The Legal 500

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

Linklaters’s ‘strength in Brussels runs across a wide spectrum’, including the highly regarded David Ballegeer, (‘excellent legal knowledge and business acumen’). Extensive finance work for Anheuser-Busch InBev, including handling a €15bn EMTN Programme in February 2010, alongside related Brazilian and US refinancing, was assisted by the firm’s global network, coordinated locally by François De Bauw. Domestically, the €395m and $450m restructuring of Carmeuse’s finance arrangements also showed additional commercial nous in dealing with numerous lenders to achieve 100% support. The team’s retail bond work was particularly notable, in handling twelve separate such transactions to March 2010 for both managers and issuers, with deal values ranging from €350m to €750m, as well as three impressive institutional bond issues, for Delhaize ($300m), Elia (€1bn) and UCB (€500m).

Within Competition, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters has ‘a highly respected and competent antitrust practice’; the slimmer team is ‘commercially and strategically minded, with an eye for detail as well as the “big picture”’. Bernd Meyring’s cartel work shows he is ‘on top of both current developments and past precedents’; Gerwin Van Gerven ‘is recommended for merger control’ and Wolfgang Deselaers ‘is extremely experienced’. Recognised as an adviser by bigger blue-chip multinationals, its new clients include LG, Michelin, Novartis and Vattenfall. Merger control work included Rio Tinto’s EU and global clearances for an $116bn iron ore joint venture, and domestic law approval for Mobistar’s purchase of KPN’s B2B activities, Belgium’s only remedies case in 2010. It assisted Saint-Gobain and Del Monte in appeals against fines imposed as a result of the automotive glass and bananas cartels. Belgian bank-related state aid advice also remains a high-stakes highlight, where it advised Fortis, Hypo Real Estate and KBC.

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

Linklaters has adapted fluently to changed market conditions. It offers ‘excellent service and responsiveness’ from an ‘integrated team of lawyers working seamlessly together’. It has executed state aid mandated divestiture programmes, advising KBC and Dexia. It continues to assist Ageas, formerly Fortis Holding, on its post-bailout reorientation as an insurance group and on legacy issues. It also advised banking syndicates in the restructuring of Samsonite, Sovitec and Truvo. The team’s standing with private equity clients, such as Waterland and Montagu, remains high. The team advised on Candover’s sale of nappy makers Ontex to TPG and Goldman Sachs, one of the first major secondary buy-outs for years. The group is described as ‘highly skilled but down-to-earth with good commercial judgement’. Clients say that ‘most importantly: it get things done’. Jean-Pierre Blumberg, Eric Pottier and Paul Van Hooghten are recommended, as is Jean-Marie Nelissen Grade for corporate litigation.

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

Linklaters’ ‘good industry knowledge’ shows the team’s services are ‘proactive and responsive, providing clear and structured advice’. The team’s senior figures are the best known; Joost Verlinden, Françoise Lefèvre and Johan Verbist all have high visibility in the most complex landmark cases, such as the Fortis and Deutsche Bank misselling litigations and associated regulatory/criminal cases. Such shareholder, financial misselling, and D&O mismanagement claims had a high profile in 2010; the rich list of financial sector clients includes KCB, Dexia and Petercam; industrial clients range from Tractabel, Electrabel and UCB.

Within Environment, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘very knowledgeable’ Lieve Swartenbroux heads the practice at Linklaters, which acts in a support role to the corporate and real estate teams; standalone work included assisting Electrabel in a €250m environmental tax case before the Supreme Court and various contamination/soil pollution instructions. The team has a good public law focus, on litigation against administrative actions, for corporates.

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

Linklaters has seen an increase in white-collar cases, linked to related commercial disputes. The team’s caseload of criminal allegations of complex tax fraud has also grown, with Johan Verbist and Françoise Lefèvre well placed to assist. Multijurisdictional advice in relation to alleged employee misconduct, potentially costing $200m, was an advisory highlight.

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

Linklaters’ key offering to the market is a focus on IT outsourcing matters, where it advises on projects ranging from near-shoring in CEE countries as well as offshoring to India. It advised AB InBev on a second-generation outsourcing agreement, and the related termination of an existing agreement, and Mobistar on a €100m IT services contract. It assisted SWIFT on data protection issues as well as various multinationals on international data transfers. Tanguy Van Overstraeten is recommended.

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

Linklaters operates a combined IP/TMT practice; clients hail Tanguy Van Overstraeten’s leadership in mixed IP/M&A transactions, where he leads clients ‘through difficult negotiations, thanks to his invaluable experience’. The team’s IP component, helmed by counsel Pieter Van Den Broecke impresses ‘with its solution-driven spirit and creative approach’. It assisted Tate & Lyle on a patent infringement case.

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

Linklaters’ labour lawyers have ‘good knowledge of the areas we need help with’, with service quality being rated ‘very high in all areas’. It assisted with a number of redundancies on the Belgian market, including Unilin and Holiday Inn’s Belgian HQ, and on a 109-person collective dismissal for Hansen Transmissions. Transactional work included advising on Amlin’s takeover of Fortis’s former insurance businesses. Litigation highlights included representing Ford and Belgacom on separate individual high-level dismissal claims. Luc Vanaverbeke is recommended.

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

‘Clearly excellent value for money’, Linklaters takes a full-service approach to swiftly execute significant deals. PPP deals worth €1.75bn, such as the Flemish schools infrastructure deal, or a €360m deal for four new Belgian prisons demonstrates that the team can handle both complexity and volume. Clients suggest the true value of Yves Moreau’s team enables the client ‘to do business while protecting interests, in not just outlining risks’; it ‘anticipates the reactions of counterparties, putting clients in a good negotiating position’. Clients include Banimmo and Fortis.

Within Tax, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

‘Pragmatism and professionalism’ define Linklaters’ tax team, alongside being ‘technically very strong’. It is particularly recommended for all forms of income tax advice, and support work with the corporate and real estate teams. Guido De Wit is ‘good at VAT, real estate and customs taxes’ and also praised for his grasp of ECJ caselaw. Collectively, the team has ‘precise expertise, deep specialisation and extensive experience in complex matters.’ Highlights included advising RHJI on an optimal tax structure for the takeover of Kleinwort Benson, and assisting Movetis with a tax ruling confirming the application of a patent income deduction regime to one of its products. Ivo Onkelink and Henk Vanhulle are also recommended.