The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Belgium > Environment

Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL serves as a one-stop shop for advice on domestic and European environmental law. Jointly led by senior counsel Pascal Mallien and Jean-François Vandenberghe, the group assists Belgian and international clients with issues such as waste, soil and groundwater contamination, chemicals and hazardous substances. It is particularly sought out to handle environmental issues associated with telecommunications infrastructure, onshore and offshore wind farms, petrochemical and gas distribution facilities. Elsewhere, the team also plays a key role in domestic and cross-border M&A deals. Vandenberghe specialises in environmental issues associated with real estate transactions, with a focus on soil-related matters. Mallien has a wealth of experience handling environmental compliance, permitting and litigation. Koen De Winter and associate Mario Deketelaere are advising Gosselin Group on the follow-up and execution of the Gosselin Brownfield Agreement, which relates to a brownfield remediation and redevelopment project in Antwerp.

With François Tulkens and Dominique Devos at the helm, Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick's team consistently handles many of the most complex environmental law projects in Belgium. Offering coverage across all three Belgian regions and at a European level, the group advises on matters such as waste management, nuclear regulations, noise nuisance and waste, among others. Counsel Filip De Preter primarily focuses on planning and permitting-related mandates. Tulkens is leading the advice to Brussels Capital Region on a number of high-profile noise limitation cases. Devos is acting for Renewi on the management of an industrial waste stream. Another name to note in the group is senior attorney Charles Poncelet, who combines expertise in environmental law with knowledge of urban planning law and real estate law. Vincent Ost is another name to note.

Stibbe's team, which acts for private companies and government agencies, has extensive expertise in all environmental and planning issues associated with large development/redevelopment and energy projects across all three regions in Belgium. Led by widely respected practice head Jan Bouckaert, the group advises on matters such as urban planning and zoning regulation, permitting, brownfields, soil pollution and expropriation. On the contentious side, it is sought out in administrative law matters before the Constitutional Court and the Council of State. In addition to being a powerhouse in the national arena, the firm is equally adept in advisory matters and litigation at a wider European level. Reflective of the strength of the firm's profile in the environmental law space, Bouckaert and counsel Pieter Vandenheede  are assisting the Federal Public Service Economy with a report on the implementation of the amendments to the convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context. Bouckaert's team also includes France Maussion and counsel Olivier Di Giacomo, who are advising Befimmo on the ZIN project in Brussels. At senior associate level, names to note are Guan Schaiko, Bastiaan Schelstraete, Stefanie François  and Renaud Smal.

Bob Martens and Annelies Verlinden head up DLA Piper's practice in Belgium, which serves as the global hub to clients worldwide requiring EU regulatory advice on matters such as pesticides and the application of REACH, among others. In addition, at a local level, the firm handles a full range of environmental questions across all three Belgian regions for public and private entities, including those concerning brownfields redevelopment, waste management and disposal, defence of environmental and urban prosecutions, permitting and zoning. The team also undertakes due diligence for corporate and real estate transactions. Working with practitioners based in other offices, Martens is leading the advice to the European Commission on the auctioning of emission allowances under the EU's Emissions Trading System. In another key mandate, Verlinden, Thomas Sterckx and Birgit Creemers represented the City of Antwerp in proceedings over a permit to build two underground car parks at the Gedempte Zuiderdokken. Also notable is that Martens, Lieven Annaert, Sterckx and Alec Van Vaerenbergh are acting for the Flemish authority on all aspects of the €600m UPLACE commercial development project in Brussels.

Lydian's environmental practice, which is led by Wouter Neven, covers advice on permits, waste, contaminated properties and PFI/PPP projects (particularly in the water, waste and waste water fields). It also handles the environmental aspects of corporate, finance and real estate transactions. In addition, on the contentious side, environment-related litigation and enforcement also drive the workload. Reflective of the practice's high-end reputation outside of Belgium, it generates mandates from large overseas-headquartered corporates and international law firms but also acts for Belgian companies and public sector organisations. Recent highlights included Neven and senior associate Kyoto Van Herreweghe advising BNP Paribas Fortis on the environmental permit requirements connected with the establishment of its new headquarters in the centre of Brussels. Neven and Van Herreweghe are also representing Autonome Raad van het Gemeenschapsonderwijs (GO!)/Autonomous Council for Community Education in proceedings before the Flemish Council for Permit Disputes over the construction and operation of a school in Flanders. In January 2019, Iris Hemelaer and Bruno Stroobants made counsels, while Mehdy Abbas Khayli was promoted to senior associate.

