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DLA Piper

UITBREIDINGSTRAAT 2, B2600 ANTWERP, BELGIUM
Zagreb, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Tokyo, Tbilisi and 78 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Belgium

Aviation

Within Aviation, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper’s aviation team includes lawyers from the corporate, competition and public law departments. Bertold Bar-Bouyssiere, who is recommended for his ‘strong ability to understand business needs’, recently defended Turkish Airlines in the European Commission’s first investigation into code-sharing agreements, a case which will set the standard for future assessments. Other clients include Cathay Pacific and Aviapartner.

Banking, finance and capital markets

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper exhibits ‘good negotiating skills’ and a ‘flexible and proactive approach’, with its scope of service encompassing advisory and regulatory banking and finance mandates, but also a strong banking litigation team, particularly of counsel Pierre Van Ommeslaghe. On the non-contentious side, the group recently assisted BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, Dexia and SMBC on project finance matters relating to a €1.5bn PPP schools project in Flanders. Yves Brosens heads the team.

Competition

Within Competition, tier 5

DLA Piper’s diverse and sizeable Brussels practice shows ‘strong expertise in the area of competition law’. Bertold Bar-Bouyssiere is particularly good at focusing on clients’ needs and recently advised Cathay Pacific in its appeal against the EC’s decision in the air cargo cartel case. Yoichi Shibasaki represented Denki Kagaku before the General Court in connection with the chloroprene rubber cartel investigation.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A , DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper’s ‘extraordinarily efficient’ team handles a variety of domestic and cross-border transactions, and maintains a strong focus on African projects, where Caroline Daout is the key contact. Daout recently advised Group Forrest International on its disposal of a majority share in Group Forrest’s cement activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Practice head Jean-Michel Detry and Erwin Simons are highly regarded. Ortwin Carron joined from Monard – D’Hulst.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper’s ‘extremely client-friendly’ team acts in corporate and commercial litigation, but also has a growing arbitration practice, where it is particularly experienced in transport sector cases. Daniel Sharma is a ‘solid disputes lawyer’, Caroline Verbruggen ‘provides extensive and professional support’, and Supreme Court advocate Pierre Van Ommeslaghe is also recommended.

EU regulatory

Within Environment (including WEEE and RoHS), DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper’s environmental regulatory group continues to advise PVCycle on the handling of photovoltaic modular waste, and has also been advising a raw materials group on waste shipping issues. The Flemish Region continues to instruct the group on a regular basis. Of counsel Geert Van Calster, an expert in environmental law, oversees the practice.

Environment

Within Environment, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper has a strong practice for all matters relating to environmental permits, air and soil pollution, and waste. In 2011, the firm represented SITA Belgium in various environmental matters, and Eandis in a dispute relating to the sale of contaminated land. Practice head Bob Martens and Dominique Devos are recommended.

Fraud and white-collar crime

Within Fraud and white-collar crime, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper provides ‘a good-quality service’. It is representing Sabena in its €2bn director’s liability litigation. Clients recommend Joris De Vos and practice head Christian Van Buggenhout, both of whom are representing 13,000 Deminor clients in the Lernout & Hauspie case, the biggest financial fraud litigation in Belgian legal history. For some, Pierre Van Ommeslaghe is ‘the god of fraud and white-collar crime’.

Information technology

Within Information technology, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper acts for IT users and large IT vendors on a range of issues, including outsourcing and IP matters. Recent highlights include advising Philip Morris on legally compliant electronic invoicing solutions, and assisting Amcor on a global outsourcing of data centre services and SAP hosting. Other clients include Belgian Railways, Hewlett-Packard, Kodak and Thomas Cook. Kristof De Vulder heads the team.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper has particular strength in contentious IP, and its clients include a global alcoholic beverages company and a major vehicle manufacturer. Louis Puts has extensive experience in counterfeiting, trade mark, patent and unfair competition litigation and is supported by a team of four associates.

Labour and employment

Within Labour and employment, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper’s team has been busy handling numerous restructurings and has become increasingly active in the pensions and benefits sphere. Eddy Lievens leads the team, and works closely with Damien Stas De Richelle, who specialises in public sector labour relations.

Media and entertainment

Within Media and entertainment, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper’s ‘exceptional’ team ‘quickly grasps its clients’ business needs and the issues impacting the industry’. Patrick Van Eecke is ‘a step ahead of the game in identifying the latest trends in technology and providing business-focused advice’. New client Belgacom recently instructed the firm in a dispute with Telenet.

Real estate

Within Real estate, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper fields a ‘very good’ team, which advises a broad client base including international investors, local clients and public institutions. Recent work highlights include advising ING Real Estate Development NV on selling its project development portfolio to a Belgian REIT. Department head Dirk Caestecker is ‘one of the leading real estate lawyers in Belgium’, and newly elected partner Jim Bauwens is also a ‘high-level professional’.

Shipping and transport

Within Shipping and transport, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper recently advised the European Commission on a study of regulatory framework relating to the public sector and, in particular, the client’s approach towards public transport. Other clients include SNCB and SNCB Holding. Bob Martens is the firm’s key transport lawyer in Belgium.

Tax

Within Tax, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper boosted its tax practice in 2011 by recruiting Ortwin Carron from Monard – D’Hulst and senior associate Denis-Emmanuel Philippe from Loyens & Loeff. This ‘very good’ team is led by Jeroen Gobbin, who delivers an ‘excellent service in VAT matters’, and focuses on indirect taxes, real estate tax and tax disputes.

Further information on DLA Piper LLP

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about DLA Piper LLP in other jurisdictions.

Austria

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Germany

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Spain

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Italy

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Netherlands

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North West

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Russia

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Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

West Midlands

Offices in Birmingham

Yorkshire and the Humber

Offices in Leeds and Sheffield

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
DLA Piper LLP

  • Sentencing guidelines for corporate manslaughter

    In February 2010 the Sentencing Guidelines Council (the SGC) issued definitive guidelines to courts on imposing appropriate sentences for corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences causing death. The SGC states that fines imposed on companies found guilty of corporate manslaughter should not fall below £500,000, while fines in respect of health and safety offences that are a significant cause of death should be at least £100,000. Crucially, the SGC declined to provide for a fixed link between the imposed fine and the turnover or profitability of the offending company.

    - DLA Piper UK LLP

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