NautaDutilh > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile

NautaDutilh > The Legal 500 Rankings

Belgium > Dispute resolution Tier 1

The ‘high-quality‘ disputes practice at NautaDutilh is commended for its ‘excellent strength in depth’ covering the whole array of commercial disputes spanning shareholder disputes, banking litigation, insurance claims and tort work, alongside insolvency-related litigation, and complex arbitrations. Sophie Jacmain leads the team with Stan Brijs, with the pair commended for being ‘tactical thinkers with excellent technical skills‘. Jacmain possesses knowledge across a range of litigation and arbitration work, with particular expertise in restructuring and insolvency proceedings. Karel De Smet is also noted, with a wide-reaching practice covering complex contractual disputes, contentious M&A issues, competition litigation, and enforcement disputes. Karen Paridaen and Gisèle Uwera are also key to the team.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Financial services Tier 1

NautaDutilh provides ‘nuanced advice’ on prudential supervision matters, provision of financial services in Belgium, corporate governance and compliance matters, and implementation of new legislation to an enviable client roster spanning all types of regulated institutions in the financial sector. The firm also has experience in advising a regulatory body active in Belgium on draft legislation. ‘Absolutely reliable’ practice head Anne Fontaine is particularly noted for her expertise in central securities depositories and securities settlement systems. Pierre De Pauw, who was promoted to local partner in April 2024, supports Fontaine on key mandates.

Belgium > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 1

NautaDutilh is capable of handling the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency proceedings, with a large team of litigators and arbitrators that stands out for its ability to represent both debtors and creditors in contentious matters. The team regularly acts for clients in court proceedings to obtain consent for the transfer of distressed businesses, represents banks in asset recovery and insolvency litigation, and handles complex judicial reorganisations. Out-of-court restructurings are a further area of focus for the team and are chiefly handled by Sophie Jacmain, a commercial disputes expert who co-leads the practice with reputed insolvency specialist Stan Brijs. Corporate and insolvency litigator Karel De Smet is also recommended, as is Charlotte Van Themsche, who joined from Jones Day in February 2023.

Belgium > Intellectual property Tier 1

Described as a ‘strong practice in litigation’, NautaDutilh pulls together a strong offering with patent and trade mark related advice and litigation the core pillars of the practice, which is also equipped to handle disputes concerning trade secrets, copyright and domain names. Florence Verhoestraete and Tanguy de Haan co-head the team; Verhoestraete frequently leverages her knowledge of EU regulatory frameworks for contractual work, while de Haan’s strong focus on EU courts makes him a key contact for complex pan-European litigation. Philippe Péters is sought out by clients from the automotive industry, and commercial and IP specialist Sien Vandezande is singled out for her drafting skills.

Belgium > Environment Tier 2

The public and regulatory law group at NautaDutilh is ‘reactive and flexible when pressure is on and concrete answers needed‘. Lead partner Jens Mosselmans is a key adviser to heavy industry and energy companies. Newly promoted local partner and public procurement expert Maxime Vanderstraeten is ‘responsive, flexible, available and very knowledgeable‘. Stef Feyen has notable expertise in the energy and healthcare sectors, including specific knowledge of hydrogen law.

Belgium > Industry focus: Energy Tier 2

NautaDutilh's energy and utilities practice is noted by clients for its ‘good teamwork, knowledge and experience‘. Corporate partner Nicolas de Crombrugghe, who advises on major joint ventures and transactions in connection with renewable energy projects co-leads the practice with regulatory specialist Jens Mosselmans. Maxime Vanderstraeten is a key adviser on contentious matters concerning public, administrative, energy and environmental law, while Stef Feyen, who has niche expertise in hydrogen law, is also sought after for his advice on capacity mechanisms and electricity market design.

Belgium > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

'Top-class IP litigator' Florence Verhoestraete and Philippe Remels jointly lead the team at NautaDutilh, which is praised by clients for its 'very creative' approach to IP litigation. The group appears before courts across the EU in product liability disputes, in addition to advising on IPOs and competition issues concerning unfair business practices. Verhoestraete is noted for her longstanding expertise in transactional IP issues, including research collaborations and IP assignments, often acting for research centres, start-ups, and large international life sciences companies. Remels has notable knowledge surrounding transactional issues, and is known for handling an array of private financing rounds and general corporate matters.

Belgium > Real estate and construction Tier 2

The real estate practice at NautaDutilh is particularly adept in PPP projects, though it handles a broad palette of transactions. Lead partner Didier De Vliegher is a veteran of the domestic market; loan finance partner Thibaut Willems, and public and regulatory specialist Jens Mosselmans play key roles in the practice. Local partner Julie de Bonnet joined from Liedekerke.

Belgium > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

NautaDutilh is not only noted for its acquisition finance expertise, which allows the team to advise leading private equity funds as well as financial institutions on cross-border leveraged acquisitions, but also for its ability to assist infrastructure and real estate clients with the financing of significant PPP projects. Advice to underwriters and issuers in the context of equity offerings represents a further key area of focus for the practice, which is jointly led by project finance expert Thibaut Willems and capital markets specialist Nicolas de Crombrugghe. Nathalie Van Landuyt, who has syndicated and non-syndicated lending experience, is also recommended.

Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

NautaDutilh‘s corporate practice is active across the Benelux region, with regional clients frequently instructing the team to advise on strategic transactions, private equity and venture capital deals, and restructuring projects that span across the three Benelux jurisdictions. In addition to its Benelux-based work, which also encompasses complex joint ventures, corporate governance, and corporate litigation matters, the team is regularly instructed by international clients to handle the Belgian aspects of global transactions. The team is co-led by Nicolas de Crombrugghe, who excels at handling M&A in regulated sectors such as energy and financial services, private equity expert Philippe Remels, and Dirk Van Gerven, whose ‘legal excellence‘ encompasses a wide range of M&A and restructuring matters.

Belgium > Employment Tier 3

Belgian and multinational clients in the life sciences, TMT and manufacturing sectors benefit from NautaDutilh‘s full-service offering, which enables the team to provide integrated employment, insolvency and tax advice on complex cross-border M&A, corporate reorganisations, and judicial restructurings. In addition to advising on the employee transfer aspects of transactional undertakings, the team handles contentious proceedings arising from collective and individual dismissals as well as from contract disputes. Transactional employment specialist Philippe François leads the team, which is also home to collective bargaining and discrimination expert Thierry Duquesne.

Belgium > Private equity Tier 3

NautaDutilh’s private equity team primarily works with Benelux-based funds and target companies across the lifecycle of investments, handling domestic acquisitions, sell-offs and exits as well as advising on the Belgian aspects of global deals. The team is also well-versed in acting for start-ups and scale-ups in connection with fundraising and financing matters. Philippe Remels, who is noted for advising on transactions in regulated sectors such as life sciences and energy, jointly leads the practice with Nicolas de Crombrugghe, who primarily advises funds on acquisitions in the financial services sector. M&A and restructuring expert Christophe Wathion is a further name to note.

Belgium > Tax Tier 4

Collaboration with the firm’s corporate M&A and real estate groups serves NautaDutilh‘s tax practice well in providing all-round support in tax transactional matters, including to clients in the real estate and finance sectors. Ken Lioen leads the team, bringing to the table experience in cross-border transactions and international tax planning.