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ABOUT US
- The Legal Business Awards 2018
- Enterprise GC 2018
- The Legal 500 UK Awards 2018
- GC Summit Switzerland 2018
- Tokyo Anti-Corruption Forum 2018
- Dubai Roundtable: Doing business in North Afrida
- Beijing Life Sciences and Healthcare Roundtable 2018
- Discussing the future of disputes in the UK
- The Commercial Litigation Summit
- Leadership insight
- Human rights insight
- MINT: the legal challenges of working and investing in emerging economies
- Response to Brexit
- An investigation of the GCC and Middle East legal market
- Litigation and regulatory challenges in financial services
- AI and the law tools of tomorrow:
A special report - Scottish GCs
- North West clients
- COMPANIES
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
- Baker McKenzie
- DLA Piper
- Eversheds Sutherland
- RPC
- Clifford Chance
- KPMG
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- PayPal
- GC DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION REPORTS
- Shaping diversity
- A Numbers Game: Diversity in Europe
- Barbara Levi Mager describes Sandoz's approach to diversity
- Tony West is using his experience to improve diversity and inclusion within PepsiCo
- Prash Naik (Channel 4) talks about the 360 Diversity Charter
- Ian Johnson explains the strategic importance of inclusive work environments
- GC AUTUMN 2018
-
TENCENT ON THE DOLLAR
- Finding Fintech
- Japan's New Future
- The Price of Piety
- Billion Dollar Game
AVENUE DES NERVIENS 85, 1040 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Tel:
- Work +32 2 650 04 20
- Fax:
- Fax +32 2 650 04 22
- Email:
- Web:
- www.cms-dsb.com
Belgium
Aviation
Aviation - ranked: tier 3
CMS
CMS advises airports and airlines on a range of state aid and competition law issues. Recent work includes advising Montpellier Airport on the European Commission’s investigation into alleged aid granted to Ryanair. Swissport is another key client, for which the team has been handling litigation concerning the granting of licences to provide ground handling services, along with a stream of corporate and commercial issues. The ‘proactive and creative’ Annabelle Lepièce leads the team, which includes experienced associate Hanne Baeyens.
Banking, finance and capital markets
Banking, finance and capital markets - ranked: tier 3
CMS
CMS is particularly active in real estate and acquisition finance and is also noted for its capital markets expertise. In recent work, counsel Benoît Vandervelde advised Deutsche Bank on the €100m bonds issuance by SPGE. Arnaud Van Oekel and Bruno Duquesne are the key partners.
Commercial, corporate and M&A
Commercial, corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 3
CMS
‘Good all-round firm’ CMS has a highly regarded corporate department, which is ‘very committed’ and ‘very responsive’. Recent highlights include advising Burger King on the potential acquisition of Belgium fast food chain Quick, and assisting ABN Amro Lease with a cross-border merger with Dutch entity ABN Amro Lease NV. Key practitioners include practice head Vincent Dirckx, ‘outstanding lawyer’ Arnaud Van Oekel, Stéphane Collin and senior associate David Prync.
Dispute resolution
Dispute resolution - ranked: tier 3
CMS
Among CMS’ recent caseload, counsel Marie Canivet successfully represented Medicare-Market in a case brought by Ordre des Pharmaciens, the Association Pharmaceutique Belge and several pharmacies challenging its economic model. IP specialist Renaud Dupont heads the department.
Employment
Employment - ranked: tier 3
CMS
‘Top choice for sensitive files’, CMS’ group impresses with its ‘quick responses and solutions’. Practice head Gaël Chuffart, who is ‘authoritative and knowledgeable’, advised Toyota on a restructuring involving several dismissals. The newly promoted Sophie Berg provides ‘commercial and spot-on advice’ and Jef Degrauwe is also recommended.
Next generation lawyers
Sophie Berg - CMS
Insolvency and restructuring
Insolvency and restructuring - ranked: tier 3
CMS
At CMS, the team has ‘a decisive, practical and business-like’ approach and the ability to ‘consider the continuity of the business at all times’. Practice head Jean-François Goffin recently advised Idempapers on its judicial reorganisation. On the creditor side, Goffin is advising Namur Invest on Promomed’s bankruptcy proceedings.
