The ‘outstanding, results-driven’ practice at Lydian runs the insurance gamut with the team’s far-reaching expertise covering issues including claims and disputes, insurance product distribution, corporate insurance and ESG work. The unit has also increasingly acting as lead counsel in cases involving international losses. Hugo Keulers co-chairs the practice and is praised for his ‘energy, in-depth insurance knowledge, international network and entrepreneurship’. Fellow practice co-chair Sandra Lodewijckx is an expert in insurance distribution and is praised for her ability to ‘stay on top of new developments‘, while Jo Willems is well positioned to handle strategically important disputes for national and international insurance clients. Marijn De Ruysscher is geared to assist with technical CAR-insurance and liability insurance mandates.
Insurance in Belgium
Lydian
Practice head(s):
Hugo Keulers; Sandra Lodewijckx
Other key lawyers:
Jo Willems; Marijn De Ruysscher; Héloïse Fostier; Louise Berrier; Luc Germonpré
Testimonials
‘Their insurance specialty is outstanding, and the results-driven approach of Hugo Keulers and his team is really much appreciated. He knows the métier.’
‘This practice is the reference in Belgium for insurance, for all stakeholders (insurers, brokers or clients) and for any matter (liability or other branches, social contribution, captive, etc.).’
‘Sandra Lodewijckx is an impressive partner in Lydian’s insurance department. She stays on top of new developments and always seems to be one step ahead of the rest.’
‘Louise Berrier is an excellent corporate associate with abilities well beyond her years of experience. She is highly responsive to client needs and very effective in a corporate transactional context.’
‘Luc Germonpré is very effective at leading client relationships and engaging Lydian’s resources for client needs.’
‘Hugo Keulers and his team are great to work with as they are well versed in insurance regulation and practical in how it applies.’
‘The insurance partners at Lydian have a tremendous knowledge on the insurance market and all legal matters in this subject. They have superb associates working with them and with us. Good communication, high speed returns and quality.’
‘It is always a pleasure to work with Hugo Keulers whose energy, in-depth insurance knowledge, international network and entrepreneurship make him an outstanding figure.’
Key clients
AIG Europe Ltd
Lloyd’s Insurance Company NV
Probitas 1492 Pty Ltd
Arc Europe SA
Bpost Bank NV
Furness Professional Risks Europe SRL
International Professional Risks Europe SRL
AXA SA
Canopius
Corona Direct NV
United Kingdom Freight Demurrage and Defence Assocation (UKFD) Ltd
London Steam-Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Limited (LSSO) Ltd
International Transport Intermediaries Club Limited (ITIC) Ltd
Great Lakes Insurance SE, (Munich Re Group)
TT Club Mutual Insurance Limited Ltd
Hilton Food Group BV
HDI Global SE
HDI Global Specialty SE
Arval Belgium NV
BNP Paribas Cardif NV
Monument Insurance Belgium Ltd
XL Catlin / XL Catlin Insurance Company SE / XL Catlin Services SE, now: Financial Insurance Company td. c/o AXA NV
Amlin Insurance SE
Zurich Insurance Plc
Can Insurance Company Ltd
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance (Global) Ltd
Aon Belgium BVBA /|Aon Consulting Belgium NV
Ergo Insurance NV
Ethias SA
Belfius Insurance NV
Belfius Bank NV
Baloise Belgium NV
AEGON NV
Qover NV
Allianz Global Corporate Specialty SE
P&V Verzekeringen CVBA
SEB Life International Assurance Company
ARAG SE – Branch Belgium
DAS Belgische Rechtsbijstandsverzekering NV
Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited
STIB-MIVB
Liberty Mutual Group
Beluga Insurance Solutions NV
Alta Signa Group BV
Immoweb Financial Services SA
DKV NV
Euler Hermes NV
Nationale Nederlanden NV
Alpha/Enstar Insurance plc
Mitsui Ltd
Beazley Furlonge Ltd
KBC Verzekeringen NV
AG Insurance NV
Gallagher
Airbnb Inc
Booking.com Inc
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty
Starr Insurance Company Inc
Toyota NV
Trip vzw
Assuralia
Alecto Consulting BV
CannGen Insurance Europe BV
DELA Natura-en levensverzekeringen N.V.
Euroclear NV
Homeserve France SAS
KU Leuven
Next Wave insurance LLC
OCM -CDZ
Zurich Insurance Plc, Belgium Branch
Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
Work highlights
- Assisted Zurich Insurance Group (through Zurich Global Ventures) with its strategic partnership with Qover, the Belgium-based insurtech company.
- Acting for Allianz Global Corporate Specialty (AGCS) and AXA XL, co-insurers of the primary layer of the D&O insurance program, in a coverage dispute with their policyholder Dexia SA.
