Firms To Watch: Private equity

Cresco Advocaten is focused on early-stage venture capital fund formation and investments, and is expanding its portfolio of fund and sell-side clients. David Dessers heads up the team.

Private equity in Belgium

Allen & Overy LLP

Allen & Overy LLP continues to be highly active throughout the private equity mid-market and bulge bracket, advising a combination of major Benelux and global buyout funds on acquisitions, minority investments, exits, and portfolio company M&A, combining its standout transactional expertise with financing, tax, and regulatory expertise, allowing the team to handle all aspects of complex, often cross-border private equity deals. Wouter Van De Voorde leads the ‘sharp and competent‘ team, which also includes Dirk Meeus and Pierre-Olivier Mahieu as prolific senior dealmakers, alongside Frederiek Adams, who is praised by clients as ‘one of the best‘ and has expanded his portfolio of high-profile private equity clients.

Practice head(s):

Wouter Van de Voorde


Other key lawyers:

Dirk Meeus; Pierre-Olivier Mahieu; Frederiek Adams


Testimonials

‘Strong broad knowledgeable team which is so active in the market that they have solutions for different situations that may arise’

‘Frederiek Adams is one of the best young partners in Belgian M&A. Pleasant, clever, commercial, networked.’

‘Very flexible team that actively thinks together with you to meet your needs.’

Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL

With clients including major European and global private equity houses, including buyout funds, growth capital investors, and industry funds, the team at Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL stands out for its combination of high-value transactional work and advice on fundraising, financing matters, and regulatory issues, working with funds throughout the lifecycle of investments. The team is led by the ‘pragmatic, insightfulRoel Meers, a key name for acquisition finance, fundraising, and corporate governance work alongside Koen Vanhaerents, while Luc Meeus and Dominique Maes are vastly experienced in cross-border buyouts. Davinia Martens continues to be active in corporate finance and associate restructuring matters. Senior associate Kristoff Cox is also a key name for financing and counsel Kim Stas handles a number of complex cross-border deals.

Practice head(s):

Roel Meers


Other key lawyers:

Koen Vanhaerents; Dominique Maes; Davinia Martens; Kristoff Cox; Kim Stas; Luc Meeus; Younes Sebbarh


Testimonials

‘The team has access to the benefits of being a global, full-service law firm. They can provide advice in almost any jurisdiction and certainly in every area of law that we have needed advice on so far. They are true experts in our industry (life sciences) and know what it takes to get deals done with big pharma partners or life sciences investors.’

‘Partner Roel Meers knows the industry inside-out and always provides pragmatic, insightful advice. Associate Younes Sebbarh is a very talented lawyer, driven to get the deal done and incredibly responsive. He takes real ownership of your transaction and understands what matters most to your business.’

‘Team mixing entrepreneurial, commercial, problem-solving spirit with strong work ethic and high quality legal knowledge.’

Key clients

TA Associates


Core Equity


Ergon Capital


Korys Investments


CVC Capital


M80 Capital


Federal Holding and Investment Company (FPIM-SFPI)


Noshaq


Recticel


Kebek III


The Good Life Development Fund II


Newton Biocapital II Partners


Walloon Region Investment Company (SRIW)


Fortino Capital Partners NV / SA


De Cronos Groep


KBC Securities


Straco PE


VVH Invest


Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen


Equilis Europe


Aquinos Group


EEBIC Ventures


Work highlights


  • Advised Ergon Capital on the buy-out of the Summa group.
  • Advised Fortino Capital Partners on the structuring and establishment of their new PE growth fund.
  • Assisted the Belgian Federal Holding and Investment Company on the acquisition of different participations in Euroclear Holding SA/NV from different institutional sellers.

ARGO Law

ARGO Law is a boutique firm focused on transactional work and advice to private equity funds, including on buyouts, minority investments, fund structuring, and formation issues, including in-house financing and tax expertise. The team acts for a number of mid-market private equity and venture capital clients, and has notably expanded its share of international work, both for domestic clients and new foreign funds. Bert Van Ingelghem and Kris Verdoodt head up the team, both prolific transactional advisers, and tax specialist Philippe Rens is also a key member of the team, handling fund structuring mandates alongside Freya Jorens, who was promoted to partner in January 2022.

Practice head(s):

Kris Verdoodt; Bert Van Ingelghem


Other key lawyers:

Philippe Rens; Louis Hoet; Freya Jorens; Mattias Verbeeck; Evelyn Van Raemdonck


Testimonials

‘Thorough knowledge of PE practice, solutions oriented, creative and great legal advice (to the point).’

‘Very good and pleasant team, deep knowledge, very practical advice and excellent value for money.’

‘Smart and professional. Special mention to Kris Verdoodt.’

