Ms Sophie Bourgois > Stibbe > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile

Stibbe Offices

Stibbe
CENTRAL PLAZA
LOKSUMSTRAAT 25/ RUE DE LOXUM 25
1000 BRUSSELS
Belgium
Visit website 32 2 533 52 11 32 2 533 52 12

Ms Sophie Bourgois

Sophie Bourgois photo
+32 2 533 57 31 sophie.bourgois@stibbe.com View profile

Work Department

Insurance and Reinsurance, Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Position

Counsel

Career

Sophie Bourgois is an experienced and solution-oriented litigator and arbitration practitioner. She focuses her practice on four core areas: dispute resolution, insurance law, private international law and public international law. Sophie regularly assists clients (including foreign States and international organisations) in court and arbitration proceedings (ICC, CEPANI, Ad Hoc arbitration, etc.) as well as cross-border disputes. She also acts as arbitrator.Sophie handles matters in a broad variety of fields, including construction law, insurance and reinsurance law, post-M&A disputes, contract and commercial law, etc. Besides her general litigation and arbitration practice, she advises on and handles cases involving matters of private and public international law, such as jurisdictional immunities, interpretation and application of treaties, and conflict of laws. In addition, she has specific expertise in insurance law. She mainly handles litigation and arbitration matters relating to major insurance losses (under e.g. property, liability and credit insurance, financial institution bonds, marine insurance, and reinsurance contract). She also advises on the distribution of insurance, contracts, and declaration of losses. Sophie is recognised by the legal directories for her ability to master highly complex disputes, her quick thinking and her technical excellence. She is intent in finding the best solution in every case. As an accredited mediator and collaborative lawyer, she can aptly advise clients on alternative dispute resolution and find the most suited process to achieve the clients’ goals.

Languages

French, English, Dutch, Danish (intermediate level)

Education

  • Master’s degree in Law from the Université catholique de Louvain (2009)
  • Master’s degree in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS), a joint programme of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Switzerland (2010)
  • Admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2010
  • With the Brussels office of Stibbe since 2010
  • Accredited mediator since 2014
  • Collaborative lawyer since 2020

Lawyer Rankings

Belgium > Insurance

(Rising stars)

Sophie Bourgois – 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.

Belgium > Dispute resolution

Stibbe is the ‘go-to firm for international arbitration in Brussels‘, acting on the full range of disputes in civil and criminal courts. The full-service expertise of the department, along with its collaboration with the IP, TMT, finance, and competition practices at the firm, allows it to represent a number of high-profile clients in complex cases. The white-collar crime practice is also a key element of the team, with money laundering, fraud, sanctions, and extradition all areas of expertise. Hans Van Bavel sits at the helm of the practice, specialising in company-related criminal law. Also of note are ‘very tough litigator‘ Oliver Stevens, Nicolas Résimont, whose advocacy is ‘both persuasive and instils confidence in clients and tribunals alike’, and Sophie Bourgois, who is ‘meticulous‘ with expertise across international disputes, insurance claims, and private and public international law.

Lawyer Rankings

Top Tier Firm Rankings

Firm Rankings