The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘highly professional’ team focuses on banking, restructuring, project finance, financial services and debt capital markets. The firm had a particularly strong year for banking transactions, where the ‘very committed and business-minded’ Charles-Antoine Leunen advised Fluxys on a €400m revolving facility and assisted Volvo on a €198m term loan facility provided by ING, which was critical to the client’s new financing structure. On the capital markets side, Vincent Macq advised Delhaize on a $375m bond offering.

Within Competition, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

The Brussels office of ‘corporate powerhouse’ Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is ‘head and shoulders above the competition’, particularly when it comes to merger control work, and clients are ‘confident in the quality of advice’. The practice fields 70 ‘dedicated and practical’ fee-earners in its antitrust, competition and trade practice, and can call on the resources of ‘an excellent network’. The ‘outstanding’ and ‘well connected’ Frank Montag recently facilitated unconditional clearance for UPM-Kymmene Corporation’s acquisition of Myllyskoski Corporation after a phase two EC investigation. ‘Thorough and diligent lawyer’ Thomas Wessely is advising Rank Group on several, multibillion-dollar mergers. David Broomhall has an ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of competition law’, and ‘provides his advice in a targeted and clear manner’. He recently advised Rosneft on its strategic tie-up with BP, and continues to advise Fluxys on antitrust matters. Rafique Bachour played a key role in reaching a cartel settlement for NEC Corporation, working closely with colleagues in London. Andrew Renshaw provides ‘pragmatic’ advice and has ‘a good feel for how the European Commission works’. The highly esteemed John Davies divides his time between London and Brussels.

Within Corporate and M&A , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

‘Top firm’ Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer experienced a significant upturn in M&A activity including advising Solvay on its €4.5bn acquisition of the French chemicals group Rhodia as well as Fluxys on a joint venture with two other European power producers. BNP Paribas Fortis, Delhaize and Anheuser-Busch InBev are also clients. Vincent Macq heads the team, and Chris Sunt and Geert Verhoeven are also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s caseload includes a number of tax and energy disputes. It also acted in one of the first instances in Belgium of a court case initiated by a victim of a cartel case.

Within Energy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

David Broomhall’s energy group at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised an impressive array of key industry players including ConocoPhillips, Fluxys and AES on the introduction of the third energy package as well as supply and delivery issues.

Within Financial services, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Insurance specialist Christiaan Smits leads the regulatory and public affairs practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Areas of focus include securities regulation, the Solvency II Directive and cross-border trade in the financial services market.

Within Telecoms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer handles a range of regulatory matters including competition law advice. Laurent Garzaniti recently acted for Abertis Telecom in a state aid investigation.

Within Transport, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has attracted numerous regulatory mandates, including antitrust issues in the aviation sector. Thomas Janssens recently advised Brussels Airport Company on the anticipated introduction of new airport tariffs. The group also advised Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development on the compatibility of its heavy goods vehicle charges with EU regulations.

Within Labour and employment, tier 4

Axel Haelterman and principal associate Julie Pankert are Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s main contacts for employment law. Recent work includes advising AstraZeneca on high-level expatriate contracts. BNP Paribas Fortis, BT and Arlington Medical International are also clients.

Within Real estate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s property specialists work closely with the firm’s corporate and finance teams, and represent clients such as Motel One, BAM PPP and Henderson Global Investors. The team recently advised Disney on the lease of a historic building in Antwerp. Charles-Antoine Leunen and Vincent Macq are the key contacts.

Within Tax, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Axel Haelterman enjoys a leading reputation, but his team lost principal associate Mathieu Ex to Greenille in 2011. Nonetheless, the group is adept at contentious and non-contentious tax matters, and has particular expertise in real estate-related tax and advisory work for international investment bankers. Recent work includes acting for Blue Sky (a consortium of seven Belgian energy players) on structuring a cross-border pooling of energy production sites. The firm also continued to advise Solvay on the tax aspects of the €5.2bn sale of its pharmaceuticals division to Abbott Laboratories.