‘Unique combination of knowledge, experience, attention to diversity. Digital solutions allow us to work very efficiently.’

‘Available, react fast, think with the customer.’

Key clients

Fortino Capital


Down2Earth Capital


Vectis Private Equity


Vendis Capital


Waterland Private Equity


Innovad / IK Partners


Pentahold


Bencis Capital Partners


Sofindev


Gimv


Hummingbird Ventures


PE Capital Group


Finco Private Equity III


Integra Partners


KBC Securities


Work highlights


  • Assisted the shareholders of Sylphar, active in the development and marketing of OTC products, on the EUR 300mio sale to Karo Pharma, a Swedish healthcare company listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and backed by EQT.
  • Assisted the shareholders of Teamleader, a Belgian scale-up and leading provider of SaaS work management software for SMEs, in the sale to Visma of Norway.
  • Advised Hummingbird with respect to the set-up of two new funds, Nomads and Icons, with a total commitment raised of approximately USD 300mio in aggregate.

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance is active across the full spectrum of private equity issues, advising institutional buyout funds, venture capital investors, and management teams on buyouts and exits, minority investments, fundraising and fund operational issues, as well as tax and regulatory considerations, regularly working with the firm’s global network on complex multi-jurisdictional mandates. The team is led by Niek De Pauw, who is able to handle an array of complex PE-backed transactions, including exits via IPO, joint ventures, and public-to-private deals. Xavier Remy is also a key name for transactional work, while Alexandre Ooms advises on tax structuring and fundraising issues. Counsel Patrice Viaene remains highly active in cross-border transactions and fundraising matters.

Practice head(s):

Niek De Pauw


Other key lawyers:

Xavier Remy; Patrice Viaene; Alexandre Ooms


Key clients

Verlinvest


APG


EQT


Waterland


Triton


CVC


Straco


KKR


Ardian


Antin


Merieux Equity Partners


Deliverect


Gridworks Development Partners


Amavi Capital


Blackstone


Cinven


Partners Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Verlinvest on the sale of its majority shareholding in Valtech SE to BC Partners.
  • Advised Deliverect on its Series D financing.
  • Advised EQT on its (partial) exit from Azelis by way of an IPO.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper combines cross-border transactional expertise on behalf of global buyout houses and venture capital investors with capabilities in fund formation, financing, tax, and regulatory work, allowing it to work with private equity sponsors across the lifecycle of investments. Alongside fund-side advice, the firm also works with tech companies on VC-backed financing rounds, portfolio companies, and management teams. The practice is led by Pierre Berger, who specialises in financing and regulatory work, Koen Selleslags, who is active in transactional and corporate issues on both sides of private equity-backed deals, and Michaël Heene, a regular adviser on fund structuring and investment mandates for private equity and venture capital clients. Counsel Aubry Daerden was a new arrival in 2023.

Practice head(s):

Koen Selleslags; Michaël Heene; Pierre Berger


Other key lawyers:

Fauve Vander Schelden; Gregg Moons; Aubry Daerden


Testimonials

‘Strong case knowledge, creativity to find alternative solutions, knowledge on market practices, understanding of client needs (and willingness to fight for that) as well as real advisory – so not only executing on the client’s demands, but also providing advice on what is really important and what is not.’

Key clients

Alychlo NV


777 Partners


Torqx Capital Partners


Castik


IceLake Capital


Checkroom NV


Jeroen De Wit / Teamleader


InvestLink NV


Tioga Capital Partners sLP


ING Solutions Investment Management


NPM Capital


The Pacific Media Group


Casa Management


Fortino Capital Venture


SharpX


SD Worx


Highlander Partners


Carlyle


Bregal Milestone


Miraclon (Montagu portfolio company)


TDR Capital


Aliaxis


Katoen Natie


Belfius


IStar (funding rounds)


Work highlights


  • Acted for Alychlo NV, the family investment company of entrepreneur Marc Coucke, on its disposal of the Ceres Pharma group.
  • Acted for Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners on its acquisition of Standard de Liège football club.
  • Advised Torqx Capital Partners on its exit (through auction) from Intreso Group via a sale to Draslovka, a Czech-based multinational active in specialty chemicals.

Linklaters

Linklaters advises private equity funds ranging from international bulge-bracket investors through to mid-cap regional players throughout their life-cycle, handling fund structuring, transactions, portfolio company issues, and exits, combining strong transactional expertise with integrated financing, tax, and regulatory capabilities. The firm has a strong record in public M&A by private equity clients, particularly PIPE transactions. Arnaud Coibion leads the team, specialising in private equity transactions in regulated industries, and Charles-Antoine Leunen takes the lead on financing work. An-Sofie Van Hootegem has a broad portfolio of international sponsor clients, and handles buyouts, exits, and management-side issues.

