AVENUE LOUISE 149, EIGHTH FLOOR, 1050 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Tel:
- Work +32 2 639 36 11
- Fax:
- Fax +32 2 639 36 99
- DX:
- 70 BAB
- Web:
- www.bakermckenzie.com
What we say about the firm's legal practice in Belgium
Aviation
Within Aviation, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie delivers ‘timely, very high-level advice’. Dominique Lechien is well regarded for ‘expertly understanding the industry’, while Michael Van Acker made partner. The team acts for 3P Air Freighters in the liquidation of Cargo B Airlines.
Banking, finance and capital markets
Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie’s ‘very pragmatic approach’ is exemplified by Antoine De Raeve’s leadership in transactions; clients say he is ‘perfect for deals requiring very specific negotiations’. De Raeve acted as counsel to Nyrstar, in connection with a €225m retail bond issue, Nyrstar’s first, which featured a “hard underwriting” of €100m. Michael Van Acker assisted BNP Paribas Fortis and RBS’s €70m base financing of car lease company Excelease, enabling its entry into the syndicated loan market.
Competition
Within Competition, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie represented Mitsubishi in securing the first ever EU cartel settlement, plus acted for key pharma and Canadian fund clients, such as the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, on its acquisition of the UK National Lottery operator Camelot. It also assisted on a Belgian competition law inquiry into the consumer sector. Major clients include Abbott. The team is praised for a ‘sense of urgency, timely delivery of input, and interactive dialogue’. Bill Batchelor and Fiona Carlin are recommended.
Corporate and M&A
Within Corporate and M&A , Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie acted on a €267m disposal of KBC’s shares in Belgian reinsurer Secura, typical of downturn-influenced disposals, while it also did excellent mid-market work for GIMV, IK Investments and Gores. Clients note the firm’s ‘excellent and flexible worldwide network’, and the two Belgian offices have ‘a good understanding of client needs’. The corporate team, which features the well-regarded Koen Vanhaerents, Dominique Maes and Roel Meers has ‘excellent knowledge and strong negotiation skills’. Roel Meers was made partner in July 2010.
Dispute resolution
Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie’s Koen De Winter is singled out for maritime-related litigation for large international contract disputes, handled from his Antwerp base. With IP and IT disputes emphasised amongst the client lists, whether they be for banking, agrichemicals, or US fast food giants, the practice’s diversity is strong; advertising-related disputes are also a speciality.
EU regulatory
Within EU regulatory: Environment (including WEEE and RoHS), Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie’s clients are ‘very satisfied’ with Nina Niejhar’s work; the team advised a leading computer manufacturer on individual business to business waste plans. Clients include Chinese industrial concerns, and Polish state bodies.
Environment
Within Environment, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,
Pascal Mallien’s experience at Baker & McKenzie is mentioned by clients, but he is also ‘very up-to-date on environmental issues’, and a ‘strong and committed’ lawyer. The team, considered ‘our internal partner’ for team working, also has a ‘vast knowledge of environmental policy, and relevant EU directives’, especially with energy businesses. Clients include Procter & Gamble.
Information technology
Within Information technology, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie’s Daniel Fesler is the firm’s IT and e-commerce specialist. Of late, the practice has been involved in drafting and negotiating license and rights assignment agreements for IT clients, as a cross-over to the firm’s IP practice; clients include those in the video-on-demand sector and computer manufacturers.
Intellectual property
Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie has a good IP practice; it currently represents Nokia, Abbott, Esprit, Accenture and 2010 Premier League champions Chelsea FC in opposition, cancellation and revocation procedures before the Benelux and European Trade Mark Office, and as country representative in anti-counterfeiting matters. The team also represents Van Ratingen in a fierce dispute over trade marks in the deep fat fryer market in Belgium. Koen De Winter is praised for having a ‘very hands on approach, quick reactions and in-depth knowledge in the IP area’. Pierre Sculier is also recommended, being ‘extremely skilled’.
Labour and employment
Within Labour and employment, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie’s François Gabriel and Jef Slootmans remain leading figures. Clients include General Motors, Monsanto and Eli Lilly. The team assisted both on EU works council negotiations, and site harmonisation of terms & conditions respectively. It also acted for a leading Belgian manufacturer in a fiercely contested restructuring, resulting in collective lay-offs, extensive press interest, and a union “lock-out”, before an agreed settlement. The team’s litigation caseload, having grown, is extensive as it handles essentially respondent litigation for Belgian’s larger businesses.
Real estate
Within Real estate, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie’s clients appreciate the team’s consistent quality of service. Clients state that they are ‘very satisfied with the personal approach’ of Dominque Lechien and Rudy Dupont, who is well-known in the French speaking business community. Dupont assisted a consortium of major Belgian real estate developers in the sale of a corporate vehicle, which owned a new 20,000 sq m office building located near the Brussels South railway station. Clients include Cummins, Securex and Finest.
