Firms To Watch: Tax

Fieldfisher‘s tax practice is led by Geoffroy Galéa, who was promoted to partner in May 2022, and is particularly strong on strategic and transactional support for business clients, including on transfer pricing.
Lauwers Law specialises in tax controversy, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution, working with corporate, private, and institutional clients on contentious indirect and direct taxation issues.
Simont Braun established its tax team in June 2021 under partner Thomas Gernay and counsel Guillaume Delfosse, and the firm is building a strong reputation for transactional and structuring advice in particular.

Tax in Belgium

Allen & Overy LLP

Major national and international banks, private equity firms, and investment funds flock to the tax team at Allen & Overy LLP for general and transactional advice and litigation support. The experienced Patrick Smet heads the practice, and is well known for his work in the finance sector, covering all aspects of corporate and financial tax advice, as well as disputes and investigations. Counsel Isabelle Panis is well equipped to handle the tax aspects of corporate transactions, including leveraged finance, restructurings, and securitisations. Senior associate Sara Husain is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Patrick Smet


Other key lawyers:

Isabelle Panis; Sara Husain


Testimonials

‘Pragmatic and down to earth. Not afraid to take a position and provide a clear proposal and way forward. Very approachable.’

‘Allen and Overy delivers quality work under time pressure effectively and efficiently.’

‘Patrick Smet lives and breathes tax and has the ability to make complex tax issues sound very simple. We appreciate his pragmatism and solution-oriented approach.’

Key clients

Ackermans & van Haaren/Manuchar


Compagnie d’Entreprises (CFE)/DEME


House of HR


KB Securities – Galaxy Tower


Incofin Investment Management


Recticel


Sofiy Qbic


ING Belgium


Robeco


BNP Paribas Fortis


Linklaters

Linklaters‘s tax practice combines deep experience and a ‘high level of technical ability‘ to provide support to clients in transactional, advisory, and contentious matters. R&D incentives are a particular focus, with ‘very knowledgeable and experienced‘ team lead Henk Vanhulle highly regarded in this area, as well as for his expertise in M&A, capital markets, and real estate transactions. Guido De Wit is an expert in VAT, while Caroline Borgers, made up to partner in May 2022, is strong in incentives, structuring, and disputes. Associate Matthieu Possoz, meanwhile, has a broad experience across Belgian and international tax issues.

Practice head(s):

Henk Vanhulle


Other key lawyers:

Guido De Wit; Caroline Borgers; Matthieu Possoz


Testimonials

‘Linklaters is an extremely professional firm to work with.’

‘Professional people and service. Very experienced in tax and litigation. High level of availability. Nice people.’ 

‘Incredible speed of response and understanding of the life sciences business, which allows for very tailored advice.’

‘Good knowledge. Dare to present solutions and alternatives. Very professional treatment of the client.’

‘The team has a very wide tax practice. Reactivity and business-oriented advice, combined with a high level of technical ability due to some members having academic roles.’

‘Henk Vanhulle is very knowledgeable and experienced. A trusted adviser. Caroline Borgers is very reliable and responsive. Very nice to work with.’

‘Caroline Borgers really stands out from the competitors in the market, as well as within Linklaters itself. She is reliable, discreet, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. What more can you ask for?’

‘Matthieu Possoz is really appreciated by the market. He has a strong track record in all tax matters. He is very pragmatic and always finds an appropriate solution to tax problems. Caroline Borgers also has a very strong profile and is particularly appreciated.’

Key clients

Johnson & Johnson


Waterland


ageas


J.P. Morgan


Ahold Delhaize


Banque Degroof Petercam


Elia


Proximus


NXMH


P&V


AXA


BNP Paribas Fortis


Galapagos


ArcelorMittal


Belfius Bank


Work highlights


  • Advising ArcelorMittal Belgium on the strategic and tax R&D incentives in relation to its €1.1bn investment in decarbonisation technologies at its flagship Gent plant.
  • Advising P&V, a Belgian insurance company, in the context of post-M&A tax issues after the acquisition of PI, another insurance company.
  • Representing various clients in proceedings before the General Court of the CJEU in relation to the qualification of the Belgian excess profit tax ruling system as an ‘aid scheme’ giving rise to unlawful state aid.