- Upon instruction of insurers HDI Global SE and HDI Global Specialty SE, acting for Vandamme Hungaria in issues relating to the Belgian chocolate industry salmonella contamination of July 2022.
Allen & Overy LLP
Allen & Overy LLP fields a strong offering with expertise in regulatory issues, including solvency and governance work, and strength in contentious mandates and a proven track in insurance M&A. Experienced litigator Tom Schoors co-heads the practice; his varied caseload includes acting for insurance companies in post-M&A cases. Sylvia Kierszenbaum completes the leadership team and is well placed to advise international and domestic insurance companies on the regulation of insurance activities. Christian Bayart advises on the insurance aspects of employee benefits, while Niels De Waele counts prudential regulations and conduct of business rules among his areas of expertise.
Practice head(s):
Tom Schoors; Sylvia Kierszenbaum
Other key lawyers:
Christian Bayart; Niels De Waele; Bart De Bock
Testimonials
‘Niels De Waele: always very helpful and approachable.’
Key clients
AG Insurance
Ageas
Athora
Belfius Insurance
European Investment Bank
ING
NN (Nationale Nederlanden)
Randstad Belgium
SEB Life International
Swiss Life
Work highlights
- Assisted life insurance group Athora with the acquisition of a life insurance portfolio from NN Insurance – a deal involving €3.3bn of assets under management.
- Acted for the arrangers in connection with the issuance of bonds by the Belgian insurance company Ethias.
- Advised numerous insurance and reinsurance undertakings on how to comply with solvency and minimum capital requirements, as strict European rules governing the insurance industry.
ALTIUS
ALTIUS‘ multi-disciplinary practice assists insurance companies, reinsurers and insurance intermediaries across a broad section of matters with advice on regulatory issues concerning M&A, the structuring of insurance distribution channels and employment mandates among the team’s key areas of focus. Contentious work including insurance coverage disputes is an additional strength. Alexander Hansebout and Jérôme Vermeylen jointly chair the practice with the former a key contact for international disputes. Fellow litigator Stijn Van Schel has a proven track record in handling liability and coverage disputes. Cross-border transactions specialist Audrey Zegers is a further key contact.
Practice head(s):
Alexander Hansebout; Jérôme Vermeylen
Other key lawyers:
Stijn Van Schel; Audrey Zegers
Testimonials
‘Alexander Hansebout is knowledgeable, intelligent and hands on. Pleasant to work with.’
Key clients
Aetna Insurance
AG Insurance
Car Garantie
Mapfre
Work highlights
- Acted as a permanent representative in Belgium of UK insurer Aetna Insurance, allowing the company to continue its legacy insurance contracts without obtaining a licence from the National Bank of Belgium, post Brexit.
- Advising German car insurance company Car-Garantie on its information obligations under the Insurance Distribution Directive in Belgium, reviewing and amending its client information documents to align with Belgian standards.
- Assisting Mapfre Asistencia with the restructuring of its Belgian activities, primarily employment issues and the termination of post-restructuring disputes.
CMS
Warranty and indemnity, construction professional and environmental liability insurance are all key focuses of the insurance team at CMS. In Antwerp, experienced litigator Virginie Frémat co-heads the practice and frequently acts for insurers and corporates in domestic and international litigation. The leadership team is completed by the Brussels-based trio of Carl Leermakers, Benoît Vandervelde and Tom De Cordier; Vandervelde is well versed in financial services and life insurance law. Back in Antwerp, Julie De Pauw‘s far-reaching practice encompasses policy reviews, dispute resolution and liability issues, while Tom Reingraber is a known name for insurance litigation.
Practice head(s):
Virginie Frémat; Carl Leermakers; Benoît Vandervelde; Tom De Cordier
Other key lawyers:
Julie De Pauw; Tom Reingraber
Testimonials
‘We instructed CMS Belgium several times over the last few years. Our cases involved different types of claims with complicated technical and legal issues. In all of these cases, the CMS lawyers did a very qualified job and handled the cases comprehensibly and to our complete satisfaction.’
‘The lawyers of CMS are always eager to support us.’
‘The saying about a team being more than the sum of its parts certainly applies here. One would be hard pushed to have a better experience and service with a legal team.’
Key clients
Equipe Verzekeringen
Starr Europe Insurance
StarStone Insurance
AIG Cyberedge
Cigna Insurance company
Ardonagh
Aviva
Hokodo
Chubb
AXA XL
Tokio Marine
Howden Broking Group
Howden M&A
Markel
Lloyds Insurance Company (Brussels)
CNA Insurance Company (Europe)
Ryan Specialty Group Sweden
Navigators Underwriting Agency
The Hartford
Bolttech
Samsung Electronics
Qover
Work highlights
- Advising Howden Broking Group on its expansion in Belgium, which involves multiple acquisitions of insurance brokers.