Practice head(s):

Arnaud Coibion


Other key lawyers:

Charles-Antoine Leunen; An-Sofie Van Hootegem; Nils Vermeulen


Testimonials

‘Very commercial attitude. We had a rapidly evolving deal, where the needs and demands were not crystal clear from the outset. The team was flexible and pragmatic to adapt to this.’

‘Filip Lecoutre was very responsive and hands-on. He is also kind enough to keep sending updates about the target even after the deal was aborted to keep us up to speed.’

‘Linklaters has a long-standing reputation as a top law firm in M&A. We highly recommend Linklaters to other scale-up companies, in particular in larger, competitive financing rounds.’

‘Partner Filip Lecoutre and managing associate Nils Vermeulen both stand out in terms of professionalism, deal making capabilities and proactiveness and during the whole transaction. Nils Vermeulen is a young potential that recently joined the team, as managing associate his expertise in start-up and scale-up financing is particularly valued in our transaction.’

‘I enjoy working with Linklaters because I feel confident that, in addition to the core private equity team (which has excellent knowledge of the sector), it is surrounded by specialists who can provide input on specific technical issues and deliver a very valuable full service, and guarantee that all important issues are properly addressed and integrated into the analysis’

‘An-Sofie Van Hootegem is an outstanding lawyer, with an excellent knowledge of the deal specificities and complexities of the private equity sector.’

Key clients

Ardian


Hg


Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan


Warburg Pincus


Waterland


Gimv


BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity


Sofina


Verlinvest


Cobepa


GBL


Orkila Capital


Gilde Equity Management


NMP Capital


Dovesco


Baltisse


Société Régionale d’Investissement de Wallonie (SRIW)


Robur Capital


Alcopa


Loyens & Loeff

Loyens & Loeff enjoys productive relationships with a number of global private equity funds such as Silver Lake, advising on international buyouts, minority investments, and exits, supporting its transactional work with in-house regulatory and tax expertise, alongside strong collaboration with its Benelux-wide investment management practice. The practice is headed up by Robrecht Coppens and Thomas Lenné, both prolific players in complex cross-border transactions in a wide range of industries. Senior associate Mathias Hendrickx is also a key member of the team, with notable specialisms in capital markets issues. Aubry Daerden left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Robrecht Coppens; Thomas Lenné


Other key lawyers:

Mathias Hendrickx


Testimonials

‘We worked with Robrecht Coppens and Mathias Hendrickx, who both did a fantastic job leading us through a very challenging transaction that spanned many months. The transaction was a complicated carve-out, and both coordinated the numerous workstreams very effectively. The team was willing to delve deep into the client’s, at times short-staffed, business to get workstreams over the fine.

‘Robrecht Coppens provides a very re-assuring presence during intense and often anxiety producing times. Genuinely knew our transaction documents inside out and was very involved in the deal. Mathias Hendrickx did a great job shepherding the transaction and staying on top of our very long checklist.

‘They are able to provide a full life cycle service for private equity funds in combination with their tax and investment management teams.’

‘Thomas Lenné is a great team player, dynamic, commercial and smart.’

Key clients

Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC


Kiniciti, LLC.


Sequoia Capital Global Equities


Snowflake Investment Holdings, Inc


Silver Lake


EQT AB


Pamplona Capital Management LLC


H.I.G. European Capital Partners


Spectrum Equity


Thoma Bravo


Summit Partners


Corel / KKR


Work highlights


  • Assisted Balta, a leading manufacturer of textile floor coverings, listed on Euronext Brussels (BALTA) and majority owned by Lone Star, the leading global private equity firm, with the sale of Balta’s Rugs, Residential polypropylene (Residential PP) and Non-Woven businesses, together with the Balta brand, to Victoria PLC.
  • Assisted the Corel Group and its owner KKR, in connection with the acquisition of all the shares in the Belgian company Awingu NV and its US subsidiary Awingu Inc.
  • Assisted H.I.G. European Capital Partners in the acquisition of 100% of the shares in the Belgian company Quick Restaurants SA.

Stibbe

Stibbe has a solid private equity deal flow, advising domestic and international private equity and venture capital funds, as well as management, on a combination of bulge-bracket and mid-market buyouts, minority investments, and exits, also offering solid financing, regulatory, and fundraising expertise. Alongside playing a key role in cross-border European deals, the team is also regularly involved in Belgian and European elements of high-value global transactions, often working with major UK and US platforms. Stefan Odeurs leads the team, and advises funds and sellers on buyouts, investments, and turnaround transactions. Dries Hommez is noted for his work on complex global deals, and Jan Peeters combines transactional work with financing and capital markets expertise.

