Bird & Bird's TMT department focuses on IT licensing, service agreements and outsourcing contracts, along with IP protection and liability and procurement-related disputes. Data protection expert Benoit Van Asbroeck  and EU and competition specialist Hein Hobbelen balance transactional and litigation matters, with the assistance of technology and communications-oriented associates Isis De Moortel and Simon Mortier. Current clients include the European Commission and trade association Digital Europe.

The 'humble, hardworking and top performers' at DLA Piper have 'unmatched skills and experience in the market', particularly regarding IT public procurement and outsourcing deals, data protection assistance and telecoms projects. Clients appreciate practice head Kristof De Vulder's 'excellent ability to translate very complex IT matters into simple, comprehensive and coherent language' on both contentious and non-contentious instructions, the most recent of which involves negotiating licence agreements for multinational biopharmaceutical company UCB. Associate Raf Schoefs 'really knows his contracts', while IP rights counsel Nicolas Becker is another name to note.

Stibbe's 'strongly driven' multidisciplinary technology, media and communications team provides 'valuable practical guidance based on deep legal knowledge', advising on strategic IT and telecoms projects, ranging from big data and cloud computing to AI schemes and data retention legislation. Led by Erik Valgaeren, who clients note is 'an excellent lawyer and expert in the field of IT contracts and projects', practice also has expertise in internet and electronic communications law, handling ongoing matters for Microsoft, Verizon and the Flemish government.

ALTIUS has significant experience in IT industry transactions and M&A projects, as well as e-commerce and tech-related litigation. Gerrit Vandendriessche co-heads the practice, which is known for its 'comprehensive advice', alongside corporate expert Jérôme Vermeylen, and both regularly handle matters for market-leading companies, start-ups and spin-offs; recent clients include the IRIS Group, Sinch and Eurosmart. Other areas of focus range from electronic communications and data protection regulation to cloud computing and general commercial law.

Clients appreciate Fieldfisher's 'level of knowledge and professionalism' and ability to offer 'pragmatic, documented, to-the-point and crystal-clear' advice on TMT, outsourcing and data privacy mandates. Practice co-head Tim Van Canneyt is 'an outstanding lawyer, with excellent knowledge of new technologies', who is further appreciated for his 'organisation style and ability to argue' in IT contracts-related litigation. IP specialist Stijn Debaene also leads the group alongside Van Canneyt, with Olivier Proust advising on GDPR and compliance.

time.lex's position as a niche IT, IP and media law firm results in 'very good knowledge' of the sector, and particular strength in regulatory and compliance instructions – both contentious and non-contentious – including from the national government and the Belgian Data Protection Authority. Founding partner Jos Dumortier leads the team along with international legislative adviser Hans Graux, contracts negotiators Geert Somers and Edwin Jacobs, and GDPR experts Frederic Debusseré and Ruben Roex.

At ASTREA BV CVBA, the IT and media team demonstrates 'commitment and reliability' when handling regulatory compliance, GDPR and data collection liability issues. Practice co-heads Steven De Schrijver, in Brussels, and Olivier Van Fraeyenhoven, in Antwerp, have strong e-commerce and cybersecurity experience between them, and a client roster that features Microsoft, Skype Communications and the Kingdom of Belgium. Pieter Paepe adds commercial gaming and gambling sector expertise.

The technology and telecoms practice at boutique Cresco Advocaten handles IT contracts, IP licensing agreements and corporate partnering transactions across the digital health, medtech and venture capital industries. Headed by corporate specialist David Dessers, the team is praised for its 'highly approachable yet professional and efficient' approach, having recently advised on app-related negotiations between Qompium and Samsung Electronics. Another key name is commercial and M&A-oriented senior associate Olivier Van Raemdonck; Yannick Verrycke departed in March 2021.

Crowell & Moring's caseload features commercial and telecoms regulatory matters for IT, technology and media sector companies, with particular expertise in e-commerce and internet issues. 'Easily accessible and hands-on' practice head Thomas De Meese counts Telenet as a predominant client and is currently handling an appeal to the Belgian Competition Authority regarding the 5G network joint venture between Proximus and Orange Belgium. Litigator Jan-Diederik Lindemans 'knows how to combine strategy, simplicity and originality', while cybersecurity specialist Maarten Stassen and senior counsel Luc Machtelinckx are other names to note.

Jones Day provides 'first-class advice' and 'pulls together multi-disciplinary teams seamlessly across multiple offices' in order to serve its technology and telecoms clients. The practice group typically handles European Commission antitrust investigations, M&A and venture capital transactions, as well as regulatory and compliance issues. Bernard Amory and Alexandre Verheyden, who are typically instructed on competition-related matters, co-head the team alongside cybersecurity and data protection expert Jörg Hladjk and corporate specialist Thomas De Muynck.

Clients appreciate Lydian's telecoms, media and technology team for its 'speed of giving dedicated advice in an informal way' on transactional, advisory and contentious matters across the sector. Practice head Bastiaan Bruyndonckx is 'to-the-point, pragmatic, and a specialist in drafting and negotiating IT contracts', as well as in data protection and cybersecurity matters. The group continues to receive referrals from foreign firms and also benefits from its ability to work with the IP, corporate, commercial and employment teams.

AKD's 'well-structured' IT, IP and data protection practice advises telecoms operators, cloud providers and parties seeking AI licences on a range of telecoms regulatory and digital security matters. Headed by Paul Van den Bulck, who has experience across the transactional and disputes space, it also assists on corporate and M&A-related investments.

DALDEWOLF's IP and digital law department has significant experience in copyright issues and data protection matters, as well as IT outsourcing and contracts litigation, which is predominantly handled by Sari Depreeuw. Other names of note include tax expert Olivier Bertin and competition specialist Pierre Goffinet. The team has seen further security-related instructions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deloitte Legal's IT and IP department is headed by commercial and criminal law expert Jürgen Egger in Antwerp, alongside Ghent-based director Matthias Vierstraete. Matter highlights involve the integration and launch of new platforms – including moves to cloud set-ups – data life cycle management and cybersecurity incidents.

Monard Law's 'business-savvy and fast-thinking' information and communication technology practice predominantly handles IT contract and service agreement negotiations, as well as data protection compliance and disputes work. The team is lead by Hasselt-based Kristof Zadora, who specialises in cloud computing and big data matters, with support from Ghent-based associate partner and IP expert Stephane Criel.

Osborne Clarke leverages its litigation expertise in the technology sector to assist IP and IT clients with contract negotiations, software licences and cloud computing agreements, as well as exiting from outsourcing set-ups or transferring to new suppliers. Practice head Benjamin Docquir is the key contact, with a focus on digital transformations and mitigating information management and security risks.