Loyens & Loeff

Loyens & Loeff‘s team of ‘professional‘ and ‘agile‘ specialists provides advice on the full range of tax matters to clients from high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to major corporates. Practice heads Nicolas Lippens, Nicolas Bertrand, and Natalie Reypens focus on corporate and international matters, family-owned businesses and private wealth, and transfer pricing, respectively. Saskia Lust co-heads on private wealth matters, and Bert Gevers leads on indirect tax and international trade issues. Of counsel Christian Chéruy has broad experience, and notable senior associates include Aldo Engels and Laurine Vanherck, who heads the employment tax sub-team.

Practice head(s):

Nicolas Lippens; Nicolas Bertrand; Natalie Reypens


Other key lawyers:

Saskia Lust; Bert Gevers; Christian Chéruy; Aldo Engels; Laurine Vanherck


Testimonials

‘The people from Loyens & Loeff are very professional, very helpful, and very agile in their response time. They really know what clients expect, and they really fulfil expectations about their service.’

Key clients

ABInBev


Galapagos


Bose Inc.


Corel


Euroclear


Tereos


Work highlights


  • Successfully assisted ABInBev in two high-profile court cases relating to the validity of its excess profit ruling.
  • Assisted Galapagos a.o. with the hire of its new CEO, the acquisition of CellPoint and AboundBio, and obtaining a complex tax ruling on the Belgian innovation income deduction regime.
  • Advised Bose Product on, among other matters, the implementation of an overall indirect tax control framework.

Tiberghien

With a focus on advisory work and ‘top-notch technical expertise in all fields‘, boutique tax firm Tiberghien provides ‘top-quality‘ services to clients including major multinationals and public bodies. Koen Morbée heads the practice, with other names to note including ‘very skilled‘ corporate practitioner Ben Van Vlierden, real estate transactions and structuring specialist Claudine Bodeux, VAT expert Stijn Vastmans and the highly experienced Bernard Peeters. Emilie Van Goidsenhoven is recommended for her work advising HNW individuals and families, while Ahmed El Jilali, promoted to counsel in July 2022, is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Koen Morbée


Other key lawyers:

Bernard Peeters; Ben Van Vlierden; Stijn Vastmans; Claudine Bodeux; Emilie Van Goidsenhoven; Ahmed El Jilali; Stein De Maeyer


Testimonials

‘A very large tax firm with specialists in each tax niche.’

‘The team offers top quality with respect to tax law.’

‘Tiberghien’s strength is that it is a large law firm that only does tax with a multidisciplinary approach, real expertise, real know-how and a network of quality partners.’

‘Pragmatism, reactivity, technicality and precision.’

‘Direct and hands-on advice on complex tax topics. In-depth knowledge and expertise.’

‘Top-notch technical expertise in all tax fields, well connected with authorities, client focused and very proactive.’

‘Ben Van Vlierden is a very skilled tax specialist, able to provide top-notch tax advice based on his vast experience.’

‘Claudine Bodeux and Stijn Vastmans are approachable and knowledgeable for real estate M&A deals. Ahmed El Jilali and Stein De Maeyer are forces for the future.’

Arteo

Helmed by Daniel Garabedian, boutique tax firm Arteo has a strong reputation across tax advice and litigation. The team handles disputes at all levels, including before the Court of Justice of the European Union, where Garabedian is especially experienced, alongside corporate tax specialist Jean-Michel Degée. The firm also has expertise in acting for private clients, for whom An Weyn is a key contact, and for financial sector clients, where Pierre-Olivier van Caubergh is recommended. Steven Peeters is strong in transactions, while counsel Charlotte Bihain is well regarded in real estate-related matters.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Garabedian


Other key lawyers:

Jean-Michel Degée;  An Weyn; Steven Peeters; Charlotte Bihain; Pierre-Olivier van Caubergh


Testimonials

‘The Arteo tax team is without any doubt composed of the most brilliant tax lawyers in Belgium. They nevertheless are very pragmatic and really go the extra mile for their clients.’

