Boutique firm ARGO Law is very established in the Benelux private equity market, handling a large volume of complex transactions while also drawing on cross-practice expertise to advise on fund structuring, tax, and governance matters. The team is increasingly active on cross-border buyouts and minority investments and is noted in particular for its advice on fund formation, regularly applying its regulatory and governance expertise to advise on the incorporation and post-incorporation structuring of new private equity and venture capital funds. Kris Verdoodt and Bert Van Ingelghem, whose portfolios encompass a wide range of private equity transactions, co-head the practice. Tax and fund structuring experts Philippe Rens and Freya Jorens are also highly recommended, as is transactional expert Louis Hoet.

Clifford Chance maintains a client base that encompasses private equity funds, portfolio companies, and start-ups and scale-ups seeking investments, with a particular focus on the energy and TMT sectors. The team is noted for advising on the transactional aspects of major energy transition undertakings, handling joint ventures, portfolio acquisitions, and minority investments for funds and companies seeking to develop renewable energy projects and green technologies.  Global and cross-practice connections furthermore equip the practice to handle the regulatory and tax aspects of complex cross-border acquisitions and investments. Niek De Pauw, whose expertise spans the full range of private equity transactions, leads the practice. while Xavier Remy and Patrice Viaene are further key contacts for private equity and venture capital deals in the energy sector.

DLA Piper’s team is capable of advising on the full gamut of private equity transactions and has a standout record of handling acquisitions, investments, and buy-and-build strategies for private equity clients active in the sports space. Tech and healthcare are further areas of focus for the team, which besides advising on transactions also routinely assists with the incorporation, structuring and commercialisation of new venture capital and private equity funds. Financial services specialist Pierre Berger is a noted expert in this space and also regularly advises on VC investments. He co-leads the practice with PE and VC transactions experts Koen Selleslags and Michaël Heene.

Linklaters displays a ‘thorough knowledge of PE and VC practices‘ and advises Benelux-based and large global funds throughout the lifecycle of investments. The team benefits from cross-border and cross-practice connections, which enable it to handle the tax, financing, and corporate structuring aspects of fund set-ups as well as acquisitions, investments, buy-and-build transactions, and exits. Practice head Arnaud Coibion is well-regarded for his ability to advise private funds on PIPE transactions as well as on complex dual-track exits. Further key contacts in the team include finance expert Charles-Antoine Leunen and cross-border M&A specialist An-Sofie Van Hootegem.

Loyens & Loeff’s private equity offering encompasses transactional advice in connection with venture capital investments, take-private acquisitions, and buy-and-build-strategies, as well as structuring and financing advice in relation to fund formation. The team regularly handles the domestic aspects of high-value cross-border acquisitions for upper-market funds and their portfolio companies, working with the firm’s international offices as well as global partner firms to handle Belgian regulatory and tax due diligence as well as transaction negotiations. The practice is co-led by Robrecht Coppens, who advises on restructuring matters in addition to handling a wide array of transactions, and Thomas Lenné, who is noted for advising on private equity deals in the energy, life sciences, and tech sectors. Capital markets expert Mathias Hendrickx is a further name to note.

Noted for its prolific advice in connection with sell-side private equity deals, the team at Stibbe also advises funds on distressed acquisitions, buy-and-build strategies, and investments in innovative companies in sectors such as IT and life sciences. Belgian private equity funds and their portfolio companies routinely instruct the team, which benefits from integrated tax, regulatory, and financing expertise, to advise on the Belgian aspects of global high-value sales to multinational funds. Key contacts in the team include practice head Stefan Odeurs, who is noted for his expertise on leveraged acquisitions, divestments, and turnarounds, as well as Dries Hommez, who is particularly active on cross-border M&A, and Jan Peeters, an expert on capital markets and financing matters.

Cross-border private equity transactions are a key area of focus for the team at White & Case LLP, which works across the Benelux region and also frequently collaborates with the firm’s global offices to handle a diverse range of high-value private equity investments and acquisitions. In addition to its international work, the team also advises Belgian funds and portfolio companies on transactions, financing matters, and VC-backed fundraising rounds. Although it is active across a wide array of deals, the team is particularly noted for its ability to handle private investments in the tech, financial services, and energy sectors. Practice co-heads Carlo Meert and Thierry Bosly focus on cross-border M&A, as does Thomas Glauden, who exhibits particular expertise in Luxembourg-based matters. Philippe Hendrickx is also highly recommended.

Belgian-based private equity and venture capital clients as well as international funds such as Platinum Equity instruct ALTIUS to advise on the domestic due diligence and negotiation aspects of cross-border buyouts and investments, relying also on the team’s integrated expertise across tax, regulatory, and financing matters. In addition to its transactional expertise, the team routinely advises international clients on the set-up of new Belgium-based fund structures. Tom Vantroyen and Marie Brasseur are key contacts for corporate matters, while Audrey Zegers is recommended for her financing expertise.

