The Legal 500

Within Aviation, Bird & Bird is a first tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s Catherine Erkelens high-profile instructions included litigation on behalf of several airline associations and 52 airlines in a challenge to Brussels Airport’s low-cost model, and on behalf of all Belgian airline associations in a test case on the recovery of airline security charges. New clients include the European Space Agency.

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, tier 5

Bird & Bird LLP acts for Ethias Group, a large Belgian insurance and banking client on the consequences resulting from a 2009 reorganisation and refinancing by the public authorities; Paul Hermant is a recognised figure. The firm counts Global Refund Holding Group as a client.

Within Competition, tier 5

Bird & Bird LLP’s José Rivas has assisted Nokia and FMC with EU-law litigation, including private damages action defence, and cartel settlement. Anne Federle’s merger control practice includes advice for engineering and energy companies.

Within Corporate and M&A , tier 4

Bird & Bird LLP’s Paul Hermant and Alain Costantini remain active; they assisted in a private equity investment in Mondial Telecom, and worked with Ethias on a corporate restructuring. Alain Costantini offers corporate advice for international associations, covering twenty such bodies.

Within EU regulatory: Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology , Bird & Bird is a first tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP delivers ‘excellent advice, its pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry knowledge is perfect’; Marc Martens advises Belgian trade associations, such as Pharma.be.

Within EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection , Bird & Bird is a first tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP delivers comprehensive advice on data protection compliance and privacy issues; Christophe Delmarcelle advises from an employment perspective; Telesales, Tom-Tom and Citigroup are clients.

Within EU regulatory: Transport, Bird & Bird is a first tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s aviation practice has a strong EU regulatory element. It has advised the European Space Agency and continues to advise the European Commission on aerospace issues; including on navigational issues. Catherine Erkelens is recommended.

Within Information technology, Bird & Bird is a first tier firm,

Catherine Erkelens and Benoît Van Asbroeck spearhead an active practice at Bird & Bird LLP. The team can cover drafting numerous IT contracts, e-commerce matters, and has a dedicated privacy and data protection practice. Clients benefiting from contractual advice include Callataÿ & Wouters, Dun & Bradstreet and TomTom; data protection beneficiaries include Citigroup and Lazard. It also handles IT-related procurement litigation.

Within Intellectual property, Bird & Bird is a first tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s Jean-Christophe Troussel covers a broad range of patent, trade mark and domain name disputes; whilst Bruno Vandermeulen focuses on high-profile patent litigation. The team won a patent infringement case in Antwerp for INDSPEC, turning on the issue of bad faith infringement, and also actied for Facebook on brand defence issues. The team also secured urgent interim relief when faced with immediate client concerns; Sanofi-Aventis is one such beneficiary. Benoît Van Asbroeck is also recommended.

Within Media and entertainment, Bird & Bird is a second tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s reputation in acting for collective collecting societies can be seen through multiple mandates for Belgian, Swedish, British and EU clients. Benoît Van Asbroeck’s experience also extends to handling IP and tax work within this area: the team works with Bozar, Brussels’ main museum and concert hall on all its copyright and IT matters, plus Vlaamse Dagbladers, the Flemish association of daily newspapers, on IP-related tax issues.

Within Tax, Bird & Bird is a third tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s tax advice is provided by new arrival Christophe Delmarcelle, who has good employment tax knowledge, and Brent Springael. The practice’s experience with high-tech, pharma and other IP-rich clients is a particular highlight. It advised Brant Life Sciences, on cross-border royalties and venture capital tax planning for potentially high-yielding life sciences projects. Clients include Boku, Fujifilm and Strima. Aviation-influenced VAT work is also well covered.