‘This is truly one of the top boutiques in Belgium.’

‘Niche practice with highly qualified lawyers. Nice to work with. Very to the point and clear and conclusive in their advice.’

‘Daniel Garabedian is really the best. Jean-Michel Degée and Pierre-Olivier van Caubergh are also outstanding in their area of expertise. Pierre-Olivier combines rigour and creativity.’

‘An Weyn is very approachable and responsive. Not only is she clearly very knowledgeable about Belgian tax issues but she is also able to provide clear and practical written advice.’

‘Daniel Garabedian is a superstar in the Belgian tax market. Charlotte Bihain is a specialist in real estate taxation.’

‘An Weyn is one of the best tax lawyers in Belgium with respect to advising (ultra-)HNWIs.’

‘Steven Peeters is very pleasant to work with, very available, and very qualified. I would definitely recommend working with Steven.’

Work highlights


  • Successfully assisted a Belgium-based multinational active in the industrial sector in the administrative appeals procedure against dividend withholding tax assessments.
  • Assisted the Belgian subsidiary of a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange throughout an in-depth transfer pricing audit which was concluded by a favourable settlement agreement.
  • Advised a client on the Belgian tax aspects of the global reorganisation of the companies holding and operating the major European high-speed rail services and assisted the client in obtaining a tax ruling from the Belgian tax authorities on the Belgian tax treatment of the structure post-reorganisation.

Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL

Géry Bombeke heads the tax team at Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL, which provides tax planning, transactional, and structuring advice to domestic and international corporate clients. Bombeke has ‘a vast understanding of transfer pricing‘, while Alain Huyghe is especially sought after by insurance sector clients, and Luc Meeus is an authority on fund structuring. Julie Permeke was made up to partner in July 2022, and is particularly well regarded for her tax controversy work, which sees her handle disputes from initial auditing through to settlement or litigation.

Practice head(s):

Géry Bombeke


Other key lawyers:

Alain Huyghe; Luc Meeus; Julie Permeke


Testimonials

‘Very competent team. Professional, with great knowledge of tax. Fast replies and always available. Know their clients.’

‘Professional, knowledgeable, present in every domain and location.’

‘The tax/transfer pricing team really listen to their clients’ issues. They have provided excellent support upon audit. They also helped us develop a supportable model, accepted by the tax authorities, to allocate income for our matrix organisation.’

Key clients

Assuralia


Brussels Airlines


Cadence Design Systems, Inc


Cummins


Desotec group


Fortino Capital


KBC Securities NV


Korys Investments


Lubrizol


M80 Capital


Pierre&Vacances-Center Parcs (PVCP)


Procter & Gamble


TINC


Unisys


WP Carey


Clifford Chance

Real estate is a core sector for the tax team at Clifford Chance, which handles matters including international and fund structuring, the tax elements of large corporate transactions, and tax litigation. Alexandre Ooms heads the practice; he is praised for his ‘excellent knowledge‘ and has a strong reputation as a trusted adviser for major investment and private equity clients. Also noted is senior associate Stijn Van Walleghem, who has a broad practice covering structuring, transactions, and litigation.

Practice head(s):

Alexandre Ooms


Other key lawyers:

Baptiste Antoine; Stijn Van Walleghem


Testimonials

‘The highly professional team has a wide range of expertise and has consistently provided excellent, pragmatic and to-the-point tax advice, fully considering the client’s business needs. Always provides a swift response. It is a pleasure dealing with the team.’

‘Experience and market knowledge that gives the client confidence.’

‘The team is unique for its capabilities and experience in the real estate sector and the seamless cooperation with the general real estate team. The team is also genuinely nice, which makes the cooperation enjoyable.’

‘Alexandre Ooms is able to quickly answer complex structuring questions.’

‘Availability and quality.’