Intellectual property
Intellectual property - ranked: tier 2
CMS
CMS represents companies in highly regulated sectors, including TMT, chemicals, food and beverage and pharmaceutical. The IP team covers patents, copyrights and trade marks, with ancillary expertise in anti-counterfeiting and customs actions. Tom Heremans heads the department; Renaud Dupont and Tom De Cordier are also active members of the team.
Real estate and construction
Real estate and construction - ranked: tier 3
CMS
At CMS, the real estate group’s ‘local experience, connections and insights are invaluable’ and it is also highlighted for offering ‘good value for money’. Transactional real estate and property finance are among the team’s areas of expertise. In addition, its urban planning and environmental law capabilities were strengthened by the arrival of counsel Gregory Verhelst in 2016 from a Belgian firm. Pierre-Axel Chabot is active in the hotels industry. Bruno Duquesne is also recommended.
Tax
Tax - ranked: tier 4
CMS
CMS has experience in the gamut of taxation matters, covering direct and indirect tax. It regularly advises its multinational clients on the tax aspects of real estate and corporate transactions. Olivier Querinjean and real estate tax expert Didier Grégoire are the names to note.
Belgium: Competition
Belgian law
Competition: Belgian law - ranked: tier 3
CMS
CMS’ merger with Olswang boosted its competition practice through the arrival of Dirk Van Liedekerke, whose experience covers an expansive range of merger clearance, investigations, compliance issues and litigation. Annabelle Lepièce is also a key contact and has ‘a practical and pragmatic approach’. Recent work includes advising AMP, as a subsidiary of Lagardère Travel Retail, on its acquisition by bpost.
Belgium: EU regulatory
Privacy and data protection
EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection - ranked: tier 1
CMS
At CMS, the ‘responsive and pragmatic’ team excels in multinational data protection compliance projects and also handles local data protection work, security breaches and data transfers. Department head Tom De Cordier has ‘in-depth knowledge and business understanding’ and is assisting McCain with GDPR compliance across its European business.
Belgium: Industry focus
IT and telecoms
Industry focus: IT and telecoms - ranked: tier 2
CMS
CMS’ team ‘has excellent knowledge in Belgian and EU telecom and data privacy matters’ and provides ‘pragmatic advice with the business perspective in mind’. The group has recently been acting for Proximus in appeals against various decisions of the telecoms regulator. Other clients include Facebook, Amazon Web Services and Swift. ‘Excellent’ practice head Tom De Cordier ‘provides comprehensive regulatory and business advice’. Dirk Van Liedekerke specialises in EU law and telecoms. Associates Anne-Michèle Goris and Adrien van den Branden are also recommended.
Next generation lawyers
Tom De Cordier - CMS
Media and entertainment
Industry focus: Media and entertainment - ranked: tier 2
CMS
CMS has a good track record handling M&A and commercial and IP litigation for sports and media companies; it also benefits from the firm’s extensive European office network in EU-wide matters. Key practitioners in the multi-disciplinary team are Tom Heremans, Tom De Cordier and Renaud Dupont.
Further information on CMS
Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about CMS in other jurisdictions.
United Arab Emirates
Albania
Offices in Tirana
Angola
Austria
Offices in Vienna
- Administrative law and public sector
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Construction
- Dispute resolution : Arbitration and mediation
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- EU and competition
- Employment
- Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Intellectual property
- Private client
- Projects and energy
- Public procurement
- Real estate
- TMT
- Tax
Belgium
Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, Brussels, Brussels, and Brussels
- Aviation
- Banking, finance and capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Competition : Belgian law
- Dispute resolution
- EU regulatory : Privacy and data protection
- Employment
- Industry focus : IT and telecoms
- Industry focus : Media and entertainment
- Insolvency and restructuring
- Intellectual property
- Real estate and construction
- Tax
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Offices in Sarajevo
- Banking, finance and capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Competition
- Intellectual property
- Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction
Bulgaria
China
Offices in Beijing, Beijing, and Shanghai
Croatia
Offices in Zagreb
- Banking, finance and capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
- Employment
- Privatisation, projects and energy
- Real estate and construction
Czech Republic
Offices in Prague
Germany
Offices in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Leipzig, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Munich, and Munich
- Antitrust
- Banking and finance : Investment funds
- Banking and finance : Lending and borrowing
- Banking and finance : Project finance
- Capital markets : Debt capital markets
- Capital markets : Equity capital markets
- Compliance
- Compliance : Internal investigations
