The Legal 500

Within Aviation, Loyens & Loeff is a second tier firm,

Loyens & Loeff’s team includes the ‘very commercial, pleasant, and responsive’ Grégoire Jakhian, who acted for VGS Investments One in the leasing of an aircraft to SN Brussels Airlines.

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Loyens & Loeff is a third tier firm,

Loyens & Loeff’s lawyers are seen as ‘very accurate, professional and proactive, all at a reasonable cost’. The team’s project finance work remains healthy; follow-up work to 2009’s €600m Belwind deal included windfarm financing mandate for Eldepasco, whilst restructuring work saw Marc Vermylen acting as Belgian counsel to Continental in relation to a €13.5bn refinancing. Clients noted the finance team’s close working relationships within the firm as a whole.

Within Corporate and M&A , Loyens & Loeff is a second tier firm,

Loyens & Loeff maintains a steady practice; deal highlights for Grégoire Jakhian included counsel to EDF Group in integrating its 51% stake in SPE, with associated negotiations with existing and minority shareholders; the well-respected Peter Callens acted for Monument Chemicals, in its acquisition of Haltermann Custom Processing. The team offers ‘very good value for money, with lawyers who know the local legal constraints and market practices’. Senior associate Damien Conem is ‘extremely available, helpful and totally dedicated’.

Within Dispute resolution, Loyens & Loeff is a second tier firm,

Having successfully handled first-instance wins for a Belgian subsidiary of a major Swiss pharmaceutical company, and for property specialist Montea, Loyens & Loeff has shown no less acumen in defending consequential appeals. 2010 saw the team also seek urgent business-critical injunctions, handle significant arbitrations, and disentangle commercial, agency and distribution agreements. The trio of Geert Bogaert, Grégoire Jakhain and Peter Callens are respected; clients include Koramic, Nestlé Belgilux and Clairfield Partners.

Within Intellectual property, Loyens & Loeff is a third tier firm,

Loyens & Loeff is recommended for ‘great flexibility’ in litigation, contracting and licensing in trade mark and patent matters, but also on international IP transactions. Yves van Couter’s team gives ‘down-to-earth, pragmatic solutions’. Clients include Carrefour and Thermagine.

Within Labour and employment, Loyens & Loeff is a second tier firm,

Loyens & Loeff is praised for ‘deep business understanding’ informing its ‘clear advice and direction’; it has ‘a very qualified team’. Christian Willems ‘has selected a strong team around him’ and is ‘a strategic thinker’. Aurore Gillet ‘has tactical implementation skills’. Of counsel Lut Sommerijns joined the team, adding a wealth of pensions law experience and connections. Work highlights included acting for MCB Belgium, in a complex collective dismissal, the cornerstone of an entire restructuring of the Belgium business, which included 50% of the workforce, including senior managers.

Within Real estate, Loyens & Loeff is a second tier firm,

Loyens & Loeff’s work is ‘very efficient, speedy, professional, creative’. Christophe Laurent is the recommended figure and team leader, known for advising Signa on the acquisition of the Mobistar building, and for assisting Fortis Real Estate on the acquisition of the Gent-Zuid Complex (a mixed shopping, office and residential complex).

Within Tax, Loyens & Loeff is a first tier firm,

Loyens & Loeff offers a balanced mix of tax advisory and litigation services, in which corporate client tax restructuring and tax optimisation play a key part. Xavier Clarebout and Christian Chéruy have also been swift to boost the tax litigation side, due to demand, with Caroline Docclo appointed of counsel, adding to the bench strength exhibited by the eight-partner team and a growing number of associates. Highlights included advising a German based manufacturing group in restructuring its Belgian and Dutch operations, and setting-up a very large Belgian treasury centre for LVMH.