65 AVENUE LOUISE, BOX 2, 1050 BRUXELLES
What we say about the firm's legal practice in Belgium
Banking, finance and capital markets
Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,
Clients of the practice at Clifford Chance state that ‘the advice given was not only technically correct, but given in a sensible way, it facilitated business-driven decision making’. Yves Herinckx advised Recticel on a €230m syndicated loan facility and the team acted for Fortis on a €200m retail bond issue. The practice also acted for Carmeuse on its €850m acquisition of Oglebay Norton Company. Clients single out Philippe Hamer, for his availaibility and accessibility.
Competition
Within Competition, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,
Leading partners at Clifford Chance have a strong personal following, and are recognised as heading ‘a tremendous workforce’. Thomas Vinje is ‘one of the most technically proficient, creative and thoughtful of competition counsel’, Tony Reeves is ‘assertive and effective’, and Simon Baxter is praised for ‘addressing issues in a balanced manner’, and being ‘solution-oriented’. Clients include GE, Oracle, Yahoo! and InBev. The team at Clifford Chance is ‘commercial’, ‘rigorous’ and skilled at delivering ‘advice summarising legal essentials, which you actually can read’. New hire, Michel Petite, former Director General of the EC’s Legal Service, divides his time between the Brussels and Paris offices. Notable work includes various cartel investigations, the pharmaceutical sector inquiry and advising InBev on merger control aspects of its acquisition of Anheuser-Busch.
Corporate and M&A
Within Corporate and M&A , Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,
Clifford Chance boasts a team with ‘a good mix of experience and enthusiasm’ that advised Eneco on the €151m acquisition of the shares of Air Energy, a Belgian listed company specialised in power generation from renewable sources. It acted for Hilton in the sale of nine hotels located across six European countries. Clients state that work delivered by recommended partners Philippe Hamer and Xavier Remy is of a ‘very high quality and always consistent’. Other notable transactions include acting for Publigas on its acquisition of a majority participation in Fluxys.
Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping
Within Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,
Clifford Chance has grown, drawing on the WTO expertise of Michel Petite, whose European Commission experience includes knowledge of anti-dumping regulations. Partner Tony Reeves also adds considerable commercial weight, having acted on two high profile EC anti-dumping cases, on energy saving light bulbs from China, and salmon from Norway. GE Lighting, V&S Group, Fujitsu and the Japan External Trade Organisation all benefit from the firm’s ‘very strong ability to analyse issues’.
Dispute resolution
Within Dispute resolution, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,
Recent instructions for the ‘capable’ team at Clifford Chance include acting for Dexia Bank Belgium in civil and criminal procedures in relation to the Lernout & Hauspie bankruptcy. The practice boasts banking giant ING as a client. It has acted for Le Fond de l’Infrastructure Ferroviaire in proceedings relating to the ownership of building land in Antwerp. Sébastien Ryelandt is the recommended partner.
EU regulatory Information technology
Within EU regulatory Information technology , Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,
Clifford Chance possesses Thomas Vinje’s skills in this area, which delivers related regulatory advice, given alongside competition law counsel. Clients include Yahoo!, Adobe, Oracle, and EMI.
Information technology
Within Information technology, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,
Competition work is the key strength of the practice at Clifford Chance. Clients of the practice and partner Thomas Vinje include Norwegian web browser provider Opera, the Adobe Corporation and internet giant Yahoo!.
Intellectual property
Within Intellectual property, tier 4
Recent work for Clifford Chance includes advising Fujitsu on software patents and acting for leading pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. Thomas Vinje is the name to note.
Legal market
Within Legal market,
Behavioural competition law, such as Article 81 and 82 infringement actions, cartels, sectoral enquiries, abuse of dominance, and private actions for damages, remain highly important. With the European Commission upping the pace on cartel enforcement, all firms remained busy, and those involved in the larger cartels especially so. Clifford Chance, Van Bael & Bellis, White & Case LLP Avocats Advocaten and Allen & Overy LLP, to name a few, remain involved in the most technically challenging of cases.
Real estate
Within Real estate, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,
Clients assert a ‘high level of confidence’ in the team at Clifford Chance, praising its ‘quick responses and attention to detail’. It acted for Eurostation on the sale the Block II in front of the Brussels South Station to AXA, valued at €265m. Notable was the work done for the Carlyle Group on the sale of the Serclaes building for €31m. Henri d’Ursel is singled out for his ‘deep knowledge in real estate’. The practice continues to advise Morgan Stanley and GE Real Estate.