NautaDutilh covers the environmental arena in Belgium extensively, with its practice being active in all three of the Flemish, Walloon and Brussels Capital regions. A name to note is senior counsel Patrick Peeters, who undertakes a mix of advisory work and litigation, and is particularly knowledgeable about soil contamination, environmental permits and waste management. He has been advising Umicore on various matters, including the end-of-waste criteria under the Waste Framework Directive and the Flemish implementing legislation. Ancillary to his environmental law expertise, Peeters is also knowledgeable about energy and zoning law. His recent work included representing Fluxys in various proceedings initiated by municipal authorities and private individuals over building and environmental permits for the construction and operation of high-pressure natural gas pipelines in the Flemish and Walloon regions. In January 2019, Jens Mosselmans joined from Portico.

Eubelius undertakes strategic advisory work and handles environmental litigation in connection with major infrastructure projects. Its team also covers all environmental regulatory issues associated with domestic and international M&A transactions. Clients include real estate developers, retailers and construction companies. In addition, the firm also generates work from public sector clients. Senior counsel Bart Martel and others assist Proximus with issues associated with the installation of telecoms infrastructure, including planning applications and permitting disputes. Barteld Schutyser is the lead adviser to Albert Heijn België on the opening of new retail spaces in Belgium; a recent highlight involved acting for the client in an administrative appeal concerning a socio-economic permit.

Janson's environmental law work is handled by the firm's public and administrative law department, which is experienced in advisory and transactional matters, as well as litigation. The group is well placed to serve clients from all three Belgian regions, and further afield internationally, with fluent language skills in French, Dutch and English. Clients of the firm include public authorities, project developers, private businesses and individuals. One name to note in the team is Stijn Verbeke, who has notable expertise in environmental take-back obligations and environmental management agreements, particularly in relation to waste electrical and electronic equipment, waste batteries and waste tyres. Jan Ghysels advises clients on matters concerning town and country planning law, expropriations and environmental criminal law, among other areas. Other key figures in the team are Dominique Lagasse and counsel Béatrice Gribomont, who represented Vzw/asbl Recupel and other non-profit organisations at the Constitutional Court in proceedings concerning taxes imposed in the Flemish and Walloon regions on waste management organisations. Geoffrey Ninane recently made partner.

Monard Law handles a broad cross-section of contentious and non-contentious environmental law matters for public authorities, companies, contractors, employers' associations and unions, among other clients. One of the firm's major areas of strength is in the environmental permitting sphere, where the team provides an end-to-end user service at all stages of the process, including where legal proceedings arise. In addition to acting for clients in their capacity as applicants of permits, the group also assists clients with initiating proceedings to oppose permits that have been granted to third parties. It is equally strong advising on procedures relating to urban planning and building permits, as well as socio-economic permits. Elsewhere, the team is also adept in areas such as soil pollution, environmental taxes, environmental liability, waste management and sustainable energy projects. Koen Geelen and Wouter Moonen lead the advice to the Flemish government on all of its expropriation cases, which includes assisting the client with administrative and civil court proceedings. France Vlassembrouck is representing NEO (a company established by the Brussels-Capital Region and the city of Brussels) at the Council of State in multiple proceedings brought by various local inhabitants and several non-profit associations over the decision of the Brussels-Capital Region to approve a new regional zoning plan for the Heysel area. Senior associates Bernard Vanheusden and Sarah Jacobs are also recommended.

Schoups, which is active in domestic and cross-border mandates, demonstrates strong capabilities in relation to planning and permitting, dispute resolution and compliance-related matters. Kristof Hectors and Marco Schoups are the joint heads of the team, which acts for clients from a wide range of industries. Energy and real estate development are two notable areas of strength. Céline Bimbenet, who is one of four associates in the group, joined from Verbist Advocatuur in 2018.