Practice head(s):

Stefan Odeurs


Other key lawyers:

Dries Hommez; Jan Peeters


Work highlights


  • Advised Conny Vandendriessche on the sale of of 100% of the shares in House of HR NV  to Bain Capital.
  • Assisted Sun European Partners with the acquisition of Sports & Leisure Group Invest NV (SLG), an artificial grass business headquartered in Belgium, from, among others, Chequers Capital.
  • Assisted Lone Star Funds (as purchaser) on the contemplated acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Manuchar NV.

White & Case LLP

White & Case LLP advises a global portfolio of private equity funds on high-value, cross-border mandates, with particular strength in the financial services, energy, and infrastructure spaces. The firm combines transactional nous with standout financing and regulatory capabilities, and is closely integrated with its international offices in key jurisdictions such as the UK, US and Africa. Thierry Bosly leads the team, advising on buyouts, financing, and restructuring-related issues, while Thomas Glauden was promoted to partner in January 2022 and specialises in private equity work, with notable expertise in Luxembourg law issues. Carlo Meert arrived from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in February 2022, and advises on a wide range of cross-border transactions.

Practice head(s):

Thierry Bosly


Other key lawyers:

Carlo Meert; Thomas Glauden; Nick Hallemeesch; Phillipe Hendrickx


Testimonials

‘Carlo Meert and Nick Hallemeesch are both very competent corporate and M&A lawyers.’

‘As Thierry Bosly is the co-head of the global private equity practice at White & Case, his office kind of functions as a European command centre for private equity / M&A. When dealing with his team, usually Carlo Meert and Philippe Hendrickx, you can easily get access to the right experts globally. It really feels like one firm rather than a collection of several practices. They are innovative in the sense that in one particular example I was unable to find another firm that could bring a team of global experts (including discussion of all rates) available so seamlessly and in such a short time frame.’

‘Thierry Bosly is such an experienced but also charismatic person with an unparalleled network globally, that he can be considered to be part of the top private equity lawyers globally. He’s a legend. Carlo Meert is a great addition to the team, he is technically world class and as responsive as it can get. Recently promoted partner Philippe Hendrickx is a very diligent lawyer and very responsive, a rising star in the Belgian M&A scene in my opinion.

‘The White & Case team brings multiple professionals with each their domain expertise. Moreover, they really work as a team and complement each other.’

‘I worked together with Philippe Hendrickx who delivered outstanding work. He is a great communicator delivering high quality output while being really engaged to the project at hand. Moreover, not only has he expert knowledge on M&A related matters, he also hast vast industry knowledge.’

Key clients

Cobepa


Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Inc.


Karo Pharma and EQT


CR-CP Life Science Fund


Omnes Capital SAS


Goldman Sachs


Battery Ventures


Grégoire de Streel and others


Sole Source Capital LLC


Ackermans & Van Haaren NV


CVC


IK Partners


Work highlights


  • Represented Cobepa and BioAgilytix in the recapitalisation of BioAgilytix in conjunction with investment firm Cinven Partners LLP.
  • Advised Cobepa on the sale of its majority stake in JF Hillebrand to Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL).
  • Advised Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners on its (indirect) sale of shares in VTG AG.

ALTIUS

Advising domestic and international buyout, real estate, mezzanine financing, and equity investment funds, the team at ALTIUS primarily handles fund formation and fundraising mandates, alongside associated regulatory and tax considerations, working closely with the firm’s banking and finance team. The practice also advises on buyouts, minority investments, and exits, with a focus on early-stage companies in the life sciences and tech spaces. Tom Vantroyen and Marie Brasseur lead the team, which combines transactional and financing expertise.

Practice head(s):

Tom Vantroyen; Marie Brasseur


Testimonials

‘The team is very hands-on. Partners and other senior lawyers are very accessible and dedicated.’

‘Tom Vantroyen is always quick on the ball and a pleasure to work with.’

Key clients

Access Capital Partners


Alticor


Blackstone


COATUE


Deutsche Invest Mittelstand


Indufin Investment Fund


Indufin Capital Partners


The Common Group


Work highlights


  • Advising Coatue as lead investor in the $150 Mio Series D Funding round of Deliverect, a SaaS platform that automates restaurants’ online orders.
  • Assisted Indufin Investment Fund in relation to its investment in DIY distributor VARO.
  • Advised Deutsche Invest Mittelstand (DIM) in relation to its acquisition of 100% of the shares of the Aspel group.

Eubelius

Eubelius advises private equity funds, portfolio companies, and management teams, handling buyouts and exits, portfolio company M&A and financing, and fund formation mandates. The team advises on Belgian regulatory and structuring considerations, as well as cross-border transactions and investments, with clients including domestic companies and funds as well as international investors. Key names in the practice include Matthias Wauters, Erwin Destuyver, Filip Jenné, and Felix Dobbelaere, all experienced transactional lawyers with experience of cross-border private equity deals.

