Racine > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile
Racine Offices
ACCESS BUILDING, KEIZER KARELLAAN 586, BUS 9
AVENUE CHARLES QUINT 586, BTE 9
B1082 BRUSSELS
Belgium
Profiles
Racine > The Legal 500 Rankings
Belgium > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 2
Racine's 'excellent insolvency and restructuring practice' is composed of insolvency practitioners who regularly act for clients in domestic and cross-border litigations and stand out for their routine appointments as trustees and liquidators in bankruptcy proceedings. The team is very active on asset recovery and enforcement and also represents debtors and creditors in liability claims. Insolvency and liability expert Joan Dubaere leads the team together with Stijn Vanschoubroek, who is noted for his experience acting as a trustee and liquidator. Rubben Lindemans is also recommended and has extensive experience acting in enforcement and restructuring proceedings.Practice head(s):
Joan Dubaere; Stijn Vanschoubroek
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They have a strong track record as trustees in bankruptcy appointments.’
‘Stijn Vanschoubroek has a good market reputation in restructurings.’
‘The team is well known and respected on the Belgian market for insolvency and restructuring.’
‘Rubben Lindemans combines in-depth academic knowledge with pragmatic solutions, based on thorough experience. He knows how to combine material insolvency law and the particularities of judicial proceedings. He is hands-on and very responsive. ’
‘Well-organised firm with experienced insolvency lawyers.’
‘I had the opportunity to work with Rubben Lindemans and Stijn Vanschouwbroeck. They are both reliable and provide great support in dealing with the various issues at stake and it is a pleasure to cooperate with them for restructuring matters. Stijn, being a trustee in bankruptcy, knows the judge very well, which is of great assistance to deal with in-court restructuring.’
‘Rubben Lindemans is a reliable lawyer with a good knowledge of the law.’
‘Excellent insolvency and restructuring practice, working both as receiver and as counsel to parties.’
Key clients
BNP Paribas Fortis Factor
BNP Paribas Fortis Lease
Johnson Controls
Flamant
Getronics Belgium
Work highlights
- Represented the directors of Getronics Belgium in several post-bankruptcy litigations initiated by the trustees.
- Advised the organizer of major jazz festivals on financial distress issues following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Assisted the owner of the Brussels Leopold Hotel in the recovery of its claim against the operator of the hotel, following the latter’s bankruptcy.
Belgium > Insurance Tier 3
Racine is known for assisting Belgian and foreign insurers with issues ranging from professional liability mandates to hospitalisation insurance and coverage issues. The multilingual team is qualified to appear before all Belgian courts. Kathlien Vergels co-heads the team alongside Lieven Van Besien , and liability and insurance law specialist Karen Ronsijn is another name to note.Practice head(s):
Kathlien Vergels; Lieven Van Besien
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
AG Insurance
Aon
MS Amlin Insurance SE
Avus / SGS Belgium
Axa Belgium
Dekra
DKV Belgium (member of Ergo-group)
Ethias
HDI Global SE
KBC
Legal Village
NN Insurance Belgium
Sedgwick
Van Ameyde Belgium
Argenta Assuranties
HDI Global Specialty SE
Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 5
As well as advising on a wide range of corporate matters that include strategic M&A, private equity deals, restructurings, and disputes, Racine also handles an array of commercial issues, with a particular penchant for advising clients in the retail sector. Buy-and-build transactions, corporate reorganisations, and franchising and distribution issues are further areas of focus for the team, which is jointly led by commercial retail and e-commerce expert Stijn Claeys and domestic and cross-border M&A specialist Anthony Van der Hauwaert .Practice head(s):
Stijn Claeys; Anthony Van der Hauwaert
Testimonials
‘Very knowledge and solution-driven.’
‘We appreciate the hands-on and no-nonsense approach of Stijn Claeys.’
‘Holistic approach and commercial realism.’
‘Availability, readiness to act and professionalism.’
‘The team comprises specialists with a no-nonsense mindset and a commitment to clear and efficient communication.’
‘The individual contacts we have at Racine stand out not only for their legal expertise, but also for their empathy and deep understanding of the sector and market in which we operate.’
