Ms Stefanie François > Stibbe > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile

Stibbe
CENTRAL PLAZA
LOKSUMSTRAAT 25/ RUE DE LOXUM 25
1000 BRUSSELS
Belgium

Work Department

Environment and Planning

Position

Counsel

Career

Stefanie François focuses on constitutional and administrative law, especially in relation to town and country planning, permits, and environmental law. Stefanie has strong expertise in all matters regarding EU environmental regulations in general and has a particular interest in issues relating to nature conservation, waste, soil contamination and Environmental Impact Assessments. She is well-versed in complex development and redevelopment projects and energy projects in the Flemish and Brussels-Capital Regions for which she also handles matters regarding urban zoning and planning, permits, expropriation, etc. Her vast experience in this scope of matters is also reflected in her ability to litigate before national civil and administrative courts and the Constitutional Court as well as the European Court of Justice. In addition, Stefanie is very skilled in drafting legislative texts and regulations for various authorities.

Languages

Dutch, English, French

Memberships

  • Member of Genootschap Advocaten Publiekrecht (GAP, association for lawyers specialised in public law)

Education

  • Erasmus programme at the University of Malta (2011)
  • Master’s degree in Law from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2012)
  • Admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2012
  • With the Brussels office of Stibbe since 2012
  • Seconded to the legal service team of an electricity transmission system operator; assistance in environmental law matters (November 2016–January 2017 (two days a week); February 2018–June 2018 (one day a week))

Lawyer Rankings

Belgium > Environment

The environment and planning practice at Stibbe advises clients in Dutch, French and English on transactional matters as well as on the drafting of new legislation and on contentious issues. Practice head Jan Bouckaert recently represented The Farmers Union together with Guan Schaiko in a claim against the Flemish Region regarding the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 strategic plan. Also key to the practice is senior real estate development lawyer France Maussion as well as a strong bench that includes the ‘very helpful, competent and experiencedBastiaan Schelstraete as well as Stefanie Francois and Olivier Di Giacomo.