The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, NautaDutilh is a second tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s practice head Yvette Verleisdonk recently advised the New York branch of Deutsche Bank on the Belgian law aspects of €1bn financing made available to Styron. Other clients include Barclays Bank, Rabobank and INEOS. Also recommended are Benoît Feron, who focuses on financial law, capital markets and securities regulation, and Anne Fontaine, whose workload involves clearing and settlement systems, banking and financial regulatory matters and capital markets transactions.

Within Competition, tier 5

NautaDutilh’s key competition figure Charles van Sasse van Ysselt helped formulate Transnet’s defence in the EC air cargo investigation, which resulted in the charges being dropped all together, and handled multi-jurisdictional merger filings for Schoeller Arca.

Within Corporate and M&A , NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

Dirk Van Gerven leads NautaDutilh’s four-partner corporate department, which acts for clients such as IBM, Fedex and Zenitel. Recent highlights include advising on the transfer of shares in a joint venture between Arcapita and Shurgard, and acting for QBE on its €267m acquisition of Belgium-based reinsurer Secura.

Within Dispute resolution, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s clients appreciate the professionalism, pragmatism and efficiency of Stan Brijs and his dispute resolution team, which not only covers corporate and commercial litigation, but also securities law and shareholder activism, a field in which arbitrator Marc van der Haegen specialises. Recent work includes advising Aareal Bank on its potential liability as bank and mortgagee in the sale of the SAS Radisson Hotel in Brussels. Clients also include KBC, Electrabel and Mitsubishi.

Within Food , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh represents major multinational food and beverages manufacturers, industry associations and interest groups in matters such as advice on food laws, advertising disputes, and issues over geographical indications. Florence Verhoestraete is the key partner in the team.

Within Environment, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

At NautaDutilh, Patrick Peeters focuses on environmental and energy issues in Flanders; while the ‘very efficient’ François Tulkens handles environmental and urban planning issues, as well as administrative litigation in the Walloon and Brussels regions. Recent work includes representing Renault in proceedings relating to soil pollution at a former assembly plant.

Within Information technology, NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

NautaDutilh attracted a number of new clients in 2010 and 2011, including IntraSoft International and Besix, Belgium’s largest construction company. Practice head Philippe Péters recently drafted and reviewed various terms and conditions for the latest Nintendo products. Patrice Vanderbeeken has experience in distribution matters.

Within Intellectual property, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s IP lawyers give ‘swift responses, sound legal knowledge and good value for money’. This ‘very good’ team advised Peugeot-Citroën in Court of Appeal proceedings against distributors of non-original car body parts, and won a pitch to represent the Waloon Region in defending Saucisson d’Ardenne as a protected geographical indication. Practice head Philippe Péters is ‘particularly good; he has very good industry contacts and is nice to work with’. Tanguy de Haan is also recommended.

Within Labour and employment, NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

When it comes to speed, professionalism and knowledge, NautaDutilh is ‘the top in Belgium’; ‘there is great communication between team members and the firm delivers a high-quality service’. This comprehensive employment practice represents clients such as FedEx, AstraZeneca and UBS Belgium on matters including data protection and tax-related issues. Practice head Philippe François is recommended for his solutions-oriented approach.

Within Legal market overview,

High-profile lateral hires in the market included Field Fisher Waterhouse poaching employment partner Stefan Nerinckx from Laga, and NautaDutilh recruiting Pascal Faes from Van Bael & Bellis to bolster its tax department. Linklaters’ competition team lost former department head Johan Ysewyn to Clifford Chance and Alec Burnside to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. Niche IP firm Hoyng Monégier LLP absorbed a number of partners from the dissolved Howrey LLP.

Within Media and entertainment, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh is experienced in all regulatory, litigation and IP-related aspects of media and entertainment law. Philippe Péters, administrative law partner François Tulkens and IP specialist Florence Verhoestraete are recommended.

Within Real estate, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s ‘results-driven and trustworthy’ real estate group is led by Didier De Vliegher, who focuses on finance-related transactions and PPPs. The team acted for AG Real Estate on the successful takeover bid and counter-offer for the economic rights to a large shopping centre in Brussels; and BAM PPP België on a project relating to two federal prisons in Flanders.

Within Shipping and transport, NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Tax, NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

NautaDutilh dealt with Jan Werbrouck’s departure by recruiting international tax planning expert Pascal Faes from Van Bael & Bellis, and appointing him as the new head of practice. Benoît Malvaux is another key figure in the team. Recent work for the gorup includes representing Leleux Corporate Finance in a securitisation transaction to optimise tax rates. In real estate, the group advised City Mall Invest on tax structuring relating to the development of a €100m shopping centre in Verviers.