The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters’ ‘very hands-on’ group shows ‘good coordination between offices, and the ability to suggest practical solutions to complex situations’. Noteworthy individuals include the ‘diplomatic and accessible’ David Ballegeer, who has ‘great business sense’, and was part of a team who advised a committee of senior lenders on Truvo’s Chapter 11 proceedings and restructuring. The well-respected François De Bauw, who heads the practice and is managing partner of the Belgian offices, recently advised De Post on preparing a possible international IPO and listing on Euronext Brussels.

Within Competition, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters’ four-partner antitrust practice suffered a double blow when Johan Ysewyn joined Clifford Chance and Alec Burnside moved to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP’s new competition group, but it remains a ‘high-quality firm’ with ‘one of the best competition lawyers in Brussels’ in the form of Gerwin van Gerven. He recently defended a global electronics producer against a statement of objection issued by the EC, advising on the potential liability for alleged involvement in a technology cartel. Wolfgang Deselaers successfully guided Hypo Real Estate Holding through an investigation into the receipt of €150bn in state aid, and Bernd Meyring advised Sanofi-aventis on a $16.5bn animal health joint venture with Merck.

Within Corporate and M&A , Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters is ‘particularly good at coordinating efforts efficiently with in-house counsel’, and clients appreciate its ‘very useful international network and proactive legal support’. The team acted on the €20.2bn reverse takeover of International Power by GDF SUEZ and the €3.24bn spin-off and listing of ArcelorMittal’s stainless and speciality steel business. Paul Van Hooghten leads the team, which includes five partners as well as counsel Thierry L’Homme, who is ‘very accurate, an expert in corporate law’; and Eric Pottier, who provides ‘practical solutions in highly sensitive and complex matters’.

Within Dispute resolution, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters goes ‘above and beyond’ for its clients and is ‘the firm of choice for sophisticated, large commercial claims’. Throughout 2010 and 2011, the team handled a diet of banking disputes, regulatory investigations, investment arbitration and commercial matters for major industry players. Practice head Joost Verlinden is a ‘sound and respected lawyer’, who ‘consistently achieves desired results’, and Johan Verbist is ‘a very responsive, practical adviser’. Françoise Lefèvre recently acted for Ageas in a €2bn case against bondholders who were seeking to unilaterally extend the maturity of hybrid bonds.

Within Environment, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

While acting as support to its corporate and real estate departments, Linklaters’ environment team also handles standalone assignments and public law matters. Practice head Lieve Swartenbroux specialises in environment, energy and planning law, and ‘always provides excellent actionable legal advice that takes into account business considerations’. Clients include GDF Suez and AG Real Estate.

Within Fraud and white-collar crime, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters is representing a defendant in a white-collar crime case arising from the bankruptcy of Sabena, for alleged complex tax fraud committed by Belgian citizens. Johan Verbist, head of the firm-wide white-collar crime team, and litigation partner Françoise Lefèvre are recommended.

Within Information technology, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters houses a ‘really strong team of IT lawyers that are very approachable and pragmatic’. It focuses on IT agreements, telecoms, and data protection, and has experienced a significant increase in outsourcing mandates. It is acting for Johnson & Johnson on two outsourcing agreements regarding the operation of a new European distribution centre for pharmaceuticals products and medical devices and the renewal of an existing centre. Practice head Tanguy Van Overstraeten is ‘top notch’; a ‘star’ with ‘broad expertise in this area’.

Within Intellectual property, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Linklaters’ IP group provides ‘great expertise and out-of-the-box thinking’. The team is advising anilox manufacturer Simec Group in a cross-border patent infringement dispute. Other clients include Johnson & Johnson, Mars and McDonald’s. Counsel Pieter Van Den Broecke heads the practice, and is a ‘proactive and quick-thinking lawyer’.

Within Labour and employment, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters’ employment practice covers mass-dismissal projects, disputes, pensions, and general advisory work for clients such as Holiday Inn, Renault and ArcelorMittal. In 2011, it advised Johnson Controls Automotive on a complex reorganisation involving union negotiations, transfer of undertaking, relocation options and a collective dismissal process. Practice head Luc Vanaverbeke is the key contact.

Within Legal market overview,

High-profile lateral hires in the market included Field Fisher Waterhouse poaching employment partner Stefan Nerinckx from Laga, and NautaDutilh recruiting Pascal Faes from Van Bael & Bellis to bolster its tax department. Linklaters’ competition team lost former department head Johan Ysewyn to Clifford Chance and Alec Burnside to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. Niche IP firm Hoyng Monégier LLP absorbed a number of partners from the dissolved Howrey LLP.

Within Real estate, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters impresses with its ‘very good knowledge of the market’, and is particularly recommended for very complex real estate issues. It has strengths in project finance and PPP, and is assisting BNP Paribas Fortis and AG Real Estate on the structuring and negotiation of the €1.75bn Flemish school infrastructure project, which involves building around 180 new schools and refurbishing 30 more. In 2011, Yves Moreau was promoted to global head of real estate; he has extensive experience and the ‘ability to adapt solutions to weighty problems’.

Within Tax, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters is praised for its ‘fast response times and technical excellence’. Clients include BNP Paribas Fortis, Coca-Cola Enterprises and ArcelorMittal. Belgian practice chair Henk Vanhulle, who is an expert in corporate tax, was recently promoted to global head of tax. He advised GDF Suez on the tax aspects of combining its international energy business with International Power in 2010. Ivo Onkelinx has an ‘excellent appreciation of the balance between theory and practice’, and Guido De Wit is ‘an expert in VAT matters’.