Mr Steven Ongena > AKD > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile

AKD
5, Place du Champs de Mars
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Steven Ongena photo

Work Department

Real Estate & Construction

Position

Partner

Career

Steven Ongena is a partner and lawyer at AKD. He advises on very diverse transactions, covering the full spectrum of legal instruments (such as transfers in full ownership and of rights in rem and immovable property financing leases). To his clients in real estate and retail Steven explains the practical implications of the law, as well as the prevailing market standards and expectations.

Steven’s real estate practice focuses on long-term projects such as the relocating of headquarters or production facilities. He also advises retail clients throughout the entire retail life cycle, namely developing, managing and restructuring a network.

For more than 20 years Steven has been providing clients with well thought-out and appropriate advice. His clients range from large corporations to governments at home and abroad. The Legal 500 has already recommended Steven and his real estate practice for the past five consecutive years.

Steven has helped to develop our current retail practice which includes some of the world’s most prestigious brands and covers a broad range of sectors such as the clothing, cosmetics, food & beverages and car industries. Steven advises both on developments via third parties (agents, franchisees and distributors) and on developments via internally managed sales outlets. For three years in a row the Legal 500 has described Steven’s retail practice as one of the best there is.

Steven also has a litigation practice which focuses on contractual disputes with an emphasis on disputes resulting from the termination of distribution agreements. Steven also regularly represents clients in lease renewals. In these types of cases landlords and tenants have to submit their dispute to the court if they disagree on the terms of renewal. Steven’s cases usually include a cross-border element.

Lawyer Rankings

Belgium > Industry focus: Retail

(Leading Individuals)

Steven OngenaAKD

As a key division within the firm’s real estate team, AKD‘s practice is particularly strong in transactional and advisory work involving retail leases, ranging from greenfield leases, to renewing leases to closing sales points. The unit is additionally well positioned to handle lease disputes and other areas of law such as M&A, data protection and tax law. Steven Ongena heads up the team; the trilingual practitioner is frequently sought out by retailers and industrial groups for assistance with real estate transactions. Pol Cools has a strong track record in defending the interests of domestic and international retailers before courts.

Belgium > Real estate and construction

AKD‘s real estate and construction practice ‘understands the issues at hand, and is proactive in how to tackle the issues‘. The firm assists domestic and international clients with acquisitions, disposals, and contentious matters.  Steven Ongena, who is ‘very professional, patient and understanding‘, and ‘outstanding partner‘  Simon Ceulemans lead the practice, while counsel Pol Cools is a key adviser to corporates and government entities on relocation projects.