‘Alexandre Ooms has excellent knowledge of the subject matter. He is very responsive and provides immediate, pragmatic and to-the-point advice. He communicates difficult concepts very well and comes up with effective and commercial solutions at short notice, considering the implications in the overall context.’

Key clients

Patrizia


AXA


ENGIE Electrabel SA


Deka Immobilien


Intégrale


Union Investment


Fluxys


Real IS


Belgian Brewers Association


J. Safra Sarasin Group


Swiss Life Dynapierre


AEW Invest GmbH


Verlinvest


Corealis


Mérieux Equity Partners


Belgian State


Deliverect


Macquarie


Fidentia


GH Group


Ethias


Federal Holding and Investment Company (FPIM/SFPI),


Whitewood


Highbridge Capital Management


Work highlights


  • Advised Whitewood, Ethias and the SFPI-FPIM (the investment vehicle of the Belgian State) in relation to the set-up of a large real estate investment fund named WW Green Real Estate Fund.
  • Advised AXA Belgium on the transfer of a closed book of life insurance with Belgian GAAP provisions of €2.6bn to Monument Re, through its subsidiary Monument Assurance Belgium.
  • Advised the management of Tom&Co, a leading pet retail chain active in Belgium and France, on its investment in the company alongside Belgian investment company Verlinvest, on the occasion of Verlinvest’s investment and acquisition of a 50% stake in Tom&Co.

Deloitte Legal

Deloitte Legal‘s tax offering is organised into three subteams, providing multidisciplinary and cross-border advice on issues from structuring to audits. ‘Top-notch‘ litigator and risk management specialist Annick Visschers leads on dispute resolution; VAT expert Danny Stas and international corporate tax practitioner Tim Wustenberghs co-head the advisory practice; and experienced wealth management adviser Mathieu Ex helms the private client team. Also noted are Filip Smet and Alexander Baert, who are strong in investigations and international controversy work, respectively.

Practice head(s):

Danny Stas; Tim Wustenberghs; Annick Visschers; Mathieu Ex


Other key lawyers:

Filip Smet; Alexander Baert


Testimonials

‘One of Belgium’s biggest teams in tax proceedings, which offers them a unique combination of know-how of tax law and of how it is applied by the courts. Such a combination is crucial in, for example, settlement discussions with the tax authorities.’

‘Annick Visschers is top notch in tax proceedings. She is very intelligent and understands easily how to position the case against adversaries to obtain the best possible result. She is capable of digesting a lot of information rapidly and giving clear advice. On top of this, she’s fun to work with.’

‘Good connections with other specialisations within the firm. Good overall knowledge of clients’ business and history.’

Stibbe

Stibbe‘s tax practice works closely with the firm’s teams in Amsterdam and Luxembourg, and is a key port of call for investment fund clients, where the ‘very knowledgeableHenk Verstraete and counsel Giovanni Smet are especially recommended. Team head and indirect tax specialist Wim Panis is well regarded for his ‘deep technical knowledge‘, while Lizelotte De Maeyer, promoted to counsel in January 2022, focuses on the intersection between tax law and fundamental rights to privacy.

Practice head(s):

Wim Panis


Other key lawyers:

Henk Verstraete; Giovanni Smet; Lizelotte De Maeyer


Testimonials

‘The Belgian tax team at Stibbe provides high-quality work and straight-to-the-point advice. They have excellent knowledge not only of the legislative environment but also of the practices of the local tax authorities.’

‘They have excellent knowledge in the various areas of taxation. You can count on their advice on whatever tax topic!’

‘Stibbe’s tax team consists of skilled individuals that combine great technical tax knowledge with a pragmatic approach.’

‘The members of the team are available, even at short notice, and constantly meet the client’s expectations in terms of scope of work and timing.’

‘They differentiate themselves from others through the broad experience the individuals have, and as a relatively small team they can interact easily to get updated on all aspects of a case.’

‘Years of experience and outside-the-box thinking.’