Cresco Advocaten fields a team of ‘real specialists in VC and startup fundraising‘, serving a rapidly growing client base of funds and growth companies active especially in the tech sector. The team regularly provides guidance to funds in connection with their buy-and-build acquisitions and is additionally well-versed in fund formation matters, while also handling all aspects of VC-backed investment for its corporate clients. In addition to its activity in the venture capital space, the team advises an increasing number of established private equity funds on cross-border acquisitions. Practice head David Dessers is a key contact for strategic and fund-backed transactions, while Glenn L’hoëst is noted for his expertise in fund formation and VC investment matters.

Eubelius handles mergers, buyouts and minority investments for portfolio companies and private equity funds as well as publicly backed venture capital outfits. The team’s full-service offering encompasses a ‘great depth of knowledge in contracts, secured transactions and litigation’ as well as the ability to handle an array of restructuring and fundraising issues. Accordingly, the consortium of practice heads exhibits a diversity of specialisms in connection with private equity matters: Erwin Destuyver focuses on cross-border M&A, Filip Jenné has experience advising on real estate transactions, Matthias Wauters is noted for his restructuring and litigation expertise, and Felix Dobbelaere routinely advises clients on entering into strategic alliances.

Jones Day remains active on a large volume of cross-border transactions, regularly working with the firm’s international offices in key jurisdictions such as the US and France to handle high-profile and innovatively structured acquisitions, strategic alliances, and VC-backed financing rounds. The team also handles a growing volume of domestic transactions and is particularly well-versed in advising both funds and innovative tech scale-ups on investments in the TMT and life sciences sectors. Practice head Thomas De Muynck is noted for advising on PE and VC investments in growth companies, while Jonas Van Den Bossche is a key contact for cross-border work.

NautaDutilh’s private equity team primarily works with Benelux-based funds and target companies across the lifecycle of investments, handling domestic acquisitions, sell-offs and exits as well as advising on the Belgian aspects of global deals. The team is also well-versed in acting for start-ups and scale-ups in connection with fundraising and financing matters. Philippe Remels, who is noted for advising on transactions in regulated sectors such as life sciences and energy, jointly leads the practice with Nicolas de Crombrugghe, who primarily advises funds on acquisitions in the financial services sector. M&A and restructuring expert Christophe Wathion is a further name to note.

The ‘pragmatic and knowledgeable‘ team at Strelia advises private equity and venture capital funds as well as their portfolio companies on a wide range of transactions, financing rounds, and (re)investments, focusing heavily on regulated sectors such as life sciences and tech. Under the leadership of Gisèle Rosselle, the team handles the due diligence and negotiation aspects of a growing volume of cross-border M&A, frequently with the firm’s integrated employment and real estate capabilities to provide comprehensive regulatory advice. Further key contacts include transactional experts Katrien Vorlat and Laurent Verhavert.

Deloitte Legal is is capable of advising both private equity and venture capital investors as well as a large roster of start-up and scale-up clients on buy- and sell-side M&A, focusing in particular on early-stage investments and mid-market acquisitions. The firm regularly also regularly leverages its internal tax and financial advisory capabilities to provide its clients with comprehensive regulatory advice. David Roelens, Christoph Michiels, and Marc Van tieghem jointly lead the team and handle acquisitions, sales, and investments in a broad range of sectors. Tim Baart left the practice in December 2022, while Benoît Féron departed in May 2023.

Liedekerke‘s private equity and venture capital offering targets funds as well as corporate clients and encompasses fund structuring advice, transactional guidance, and a large volume of work in connection with VC-backed fundraising. The team is particularly active across transactions in the energy, tech, and life sciences sectors, owing heavily to the expertise of M&A expert and practice head Damien Conem. Further key contacts in the team include IT transactions expert Christel Van den Eynden as well as versatile PE and capital markets specialists Jacques Meunier and Wim Dedecker.

In addition to advising both Belgian and international funds on cross-border acquisitions, Monard law, joined by Buyle is regularly instructed by innovative start-ups and scale-ups to assist with venture capital-backed investment and financing rounds. The team leverages its multi-disciplinary tax, regulatory, and transactional expertise to guide clients through the entire investment life cycle and is particularly well-established in mid-market transactions. Practice head Nicole Segers advises both family-owned companies and domestic private equity funds on a wide range of matters, while Benoit Samyn and Pieter Van den Broeck specialise in domestic and cross-border M&A. Maxime Monard is a key contact for VC matters.