NautaDutilh > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile

NautaDutilh > The Legal 500 Rankings

Belgium > Dispute resolution Tier 1

NautaDutilh's multilingual team handles the full spectrum of disputes work, working with clients in a broad range of sectors on high-profile banking disputes, insolvency litigation and sovereign debt enforcement disputes. The team is increasingly engaged on pre-litigation mandates, including potential trial preparation, ADR and mediation. Co-practice head Stan Brijs handles various domestic and international disputes, with key expertise in mass tort claims and enforcements. Fellow practice head Sophie Jacmain handles both litigation and arbitration, and is renowned for her reputation in insolvency and out-of-court restructuring proceedings. Alexander Roels is noted for his focus on international arbitration, while Bram Van Cauwenberge is especially capable in real estate litigations.

Belgium > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 1

With an international client base including a number of major corporates and financial institutions, NautaDutilh remains a standout for complex restructuring and insolvency proceedings both in and out of court, with involvements in high-profile litigation and cross-border restructurings. The team acts for creditors, debtors, and both distressed sellers and buyers, with ‘well-balanced‘ and ‘solutions-oriented‘ practice heads Sophie Jacmain and Stan Brijs highly respected within the market, evidenced by their regular appointments as administrators and judicial mediators, having previously advised the Belgian government on reforms to the country’s insolvency code.

Belgium > Intellectual property Tier 1

NautaDutilh enjoys a stellar reputation in the areas of patent litigation – both domestic and cross-border – and the enforcement of patent-related agreements, including licensing, research collaboration, and tech transfer agreements. The team’s widely acclaimed contentious trademark capabilities sees practitioners appearing regularly before various EU courts across the Benelux region. The team is jointly led by two partners: Tanguy de Haan, an experienced litigator before the Belgian courts and the Benelux Court of Justice; and Florence Verhoestraete, a patent, trademark and IP assignment expert with deep expertise in the life sciences sector. Senior counsel Philippe Péters is also noted.

Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

NautaDutilh leverages its strong position in the Benelux market, advising on a range of pan-European M&A mandates in key sectors including energy, construction and retail. The team also regularly advises investors and founders on start-up investment rounds, and has been involved in the creation of a number of Belgian unicorns. The team is led by Dirk Van Gerven, who has expertise in cross-border acquisitions, financing, and reorganisations, Philippe Remels, a specialist in regulated sector M&A, and Nicolas de Crombrugghe, also strong in regulated sector transactions alongside capital markets work.

Belgium > Environment Tier 2

NautaDutilh has a strong record in environmental permitting, particularly relating to construction projects, and is also active in enforcement proceedings, both in administrative and criminal contexts. Other areas of strength for the firm include PPP and public procurement, and energy transition, with clients including energy producers, developers, and transport companies. The team is led by Jens Mosselmans, who combines advisory and litigation work in a range of public and administrative law cases relating to environmental issues, while counsel Maxime Vanderstraeten joined the firm from Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick in early 2021 and has deepened the firm’s reach in French-speaking regions of Belgium. Counsel Stef Feyen is noted for his work on public procurement.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Financial services Tier 2

Working with national and international banks, financial institutions, and other regulated entities, NautaDutilh offers expertise across Belgian and European financial services regulations, and enjoys productive relationships with relevant regulatory authorities. Advising on a cross-border basis, the firm handles matters including M&A, corporate governance and compliance, audits and investigations, and the regulation of insurance products. The practice is led by the ‘highly respected‘ Anne Fontaine, a specialist in clearing and settlement systems, banking regulations, and transactional issues, with counsel Pierre De Pauw also playing a key role across the offering.

Belgium > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Well regarded by clients for its capabilities in high-value, cross-border deals, NautaDutilh is regularly engaged by blue-chip multinationals and leading Belgian companies active across the life sciences sector. The team's transactional pedigree sees it advising on biotech IPOs, equity capital markets acquisitions, and financing rounds for high-tech medical ventures. Florence Verhoestraete is a highly experienced IP and life sciences practitioner with key expertise in licence work, collaboration agreements, and consortia agreements for research funding. Philippe Remels regularly takes the lead on healthcare transactions, acting for publicly-listed companies as well as investors and underwriters.