‘Wim Panis is an excellent practitioner. He has deep technical knowledge and is able to use it to provide to-the-point and useful solutions for the client. He has great listening skills, and is able to quickly understand the client’s issue and needs. He combines this with the ability to explain complex technical issues in an understandable and effortless way. He always seems calm and patient, which makes him a key asset to have at your side as a client during stressful negotiations. He is also a great team player. He is very committed to his work and his clients.’

‘Henk Verstraete is a very knowledgeable tax lawyer and always available to help.’

Work highlights


  • Assisted Pro-Manage/Conny Vandendriessche in the sale of House of HR to Bain Capital, a record-breaking transaction in the Belgian market.
  • Assisted the Flemish Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the drafting of the legislative framework on the reduction of emissions for agriculturists.
  • Obtained a landmark decision for private individuals concerning the treatment of carried interest structures.

CMS

Drawing on the support of the firm’s global network, CMS fields a multidisciplinary tax team that is especially recommended for its advice on the tax aspects of transactions, restructurings, and reorganisations. Corporate tax specialist Olivier Querinjean heads the team, while Stéphanie Houx focuses on indirect taxation, with particular expertise in advising clients in the real estate sector. The practice is also competent in tax litigation and audits.

Practice head(s):

Olivier Querinjean


Other key lawyers:

Stéphanie Houx; Arnout Vaninbroukx


Testimonials

‘Excellent expertise, pragmatic advice, value for money.’

‘Great professionalism, availability and responsiveness.’

‘The team, notably Olivier Querinjean and Arnout Vaninbroukx, work well together and are skilled in tax legal advice, and are also very diverse. The level of their expertise is excellent. Everything runs smoothly, transparently and easily. Olivier is always available.’ 

Key clients

Kpler


Elia/50 Hertz


Quantessence/Euroclear


Biogroup LCD


Everland group


AIG


Airbus Defence and Space


Dell/EMC


HiPay Group


Coreso/TSCNET


Nalys


Windvision/Blackrock


Damart


Nexter


Sreim


Honeywell


SOWAER


Suez Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Kpler on its corporate restructuring, including the transfer of its head office to Belgium, as well as assisting with setting up an equity incentive plan for its key employees.
  • Advising the Elia Group on the contractual organisation of cross-border services as part of a global restructuring of intra-group services.
  • Advising the Quantessence Group on transferring part of its activities from the UK to the EU as a result of Brexit.

Eubelius

The tax team at Eubelius is particularly well regarded in the real estate sector, and is jointly led by Wouter Claes, Svjatoslav Gnedasj, and Korneel Decroix. Claes leads on real estate matters, while Decroix, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, specialises in VAT and fund structuring. Gnedasj, meanwhile, is in charge of litigation, with experience handling cases up to the Belgian Supreme Court. Senior attorney Kelly Moens is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Wouter Claes; Svjatoslav Gnedasj; Korneel Decroix


Other key lawyers:

Kelly Moens


Testimonials

‘The team is very hands-on, pragmatic and works with the client to think of a solution that also works in practice. The team provides advice which is based on solid legal reasoning, while taking into account the specifics of the sector and the deal. The team is also very friendly and always reachable for further explanations and feedback.’

‘Working with the tax division of Eubelius is unique in the sense that there is a very professional but also personal collaboration, in which there is always attention paid to the specific situation of the client.’

‘Wouter Claes and Kelly Moens have thorough knowledge of the subject, clear communication skills, and the dedication and determination to make the project successful. They are always available for further discussions and questions, and very reliable.’

‘Korneel Decroix is really someone you can count on, not only for his excellent knowledge of tax law and tax procedures in Belgium, but also for his profound knowledge of the matters on which he works.’

‘The tax team at Eubelius is a very solid, high-performing team that works very effectively and proactively in order to serve the client’s specific needs. They certainly live up to their reputation.’

‘Korneel Decroix has a thorough knowledge of all tax-related questions in relation to real estate, is pragmatic, and really understands the specific needs of the real estate sector. Furthermore, Korneel is always friendly, down to earth and has a good sense of humour. A real go-to person for anyone in the real estate sector with tax-related questions.’

