The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, CMS DeBacker is a third tier firm,

CMS DeBacker demonstrates business acumen, industry knowledge and the ability to negotiate multi-party agreements. Catherine Houssa leads the team, which recently advised longstanding client Crédit Agricole on financing its acquisition of Centea Bank from KBC. Bruno Duquesne is also a key contact, noted for his ‘ability to find solutions without deteriorating his client’s position’.

Within Corporate and M&A , CMS DeBacker is a third tier firm,

‘One of the most qualified and outstanding firms in the market’, CMS DeBacker acted on several high-profile M&A mandates in 2011 including advising Delhaize on the €935m takeover of Delta Maxi, and assisting Crédit Agricole on its €527m acquisition of Centea. The ‘business-driven’ Vincent Dirckx leads the team, and Carl Leermakers and Stéphane Collin are also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, CMS DeBacker is a third tier firm,

CMS DeBacker covers all types of business law disputes, but also has a strong reputation for IP litigation, where Jean-François Goffin and Renaud Dupont recently represented Meura, a producer of processing equipment for breweries, in patent litigation against an international beer brewer. Sadly, André Lombart passed away.

Within Environment, CMS DeBacker is a third tier firm,

CMS DeBacker’s Luc Depré has a ‘clear vision of environmental problems and the way to address them’. Clients include EDF and the Walloon government.

Within Information technology, tier 4

CMS DeBacker’s practice has been busy with work relating to domain names, AdWords, internet marketing and e-commerce. The group recently advised domain name registry EURid in a dispute with a Chinese individual who unlawfully registered 10,000 domain names. Practice head Tom Heremans, Veerle Raus and Renaud Dupont are recommended.

Within Intellectual property, CMS DeBacker is a third tier firm,

CMS DeBacker recently represented steel producer Duferco in patent litigation against TPS Group and acted for international football associations FIFA and UEFA in various trade mark matters. Tom Heremans is a key contact, and is affiliated with a number of IP bodies such as the Benelux Trademark Association (of which he became president in 2011) and the Belgian Intellectual Property Council. Veerle Raus and Renaud Dupont are also recommended.

Within Labour and employment, CMS DeBacker is a third tier firm,

Practice head Michaël De Leersnyder and managing partner Stanislas van Wassenhove are the key figures in CMS DeBacker’s ‘very good’ employment team; both have a strong focus on collective labour law. Also recommended, Jef Degrauwe advised Crédit Agricole on employment aspects of its acquisition of Centea Bank, a fully owned subsidiary of KBC Group, which involved due diligence and assisting with integration.

Within Media and entertainment, CMS DeBacker is a second tier firm,

Recent work for CMS DeBacker includes acting for M7 Group in a Court of Appeal case against the collecting societies, relating to a royalties claim for the alleged retransmission of broadcasting signals via the ASTRA satellite. Tom Heremans, Veerle Raus and Renaud Dupont are noteworthy practitioners.

Within Real estate, CMS DeBacker is a second tier firm,

CMS DeBacker’s ‘whole team is very proactive’, and ‘understands its clients’ businesses and imperatives’. The group recently advised KBC and ING on financing a €120m property investment by Banimmo. Pierre-Axel Chabot has ‘excellent industry knowledge and gives concise to-the-point advice’, and practice head Bruno Duquesne is also recommended.

Within Tax, tier 4

CMS DeBacker’s tax department does a ‘very good job at anticipating key issues and delivering practical and quick answers’. The team includes Didier Grégoire, who has a particular focus on real estate tax issues. However, international tax expert Lievin De Wulf recently left the firm.