‘The responsiveness and availability of Stijn Claeys and his team are a real plus. Customers feel immediately supported, and quickly receive clear answers to their questions. Follow-up and communication are excellent.’
‘Racine is a hands-on law firm with a partner (Stijn Claeys) that is always available and understands the business of its clients and helps its clients to find pragmatic solutions to (potential) disputes.’
Key clients
AG Insurance
Aon
MS Amlin Insurance SE
Avus
Axa Belgium
Dekra
DKV Belgium
Ethias
HDI Global SE
KBC
Legal Village
NN Insurance Belgium
Sedgwick
Van Ameyde Belgium
Argenta Assuranties
HDI Global Specialty SE
Work highlights
- Assisted European production and distribution firm Fremantle with the acquisition of a majority stake in ATeam productions.
- Assisted the builder’s merchant BMC with several bolt-on acquisitions as well as an intragroup restructuring.
- Advised the shareholders of Gesibois on the combination of their activity with that of Vanrobaeys and their subsequent reinvestment in the combined group company Wopaco.
Racine > Firm Profile
The firm: Located in Brussels, Racine is an independent full-service firm which provides legal services in relation to all aspects of Belgian business law. The firm brings together more than 30 Belgian lawyers, most of whom combine a Belgian law degree with a postgraduate master degree from renowned international universities. Our  Belgian practitioners offer clients a complete service on all issues regarding business law in Belgium. The firm’s approach is pragmatic and based on achieving efficient solutions.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative law, public procurement and environment | Isabelle Cooreman | ||
| Banking and finance | Anthony Van der Hauwaert | ||
| Competition, e-commerce and distribution | Stijn Claeys | ||
| Corporate, M&A and private equity | Joan Dubaere | ||
| Corporate, M&A and private equity | Anthony Van der Hauwaert | ||
| Employment | Joan Dubaere | ||
| Liability and insurance | Kathlien Vergels | ||
| Litigation and arbitration | Stijn Vanschoubroek | ||
| Real estate and construction | Anthony Van der Hauwaert | ||
| Restructuring and insolvency | Joan Dubaere | ||
| Restructuring and insolvency | Stijn Vanschoubroek |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 280 At this office : 30Languages
Dutch French English Spanish German ItalianMemberships
Member of Eurojuris (http://www.eurojuris.net/en)Other
Other offices : Paris Other offices : Bordeaux Other offices : Lyon Other offices : Marseille Other offices : Nantes Other offices : StrasbourgRacine > Firm Profile
The firm: Located in Brussels, Racine is an independent full-service firm which provides legal services in relation to all aspects of Belgian business law. The firm brings together more than 30 Belgian lawyers, most of whom combine a Belgian law degree with a postgraduate master degree from renowned international universities. Our  Belgian practitioners offer clients a complete service on all issues regarding business law in Belgium. The firm’s approach is pragmatic and based on achieving efficient solutions.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative law, public procurement and environment | Isabelle Cooreman | ||
| Banking and finance | Anthony Van der Hauwaert | ||
| Competition, e-commerce and distribution | Stijn Claeys | ||
| Corporate, M&A and private equity | Joan Dubaere | ||
| Corporate, M&A and private equity | Anthony Van der Hauwaert | ||
| Employment | Joan Dubaere | ||
| Liability and insurance | Kathlien Vergels | ||
| Litigation and arbitration | Stijn Vanschoubroek | ||
| Real estate and construction | Anthony Van der Hauwaert | ||
| Restructuring and insolvency | Joan Dubaere | ||
| Restructuring and insolvency | Stijn Vanschoubroek |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 280 at this office : 30Languages
French Spanisch German Italian English DutchMemberships
Member of Eurojuris (http://www.eurojuris.net/en)Other
Other offices : Paris Other offices : Bordeaux Other offices : Lyon Other offices : Marseille Other offices : Nantes Other offices : StrasbourgComparative Guides
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Belgium: Restructuring & Insolvency
Published: July 2023
Authors: Anthony Van der HauwaertRubben Lindemans
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Restructuring & Insolvency laws and regulations applicable in Belgium.
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Belgium: Construction
Published: April 2023
Authors: Isabelle CooremanMaxim Lecomte
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Construction laws and regulations applicable in Belgium.