‘Eubelius has a tax team of very competent people. They respect the client and the wishes the client has, and they try to come up with solutions that work both for the client and the regulatory environment. They are always happy to assist or to discuss various topics.’

‘Korneel Decroix and Kelly Moens work to the highest standards and are highly recommended in terms of their knowledge of tax legislation and client orientation.’

Key clients

Sports and Leisure Group


Anima


KBC Ancora


Nextensa


Magnetrol International


Puratos


Delta Light


Ontex


Siemens


Industry Software


BASF Antwerpen


Ansell Healthcare


Trane


Kinepolis Group


Vasco Group


Astra Sweets


Mayekawa Europe


Celio International


Immobel


Atenor


Bpost


AG Real Estate


Batopin


Work highlights


  • Assisted Leasinvest in obtaining a landmark tax ruling regarding the tax consequences of renouncing the status of a Belgian regulated real estate investment trust (BE-REIT).
  • Assisted EPI in connection with the tax and VAT structuring of the business model of a new pan-European payment scheme.
  • Successfully represented three major real estate project developers in 20 corporate tax and VAT litigation cases before the Belgian courts related to the re-characterisation of share deals into asset deals and services.

Liedekerke

Liedekerke‘s tax practice is strongly focused on transactional tax issues, assisting Belgian and international clients with both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team is jointly led by Lievin De Wulf, who specialises in the tax elements of business and corporate law, and Pierre Desenfans, who has niche expertise in real estate tax.

Practice head(s):

Lievin De Wulf; Pierre Desenfans


Other key lawyers:

Jasper Bossuyt; Leila Baddour


Testimonials

‘They have a very practical approach and understand the client’s needs very well. So, they are not only technically very skilled, but also practical.’

‘Liedekerke’s tax practice is reputable in real estate tax matters.’

‘Strong knowledge, quick to deliver, very good availability.’

‘Very knowledgeable and experienced team. Great experience in real estate.’

‘Good and direct contact. Usually readily available. Immediate assistance.’ 

‘Lievin De Wulf is an expert in his field and can assist in any transaction very efficiently.’

‘Pierre Desenfans is very experienced in real estate tax matters. He is solution-oriented, practical and knows everything in that area.’

‘Lievin De Wulf stands out for his efficiency, reliability, capacity to adapt, and good sense of humour. Leila Baddour is a solution provider who is available and efficient.’ 

Work highlights


  • Advising a multinational chemicals company on the Belgian tax aspects of soil remediation costs and its €571m remediation agreement with the Flemish Government.
  • Assisting a major real estate investor in a mutual agreement procedure with the relevant Belgian and French authorities in order to resolve a tax dispute over the sale of the shares of French real estate companies leading to a situation of double taxation that violates the Belgium-France Tax Treaty.
  • Assisting a hotel chain with the tax aspects of the acquisition of a Brussels hotel.

Advisius

A boutique tax firm founded in 2020 by former Osborne Clarke practice head Laurent Donnay de Casteau, Advisius has expanded its team with notable hires including counsel Jean Meeùs and of counsel Xavier Clarebout, who joined from Loyens & Loeff in November 2021 and April 2022, respectively. The team advises clients from HNWIs and SMEs to larger companies, with a focus on cross-border matters.

Practice head(s):

Laurent Donnay de Casteau


Other key lawyers:

Jean Meeùs; Xavier Clarebout; Frédéric Lettany


Testimonials

‘Young firm with very experienced people mixing agility, creativity and seriousness.’

‘High level of reactivity. Pragmatic solutions. Open to creativity.’

‘Team of leading professionals with experience at reputable international law firms. Strong commitment. No waste of resources, resulting in an excellent price to quality ratio. Great availability and responsiveness.’

Work highlights


  • Advised on the Belgian tax aspects of transnational management packages.
  • Advised a listed company in the IT sector on tax issues relating to multiple mergers.
  • Advising various Belgian investors on the tax implications of contemplated investments in US targets.