Practice head(s):

Matthias Wauters; Erwin Destuyver; Filip Jenné; Felix Dobbelaere


Key clients

BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity


Domo Investment Group / Dovesco


Damier Group


Sports & Leisure Group


Creafund


EIC Fund


V-Bio Ventures


Fortress Investment Group


I Squared Capital


Robur Capital


Work highlights


  • Assisted investment group Dovesco and the other shareholders on the sale of a majority stake in the LS Bedding group to Sleepco (a portfolio company of Waterland Germany).
  • Assisted the shareholders of Sofics on the sale of Sofics to the investment fund Creafund and the reinvestment by the sellers in the acquisition vehicle.
  • Assisted Damier Group which was part of a consortium led by CVC Capital Partners that acquired the France based Cooper Consumer Healthcare group from Charterhouse in a EUR 1.5 billion deal.

Jones Day

Jones Day has continued to expand its footprint in private equity transactions, advising international investors such as AIP and Rockley Management on cross-border deals in concert with its global private equity platform, as well as increasing its share of domestic private equity-backed transactions, including buyouts, exits, minority investments, and portfolio M&A. The firm advises domestic and European funds, both private equity and venture capital, as well as working with target companies, particularly within the team’s focus areas of tech and life sciences. Thomas De Muynck heads up the practice, specialising in work with US and European funds investing in Belgium, with Jonas Van Den Bossche also a key name for cross-border buyouts.

Practice head(s):

Thomas De Muynck


Other key lawyers:

Jonas Van den Bossche; Steve Nuyts


Key clients

American Industrial Partners (AIP)


Alven Capital


Arsenal Capital Partners


BNP Paribas


Buysse & Partners


Cowboy SA


Cathay Capital


ETF Partners


Fortino


Index Ventures


iStar Medical SA


New Alpha


Proxyclick SA


Rockley Management


Seventure Partners


Stride.vc


The Riverside Company


Work highlights


  • Represented Belgian technology scale-up of the year Proxyclick in its exit transaction to Thoma Bravo-backed Condeco.
  • Represented a consortium of investors led by Rockley Management (HK) Limited in the acquisition of ON Semiconductor Belgium BV, a subsidiary of Semiconductor Components Industries.
  • Advised American Industrial Partners on the acquisition of Aluminium Duffel.

Lydian

Lydian has productive relationships with domestic and international investment funds, advising on the mid-market buy-side, as well as acting for sellers and management in high-value, often cross-border deals. The firm regularly partners with international law firms on multi-jurisdictional transactions of significant value, and provides in-house tax and regulatory expertise, as well as experience of corporate governance issues. The team is headed up by Peter De Ryck and Maxime Colle; together with Tom Geudens, they advise a wide range of funds and corporates on buyouts and private equity-backed transactions. Florence Colpaert also plays a key role on transactions and financing matters.

Practice head(s):

Peter De Ryck; Maxime Colle; Tom Geudens


Other key lawyers:

Florence Colpaert


Testimonials

‘Approachable, pragmatic and legally excellent.’

‘Maxime Colle is an excellent PE lawyer.’

Key clients

Naxicap Partners


House of HR


White Bridge Investments


Andera Partners


Tikehau Ace Capital


Carl Zeiss


La Financière Patrimoniale d’Investissement (LFPI)


European Dental Group (backed by Nordic)


Northleaf Capital Partners


Waterland Private Equity


Hartree Partners


Alantra


IU Group (formerly Career Partner Group) (backed by Oakley Capital)


Work highlights


  • Acted as lead counsel to the sellers in the sale of House of HR NV to Bain Capital.
  • Advised White Bridge Investments in two major acquisitions, being the acquisition of the Belgian chocolate spread manufacturer Boerinneke (for its portfolio company Nutkao) and the acquisition of the food supplement distributor GDI Martera (for its portfolio company named Natural Medicine).
  • Advised the French private equity Andera Partners on its investment in the Elan group, the largest translation company in the Benelux, generating an annual turnover of around EUR 20 million over four branches in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland.

Monard law

Monard Law advises a number of domestic and international private equity and venture capital funds on buyouts, exits, and associated regulatory and tax considerations. Operating on both the buy and sell-side, primarily in the mid-market, the firm also advises companies and shareholders on sales to private equity as well as early-stage financing rounds. Sector focuses for the team include tech and innovation, real estate, and healthcare. The practice is headed up by Maxime Monard, noted for his strong focus on the venture capital and start-up space, Nicole Segers, Pieter Van den Broeck and Benoit Samyn.

