Mr Filip Lecoutre > Linklaters > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile

With a large team capable of advising private and public clients on high-value and innovative M&A, often with cross-border elements, Linklaters maintains a significant market presence in the corporate space. In addition to its transactional expertise, the team also regularly provides regulatory, tax and employment advice in connection with demergers, corporate reorganizations, and joint ventures. Under the leadership of Arnaud Coibion, the practice maintains close relationships with reputed Belgian and foreign companies in the infrastructure, energy, and chemicals sectors, while also serving a growing number of private equity funds owing to the expertise of An-Sofie Van Hootegem and Evita Bassot. Further key names in the team include corporate finance expert Charles-Antoine Leunen, experienced cross-border M&A specialist Eric Pottier, and Filip Lecoutre, who is particularly noted for his public M&A work.

Linklaters continues to field a ‘standout team with deep knowledge of the market’ which acts for corporate and banking clients alike, handling matters ranging from debt and equity capital markets transactions to complex project and acquisition financings, as well as financial regulatory matters and distressed financings. The practice has a growing reputation for its ability to advise on sustainability-linked facilities and transactions, having assisted infrastructure and energy clients with green bond issuances and advised banks on their sustainability-linked loan programs. Practice head Arnaud Coibion is well-versed in handling financial transactions related to energy and infrastructure projects, while Charles-Antoine Leunen and Francis Wijnakker are particularly well-versed in investment-grade and leveraged financings. ESG experts Anne-Sophie Vankemmelbeke and David Ballegeer specialise in capital market transactions, as do Thierry L’Homme and Filip Lecoutre, who are particularly focused on handling IPOs.