regulatory matters relating to the shipping, rail and road-haulage sectors.

Lydian’s transport and shipping team is led by John Stoop, who specialises in commercial and maritime law. Yves Lenders heads the newly established ports and logistics team.

Dirk De Beule and Patricia Leers are the key contacts at A-Law International Law Firm, which covers the transport and logistics sectors comprehensively. Veerle Vanneuville is also recommended.

Yvette Verleisdonk and Didier de Vliegher are the Brussels contacts for NautaDutilh’s shipping and transport practice, which is well regarded for its strength in ship financing and non-contentious matters.

Stibbe is ‘a truly full-service firm in the Benelux market’, and provides ‘pragmatic’ and ‘business-oriented’ advice. Practice head Frederik Vandendriessche, who has ‘a thorough and very useful understanding of the transport sector’, recently advised Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB on its obligations and liabilities regarding the new Diabolo railway link to Brussels Airport. Regulatory specialist Wouter Geldhof ‘excels in terms of responsiveness and proactivity’.

Van Aerde & Partners’ transport and maritime practice acts in ship arrests, cargo claims, insurance disputes, and other contentious matters. Clive Van Aerde is recommended.

Transport law is one of the core focuses of Wijffels Advocaten and the practice covers logistics, freight forwarding, imports and exports, and customs law. Name partner Luc Wijffels focuses on transport-related insurance and commercial law.