Practice head(s):

Nicole Segers; Pieter Van den Broeck; Maxime Monard; Benoit Samyn


Testimonials

‘Excellent service. Pragmatic, on the ball.’

‘Pieter van den Broeck – great deal maker. Maxime Monard – true venture capital expert.’

‘Very flexible team; reasonably priced; good service overall.’

‘Maxime Monard is a pleasure to work with for corporate matters.’

‘Open communication, helping us as customer to understand pro’s and con’s of the options, counselling us on pro’s and con’s, agile way of working, flexibility.’

‘Maxime Monard – always prepared to help, advise, direct – honest opinion and advice – clear understanding of M&A do’s and don’ts – very good understanding of the market.’

Key clients

VIB


Quanteus Group


Legia Capital


Daltix


Het Poetsbureau


LRM


Concentra


GT Invest


Dobco Medical


Sitemark


ESAS senior management


AGC Networks


Droia Ventures


Chili Publish NV


E-Capital Equity Management


The Nest Family Office


Saint Gobain


PROfounders Capital


Pharrowtech


Dino Saurus


NautaDutilh

NautaDutilh advises European and global private equity funds on inbound and outbound investments, with work including buyouts, minority investments, exits, and joint ventures, providing multi-jurisdictional expertise and additional support on Belgian tax and regulatory issues. The team is led by Philippe Remels and Nicolas de Crombrugghe, who focuses on transactions in regulated sectors such as energy and financial services, with counsel Christophe Wathion also a key team member, with strong capabilities in complex transactional arrangements.

Practice head(s):

Philippe Remels; Nicolas de Crombrugghe


Other key lawyers:

Dirk Van Gerven; Christophe Wathion


Testimonials

‘Diverse complementary skill set; good interchangeability as the transaction evolves.’

‘The depth of experience in previous transactions was clear from the beginning and that clearly gave them superior ability to advise and navigate difficult situations.’

‘Very experienced team in all Benelux countries! Well known in their respective markets and state-of-the-art advice in all deal relevant law areas in fast-paced PE transactions. Very high availability and strong teams which allow seamless collaborations in cross border PE transactions.’

‘Nicolas de Crombrugghe is highly skilled, very experienced, knowledgeable and always available. Due to his calmness and outstanding legal knowledge he is able to navigate the client through complex negotiations and to ensure a smooth transaction process. He also handles his team and staffing very well and is always on top of things. Christophe Wathion was also very knowledgeable, smart, fast and highly available also during peak holiday season. Due to his high responsiveness and pragmatic and smart advice, he was able to steer the transaction process towards a smooth closing.’

Key clients

Advent International


Apollo


Astorg


Bain Capital


Carlyle


Clayton, Dubilier & Rice


Cobepa


Korys


Octopus Ventures


SilverTree Private Equity


Sol Global Investments


Summa Equity


VMF


Work highlights


  • Advised Bain Capital on its acquisition of a majority stake in House of HR.
  • Advised Summa Equity on its acquisition of Intix NV.
  • Advised Clayton, Dubilier & Rice with its acquisition of PwC’s global mobility tax and immigration services business in Belgium.

Strelia

Strelia predominantly handles mid-market private equity and venture capital transactions, advising funds ranging from major buyout houses through to individual investors, as well as target companies, on deals and associated regulatory issues. The firm has a strong record in the life sciences and tech spaces, and accordingly regularly advises on early-stage financing and venture capital investments. Gisèle Rosselle, active in the tech space, leads the team alongside Laurent Verhavert. Katrien Vorlat is also a popular choice for international PE fund clients.

Practice head(s):

Gisèle Rosselle; Laurent Verhavert


Other key lawyers:

Katrien Vorlat; Cederic Devroey


Testimonials

‘Strelia’s Corporate M&A team, and in my view especially if Gisele Rosselle and Cederic Devroey are involved, is truly professional in their responsiveness, knowledge, experience with private equity transactions. If we do a cross border transaction with various firms abroad they stand out in their approach. A very hard working and capable team. They innovate and have state-of-the-art systems, e.g. digital signing, billing.’

‘I predominantly work with Gisele Rosselle and Cederic Devroey. Gisele is a very smart and pleasant person. She is a great communicator and very skilled lawyer. She clearly cooperates with Cederic on a daily basis and they form a very hard working and capable team. If we have a transaction with an angle in Belgium, they are definitely the go to for us.’

‘They respond very quickly to my questions. Documents that urgently need to be checked are never a problem.’

‘Very hands on, on the ball and responsive. Truly a safe pair of hands to have on your side in a transaction.’

‘Good knowledge of the market; clear and incisive advice; commitment to timelines; reasonably priced.’

