The Legal 500

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

NautaDutilh’s ‘strong lawyers’ provide ‘a good service’ with ‘excellent response times’. Practice head Yvette Verleisdonk recently advised Travelex on its refinancing by a new facility granted by Barclays Corporate and Lloyds TSB Bank. Up-and-coming counsel Thibaut Willems advised a group of banks led by Crédit Agricole CIB on the refinancing of Foncière des Murs’ real estate portfolio.

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Within Competition, tier 6

NautaDutilh mainly advises Dutch clients on behavioural matters before the EC. Practice head Charles van Sasse van Ysselt divides his time between Amsterdam and Brussels.

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

Dirk Van Gerven heads NautaDutilh’s ‘knowledgeable’ five-partner corporate team, which attracts substantial work from other departments such as energy. The ‘very good’ Elke Janssens advised Tomra Sorting AS on its acquisition of sorting machine business BEST² NV.

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Within Dispute resolution, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh provides ‘an excellent level of service’, ‘responsiveness and flexibility’. Stan Brijs heads the practice, which covers corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration for a growing client base. Sophie Jacmain is also recommended and of counsel Marc van der Haegen is highly regarded, particularly for his securities expertise.

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Within Environment, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh ‘understands the client’s needs’, has ‘extensive knowledge of the environmental legal framework’, and provides ‘an excellent level of service’. Patrick Peeters mainly focuses on soil pollution, waste management, urban planning and energy law in Flanders, and co-heads the practice with François Tulkens, who handles environmental and urban planning matters in the Walloon and Brussels capital regions as well as administrative litigation.

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Within Information technology, NautaDutilh is a second tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s expanding practice advised on establishing the not-for-profit European Distribution System Operators Association (EDSO), a matter led by Dirk Van Gerven. The ‘very responsive and business-minded’ Philippe Péters is also recommended.

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Within Insolvency and restructuring, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh represents high-profile clients in restructuring and related litigation, and has been selected by the FEB (Federation of Belgian Enterprises) to serve as expert in the working group entrusted with reviewing the Business Continuity Act. Stan Brijs heads the practice. Yvette Verleisdonk has significant experience, particularly acting for banks, and the ‘very experienced’ Sophie Jacmain, a former bankruptcy administrator, is also recommended.

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Within Intellectual property, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s comprehensive IP practice displays ‘very good knowledge’. Practice head Philippe Péters has significant experience in trade mark, patent, IT, and commercial litigation. Counsel Tanguy de Haan led the team’s representation of Xerox in pan-European trade mark infringement proceedings before the Brussels Commercial Court against the Belgian subsidiary of an international trading company dealing in Xerox branded consumables without the manufacturer’s consent. Liesbeth Weynants joined Hoyng Monegier LLP.

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

NautaDutilh provides ‘excellent’ service and advises on both individual and collective labour law issues. The team advises its growing client base on employment aspects of transactions and restructurings, and also handles litigation. Practice head Philippe François has an ‘an excellent customer focus’. ‘Very thorough’ senior associate Tamar Van Colenberghe is also recommended.

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

NautaDutilh is strong in the regulatory and IP aspects of media and entertainment law, including litigation. IP and IT specialist Philippe Péters is the key contact.

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Within Real estate, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh assisted Bank Degroof with a €40m private placement of property certificates issued by a special purpose vehicle in order to finance the construction of a residential services building. Practice head Didier De Vliegher led the advice on that matter and is recognised for his expertise in real estate financing. François Tulkens focuses on administrative law, urban planning and environmental matters, and counsel Gerald Van Walle is also recommended. The firm has significant experience in PPP mandates.

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

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.

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Within Tax, NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

Pascal Faes heads NautaDutilh’s solid tax advisory practice, and is recommended for his expertise in tough negotiations.

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