Tax
Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,
Baker & McKenzie offers the litigation expertise of Alain Huyghe, who also has excellent experience before the ECJ and local appellate courts, and is an equally good deal adviser. The team advised on Abbott’s purchase of Solvay, including due diligence, tax structuring and tax input on the purchase agreement, in one of Belgium’s biggest M&A deals. Philippe Lion also advised on a rare M&A deal in the Belgian insurance sector, in Baloise’s purchase of Avero.
What we say worldwide
Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.
United Arab Emirates
Offices in Abu Dhabi
Australia
Offices in Sydney and Melbourne
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Competition and trade : Competition and trade
- Construction : Construction
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Energy and resources : Energy and resources
- Foreign firms : Foreign firms
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Projects and infrastructure : Projects and infrastructure
- Real estate : Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax : Tax
- TMT : TMT
Austria
Offices in Vienna
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Central and Eastern Europe : Central and Eastern Europe
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- EU and competition : EU and competition
- Employment : Employment
- Tax : Tax
Azerbaijan
Offices in Baku
Belgium
Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels
- Aviation : Aviation
- Banking, finance and capital markets : Banking, finance and capital markets
- Competition : Competition
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Environment : Environment
- EU regulatory : EU regulatory: Environment (including WEEE and RoHS)
- Information technology : Information technology
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Labour and employment : Labour and employment
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
Bahrain
Offices in Manama
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Islamic finance : Islamic finance
- Project finance : Project finance
China
Offices in Beijing and Shanghai
- Banking and finance : Foreign firms
- Corporate & M&A : Foreign firms
- Dispute resolution : Foreign firms
- Employment : Foreign firms
- Intellectual property : Foreign firms
- Private equity/venture capital : Foreign firms
- Projects and energy : Foreign firms
- Real estate : Foreign firms
- Tax : Foreign firms
- TMT : Foreign firms
Czech Republic
Offices in Prague
- Banking, finance and capital markets : Banking, finance and capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
Germany
Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich
- Banking and finance: Bank lending : Banking and finance: Bank lending
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A: Mid-sized deals : Corporate and M&A: Mid-sized deals
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Information technology and outsourcing : Information technology and outsourcing
- IP: trade marks : IP: trade marks
- Private equity : Private equity
- Public sector : Public sector
- Structured finance and securitisation : Structured finance and securitisation
- Tax : Tax
- Telecoms : Telecoms
Egypt
Offices in Cairo
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Oil and gas : Oil and gas
- Projects and infrastructure : Projects and infrastructure
- Telecoms : Telecoms
Spain
Offices in Madrid and Barcelona
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- EU and competition : EU and competition
- Employment : Employment
- Environment : Environment
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate : Real estate
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
France
Offices in Paris
- Administrative and public law : Administrative and public law
- EU competition and distribution : EU competition and distribution
- Employment : Employment
- IT, telecoms and the internet : IT, telecoms and the internet
- Intellectual property: Full-service firms : Intellectual property: Full-service firms
- Mergers and acquisitions : Mergers and acquisitions
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
Hong Kong
Offices in Hong Kong
- Asset finance : Asset finance
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets (debt) : Capital markets (debt)
- Capital markets (equity) : Capital markets (equity)
- Construction : Construction
- Corporate (including M&A) : Corporate (including M&A)
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Dispute resolution International arbitration : Dispute resolution International arbitration
- Employment : Employment
- Insurance : Insurance
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Investment funds : Investment funds
- Private equity : Private equity
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate : Real estate
- Regulatory : Regulatory
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
- Structured finance and securitisation : Structured finance and securitisation
- TMT : TMT
- Tax and trusts : Tax and trusts
Hungary
Offices in Budapest
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Competition : Competition
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Energy : Energy
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Mergers and acquisitions : Mergers and acquisitions
- Project finance : Project finance
- Real estate : Real estate
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
Indonesia
Offices in Jakarta
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate : Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax : Tax
India
Italy
Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna
- Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome : Corporate and M&A Milan and Rome
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- EU, regulatory and competition law : EU, regulatory and competition law
- Employment : Employment
- Energy : Energy
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
- Bologna Leading firms : Bologna Leading firms
Japan
Offices in Tokyo
- Banking and finance : International firms and joint ventures
- Capital markets : International firms and joint ventures
- Corporate and M&A : International firms and joint ventures
- Dispute resolution : International firms and joint ventures
- Intellectual property : International firms and joint ventures
- Projects and energy : International firms and joint ventures
- Real estate and construction : International firms and joint ventures
- Structured finance/securitisation : International firms and joint ventures
- Tax : International firms and joint ventures
Kuwait
Kazakhstan
Offices in Almaty
London
Offices in London EC4V and London EC4V
- Corporate and commercial : Commercial contracts
- Corporate and commercial : Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial : Customs and Excise
- Corporate and commercial : EU and competition
- Corporate and commercial : Equity capital markets: UK capability
- Corporate and commercial : Equity capital markets: US capability
- Corporate and commercial : Financial services