Key clients

Newton Biocapital


Vesalius Biocapital


Quilvest Capital Partners


Swarovski Group


Chemtech Group


Foreman Capital


Dematra Waterland


Societe General


Dawn Capital


Crane Capital


Arlington Capital Partner


BC Partners


Work highlights


  • Assisted the Swarovski Group in its multi-jurisdictional acquisition of Dinniq Mobility Group from PE fund Egeria.
  • Assisted DawnCapital in respect to a new capital round of EUR 250 mio of Collibra whereby new investors such as Sofina as well as existing shareholders, such as Dawn Capital, subscribe to newly issued shares to strengthen the balance sheet of Collibra and fund further expansion.

Ace Law

Ace Law is a boutique transactional firm, and a regular adviser to private equity funds on their Belgian fundraisings and investments. The firm has bespoke expertise in domestic and cross-border transactions, as well as fund formation and structuring, capital markets, and regulatory considerations. The ‘deal-driven, proactive‘ team is led by Didier Roemers, who focuses on corporate finance, and Filip Meire, a key transactional adviser, with Bert Van Camp, who has broad financial services and insurance sector expertise, also a key player.

Practice head(s):

Filip Meire; Didier Roemers


Other key lawyers:

Bert Van Camp


Testimonials

‘Deal-driven, pro-active, pragmatic, fixed price strategy, market-knowledge.’

‘Didier Roemers, Filip Meire: Strong technical skills, deal-driven, pragmatic, pro-active, always available.’

‘Fixed quotes, showing that they know their game and client needs. Interlinks perfectly with my other advisors.’

Key clients

Legia Capital


Triginta Fund


Akiles Fund


Gimv


Capital A Partners


Tilleghem Private Equity


Aya Properties Fund


Connected Capital


Work highlights


  • Advised Capital A Partners on their investment in Ando Group.
  • Advised Tilleghem Private Equity and the managers of Elan Languages Group on the investment by Andera Partners.
  • Advised the owners and managers of ESC on the investment by Capital A.

Cambrian

Cambrian continues to establish itself within the venture capital space, expanding its share of fund clients and advising on structuring and transactional mandates in the innovation economy, primarily for tech-focused investors. The team is noted for its cross-border capabilities, particularly for mandates involving US parties, and is led by Pieter Capiau, Yannick Verrycke and Wim Van Berendoncks, who all combine transactional and funds regulatory expertise with a strong focus on the tech sector.

Practice head(s):

Pieter Capiau; Wim Van Berendoncks; Yannick Verrycke


Other key lawyers:

Laura Roseel; Sammy Perel


Testimonials

‘Very hands on with top knowledge of best market practices, always performing within the agreed timeframe.’

‘Yannick Verrycke and Laura Rosseel are a top team. They are always available for feedback loops, give open feedback and are able to close deals within the framework that is discussed. Very good knowledge of the best market practices and very strong network in place.’

‘Knowledge is excellent, always available, pragmatic solutions.’

Key clients

Hummingbird Ventures


Prime Ventures


Peak Capital


Senovo


Pitchdrive


SmartFin Capital


Volta Ventures


Imec


Sweetwood Ventures


PMV


Think2Act


TheClubdealFund


9.5 Magnitude Ventures


Rio Fund


Shift Invest


Force over Mass


Inventures


FPIM


LRM


Arkane


Oper Credits


Deo


Storychief


Loop Earplugs


Mobietrain


NGData


Settlemint


Road21


Pluginvest


Vaultspeed


Ziggu


Work highlights


  • Advised the GP of Qbic Fund III on the structuring, formation and fundraising the fund.
  • Assisted Lynxcare in the structuring, negotiation and closing of its series A investment round.
  • Assisted Smartfin Capital as lead investor in the EUR 30 million financing round of Recharge.com.

Deloitte

Deloitte has a strong focus on private equity and venture capital investments, advising funds and VC investors on formation, structuring, and early-stage investments into start-ups and scale-ups, primarily in the tech and life sciences sectors. Alongside transactional and fund-side advice, the firm also provides regulatory support in key sectors, as well as integrated intellectual property expertise. Practice heads include David Roelens , Christoph Michiels, Marc Van tieghem, Benoît Féron, and Tim Baart, forming a geographically diverse team with a broad range of expertise.

Practice head(s):

David Roelens; Christoph Michiels; Marc van tieghem; Benoît Féron; Tim Baart


Key clients

PMV – Welvaartsfonds


Waterland


Saffelberg


D’Ieteren


Chequers Capital


Aurelius Equity Opportunities


Kebek Private Equity


Agomab Therapeutics NV


Amber Technologies


Arkite NV


Aphea NV


Apitope International NV


Arcsec NV


Augustine Therapeutics NV


Bioqube Ventures NV


Bubbly-Doo BV


Beeple NV


Complix NV


Constell8 NV


De Eik NV


Deuteroncology NV


Dualyx NV


Epigan NV


eTheRNA Immunotherapies NV


Forbion


FOx Biosystems NV


Friedewald Confectionary NV


Imec.Xpand Comm.V.