Tax
Within Tax, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,
Clients endorse Clifford Chance by stating ‘I can think of no one I would rather want on my side for tax advice’. The ‘excellent’ Thierry Blockerye has advised key client Publigas on big-ticket tax issues, including advice on their acquisition of Distrigas. Publigas also has benefited from tax advice on the acquisition of its majority stake in Fluxys. The practice also boasts expertise on real estate transactions, continuing to advise clients such as Hilton and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investment.
What we say worldwide
Please choose another Clifford Chance 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 and Dubai
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Insurance : Insurance
- Investment funds : Investment funds
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate : Real estate
- Legal market : Legal market
Belgium
Offices in Brussels
- Banking, finance and capital markets : Banking, finance and capital markets
- Competition : Competition
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping : Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Information technology : Information technology
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
- EU regulatory Information technology : EU regulatory Information technology
- Legal market : Legal market
Bahrain
China
Offices in Shanghai and Beijing
- Foreign firms : Banking and finance
- Foreign firms : Capital markets
- Foreign firms : Corporate & M&A
- Foreign firms : Dispute resolution
- Foreign firms : Private equity/venture capital
- Foreign firms : Projects and energy
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
- Legal market : Legal market
Germany
Offices in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich
- Antitrust : Antitrust
- Banking and finance Bank lending : Banking and finance Bank lending
- Banking and finance Project finance : Banking and finance Project finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A Large deals : Corporate and M&A Large deals
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Information technology and outsourcing : Information technology and outsourcing
- Insolvency and restructuring Restructuring : Insolvency and restructuring Restructuring
- Investment funds : Investment funds
- IP: trade marks : IP: trade marks
- Media Entertainment : Media Entertainment
- Private equity : Private equity
- Public sector : Public sector
- Real estate and construction Real estate : Real estate and construction Real estate
- Real estate and construction Construction : Real estate and construction Construction
- Structured finance and securitisation : Structured finance and securitisation
- Tax : Tax
- Telecoms : Telecoms
Algeria
Spain
Offices in Madrid and Barcelona
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- EU and competition : EU and competition
- Employment : Employment
- Environment : Environment
- Insurance : Insurance
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Project finance : Project finance
- Real estate : Real estate
- TMT : TMT
- Tax : Tax
- Legal market : Legal market
France
Offices in Paris
- Administrative and public law : Administrative and public law
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation : Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution: International arbitration : Dispute resolution: International arbitration
- EU competition and distribution : EU competition and distribution
- Employment : Employment
- Environment : Environment
- Intellectual property: Full-service firms : Intellectual property: Full-service firms
- Media and entertainment: Full-service firms : Media and entertainment: Full-service firms
- Mergers and acquisitions : Mergers and acquisitions
- Private equity : Private equity
- Project finance and energy Project finance : Project finance and energy Project finance
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
- Legal market : Legal market
Ghana
Hong Kong
Offices in Hong Kong
- Asset finance : Asset finance
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets (debt and equity) : Capital markets (debt and equity)
- Corporate (including M&A) : Corporate (including M&A)
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- 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
India
Italy
- Administrative law : Administrative law
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets Debt : Capital markets Debt
- Capital markets Equity : Capital markets Equity
- Corporate and M&A Milan and Rome : Corporate and M&A Milan and Rome
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- EU, regulatory and competition : EU, regulatory and competition
- Employment : Employment
- Real estate : Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax : Tax
- Legal market : Legal market
Japan
Offices in Tokyo
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance - International firms and joint ventures
- Capital markets : Capital markets - International firms and joint ventures
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A - International firms and joint ventures
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution - International firms and joint ventures
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction - International firms and joint ventures
- Structured finance/securitisation : Structured finance/securitisation - International firms and joint ventures
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
London
- Corporate and commercial : Overview
- Corporate and commercial : Corporate tax
- 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 : Outsourcing and procurement
- Corporate and commercial : Private equity
- Corporate and commercial : VAT and indirect tax
- Crime, fraud and licensing : Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations
- Dispute resolution : Overview