ARGO Law

The tax and private client practice at ARGO Law is known for strategic advice on tax structuring and support on the tax elements of transactions, which it handles in collaboration with the firm’s corporate lawyers. The team is jointly led by corporate tax specialist Philippe Rens and Hannes Casier, who focuses on intergenerational wealth and estate planning.

Practice head(s):

Philippe Rens; Hannes Casier


Other key lawyers:

Freya Jorens; Frederik Wilmots


Testimonials

‘Argo Law is a multidisciplinary law firm. They master all areas of the law, from tax law to corporate law, inheritance tax, litigation and more. As such, you can be sure that your case has been reviewed from all the relevant angles. The partners are one phone call away and their billing is very transparent.’

‘Philippe Rens is very hands-on, pragmatic and has a no-nonsense approach and in-depth knowledge. When engaging him, I’m confident that he will get the job done.’

Key clients

Hummingbird Ventures


PE Capital Group


Finco Private Equity III


Integra Partners


KBC Securities


Robin List and Vendis Capital


Grizzly Sports NV/Club Brugge NV


Shareholders of Smartschool group


Mitiska REIM NV


Work highlights


  • Assisted Hummingbird with the incorporation of two new funds, Nomads and Icons.
  • Assisted Integra Partners with the structuring of its new fund-of-funds, Integra Global Fund.
  • Assisted Grizzly Sports NV and Club Brugge NV with the sale of secondary shares and the issuance of primary shares in Club Brugge NV to US private equity group Orkila Capital with respect to its minority investment in Club Brugge NV.

Bird & Bird

Headed by Brent Springael, Bird & Bird‘s tax practice provides strategic advice, with a particular focus on clients in the R&D and IP sectors. Structuring is a key strength for the firm, which also assists clients facing audits. The team was strengthened in November 2022 with the hire of Olivier Bertin from DALDEWOLF.

Practice head(s):

Brent Springael


Other key lawyers:

Olivier Bertin


Key clients

ArcelorMittal Group


Mastercard


Qlik Group


Quantum Simulate


Capsugel/Lonza


Coopervision


Cardiovascular Center Aalst


SABAM


Certa Insurance


Action Refund


Vlaamse Nieuwsmedia


Pleo


PDC*Line


NuNet


Mediafin


EORTC


Work highlights


  • Regularly assisting a number of Belgian subsidiaries of the Arcelor Mittal Group, a world leader in high-quality steel production, with regard to R&D-related matters.
  • Regularly advising SABAM on copyright-related tax matters.

DLA Piper

Corporate transactions, cross-border financing, and restructurings are core competencies for the DLA Piper tax team, where practice head Philippe Hinnekens has expertise across M&A, investment fund structuring, and employee incentive plans. The team was strengthened with the January 2022 hire of Nicolas Engelmann from Deloitte Legal.

Practice head(s):

Philippe Hinnekens


Other key lawyers:

Nicolas Engelmann


Testimonials

‘They show a lot of flexibility, with an open-minded and outside-the-box, no-nonsense approach, and a solid team that communicates well.’

‘Philippe Hinnekens has great knowledge of Belgian tax matters.’ 

‘Nicolas Engelmann is down-to-earth, quickly gets the point, and is a thorough negotiator but very friendly towards his clients.’

Key clients

School Invest


Assuralia


Tioga Capital Partners


Fluvius


Société d’Aménagement Urbain


Deutsche Bank Luxembourg


Flemish Government


ResMed Inc.


Five Arrows


Prime Edge Investments


BGT Consulting


Abies ONE


SD Worx


Work highlights


  • Assisting School Invest with regard to the tax aspects of the execution of the PPP programme to construct new schools commissioned by the Flemish Government.
  • Advising insurance federation Assuralia on the impact of the new law regarding the annual tax on securities accounts as regards insurance contracts, and subsequently representing Assuralia before the Constitutional Court to seek the annulment of a particular section of the new tax on the basis of violation of the constitutional principle of equal treatment.
  • Assisting Tioga Capital Partners with setting up a second Luxembourg investment fund.

