Led by the very experienced Damien Verhoeven – regarded by clients as ‘one of the front-runners in the energy law world‘ – Liedekerke‘s cross-departmental team acts for a formidable roster of market-leading producers, suppliers, and other entities on the full gamut of energy sector work. Recently, the team has been involved in Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM) implementation, carbon capture projects, and nuclear phase-out efforts, as well as new project developments and contentious proceedings within the industry. François Tulkens is noted for his experience in nuclear sector work, as well as for assisting with permitting issues for various gas and electricity heavyweights. Olivier Vanden Berghe specialises in commercial contract issues and litigation, and former Kinshasa office head Thibaut Hollanders is noted for his expertise in international renewable energy projects, with recent highlights including major hydropower and solar development in the DRC. Names to note at associate level include the ‘brilliant’ Lola Malluquin, a regulatory specialist who notably advises on CRM and battery storage matters, and Jonas Van Orshoven, who has most recently assisted multinationals with burgeoning domestic solar projects. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.

‘The most experienced and complete Belgian law firm for advice in the renewable energy sector‘, according to one client, Loyens & Loeff‘s energy and infrastructure team has significant capabilities in both domestic and international renewable energy ventures, as well as energy storage, CRM, hydrogen ventures, and windfall tax reviews. Practice chair Koen Panis is a key port of call for various financial institutions, investors, and developers seeking assistance with solar energy projects and public-private partnership (PPP) financing across the Benelux region. Thomas Chellingsworth, who is lauded for the breadth of his energy sector expertise, regularly advises major public and private sector players on a wide array of matters, including smart electricity meter rollouts and new heating grid developments. Senior associates Christine Delagaye and Bram Devlies are also highly recommended. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.

The ‘excellent‘ Clifford Chance is regularly engaged by a number of leading energy companies and banks for its capabilities in high-value, cross-border work, ranging from new renewable plant developments to project financing transactions and strategic joint ventures. The cross-practice team is chaired by Xavier Remy, a highly experienced partner whose recent engagements include major solar and offshore wind infrastructure projects. Counsel Patrice Viaene is a renewable energy specialist with niche expertise in clean hydrogen ventures. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.

Underpinned by a significant global network of offices, the ‘excellent’ team at DLA Piper advises on a host of cross-border transactional, regulatory, and project financing matters – ranging from power purchase agreements (PPAs) to CRM issues. The team is particularly noted for its strength in Greek and South-East European work, anchored by the ‘one-of-a-kind‘ Orestis Omran, a highly regarded expert in EU energy asset privatisation and energy transition projects. The practice is chaired by market veteran Bob Martens, whose significant regulatory acumen sees him advising a range of market-lading energy producers on all manner of issues. In Antwerp, counsel Alec Van Vaerenbergh is praised for his knowledge of EU and Belgian energy regulation, contract negotiation, and climate change initiatives. All named lawyers are based in Brussels unless noted otherwise. 

Roundly praised for its ‘excellent knowledge‘ and ‘commercial acumen‘, Fieldfisher‘s energy and utilities offering is a popular choice for a range of high-profile public and private sector clients, who turn to the team for its wide-ranging capabilities in cross-border regulatory and contractual matters, project strategy advisory, and compliance issues, to name a few. Functioning as part of the firm’s EU Regulatory, Competition & Trade department, the practice is co-chaired by the ‘pragmatic‘ David Haverbeke, a specialist in electricity and gas sector work, and Wouter Vandorpe, whose recent engagements include public procurement analysis for international wind farm developers. Senior associate Nicolas Celis, who joined the practice from Janson in January 2022, is noted for his expertise in environmental law and climate change litigation and associate Elise Van Gerven specialises in regulatory frameworks – from green electricity to Belgian climate strategy.  All named lawyers are based in Brussels.

Stibbe acts for a growing number of heavyweight private sector energy companies and is proficient in the gamut of regulatory, contractual, and project-based work – particularly in the nuclear sector. Practice chair Frederik Vandendriessche is a highly experienced practitioner whose expertise is concentrated in regulatory frameworks and distribution grid operation. Associate Pieterjan Claeys is an energy and climate law specialist with proficiency in both contractual and regulatory matters, including the real estate aspects of energy infrastructure developments. New arrivals include associate Pauline Van Bogaert (from Schoups) and junior associate Natan Vermeersch – who joined the team in February and September 2022, respectively.

Deloitte's cross-practice climate and energy team is regularly engaged on both technical and commercial mandates, ranging from federally commissioned studies to structured transactions, and acts for a strong mix of public and private sector entities. Senior associate Dominique Vanherck – who heads up the climate and energy practice – is noted for her expertise in renewables and associated infrastructure project developments. Other key names to note include managing partner Kathleen De Hornois, a specialist in public procurement and PPPs. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.

NautaDutilh‘s energy and utilities practice is praised for its expertise in a spectrum of renewable and conventional energy work, handling a steady mix of finance, corporate, and regulatory matters, as well as proceedings before the Constitutional Court. The cross-disciplinary team is jointly chaired by corporate and M&A partner Jens Mosselmans and Nicolas de Crombrugghe, a specialist in public and regulatory law. Other key figures include counsel Maxime Vanderstraeten, who focuses on public contracts, and fellow counsel Stef Feyen, an environmental law specialist noted for his expertise in CRM. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.

Leveraging its ties with a wider network of offices, as well as a strategic partnership with independent consulting firm Bernard Energy Advocacy, Philippe & Partners is noted for its focus on energy transition work, assisting a range of domestic and international clients with both regulatory and contentious matters. Practice head Denis Philippe – who splits his time between Brussels and Luxembourg – is an experienced lawyer (as well as a CEPANI arbitrator) whose recent engagements include multimillion-euro criminal investigations and damages proceedings, acting on behalf of major energy multinationals. Liege-based senior associate Mathieu Clément de Cléty is also noted for his contentious expertise.