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate
- Corporate and M&A : M&A: Large international deals (€500m+)
- Corporate and M&A : M&A: mid-sized international deals (€100m-€500m)
- Corporate and M&A : M&A: mid-sized domestic deals (€100m-€500m)
- Dispute resolution : Arbitration (including international arbitration)
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution : Product liability
- Employment
- IT and outsourcing : Data protection
- IT and outsourcing : Information technology (including contracts)
- IT and outsourcing : Outsourcing
- Industry focus : Energy
- Industry focus : Healthcare and life sciences
- Industry focus : Telecoms
- Insurance : Advice to insurers
- Insurance : Insurance litigation
- Intellectual property : Patent litigation
- Intellectual property : Trade marks and unfair competition
- Media : Entertainment
- Media : Press and publishing
- Private equity
- Private equity : Venture capital
- Public sector : PPP
- Public sector : Planning and environment
- Public sector : Public procurement
- Real estate and construction : Construction (including construction litigation)
- Real estate and construction : Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency : Insolvency
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring
- Tax
- Trade and distribution
- Transport : Maritime and shipping
Algeria
Offices in Algiers
- Banking, finance and capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
- Employment
- Energy
Spain
Offices in Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Madrid, and Barcelona
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Debt
- Capital markets : Equity
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
- EU and competition
- Industry focus : TMT
- Insurance
- Intellectual property : Copyright
- Intellectual property : Trade marks
- Private equity
- Projects and energy
- Public law
- Real estate and construction
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax
France
Offices in Paris, Strasbourg, and Lyon
- Administrative and public law
- Banking and finance : Transactional work
- Capital markets : Debt
- Derivatives, structured finance and securitisation
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- Employment
- Industry focus : Energy
- Industry focus : Healthcare and life sciences
- Industry focus : IT, telecoms and the Internet
- Intellectual property : Trade marks, designs and copyright
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Private equity : Fund formation
- Project finance
- Real estate
- Tax
Hong Kong
Offices in Hong Kong and Hong Kong
Hungary
Offices in Budapest
Latin America: International firms
Italy
- Administrative and public law
- Banking and finance : Bank regulatory
- Banking and finance : Borrower side
- Banking and finance : Lender or arranger side
- Capital markets : Debt
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Compliance
- Dispute resolution
- EU and competition
- Employment
- Industry focus : Energy
- Industry focus : TMT
- Intellectual property
- Investment funds
- Real estate and construction
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax
Lebanon
Offices in Beirut
Luxembourg
Offices in Luxembourg
Morocco
Offices in Casablanca
- Banking, finance and capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Employment
- Projects and public law
- Tax
- Tourism and real estate
Montenegro
Offices in Podgorica
Netherlands
Offices in Utrecht and Amsterdam
- Banking and finance : Lender or arranger side
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Construction
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution : Mediation
- EU and competition
- Employment
- Energy : Regulatory
- Energy : Transactional
- Industry focus : Food and beverages
- Industry focus : Retail
- Insurance
- Intellectual property : Trade marks, copyrights and design rights
- Investment funds
- Private equity
- Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax
Oman
Offices in Muscat
Poland
Portugal
Offices in Lisbon
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
- Employment
- Energy and natural resources
- Insolvency and restructuring
- Intellectual property
- Public law
- Real estate and construction
- Tax
Romania
Offices in Bucharest
Russia
Offices in Moscow
Singapore
Offices in Singapore, Singapore, and Singapore
Slovenia
Offices in Ljubljana
Switzerland
- Banking and finance : Zurich
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Competition
- Dispute resolution : Litigation
- Employment
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Private client
- Real estate and construction
- Sports law
- Tax
- Leading firms: German-speaking Switzerland
Ukraine
- Banking, finance and capital markets
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Competition
- Dispute resolution
- Employment
- Energy
- Intellectual property
- Real estate and construction
- Tax
Serbia
Offices in Belgrade
- Banking and finance
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Competition
- Dispute resolution
- Employment
- Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction
London
Offices in London EC4N and London EC3A
North West
Offices in Manchester
Scotland
Offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen
South East
Offices in Reading
South West
Offices in Bristol
Yorkshire and the Humber
Offices in Sheffield S2 and Sheffield S2