The Legal 500

Within Competition, Van Bael & Bellis is a first tier firm,

Accolades abound for Jean-François Bellis’s work at Van Bael & Bellis; he is ‘an extraordinary professional’ whose ‘extensive qualifications are enriched with phenomenal experience’; the ‘leader of the EU competition bar’, given his extensive ECJ work. Andrzej Kmiecik has ‘very good and detailed knowledge’; Porter Elliott ‘seamlessly works in a way that American clients relate to’; Fabrizio Di Gianni ‘synthesizes facts with current trends in EU antitrust law’. Clients say ‘it is difficult to find reasons not to instruct’ the firm. Highlights included leading Microsoft’s appeal against a €899m Commission fine, representing Japanese steel mills objectors on the Rio Tinto/BHP Billiton joint venture, early engagement in the DRAM cartel settlement procedure and leniency programme, and the long-running CISAC litigation. Martin Favart’s Belgian competition law work is also recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A , Van Bael & Bellis is a third tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis assisted Dutch group Corio on the Belgian aspects of a €1.3bn acquisition of an international shopping centre portfolio, whilst also supporting Sofidel in relation to Belgian aspects of an acquisition creating Europe’s second largest tissue producer. Clients say the firm is ‘fast, experienced, sharp and responsive’ and offers ‘a very good level of service from a very dedicated team’. Pascal Faes is a ‘very pragmatic and available lawyer, with deep skills in both the corporate and tax areas, excellent business and financial knowledge, sound judgment and great instincts’.

Within Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping, Van Bael & Bellis is a first tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis’ possesses real depth; with experienced names Fabrizio Di Gianni (‘professionalism and leadership’), Benoît Servais (‘the shining star’), Richard Luff (‘commercially-relevant, and focused’), team leader, Jean-François Bellis (‘tailored advice’) and Philippe de Baere (‘logical and practical’). The team promoted Renato Antonini and Yuriy Rudyuk to partner. It assisted clients in 18 cases initiated by the Commission over 2009, and was successful in two of the three cases in which anti-dumping duties were annulled by the EU courts. It also acts in the fasteners anti-dumping case, the first case in which China has challenged EU anti-dumping measures. Clients include Canon and LG.

Within Dispute resolution, Van Bael & Bellis is a second tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis ‘is an excellent firm’. Catherine Longeval, Martin Favart, and Peter L’Ecluse are the recommended names, each praised for being ‘prompt to act and respond to all issues’. Handling long-running proceedings for Monsanto saw the client’s cross-appeal upheld and thus ending a €3m claim against an Irish distributor of herbicides; litigation for Pfizer ranges from public law claims to marketing agreement disputes.

Within EU regulatory: Chemicals (REACH), Van Bael & Bellis is a first tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis’ Reshad Forbes has a broad practice, advising on REACH consortia, cost-sharing and advising sole representatives, with extensive liaison between the Commission and industry bodies. Clients include Minerals Technologies Group and Carbon Black.

Within EU regulatory: Environment (including WEEE and RoHS), Van Bael & Bellis is a first tier firm,

EU regulatory law plays an extremely strong part in Van Bael & Bellis’ market offering. Reshad Forbes stands out for representation for Asian trade associations and business groups. Clients say Forbes ‘is experienced, knowledgeable and responsive’.

Within EU regulatory: Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology , Van Bael & Bellis is a first tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis is particularly praised for advice on clinical trials, and data privacy, which is ‘complete, easy to understand and apply’; it also has ‘very good knowledge about the pharmaceutical industry’, particularly in Catherine Longeval.

Within EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection , Van Bael & Bellis is a first tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis’s Monika Kuschewshy is ‘very approachable’ and ‘thorough, and knowledgeable’; contacts says she is ‘a resource we’d gladly use again and again’. Clients include Quantum.

Within Information technology, Van Bael & Bellis is a third tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis’ Monica Kuschewshy is praised for her ‘very comprehensive service, both efficient and knowledgeable’. The team’s work is principally known for data protection advice, including on compliance. Data protection audits are also provided.

Within Intellectual property, Van Bael & Bellis is a third tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis has excellent experience defending the pharmaceutical manufacturers of innovative products in patent claims in fighting off illegal imports from Eastern European countries. It also assists pay-TV providers against illegal exploitation of their rights by “card-sharing” pirates. Peter L’Ecluse is the main contact.

Within Labour and employment, Van Bael & Bellis is a third tier firm,

Van Bael & Bellis’ Catherine Longeval ‘did a great job of assisting us in every area of our work, related to employment law and business operations’. The firm has assisted clients with HR audits of Belgian subsidiaries, a merger between the Belgian operations of two US multinationals, and advised Abbott on in-house training on international employment law.