Monard law, joined by Buyle

Monard law, joined by Buyle’s tax practice group is especially strong in litigation, handling a wide range of disputes for both businesses and private clients. Team lead Hilde Van den Keybus specialises in VAT and income tax, and is particularly recommended for inheritance tax planning and family business structuring. The ‘outstandingPieter Van Den Berghe focuses on corporate and international tax.

Practice head(s):

Hilde Van den Keybus


Other key lawyers:

Pieter Van den Berghe; Luk Cassimon


Testimonials

‘Their good availability and response times were very important, and they guided us through multiple last-minute deadlines. Strong knowledge of the topic.’ 

‘Monard Law is a law firm with expertise in various domains of the law, and therefore can cover all angles of a case. The partners are very reachable. They have a fantastic knowledge of everything relating to R&D.’ 

‘Proactive information about every legislative update and news post about similar disputes. Always in control, even when negotiating with unpredictable tax authorities. The partner adds a layer of experience on top of strong knowledge of the topic.’ 

‘Monard provides excellent technical tax support in terms of innovation income deduction. Service level is extraordinary, immediate feedback and attention. Expectations are always fullfilled, efficient follow-up.’

‘Good collaboration. Pragmatic, user-friendly approach.’ 

‘Pieter van Den Berghe is outstanding. If you have questions related to R&D, tonnage tax or corporate tax, he’s the person you should call. Furthermore, Pieter is an ideal sparring partner, who will always tell you the truth no matter what and that’s exactly what you need from your advisor. He’s very pragmatic and gets the job done.’

Key clients

Euronav


Rexel


NautaDutilh

Ken Lioen heads the taxation team at NautaDutilh, which works closely with lawyers from the firm’s corporate and real estate departments to provide specialist tax advice on major transactions. The practice also provides regulatory and strategic advice, as well as support in contentious matters relating to taxation, including in arbitration.

Practice head(s):

Ken Lioen


Other key lawyers:

Daan Verhaegen; Aurélien Lenaerts


Key clients

Ayming


Colruyt


Montea


Royal BAM Group


Lycops – De Beurme – Omnia


FCR Media


AG Real Estate


City Mall


ENGIE


Odoo


Quares Student Housing


Virya Energy


Hugo Boss


Inclusio


ING Lease


Icen (formally Travelers)


ZS associates


Fedex


Confotherapeutics


Efficy


Nyxoah


IVC/Evidensia


Work highlights


  • Advised Lycops-De Beurme on post-acquisition proceedings against P&V.
  • Advised Virya on the acquisition of a major stake in VR@SEA.
  • Assisted Montea with the issuance of €235m and €380m in green bonds on the US Private Placement market.

PwC Legal

The tax dispute resolution team at PwC Legal handles a range of tax controversies for domestic and international clients, including audits and transfer pricing disputes. Practice head Véronique De Brabanter is well regarded in administrative and court proceedings, and was promoted to partner in April 2022.

Practice head(s):

Véronique De Brabanter


Other key lawyers:

Bart Vanstaen; Gauthier Vael


Testimonials

‘Very skilled and professional team, with practical and top-notch legal assistance.’

‘Diverse team which leverages each other’s strengths to create an even stronger deliverable.’

‘The tax team is multidisciplinary and can provide extensive assistance in all fields of tax law, which is very much appreciated.’

‘Gauthier Vael does an excellent job. He follows up on our cases very quickly and is very reactive.’

‘Gauthier Vael is very technical and provides tailored advice combined with excellent skills and knowledge of the tax procedure.’

Work highlights


  • Acting for two Belgian entities of a group in two proceedings regarding the fixed establishment issue, including a case currently pending before the CJEU.
  • Advising a Portuguese insurance company and several other clients with respect to tax audits focusing on financial transactions.
  • Assisting a multinational logistics company in the transport and distribution sector with an audit in which the tax authorities of multiple member states are simultaneously challenging the applied transfer pricing policy.