- Assisting Transact Risk Partners with numerous cross-border claims from policyholders under different warranty and indemnity insurance policies.
- Advising Samsung on the offering of device-related insurance products (PC, laptop, mobile phones), including partnership with a third-party insurance broker, on regulatory available exemptions, contractual terms and structural operations.
DLA Piper
Praised for its ‘expert knowledge of complex cases‘, DLA Piper is active across Belgian and European regulatory matters in the fields of consumer protection and prudential supervision, life and non-life insurance product documentation and the drafting of distribution and cooperation agreements. The team is additionally highlighted for its expertise pertaining to large insurance M&A transactions. In Antwerp, practice head Pierre Berger brings an array of regulatory expertise to the table, while in Brussels, Bob Martens‘ contentious expertise is sought out by insurance clients, particularly for professional liability disputes. Alexander Hamels has an in-depth understanding of coverage disputes and supervisory investigations.
Practice head(s):
Pierre Berger
Other key lawyers:
Bob Martens; Alexander Hamels; Lieven Annaert
Testimonials
‘Expert knowledge in complex cases.’
‘Very easy to collaborate. Pragmatic advice. Industry insights. Very good relationship with relevant local regulators.’
‘Easily accessible. Very responsive. Clear focused advice producing added value. Proactive thinking.’
‘Alexander Hamels and Pierre Berger have to be valued for their experience and knowledge in the insurance sector. They are available and very reactive, give appropriate advice and could challenge the positions in their network in order to deliver high accurate advice.’
Key clients
Assuralia
Baloise Belgium NV
Argenta Assuranties NV
Athora Belgium NV
Axa Belgium NV
Axa Partners
AXA XL Insurance Company
KBC Insurance
Patronale Life
Starstone Insurance Services Ltd
Alan SA
Swiss Life Luxembourg SA
Lombard International Assurance SA
Volvo Personvagnar AB
Europaeiske Rejseforsikring A/S
Fortegra Europe Insurance Company SE
VALE Insurance Partners Europe B.V.
Allianz Global Corporate & Speciality SE
Allianz Global Life DAC
Zurich Insurance Company ltd
Zurich Insurance plc
Zurich Global Ventures NV
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Berkley Select
ERGO Insurance
FM Global
Society of Lloyd’s
Mercer (Belgium) SA (Marsh)
Mutuelle d’Assurances des Instituteurs de France
Airbus
Michelin
Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Standard de Liège SA
MS Amlin Insurance SE
Wealins SA
Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE
Work highlights
- Assisting a maior Belgian insurance company with the acquisition of an insurer and its affiliated companies, and the subsequent merger by absorption.
- Assisting Fortegra with obtaining a Belgian insurance licence.
- Assisting a global insurance group with setting up, licensing and launching an MGA in the field of embedded insurance.
Simont Braun
Simont Braun has a strong market reputation for its proficiency in insurtech, strong academic roots and cross-practice approach to insurance. Co-head of the team Thomas Derval has a practice that straddles contentious and regulatory insurance expertise. Fellow co-heads Philippe De Prez and Joan Carette frequently leverage their strong fintech knowledge to advise insurance clients on matters such as the digitalisation of product offerings and the granting of financial licences. Rafaël Jafferali is a key contact for cross-border insurance disputes.
Practice head(s):
Thomas Derval; Philippe De Prez; Joan Carette
Other key lawyers:
Rafaël Jafferali
Testimonials
‘A very competent, professional team with diverse skills.’
‘I work with Thomas Derval who is very attentive and productive. He has a good understanding of issues linked to private banking activity. He is also a very nice person.’
Key clients
Cofidis
NewB
Aion Bank
Easyvest
Work highlights
- Assisting Aion Bank, Belgium’s first next generation digital bank, with the launch of all its new products and services including advising the bank on its insurance distribution model.
- Assisted with NewB’s establishment of the first Belgian bank project with an innovative sustainable and ethical model, which includes an offer in specific insurance products.
Stibbe
The far-reaching practice at Stibbe incorporates expertise in insurance litigation and arbitration, employee benefits and corporate and M&A work. Other areas of strength for the unit include advising of the financial regulatory aspects of the insurance sector, tax mandates, and insurance issues arising from major infrastructure projects and public contracts. Oliver Stevens heads up the ‘very knowledgeable’ team; his longstanding experience in the space includes dealing with financial lines insurance, property insurance and litigation concerning the mis-selling of life insurance schemes. Corporate and capital markets expert Jan Peeters frequently advises on transactional work in the sector, and Marc Fyon has amassed considerable experience in corporate finance work. Complementary pensions expert Jan Proesmans and accredited mediator Sophie Bourgois are further recommended.