- Corporate and commercial : M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, 250m+
- Corporate and commercial : Private equity: transactions
- Corporate and commercial : VAT and indirect tax
- Crime, fraud and licensing : Fraud: civil
- Crime, fraud and licensing : Fraud: corporate crime
- Dispute resolution : Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution : International arbitration
- Dispute resolution : Professional discipline
- Dispute resolution : Public international law
- Finance : Acquisition finance
- Finance : Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Finance : Corporate restructuring and insolvency
- Finance : Debt capital markets
- Finance : Derivatives and structured products
- Finance : Emerging markets
- Finance : Investment funds
- Finance : Securitisation
- Finance : Trade finance
- Human resources : Employee share schemes
- Human resources : Employment
- Human resources : Immigration
- Human resources : Pensions
- Insurance : Insurance: insolvency and restructuring
- Insurance : Product liability: defendant
- Private client : Contentious trusts and probate
- Private client : Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Infrastructure
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Mining and minerals
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Oil and gas
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Private finance initiative (PFI)
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Water
- Public sector : Overview
- Public sector : Administrative and public law
- Real estate : Commercial property
- Real estate : Construction
- Real estate : Environment
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Brand management
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Franchising
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : IT and telecoms
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Intellectual property
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Media and entertainment
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Sport
Luxembourg
Offices in Luxembourg
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Investment funds : Investment funds
Libya
Malaysia
Offices in Kuala Lumpur
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- IT and telecoms : IT and telecoms
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Islamic finance : Islamic finance
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- Tax : Tax
Netherlands
Offices in Amsterdam
- Asset finance and structured finance : Asset finance and structured finance
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Commercial litigation : Commercial litigation
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Employment : Employment
- Private equity : Private equity
- Tax : Tax
Philippines
Offices in Makati
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Aviation : Aviation
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Foreign firms : Foreign firms
- Immigration : Immigration
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
Poland
Offices in Warsaw
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets (debt) : Capital markets (debt)
- Capital markets (equity) : Capital markets (equity)
- Competition/antitrust : Competition/antitrust
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Energy and natural resources : Energy and natural resources
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Real estate : Real estate
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
Qatar
Russia
Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A: Moscow : Corporate and M&A: Moscow
- Corporate and M&A: St Petersburg : Corporate and M&A: St Petersburg
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Energy and natural resources : Energy and natural resources
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
Sweden
Offices in Stockholm
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Construction : Construction
- Corporate and commercial : Corporate and commercial
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- EU and competition : EU and competition
- Employment : Employment
- Environment : Environment
- IT and telecoms : IT and telecoms
- Insurance : Insurance
- Intellectual property and media : Intellectual property and media
- Mergers and acquisitions : Mergers and acquisitions
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
Singapore
Offices in Singapore
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Foreign firms
- Capital markets : Foreign firms
- Corporate and M&A : Foreign firms
- Projects and energy : Foreign firms
- Restructuring and insolvency : Foreign firms
- International arbitration : International arbitration
South Korea
Saudi Arabia
Offices in Riyadh
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
Switzerland
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance: Geneva : Banking and finance: Geneva
- Banking and finance: Zurich : Banking and finance: Zurich
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- EU, competition and WTO : EU, competition and WTO
- Insolvency and corporate recovery : Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Mergers and acquisitions : Mergers and acquisitions
- Private banking : Private banking
- Public sector : Public sector
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
- Geneva Leading firms : Geneva Leading firms
- Zurich Leading firms : Zurich Leading firms
Taiwan
Offices in Taipei
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Insurance : Insurance
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- Shipping : Shipping
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
Thailand
Offices in Bangkok
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A (including capital markets) : Corporate and M&A (including capital markets)
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
Ukraine
Offices in Kiev
- Banking, finance and capital markets : Banking, finance and capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- Tax : Tax
United States
Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston
- Finance : Project finance
- Intellectual property : Trademarks: non-contentious (full coverage)
- Labor and employment : Immigration
- Labor and employment : Workplace and employment counseling
- Litigation : International arbitration
- Litigation : International trade
- Media, technology and telecoms : Technology: data protection and privacy
- Media, technology and telecoms : Technology: outsourcing
- Media, technology and telecoms : Technology: transactions
- Mergers, acquisitions and buyouts : Antitrust
- Mergers, acquisitions and buyouts : M&A: large deals ($1bn-5bn)
- Real estate and construction : Real estate
- Tax : Domestic tax: West Coast
- Tax : Employee benefits and executive compensation
- Tax : International
- Tax : Tax controversy
Vietnam
Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Insurance : Insurance
- Intellectual property : International firms
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- Tax : Tax