Belgium > Real estate and construction Tier 2

NautaDutilh advises real estate developers, investors, and lenders on a wide range of transactional real estate matters, including acquisitions and REIT investments, alongside construction and development issues such as contracts and permits, with a strong specialism in PPP arrangements. The practice leverages its corporate and financing practices on issues such as acquisitions, financing real estate investments, and the structuring of new REITs. The practice is led by Didier De Vliegher, who handles transactions and financing, including for PPP projects, with project finance and lending-focused Thibaut Willems also a key name. The ‘very driven‘ senior associate Louise Anne Bertin advises Belgian and international companies and investors on a wide range of real estate issues.

Belgium > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

NautaDutilh is active across equity capital markets and financing transactions, with a strong record in issuer-side IPO advice and project financing particularly. The practice also handles debt capital markets, including innovative green bonds issues, acquisition financing, and real estate financing. Clients include financial institutions, banks, and REITs, with the firm regularly advising on cross-border mandates alongside its international allies and Benelux offices. The team is led by Thibaut Willems, a specialist in project financing and PPP, equity capital markets head Nicolas de Crombrugghe, who has a strong focus on the real estate and biotech spaces, and acquisition financing-focused Philippe Remels.

Belgium > Employment Tier 3

Working with a high-profile roster of clients that spans the logistics, financial services, life sciences and retail sectors, NautaDutilh is a ‘responsive and pragmatic‘ adviser across the full gamut of restructuring mandates, often in a cross-border capacity. Social elections, whistleblowing investigations and remuneration reviews are also key workflows for the team. Practice head Philippe François is noted for his corporate expertise, regularly assisting various companies with reorganisations and transfer of undertakings. Thierry Duquesne focuses on Belgian and European labour law matters for the firm’s healthcare and life sciences clients.

Belgium > Industry focus: Energy Tier 3

Jointly led by corporate transactions specialist Nicolas de Crombrugghe and regulatory expert Jens Mosselmans, NautaDutilh handles a diverse array of energy sector mandates, ranging from project financings and share acquisitions to CRM implementation advisory and public procurement tenders. The team works with both traditional energy sector stalwarts and renewables providers, regularly advising both public and private sector clients on oil, gas, nuclear, wind and solar issues. Thibaut Willems is noted for his wide-ranging capabilities in project financing and public-private partnerships and Maxime Vanderstraeten has key expertise in public contracts involving European institutions and agencies, including contentious proceedings before various courts. Patrick Peeters has retired.

Belgium > Private equity Tier 3

NautaDutilh advises on buyouts, exits, and private equity-backed take-private transactions, with a Benelux-focused structure capable of advising clients across the region and internationally. The firm also has notable expertise in financial services regulatory issues, as well as handling early-stage investment rounds. Clients include established international buyout funds, early-stage investors, and family offices. The team is led by Philippe Remels, who focuses on transactions within regulated sectors such as energy, healthcare, and chemicals, alongside Nicolas de Crombrugghe, who advises on cross-border transactions with Belgian targets.

Belgium > Tax Tier 4

NautaDutilh works with its banking and corporate teams on tax issues for financing and lending transactions, M&A, and private equity deals, as well as acting as lead tax counsel for an array of complex insurance, capital markets, and financial services regulatory matters. Primarily handling transactional tax and regulatory matters, the firm is also engaged in contentious work. The team is led by Ken Lioen.

Netherlands > EU and competition

NautaDutilh has a strong pedigree for handling high-profile competition matters. It features prominently in some of the most significant follow-on damages cases heard before the Dutch courts; its workload in this space spans areas such as cathode ray tubes, pre-stressed steel and high-voltage power cables, among others. The firm is representing Deutsche Lufthansa and its subsidiaries Lufthansa Cargo and SWISS International Airlines in the defence against damages cases arising from the European Commission’s decision in the air cargo space. In addition, state aid cases are another mainstay of the practice; Mauricette Schaufeli and senior associate Evi Mattioli were among the advisers to the Dutch Ministry of Finance on the creation of a €12bn state aid scheme in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, and also twice notified the European Commission of this aid scheme. Elsewhere, Schaufeli, recent hire Nima Lorjé (who joined in May 2021 as an associate partner from Brinkhof), Mattioli and senior associate Arnout Koeman are among the practitioners in the team who are active in merger control mandates. David van Ee has expertise in the development and procurement of infrastructure and real estate.