Inbiose NV


Indigo Diabetes NV


Inkef Capital


Intigrity NV


Jay Technologies


Jeito


Micledi Microdisplays BV


Minoryx Therapeutics BE NV


MRM Technologies NV


MRM Health NV


Ontoforce NV


Ovizio Imaging Systems NV


Primmune


Prodigest BV


Protealis NV


Rewind Therapeutics NV


S-biomedic NV


Sensolus NV


Sentea NV


Softhale NV


Solithor BV


Swave BV


Trince BV


Unifly NV


Vipun Medical NV


Welvaartsfonds


Work highlights


  • Advised PMV with the legal structuring and set-up of Welvaartsfonds as well as with the drafting of all investment and fund documentation from the moment of incorporation and the signing of the term sheet by the investors until the first and second closing of the investment round.
  • Advised Syndesi Therapeutics SA and the shareholders and management of the company, with the sale of all shares in Syndesi Therapeutics to Abbvie for a total amount equal to USD 130,000,000.
  • Assisted the syndicate of Series B investors, consisting of INKEF Capital, Jeito SLP and Forbion Capital Fund Growth Opportunities, in respect of the EUR 80 million Series B financing round in Precirix NV.

Quinz

Quinz, a boutique transactional firm, has increased its share of private equity and venture capital work, advising a number of international funds and investors on cross-border investments, buyouts, and exits, as well as fundraising and seed capital rounds. The firm also works with PE-backed portfolio companies in growth sectors such as biotech and pharma, offering in-house regulatory expertise in relevant industries. Bart Lintermans, who has considerable experience of cross-border private equity deals, leads the team alongside Klaas Thibaut, who combines prolific transactional work with regulatory capabilities.

Practice head(s):

Bart Lintermans; Klaas Thibaut


Other key lawyers:

Wout Hooyberghs; Alexandre Coulon


Testimonials

‘Very efficient staffing – Quinz is able to put in place the perfect gearing where the appropriate level knows exactly what he or she should know about the deal / is involved in the appropriate workstreams for his / her seniority. By far, one of the best value for money firms in Belgium.’

‘Bart Lintermans – very pragmatic lawyer, he knows what is important and tries to understand the business. Very strong negotiator. Great availability.’

‘Klaas Thibaut and Wout Hooyberghs deliver outstanding work time and time again. They master all the necessary intellectual frameworks, work hard and are always available, have top notch ethics and come into negotiations with the right mindset, always looking for a consensus whilst having our interests in mind. Alexandre Coulon is always a great support.’

‘The strength of Quinz is the quality of its people, the way they handle their files (very solution oriented and always available 24/7) and its commercial mind-set. In comparison to other firms I’ve worked with, they really make a difference in this respect.’

‘For M&A and PE work I would turn to Bart Lintermans who heads the M&A department at Quinz. Always available with a very sharp legal mind and quick on his feet. He is really someone who you would like to have on your side in a tough negotiation. Wout Hooyberghs is definitely someone to watch.’

‘Very professional, pragmatic and high-quality team. Small team with attention for the client.’

Key clients

Auctus Capital Partners


CIM Capital


Corilus (Rivean Capital)


Dynamica


Freshmen Fund


Fund+


Gimv


Green Park Investment Partners


VBio Ventures


Work highlights


  • Advised a consortium of investors, including FUND+ and VBIO VENTURES, on the largest Belgian biotech seed financing round in recent history (€30million) in ASTRIVAX, a new spin-off of KULeuven focussed on DNA vaccine technology.
  • Advised GIMV in relation to a number of transactions.
  • Advised FRESHMEN FUND and the founders of a Belgian popular gaming software developer in the sale of their stake to a publicly listed Danish group.

Simont Braun

Simont Braun expanded its capabilities in the private equity space with the December 2021 arrival of Tom Swinnen from EY Law, who has experience of private equity and venture capital transactions, including cross-border acquisitions and sales. The firm also handles corporate governance matters for private equity funds and their portfolio companies, alongside fundraising. Swinnen jointly heads the team with Sandrine Hirsch, Axel Maeterlinck and Steven Callens.

Practice head(s):

Axel Maeterlinck; Sandrine Hirsh; Steven Callens; Tom Swinnen


Testimonials

‘The combination of being commercial and protecting the client’s interest sets this firm apart.’

‘Tom Swinnen has an outstanding commercial drive. Someone who thinks in terms of solutions, together with his client.’