Practice head(s):
Oliver Stevens
Other key lawyers:
Jan Peeters; Marc Fyon; Jan Proesmans; Sophie Bourgois; William Poelmans
Testimonials
‘The team is very knowledgeable in insurance regulatory matters and always very responsive.’
‘Jan Peeters and his team are very competent and always able to explain complex matters in an easy to understand way. William Poelmans is always very helpful too.’
‘We would especially like to emphasise our collaboration with Oliver Stevens. Our case concerns an atypical and complex file, where financial insight and empathy with our business context was an absolute condition to be able to represent our case to the fullest. Oliver has absolutely succeeded in explaining this clearly in our file and arguing strongly in our favour. Furthermore, his search for relevant case law regarding our case has ensured that a rock-solid file was built up.’
Work highlights
- Assisting Infrabel with respect to a claim under its property insurance regarding damages to the rail infrastructure caused by the flooding of July 2021.
- Assisting Private Insurer in a critical dispute that arose shortly after its acquisition by its new shareholder, P&V Insurances.
- Assisting Goed with transferring its employee-related insurance policies in the framework of multiple restructurings.
Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL
Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL‘s ‘highly regarded’ practice is well placed to handle a broad range of regulatory matters, strategic transactions, corporate reorganisations and litigation in front of civil and administrative courts of law. Olivier Van Den Broeke and Michael Van Acker co-head the practice, with the latter frequently leveraging his transactional expertise to assist players in the insurance space.
Practice head(s):
Olivier Van Den Broeke; Michael Van Acker
Testimonials
‘Highly regarded, high level of service and competence.’
Key clients
AG Insurance NV
Amazon Insurance
American Express
Assuralia
Baloise Belgium NV
Cardif Lux Vie
Cigna Life Insurance Europe NV
Conservatrix N.V.
Credendo
Dekabank
FCA Capital
Febelfin
Fidelity
Generali Luxembourg
Goudse Levensverzekeringen N.V.
Imperium Insurance
Insurem Insurance Limited
KBC Verzekeringen
Lombard International Assurance
Novus Underwriting
Quilter International Ireland
The Navigators, Inc.
Waard Leven N.V.
Work highlights
- Representing Ingram Micro in front of Belgium’s constitutional court; the case relates to the constitutionality of certain prescription periods in relation to life insurance products.
- Representing Assuralia in front of Belgium’s constitutional court; the case relates to the constitutionality of an interpretative law with retroactive effect in respect of insurance coverage for natural catastrophes.
- Advised Manufacturers Life Insurance, a Canadian life insurance undertaking, on various insurance regulatory issues in connection with the cross-border offering of life insurance policies in Belgium.
Philippe & Partners
Philippe & Partners‘ insurance team, which is noted for its ‘professionalism and collaboration‘, handles a range of advisory and contentious work in the insurance sector, with the group singled out for its competence in insurance products and distribution services, as well as its ability to assist with insurance-related regulatory, corporate and tax issues. Life insurance specialist Marc Gouden, who divides his time between Brussels and Luxembourg, heads up the practice alongside Pierre Moreau, whose diverse practice extends to group insurance and the development of life and non-life policies; Moreau divides his time between Brussels, Luxembourg and Mons.
Practice head(s):
Marc Gouden; Pierre Moreau
Other key lawyers:
Isabelle Cirriez; Ihsan Karatas
Testimonials
‘ The team stands out for its professionalism and collaboration.’
‘A professional approach.’
‘Outstanding service. Quick and pragmatic. They know their and our business.’
‘Marc Gouden is a responsive and pragmatic lawyer.’
Racine
Racine is known for assisting Belgian and foreign insurers with issues ranging from professional liability mandates to hospitalisation insurance and coverage issues. The multilingual team is qualified to appear before all Belgian courts. Kathlien Vergels co-heads the team alongside Lieven Van Besien , and liability and insurance law specialist Karen Ronsijn is another name to note.
Practice head(s):
Kathlien Vergels; Lieven Van Besien
Other key lawyers:
Karen Ronsijn
Key clients
AG Insurance
Aon
MS Amlin Insurance SE
Avus / SGS Belgium
Axa Belgium
Dekra
DKV Belgium (member of Ergo-group)
Ethias
HDI Global SE
KBC
Legal Village
NN Insurance Belgium
Sedgwick
Van Ameyde Belgium
Argenta Assuranties
HDI Global Specialty SE