- Dispute resolution : Banking litigation
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution : International arbitration
- Dispute resolution : Public international law
- Finance : Overview
- Finance : Acquisition finance
- Finance : Asset finance and leasing
- Finance : Bank lending - investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Finance : Commodities and futures - futures
- Finance : Corporate restructuring and insolvency
- Finance : Debt capital markets
- Finance : Derivatives and structured products
- Finance : Emerging markets
- Finance : Hedge funds
- Finance : High yield
- Finance : Investment funds
- Finance : Islamic finance
- Finance : Securitisation
- Finance : Trade finance
- Human resources : Employee share schemes
- Human resources : Employment
- Human resources : Immigration
- Human resources : Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution)
- Insurance : Overview
- Insurance : Insurance - corporate and regulatory
- Insurance : Insurance - insolvency and restructuring
- Insurance : Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- Insurance : Product liability - defendant
- Insurance : Professional negligence
- Private client : Contentious trusts and probate
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Overview
- 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)
- Public sector : Overview
- Public sector : Administrative and public law
- Public sector : Civil liberties and human rights
- Public sector : Healthcare
- Public sector : Public affairs
- Real estate : Overview
- Real estate : Commercial property
- Real estate : Construction
- Real estate : Environment
- Real estate : Planning
- Real estate : Property finance
- Real estate : Property litigation
- Real estate : Social housing finance
- 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
- Transport : Rail
Luxembourg
Offices in Luxembourg
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Insurance : Insurance
- Investment funds : Investment funds
- Tax : Tax
- Legal market : Legal market
Morocco
Netherlands
Offices in Amsterdam
- Arbitration : Arbitration
- Asset finance and structured finance : Asset finance and structured finance
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Commercial litigation : Commercial litigation
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- EU and competition : EU and competition
- Employment : Employment
- Energy : Energy
- Environment and planning : Environment and planning
- Information technology : Information technology
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Media and entertainment : Media and entertainment
- Mediation : Mediation
- Private equity : Private equity
- Project finance and PFI : Project finance and PFI
- Real estate : Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax : Tax
- Telecoms : Telecoms
- Legal market : Legal market
Oman
UK Overview
Philippines
Poland
Offices in Warsaw
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Competition/antitrust : Competition/antitrust
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Intellectual property : Intellectual property
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Projects, energy and natural resources
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
Qatar
Romania
Offices in Bucharest
- Banking, finance and capital markets : Banking, finance and capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Energy and natural resources : Energy and natural resources
- IT, telecoms and media : IT, telecoms and media
- Privatisation and PPP : Privatisation and PPP
- Project finance : Project finance
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- Legal market : Legal market
Russia
Offices in Moscow
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A Moscow : Corporate and M&A Moscow
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Energy and natural resources : Energy and natural resources
- Real estate : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
Singapore
Offices in Singapore
- Offshore market : Offshore market
- Local firms : Dispute resolution - Local firms
- Foreign firms : Asset finance - Foreign firms
- Foreign firms : Banking and finance - Foreign firms
- Foreign firms : Capital markets - Foreign firms
- Foreign firms : Corporate and M&A - Foreign firms
- Foreign firms : Projects and energy - Foreign firms
- Foreign firms : Restructuring and insolvency - Foreign firms
South Korea
Taiwan
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Insurance : Insurance
- TMT : TMT
Thailand
Offices in Bangkok
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Real estate and construction : Real estate and construction
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
- TMT : TMT
- Thailand overview : Legal market overview
Tunisia
US
Offices in Washington DC, New York, and Menlo Park
- Finance : Asset finance and leasing: National
- Finance : Capital markets: equity offerings: National
- Finance : Capital markets: global offerings: National
- Finance : Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings: National
- Finance : Corporate restructuring: National
- Finance : Project finance: National
- Finance : Structured finance: derivatives and structured products: National
- Investment fund formation and management : Alternative/hedge funds: National
- Investment fund formation and management : Mutual/registered funds: National
- Investment fund formation and management : Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): National
- Litigation : Securities: shareholder litigation: National
- Litigation : White-collar criminal defense - full service: National
- Mergers, acquisitions and buyouts : M&A: mega-Deals
- Real estate and construction : New York: capital markets
- Tax : Domestic tax: East Coast
- Tax : International firms: National
- Tax : Employee benefits: National
- Tax : Financial products: National